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

[Mr Gray]

I might have missed it, which is why I been asking the PT speakers on here to help locate the relevant article for months. Still no reply from any of them.

they don't need any evidence to accuse the Mccanns of wrongdoing...just keep on throwing mud as they have done for seven years and some will stick

[ferryman]

I disagree - the issue of this thread is whether or not Kate McCann admitted in her book to carrying out illegal activities.  After all these pages the moderators of this board still refuse to accept that she did not, and that the thread title is therefore inaccurate and libellous.

Yep!

The question of what actually is or actually isn't illegal (in Portugal) is an ancillary (if very interesting) point.

[Mr Moderator]

The title of this thread is 100% correct.  Kate McCann did admit and accept in her book 'Madeleine' that private investigations in Portugal were illegal.

It should be pointed out however that this statement was incorrect. 

From Madeleine.

"Our first investigators, the Spanish company Método 3, began working for us in October. With private investigations technically illegal 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."

Private investigations were not illegal in Portugal even in 2007 but private criminal investigations were considered illegal in that such had no basis in Law whilst an official police investigation was ongoing. 

This was the understanding of Antonio Martins, president of the National Association of Portuguese Judges and Carlos Anjos, the head of Portugal's criminal police federation.  Mr Martins is on record as stating that private detectives and even the McCanns themselves could be accused of "obstruction of justice" while Mr Anjos stated that Portugal does not have legislation in this area and that private detectives do not intervene in criminal cases.  He added that private detectives are only tolerated in civil cases.

[Alfred R Jones]

The title of this thread is 100% correct.  Kate McCann did admit and accept in her book 'Madeleine' that private investigations in Portugal were illegal.

It should be pointed out however that this statement was incorrect. 

From Madeleine.

"Our first investigators, the Spanish company Método 3, began working for us in October. With private investigations technically illegal 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."

Private investigations were not illegal in Portugal even in 2007 but private criminal investigations were considered illegal in that such had no basis in Law whilst an official police investigation was ongoing.

Mr Moderator with respect you are wrong.  Kate states in her book that because private investigations were 'technically illegal' in Portugal they therefore hired a firm from Spain in order to avoid the possibility of breaking any Portuguese law.  There is absolutely NO admission of guilt whatsoever.  I simply don't understand how you can fail to see this!

[Mr Moderator]

Mr Moderator with respect you are wrong.  Kate states in her book that because private investigations were 'technically illegal' in Portugal they therefore hired a firm from Spain in order to avoid the possibility of breaking any Portuguese law.  There is absolutely NO admission of guilt whatsoever.  I simply don't understand how you can fail to see this!

Hiring a Spanish private investigator did not circumvent the illegality to which I have just described and corroborated by two of the highest ranking legal officers in Portugal at the time.  It makes no difference where the PI's were based, any interference in a Portuguese criminal inquiry was contrary to Law.

Had Método 3 limited their efforts to enquiries outside of Portugal you might have had a point but they did not.  They got involved directly in the search in Portugal.  Question is who pulled the plug on them, the Portuguese or the Spanish of the both of them jointly?

[Mr Gray]

Hiring a Spanish private investigator did not circumvent the illegality to which I have just described and corroborated by two of the highest ranking legal officers in Portugal at the time.  It makes no difference where the PI's were based, any interference in a Portuguese criminal inquiry was contrary to Law.

no one has been able to quote this law

[Mr Moderator]

no one has been able to quote this law

As you very well know or should know,  Portugal did not have legislation in this area.  However, interference in a live inquiry is well covered by obstruction laws.

[Mr Gray]

As you very well know or should know,  Portugal did not have legislation in this area.  However, interference in a live inquiry is well covered by obstruction laws.

so the same as every other country..as long as the PIs don't get in the way they seem to be welcome as the PJ made M3 welcome

[Matthew Wyse]

Hiring a Spanish private investigator did not circumvent the illegality to which I have just described and corroborated by two of the highest ranking legal officers in Portugal at the time.  It makes no difference where the PI's were based, any interference in a Portuguese criminal inquiry was contrary to Law.

Had Método 3 limited their efforts to enquiries outside of Portugal you might have had a point but they did not.  They got involved directly in the search in Portugal.  Question is who pulled the plug on them, the Portuguese or the Spanish of the both of them jointly?

Not forgetting what happened with Ciprianos old lawyer John Grade before Marcos Correia took over the case allegedely on a pro bono basis yet his fees were being met by a mystery donor.   And all the time the strings were being pulled by M3 in Barcelona who in turn were doing it all out of the goodness of their hearts.  Brings a tear to the eye

[Matthew Wyse]

so the same as every other country..as long as the PIs don't get in the way they seem to be welcome as the PJ made M3 welcome

The word you are looking for is tolerate and the PJ tolerated them just enough for a short while to see what they were up to.   They didn't have to wait long though and we all know what happened next as Correia couldn't keep his big mouth shut.

[Angelo222]

The word you are looking for is tolerate and the PJ tolerated them just enough for a short while to see what they were up to.   They didn't have to wait long though and we all know what happened next as Correia couldn't keep his big mouth shut.

Remind us Matt, which South American country was Correia last seen making for?? 

[Mr Gray]

Remind us Matt, which South American country was Correia last seen making for?? 

If you have ever had a Brazilian girlfriend you might be tempted to follow him

[Angelo222]

If you have ever had a Brazilian girlfriend you might be tempted to follow him

With Amaral's pal Paiva in Funchal I don't think he will be in a big rush home.

[Alfred R Jones]

Hiring a Spanish private investigator did not circumvent the illegality to which I have just described and corroborated by two of the highest ranking legal officers in Portugal at the time.  It makes no difference where the PI's were based, any interference in a Portuguese criminal inquiry was contrary to Law.

Had Método 3 limited their efforts to enquiries outside of Portugal you might have had a point but they did not.  They got involved directly in the search in Portugal.  Question is who pulled the plug on them, the Portuguese or the Spanish of the both of them jointly?

Please can you quote Kate McCann's admission that she broke the law then, because the paragraph that keeps being quoted here is no admission of guilt.

[Mr Moderator]

Please can you quote Kate McCann's admission that she broke the law then, because the paragraph that keeps being quoted here is no admission of guilt.

Which part of Kate's comment are you obfuscating over Alfred?  Is it the bit where she admits that private investigations in Portugal were illegal or is it the bit where she states they employed them anyway to work in Portugal thinking that if their offices were in Barcelona then that was Ok?