Has the McCann's Actions Turned a Supportive Public Against Them ?

[Mr Gray]

Behave Sadie. The prime suspect for six and a half years is dismissed and immediately replaced by another that had mostly been ignored for five years?

No wonder people were >@@(*&) after Crimewatch.

And then replaced by another a week later

[Kazcutt]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564121/Madeleine-McCann-police-fury-over-private-hunt.html

By Caroline Gammell in Praia da Luz1:25PM BST 25 Sep 2007
Kate and Gerry McCann provoked the fury of the Portuguese authorities after it was revealed they had hired private investigators to help find their daughter Madeleine.

In full: The Madeleine McCann case
The couple were accused by police of employing "diversion tactics".
A senior judge said their actions could prompt charges of obstruction of justice in the hunt for the missing four-year-old who has not been seen since May 3.
Under Portuguese law, it is illegal to carry out independent inquiries into a case while a police investigation is ongoing. But it emerged this week that Mr and Mrs McCann hired investigators from Control Risks Group - who specialise in kidnap, hostage and crisis management - at the end of May.
Related Articles
McCanns hired detective firm with ex-SAS men 24 Sep 2007
Madeleine McCann police 'must find her body' 24 Sep 2007
A source close to the couple's legal team insisted they were only working in an advisory role and were not on the ground in Portugal.
But the company – which employs ex-SAS and military personnel – is thought to be focusing on Spain and Morocco, where three sightings of a little blonde girl have now been reported.
In Portugal, figures from both the police and judicial arenas vented their anger about the move.
Antonio Martins, president of the National Association of Portuguese Judges, told the newspaper 24 Horas: "It is still up to the state to carry out criminal investigation. That kind of activity has no legal standing.
"Anything that results from private investigation has no substance."
Mr Martins said the private detectives and even the McCanns themselves could be accused of "obstruction of justice".
Carlos Anjos, the head of Portugal's criminal police federation, added: "This can only be another diversion tactic from the McCanns. It is nothing but folklore.
"Portugal does not have legislation in this area. Private detectives who intervene in criminal cases cannot exist.
"The law only tolerates private detectives who gather information and only about matters of the private lives of certain people like extramarital relationships."
A separate police source warned that the involvement of investigators may not only be illegal but could have a detrimental effect on the inquiry.



The high ranking official told newspaper Correio da Manha: "If private investigators come here they will be running a serious risk of being arrested."




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Maybe that's why they wasn't released
Was they released before or after Portugal reopened the case
Same time wasn't it

[John]

Yep after the PJ sat on it for 5 years.

If the PJ had the e-fits they would have been in the files.  As it is they weren't.

Please stay on topic. TY

[sadie]

If the PJ had the e-fits they would have been in the files.  As it is they weren't.

Not all the files were released.

[John]

Not all the files were released.

That's true but if there had been e-fits made available to the PJ it would have been mentioned somewhere in the files or the final Reports.  As it was they weren't mentioned because their existence was effectively hidden.  The McCanns refusal to address this matter is extremely damaging to their credibility.

[Redblossom]

Yep after the PJ sat on it for 5 years.

I will log in tomorrow to read your  evidence for this  statement

Nite nite

[Lyall]

Maybe the McCanns have been advised not to comment in view of the ongoing investigation?

Then the police should speak. Currently the lack of explanation about the e-fits damages their credibility.

But maybe it's only the public that doesn't know they actually have no credibility (which is why they were never previously used).

[AnneGuedes]

Then the police should speak. Currently the lack of explanation about the e-fits damages their credibility.

But maybe it's only the public that doesn't know they actually have no credibility (which is why they were never previously used).

May be, but why weren't executed genuine ones and why were those presented to more than 7 millions viewers ?

[Lyall]

May be, but why weren't executed genuine ones and why were those presented to more than 7 millions viewers ?

It's a mystery Anne. I expect if anyone knows though, it's the lawyers

[AnneGuedes]

It's a mystery Anne. I expect if anyone knows though, it's the lawyers

I've read that Crimewatch resolves 1 case in 5, cold ones included. Really, after watching this one, I wonder how.

[jassi]

I really don't think the police will speak until they charge someone.

And that is really how it should be.

The problem is that the media and the public expect to have a running commentary on progress.

[Luz]

Ah, you've probably spotted the contradiction in the oft-used pro argument pile:
1. Those critical of the McCanns are a loony internet minority
2. The comments sections that end up being massively in favour of those that are critical of the McCanns are only because the [ censored word] whip up a hate mob and form an organised attack on such comments sections... with a "handful of internet loonies" vs the might of the hundreds of thousands of those that support the McCanns... er... oh, right.

Obviously someone is getting the numbers wrong on one side of the equation or other.







(cue (supposedly) withering response from my very own personal stalker in 3...2..)

In Portugal alone they have around 80% of the population that don't believe them, the other 20% don't even care about them - if that's a handful....

And if you fail to outspoke the antagonists in the internet, that's probably because there are many more than you would like to accept.

[C.Edwards]

In Portugal alone they have around 80% of the population that don't believe them, the other 20% don't even care about them - if that's a handful....

And if you fail to outspoke the antagonists in the internet, that's probably because there are many more than you would like to accept.

^^^ that is the crucial part of the equation that keeps on getting missed ;-)

[sadie]

Then the police should speak. Currently the lack of explanation about the e-fits damages their credibility.

But maybe it's only the public that doesn't know they actually have no credibility (which is why they were never previously used).

How do you know?    Are you PJ then?

[imustpointout]

^^^ that is the crucial part of the equation that keeps on getting missed ;-)

how significant (in numerical terms) is that crucial part of the equation?