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

[Mr Gray]

It is illegal to run a private investigation while an official one is still open. Do you understand? I know that homicide is illegal in Portugal but I do not know the references to that law and I am not about to waste my time looking up the penal code for you.

if you cannot quote the law then your claim is without foundation and possibly untrue

[Mr Gray]

I have really got to laugh at some of the comments in defense of the McCanns actions when Kate McCann herself has admitted that they engaged in 'technically illegal' activity by employing private investigators.  One assumes that Antonio Martins, president of the National Association of Portuguese Judges and Carlos Anjos, the head of Portugal's criminal police federation, knew what they were talking about when they said that the McCanns risked being prosecuted for interference in a criminal investigation.  The Smiths refused to cooperate with these Spanish rogues and rightly so, one wonders how many others were harassed in the name of justice?

If anyone damaged the search for the truth I have no doubt Método 3 and Oakley International are high on the list!

Kate has not admitted illegal activity and no one has been able to quote the law...very suspect

[Alfred R Jones]

I have really got to laugh at some of the comments in defense of the McCanns actions when Kate McCann herself has admitted that they engaged in 'technically illegal' activity by employing private investigators.  One assumes that Antonio Martins, president of the National Association of Portuguese Judges and Carlos Anjos, the head of Portugal's criminal police federation, knew what they were talking about when they said that the McCanns risked being prosecuted for interference in a criminal investigation.  The Smiths refused to cooperate with these Spanish rogues and rightly so, one wonders how many others were harassed in the name of justice?

If anyone damaged the search for the truth I have no doubt Método 3 and Oakley International are high on the list!

Maybe, but first on the list would be the PJ and Amaral, I think most people would agree on that. 

[stephen25000]

It is illegal to run a private investigation while an official one is still open. Do you understand? I know that homicide is illegal in Portugal but I do not know the references to that law and I am not about to waste my time looking up the penal code for you.

Nicely put.

Unfortunately, there are those people who will defend the mccanns.

For them, it doesn't matter if they break the law. >@@(*&)

[Alfred R Jones]

Kate has not admitted illegal activity and no one has been able to quote the law...very suspect

Amaral ACTUALLY broke the law and was punished for it.  Strangely this is something sceptics seek to excuse at every opportunity by claiming it was only a technicality and that really he's as innocent as a new born babe and twice as honourable.

[stephen25000]

Maybe, but first on the list would be the PJ and Amaral, I think most people would agree on that.

i.e. the mccann saupporters.

[ferryman]

I suspect what is illegal, in Portugal and in most countries, is to conduct a private investigation, in parallel with an official police investigation on Portuguese soil.

But so long as your investigators are not based on Portuguese soil, I suspect there can be no objection ...

[Mr Gray]

I suspect what is illegal, in Portugal and in most countries, is to conduct a private investigation, in parallel with an official police investigation on Portuguese soil.

But so long as your investigators are not based on Portuguese soil, I suspect there can be no objection ...

162 posts and still no proof Kate broke the law

[ferryman]

Kate says it all:

"Our first investigators, the Spanish company Método 3, began working for us in October. With private investigations technicaly ilegal in Portugal, we felt the closest we could get would be a firm from somewhere on the Iberian Peninsula, which would have the advantage of familiarity with local systems, culture and geography and the best network of contacts in the region."

They based their private investigators outside Portugal to stay legal.

End of argument ...

[stephen25000]

Kate says it all:

"Our first investigators, the Spanish company Método 3, began working for us in October. With private investigations technicaly ilegal in Portugal, we felt the closest we could get would be a firm from somewhere on the Iberian Peninsula, which would have the advantage of familiarity with local systems, culture and geography and the best network of contacts in the region."

They based their private investigators outside Portugal to stay legal.

End of argument ...

Hardly.

As investigations took place in  Portugal.

OR DIDN'T YOU WATCH THE PROGRAM ?

[ferryman]

OR DIDN'T YOU WATCH THE PROGRAM ?

I am not American and until, literally, the last couple of weeks, i have never had a television ...

[stephen25000]

OR DIDN'T YOU WATCH THE PROGRAM ?

I am not American and until, literally, the last couple of weeks, i have never had a television ...

What are you on about ?

[ferryman]

What are you on about ?

I'm not the least bit surprised you don't understand ...

[John]

An example of how the McCanns interference in this case was detrimental to its outcome...

Cops let Maddie suspect off hook The Sun
 
By SIMON HUGHES and ANTONELLA LAZZERI
Published: Today (29 June 2009)
 
A SUSPECT in the Madeleine McCann case was let off the hook — after a private detective tailing him was deported by cops.
 
The detective was told to leave Portugal after the suspect complained.
 
It is illegal in Portugal to run a private investigation into a crime when a police one is still active. As a result of the deportation, the suspect had nearly a year to get rid of any possible evidence against him.
 
The man lived near the holiday complex in Praia da Luz where Maddie, three, disappeared on May 3, 2007.
 
A source close to the McCann family last night accused Portuguese cops of "hindering" the investigation, adding: "It's a disgrace."
 
The detective was working for the Spanish firm initially hired by Kate and Gerry McCann. Their British investigators are now looking into the man.

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/madeleine/2505189/Cops-let-Maddie-suspect-off-hook.html

[stephen25000]

I'm not the least bit surprised you don't understand ...

With that comment ferryman you have gone from tthe ridiculous to the complete inane.