Did the McCann"s sudden flight from Portugal engender suspicion?

[Angelo222]

From the beginning the McCann's bravely promised Maddie that they would not return home without her and I for one admired their tenacity for doing so.

However, this was all to change when they were made arguidos or official suspects in her disappearance.  The moment their official police interviews had been concluded (an interview in which Kate McCann exercised her right to silence) they sought permission to leave Portugal. They were fast tracked through Faro Airport and were never again to spend any significant time in Praia da Luz.

Did this sudden turnaround and the flight which followed it engender suspicion?

[Alice Purjorick]

From the beginning the McCann's bravely promised Maddie that they would not return home without her and I for one admired their tenacity for doing so.

However, this was all to change when they were made arguidos or official suspects in her disappearance.  The moment their official police interviews had been concluded (an interview in which Kate McCann exercised her right to silence) they sought permission to leave Portugal. They were fast tracked through Faro Airport and were never again to spend any significant time in Praia da Luz.

Did this sudden turnaround and the flight which followed it engender suspicion?

If you accept the after the event tales that the raison d'etre of the entire Portuguese Police and nation was to "fit up" innocent people without proper trial and legal representation the place being a totally bent banana republic (pardon pun) then it is no surprise they legged it we all would if we could.

One has to observe however that all the haraz about bent coppers la de bloody dah seems to have been put about after the event to justify legging it. IMHO of course

[Angelo222]

They had nothing to fear from a police investigation or at least that was the spin being put on it by their media machine yet they chose to do a runner. I would have thought they would have wanted to clear their names but in the event lost that opportunity as was reported by the Attorney General in his archiving report.

[lordpookles]

It basically closed down the Portuguese investigation seemingly. But if you had two other young children you were responsible for too you too might well decide to leave... Kate talks about this for quite a bit in her book...

[Angelo222]

It basically closed down the Portuguese investigation seemingly. But if you had two other young children you were responsible for too you too might well decide to leave... Kate talks about this for quite a bit in her book...

The refusal by members of the tapas group to cooperate ended the investigation.  The Portuguese should never have allowed suspects to leave their jurisdiction until they were cleared or charged.

[jassi]

The Tapas group were more witnesses than suspects and it would have been impossible to hold them against their will.
Police should have held a re-enactment on the following day, when the Tapas group could have acted as advisors, while events were fresh in their minds and discrepancies could have been explained ( or not).
It is, however, easy to be wise after the event

[faithlilly]

The Tapas group were more witnesses than suspects and it would have been impossible to hold them against their will.
Police should have held a re-enactment on the following day, when the Tapas group could have acted as advisors, while events were fresh in their minds and discrepancies could have been explained ( or not).
It is, however, easy to be wise after the event

I agree jassi. Would we have seen Gerry going through the main door to check, as related in his 4th of May interview, or through the patio doors as related in his 10th of May one and what side of the road would he have been standing on when talking to Jez ? Further would Kate have related that the door and curtains where fully open, as in her 4th of May statement or ' a little wider than we'd left it ' ( door ) and closed then whooshing ( curtains ) as she later claimed ? IMO they were given far too much time to get their stories straight before being interviewed for a second time.

[Angelo222]

As ferryman correctly pointed out yesterday, the police were suspicious from 4 May when their stories began to conflict.

[jassi]

Maybe, but they weren't forceful enough.
Didn't the British Ambassador play some role in persuading the PJ that it was too early to be suspecting the family?

[faithlilly]

As ferryman correctly pointed out yesterday, the police were suspicious from 4 May when their stories began to conflict.

A state of affairs that I can only imagine got worse when they gave their 10th of May statements.

[Brietta]

Once again the title of the thread has a pejorative slant ... and unlike the flight into Egypt ... I think a more careful perusal of the facts will reveal there was nothing at all sudden about the departure of the McCann family from Portugal.
Then why let the facts get in the way of a useful prejudice ... however nonsensical.

Mind you I can see the attractions for the McCanns  of staying on in Portugal when it became obvious the police were not looking for Madeleine …

Baying mobs outside the premises when they were made arguidos.

Perfect circumstances for the twins to go to nursery and on to school.

The commute to work isn’t really all that bad either.

The support of friends and family … just a hop and a jump … as the aeroplane flies ... and who really needs that level of support when their daughter is missing and when some of the neighbours are so welcoming and understanding.

Not to forget the lovely graffiti artists of PDL … Hmmm … perfect environment to bring up the twins ... gives a certain ambiance to the place.

Strange they didn’t hang around … Rothley doesn’t get the sun as much, and I don’t think the people are as into the community wall art scene as elsewhere …

Strange they would want to get home to give Madeleine’s siblings the best chance of a normal life in a protective village … maybe even return to work to support their family ... I’ll need to give it a bit more thought.

[Mr Gray]

I think their decision to get out of Portugal asap was perfectly reasonable...you can have 200 posts on the subject but everyones mind is already made up on something that happened seven years ago and has been discussed a million times

[Alice Purjorick]

I agree jassi. Would we have seen Gerry going through the main door to check, as related in his 4th of May interview, or through the patio doors as related in his 10th of May one and what side of the road would he have been standing on when talking to Jez ? Further would Kate have related that the door and curtains where fully open, as in her 4th of May statement or ' a little wider than we'd left it ' ( door ) and closed then whooshing ( curtains ) as she later claimed ? IMO they were given far too much time to get their stories straight before being interviewed for a second time.

I find it hard to conceive of the fact that "probably the finest police force in the world" haven't at least played with dolls on a desk top model covering all permutations and maybe even doing an animated computerised version of all combinations.
Well I would wouldn't you? and then keep my trap shut about it.

[jassi]

I find it hard to conceive of the fact that "probably the finest police force in the world" haven't at least played with dolls on a desk top model covering all permutations and maybe even doing an animated computerised version of all combinations.
Well I would wouldn't you? and then keep my trap shut about it.

Well, you certainly would if you had any serious intent to solve the crime.

[Mr Gray]

Well, you certainly would if you had any serious intent to solve the crime.

does anyone doubt they have a serious intent to solve the crime