Does the Madeleine McCann case warrant a Public Inquiry?

[Carana]

A previous poster pointed out the dire economic situation in Portugal and suggested that money would be better spent elsewhere.

That is a fair point but what price do you set on justice?

Honest internal reviews aimed at improving best practice are an investment for the future. Nothing says that such reviews haven't already taken place.

If the concept is one in which a certain ex-solicitor submits yet another shopping trolleyful of useless "research", which someone is then expected to read and debate then, yes, that would be a total waste of the resources of both countries.

A public inquiry might be fascinating entertainment for forumites, but the mere fact of being held in public could well hinder a frank assessment out of concerns for diplomacy, thus somewhat defeating the objective.

No one knows what the scoping exercise actually involved, but Gamble has mentioned that various UK LE agencies tripping over themselves in an attempt to assist wasn't necessarily best practice and could have bewildered and overwhelmed the PJ.

An internal PJ review may involve more of a strategic overhaul involving more components than just the handling of the McCann case. PT does seem to be moving forward, despite the recession, and I wish them all the best.

[John]

Honest internal reviews aimed at improving best practice are an investment for the future. Nothing says that such reviews haven't already taken place.

If the concept is one in which a certain ex-solicitor submits yet another shopping trolleyful of useless "research", which someone is then expected to read and debate then, yes, that would be a total waste of the resources of both countries.

A public inquiry might be fascinating entertainment for forumites, but the mere fact of being held in public could well hinder a frank assessment out of concerns for diplomacy, thus somewhat defeating the objective.

No one knows what the scoping exercise actually involved, but Gamble has mentioned that various UK LE agencies tripping over themselves in an attempt to assist wasn't necessarily best practice and could have bewildered and overwhelmed the PJ.

An internal PJ review may involve more of a strategic overhaul involving more components than just the handling of the McCann case. PT does seem to be moving forward, despite the recession, and I wish them all the best.

It would be interesting to know who in the UK has a vested interest in having this entire episode disappear just like Madeleine?

Who is pulling the strings at SY?

[OxfordBloo]

It would be interesting to know who in the UK has a vested interest in having this entire episode disappear just like Madeleine?

Who is pulling the strings at SY?

It would be interesting IF it could be shown to be the case.

[Carana]

It would be interesting to know who in the UK has a vested interest in having this entire episode disappear just like Madeleine?

Who is pulling the strings at SY?

Which episode are you referring to? And what has it disappeared from?

[G-Unit]

It would be interesting to know who in the UK has a vested interest in having this entire episode disappear just like Madeleine?

Who is pulling the strings at SY?

The case is unprecedented certainly. The amount of involvement by UK police, legal people and the media was staggering. Whether it was all accidental or not isn't known, but a lot of people suspect it wasn't. One of the reasons people are suspicious of the parents is the amount of help they were given, which hasn't been seen in any other missing child cases. The review being launched with a restricted remit just added fuel to the fire. Whether an inquiry would answer questions such as John's above, who knows?

[Alfred R Jones]

The case is unprecedented certainly. The amount of involvement by UK police, legal people and the media was staggering. Whether it was all accidental or not isn't known, but a lot of people suspect it wasn't. One of the reasons people are suspicious of the parents is the amount of help they were given, which hasn't been seen in any other missing child cases. The review being launched with a restricted remit just added fuel to the fire. Whether an inquiry would answer questions such as John's above, who knows?

I just don't get why this is a cause for suspicion, unless you believe in some great establishment cover up...?

[Lyall]

It would be interesting to know who in the UK has a vested interest in having this entire episode disappear just like Madeleine?

Who is pulling the strings at SY?

It's the PM's investigation, and we know what he thinks. There's really no mystery.

[John]

It's the PM's investigation, and we know what he thinks. There's really no mystery.

The question endures, why this case and not the others like that of Ben Needham?

[Carana]

It's the PM's investigation, and we know what he thinks. There's really no mystery.

Now let's see. It didn't start with the current PM, did it?

People criticised Blair's support, then Gordon Brown's.

There were screeches of left-wing mutual back-scratching and a call for a right-wing government to end the perceived "coverup".

Cameron comes to power and supports a review.

There may have been PR brownie points in it for all of them, but at the end of the day a vulnerable British subject is missing, whereabouts unknown.

Supporting international cooperation and being seen to do so would appear to transcend mainstream party politics.

[Lyall]

Now let's see. It didn't start with the current PM, did it?

People criticised Blair's support, then Gordon Brown's.

There were screeches of left-wing mutual back-scratching and a call for a right-wing government to end the perceived "coverup".

Cameron comes to power and supports a review.

There may have been PR brownie points in it for all of them, but at the end of the day a vulnerable British subject is missing, whereabouts unknown.

Supporting international cooperation and being seen to do so would appear to transcend mainstream party politics.

Did I say he did it for PR reasons? It would have been difficult to say no to Brooks but I don't doubt his sincerity about what he's said he believes happened to Madeleine.

[Lyall]

The question endures, why this case and not the others like that of Ben Needham?

Kerry doesn't have a huge lobby behind her unfortunately. So many additional years have passed also in that case, which make it much more difficult for that family.

[Brietta]

Now let's see. It didn't start with the current PM, did it?

People criticised Blair's support, then Gordon Brown's.

There were screeches of left-wing mutual back-scratching and a call for a right-wing government to end the perceived "coverup".

Cameron comes to power and supports a review.

There may have been PR brownie points in it for all of them, but at the end of the day a vulnerable British subject is missing, whereabouts unknown.

Supporting international cooperation and being seen to do so would appear to transcend mainstream party politics.

Two very important issues there, Carana, it seems that Madeleine McCann is considered more a football to be kicked around in support of debating points than the fact she is a vulnerable British subject who has gone missing abroad.

Truly remarkable that those who pay lip service to "justice" for her seem to be the most vociferously opposed to any effort to find her.

The cooperation between the PJ and SY can only be of benefit ... in the first instance to Madeleine McCann's case ... but also in any future case which requires working with officers from a foreign jurisdiction with differing cultural imperatives.
I think both forces will have worked at their differences and I think it is something which will continue to be exploited in all sorts of cases with a common interest for both countries.

Although Madeleine McCann is at the heart of the present case ... I think there is also a huge spin off from it which will encourage international crime to beware.  It is worth remembering the British children who were assaulted with apparent impunity, perhaps those crimes will be properly addressed also.

Why should anyone who objects to the cost of Operation Grange ... wish to have an expensive public inquiry at this stage in proceedings?  Cui bono?


**Snipped ...   JAMES MURRAY    00:01, Sun, May 10, 2015

It is my firm belief that Home Secretary Theresa May should resist those demands because it seems the truth is finally beginning to emerge.

Grange officers have at last established a proper, professional working relationship with their Portuguese counterparts which is producing results. Certain people have been identified and interviewed.

Their alibis and their reactions are being scrutinised as never before. Some have been cleared of any involvement but probes into others continue. One of the greatest achievements of the Grange team has been detailed analysis of phone records, showing roughly who was active on networks at key times on the evening of May 3, 2007, in the Algarve resort.

Portuguese officers, guided by Grange detectives, are now in a position to ask people what they were doing in Praia da Luz during that evening and why did they call or text so and so?

Layers and layers of wrong leads and useless information have now been peeled away, allowing officers to concentrate on the core facts.

http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/576139/EXPRESS-COMMENT-We-must-never-give-up-on-Maddy

[Alfred R Jones]

The question endures, why this case and not the others like that of Ben Needham?

Because it happened in the era of 24/7 rolling news reports and the internet?

[Carana]

Two very important issues there, Carana, it seems that Madeleine McCann is considered more a football to be kicked around in support of debating points than the fact she is a vulnerable British subject who has gone missing abroad.

Truly remarkable that those who pay lip service to "justice" for her seem to be the most vociferously opposed to any effort to find her.

The cooperation between the PJ and SY can only be of benefit ... in the first instance to Madeleine McCann's case ... but also in any future case which requires working with officers from a foreign jurisdiction with differing cultural imperatives.
I think both forces will have worked at their differences and I think it is something which will continue to be exploited in all sorts of cases with a common interest for both countries.

Although Madeleine McCann is at the heart of the present case ... I think there is also a huge spin off from it which will encourage international crime to beware.  It is worth remembering the British children who were assaulted with apparent impunity, perhaps those crimes will be properly addressed also.

Why should anyone who objects to the cost of Operation Grange ... wish to have an expensive public inquiry at this stage in proceedings?  Cui bono?


**Snipped ...   JAMES MURRAY    00:01, Sun, May 10, 2015

It is my firm belief that Home Secretary Theresa May should resist those demands because it seems the truth is finally beginning to emerge.

Grange officers have at last established a proper, professional working relationship with their Portuguese counterparts which is producing results. Certain people have been identified and interviewed.

Their alibis and their reactions are being scrutinised as never before. Some have been cleared of any involvement but probes into others continue. One of the greatest achievements of the Grange team has been detailed analysis of phone records, showing roughly who was active on networks at key times on the evening of May 3, 2007, in the Algarve resort.

Portuguese officers, guided by Grange detectives, are now in a position to ask people what they were doing in Praia da Luz during that evening and why did they call or text so and so?

Layers and layers of wrong leads and useless information have now been peeled away, allowing officers to concentrate on the core facts.

http://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/576139/EXPRESS-COMMENT-We-must-never-give-up-on-Maddy

We're on the same wavelength.

My only point - regarding Jim Gamble's piece - is that the lessons regarding better practice may well be mutual.

[pathfinder73]

The question endures, why this case and not the others like that of Ben Needham?

SY probably think somebody(s) getting away with murder and it has to be closed once and for all.