Kate McCann admits in her book that private criminal investigations in Portugal were illegal.

[Mr Gray]

As long as it is within the law, technically or otherwise.

but you support torture of a suspect...which is not within the law

[Jean-Pierre]

The Spanish are dealing with them in the meantime Eleanor.

Is this what you are referring to John? 

"McCanns former detectives, Método 3, arrested for illegal spying"

http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2013/02/mccanns-former-detectives-metodo-3.html

[Brietta]

Francisco Marco has taken to writing books now.  His latest offering.

He seems qualified enough to do so if my Google translate is working properly ...

Quote
Francisco Marco Fernandez (Barcelona , 1972 ) , director of the detective agency Method 3 , SA during the last twenty years , studied law degree and extent of private research. Later, he received his doctorate in Criminal Law with a thesis on private detectives and the right to privacy .

He has a master's degree in corporate law and has written numerous articles on doctrinal private detectives and Spanish law.

[Angelo222]

???  You wouldn't break the law in order to find your missing child?  Interesting...

I'm glad you agree the McCanns broke Portuguese law Alfred by employing private contractors to undertake a parallel investigation.  As Kate states in her book though it was only a TECHNICAL BREACH.  That'll be alright then!!

[Carana]

I'm sure we discussed this some time ago, but what exactly did anyone do that was illegal?

[Angelo222]

I'm sure we discussed this some time ago, but what exactly did anyone do that was illegal?

I'm going to be charitable tonight Carana and just say its all there in the previous posts.

[Alice Purjorick]

I'm sure we discussed this some time ago, but what exactly did anyone do that was illegal?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564121/Madeleine-McCann-police-fury-over-private-hunt.html
The above is what was reported in a well known right wing rag.

[Alice Purjorick]

So you are advocating breaking the law.


Mmmm......

I think the stock answer is "well everyone does it".

[stephen25000]

I think the stock answer is "well everyone does it".

Is that the one from the Urban Dictionary ?

Doing a Mc***n  ?  &%+((£

[Eleanor]

I thought everyone here would do anything to find their missing daughter.  Or is that everyone except The McCanns?

[Alfred R Jones]

I'm glad you agree the McCanns broke Portuguese law Alfredo by employing private contractors to undertake a parallel investigation.  As Kate states in her book though it was only a TECHNICAL BREACH.  That'll be alright then!!

Please answer my question and don't put words in my mouth.  Many thanks.

[Alice Purjorick]

Is that the one from the Urban Dictionary ?

Doing a Mc***n  ?  &%+((£

Nah thass something Alice bootlegged from somewhere.
This is an urban dictionary effort: "To blame everyone else for your errors for the purpose of 'damage limitation'".
It's a bit of a shame Spitting Image is no more.

[Alfred R Jones]

I thought everyone here would do anything to find their missing daughter.  Or is that everyone except The McCanns?

Incredible isn't it?  How often have we been told by McCann critics that they would have stopped at nothing to find their missing child, nothing that is except dare upset their beloved PJ..,.

[Carana]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564121/Madeleine-McCann-police-fury-over-private-hunt.html
The above is what was reported in a well known right wing rag.

Thanks, that rings a faint bell, but I don't recall coming to any conclusion about it and it was quite some time ago.

How can private investigations be illegal if there is no legislation concerning the principle?

I can understand that some of the methods that investigators may use could well be illegal - e.g., phone tapping, the results of which would have no value in a court of law anyway; and that some actions could actually hinder an investigation, thus obstructing it.

But I don't see how the concept of trying to discover information that could help an investigation and is duly passed on to the official team would be illegal as such, otherwise everyone interested in the case could come under that broad category.

[Carana]

I'm going to be charitable tonight Carana and just say its all there in the previous posts.

That's kind of you Angelo. The thread is only a year and a half old after all.