The Portuguese police and Madeleine McCann's eye defect.

[Eleanor]

I think Carlos Anjos and Amaral got their wires crossed...

But Portuguese police, whose investigations usually operate in secret, always opposed the publicity and did not even want the child’s photograph to be distributed.

Mr Anjos told Radio 4’s Inside Stories programme: “We thought that the photos should not show the distinct mark Madeleine had in her eye.

“From our experience of criminal investigations, if this was a kidnap – which is what we believed from the start – the revealing of such a distinct feature would put that person’s life in danger.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-492085/Madeleine-campaign-life-danger.html

That one certainly did the rounds.  Shock, horror.  Blame The McCanns.

[Carana]

It appears to be a much cherished myth in certain quarters that the parents couldn't possibly have been trying to find their daughter alive as otherwise they wouldn't have publicised her eye defect.

It's also often used as an illustration of how the McCanns supposedly never cooperated with the PJ as it has been accepted as a troooo fact that they went against PJ advice.

[Carana]

And self-professed "profiler" Pat Brown may well have added "credibility" to this bizarre notion:


97764475486216192|Sun Jul 31 20:24:01 +0000 2011|If the McCanns wanted  to find the child alive, why did they push a campaign showing her eye defect which would insure her death? #McCann
http://greptweet.com/u/profilerpatb/tweets.txt

[Brietta]

And self-professed "profiler" Pat Brown may well have added "credibility" to this bizarre notion:


97764475486216192|Sun Jul 31 20:24:01 +0000 2011|If the McCanns wanted  to find the child alive, why did they push a campaign showing her eye defect which would insure her death? #McCann
http://greptweet.com/u/profilerpatb/tweets.txt

It certainly seems to have been one of the myths designed to cast Madeleine's parents in the darkest possible light.

A contributor published on Joanna Morais blog on December 2007 ...


**Quote
3. Ignoring Advice not to Highlight Madeleine’s Eye Defect.

The parents ignored the clearest possible P.J. advice not to highlight Madeleine’s eye defect, the coloboma (an iris defect). If Madeleine were still alive, this would have put Madeleine at much greater risk of death. The parents’ conduct suggests  they knew she was already dead. They deliberately ignored sound advice not to make Madeleine so recognisable that the abductors (if she was abducted) would have to kill her. All the publicity posters emphasising the coloboma, the announcement of all the sightings, and claims of being "right on the kidnappers" trail…all these actions put Madeleine at greater risk. end quote

Proof positive of the advice not to believe everything posted on the internet.


I was in a bit of a quandary about how to post that ... as it is clearly libellous; but then so much posted about Madeleine's case is just that or arrant nonsense.

[stephen25000]

It certainly seems to have been one of the myths designed to cast Madeleine's parents in the darkest possible light.

A contributor published on Joanna Morais blog on December 2007 ...


**Quote
3. Ignoring Advice not to Highlight Madeleine’s Eye Defect.

The parents ignored the clearest possible P.J. advice not to highlight Madeleine’s eye defect, the coloboma (an iris defect). If Madeleine were still alive, this would have put Madeleine at much greater risk of death. The parents’ conduct suggests  they knew she was already dead. They deliberately ignored sound advice not to make Madeleine so recognisable that the abductors (if she was abducted) would have to kill her. All the publicity posters emphasising the coloboma, the announcement of all the sightings, and claims of being "right on the kidnappers" trail…all these actions put Madeleine at greater risk. end quote

Proof positive of the advice not to believe everything posted on the internet.


I was in a bit of a quandary about how to post that ... as it is clearly libellous; but then so much posted about Madeleine's case is just that or arrant nonsense.

The mccanns needed no help in doubt being cast on them.

They did that all by themselves.

[G-Unit]

It makes sense to give the police every bit of information you can. Does it make sense to publicise that information world-wide? I would be guided by the police on that. I think they often keep details about crimes back, so when people confess they can check if they know those details. if they don't, they're giving a wrong confession.

The coloboma/eye defect/fleck may have proved useful as a check when people reported sightings, had it not been publicised so widely. I find it quite astonishing what Kate Mccann told Piers Morgan, when every poster and appeal made a huge thing about the eye;

MORGAN: Madeleine had a very distinctive eye pattern, didn't she? Tell me about that, Kate, in case people see somebody they think may be Madeleine. Tell me about her eye.

K. MCCANN: If I'm honest, we haven't put too much emphasis on her eye, because I think you have to be very close to her to see it. But her eyes are slightly different colors, and one of them has this brown fleck in it. But you do notice, particularly on photographs, but --
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1105/11/pmt.01.html

[Carana]

It makes sense to give the police every bit of information you can. Does it make sense to publicise that information world-wide? I would be guided by the police on that. I think they often keep details about crimes back, so when people confess they can check if they know those details. if they don't, they're giving a wrong confession.

The coloboma/eye defect/fleck may have proved useful as a check when people reported sightings, had it not been publicised so widely. I find it quite astonishing what Kate Mccann told Piers Morgan, when every poster and appeal made a huge thing about the eye;

MORGAN: Madeleine had a very distinctive eye pattern, didn't she? Tell me about that, Kate, in case people see somebody they think may be Madeleine. Tell me about her eye.

K. MCCANN: If I'm honest, we haven't put too much emphasis on her eye, because I think you have to be very close to her to see it. But her eyes are slightly different colors, and one of them has this brown fleck in it. But you do notice, particularly on photographs, but --
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1105/11/pmt.01.html

They did in the beginning for that initial campaign - or allowed it - but I don't recall them emphasising it later.

I don't know how visible this fleck would be in later life.

[Carana]

That one certainly did the rounds.  Shock, horror.  Blame The McCanns.

Unfortunately, no one bothered to ask Anjos what experience the PJ actually had in kidnap cases, nor why publicising details that might help people to recognise her would put her life in danger.

Might as well cancel all missing people alerts in that case...

[G-Unit]

Whatever the police advised they seemed to be aware of the risks.  Advertise the eye and risk an alive child being killed or maimed or don't advertise the eye and miss a good marketing ploy. Decisions, decisions.  &%+((£
I expect we all have different opinions about which decision we would have taken.

Although initially reluctant, the McCanns finally informed the media of Madeleine’s unique right eye—a risky revelation. Whoever had taken the child now held a universally recognizable little girl.

Gerry understood that. But, he says, the iris “is Madeleine’s only true distinctive feature. Certainly we thought it was possible that this could potentially hurt her or”—he grimaces—“her abductor might do something to her eye.… But in terms of marketing, it was a good ploy.”
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/02/mccanns200802

[G-Unit]

Madeleine's eye defect; coloboma or fleck? I would have had that checked out, it's very close.

When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider if:

You notice that your child has what appears to be a hole in the iris or an unusual-shaped pupil.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003318.htm

[Carana]

Whatever the police advised they seemed to be aware of the risks.  Advertise the eye and risk an alive child being killed or maimed or don't advertise the eye and miss a good marketing ploy. Decisions, decisions.  &%+((£
I expect we all have different opinions about which decision we would have taken.

Although initially reluctant, the McCanns finally informed the media of Madeleine’s unique right eye—a risky revelation. Whoever had taken the child now held a universally recognizable little girl.

Gerry understood that. But, he says, the iris “is Madeleine’s only true distinctive feature. Certainly we thought it was possible that this could potentially hurt her or”—he grimaces—“her abductor might do something to her eye.… But in terms of marketing, it was a good ploy.”
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/02/mccanns200802

Why do you think that police agencies publicise distinguishing features? Would you find iit more helpful if missing people publicity did not mention any? Or are some okay? If so, which ones?

[Mr Gray]

Madeleine's eye defect; coloboma or fleck? I would have had that checked out, it's very close.

When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider if:

You notice that your child has what appears to be a hole in the iris or an unusual-shaped pupil.
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003318.htm

do you think the mccanns never looked into maddie's eye defect

[G-Unit]

do you think the mccanns never looked into maddie's eye defect

If they had they would have known for sure if it was a coloboma or not. Gerry didn't think so;

That it's -- the technical term is coloboma, where there's a defect in the iris. I don't think it is actually. I think it's actually an additional bit of color. She certainly had no visual problems.

Gerald to Piers Morgan
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1105/11/pmt.01.html

[Mr Gray]

If they had they would have known for sure if it was a coloboma or not. Gerry didn't think so;

That it's -- the technical term is coloboma, where there's a defect in the iris. I don't think it is actually. I think it's actually an additional bit of color. She certainly had no visual problems.

Gerald to Piers Morgan
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1105/11/pmt.01.html

I totally agree with Gerry..do you question Gerry's judgement

[G-Unit]

I totally agree with Gerry..do you question Gerry's judgement

You asked me if they had it checked out. The father's words suggest not, because he can't say whether it is or is not a coloboma. He gives an opinion; what he 'thinks'. Had she been checked, diagnosed or cleared he surely would have said so. Had she had a coloboma it would have been spotted during early years health checks.

To give the parents credit they never said she had one, it was the family. They didn't correct them, however. Perhaps because it was a good marketing ploy.

ploy;

a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.