Where has the £266,000 gone?

[misty]

No matter how small or large the contribution from the public to the fund was, and we have no evidence that anyone other than Brian Kennedy actually gave the McCanns any money, the public were unable to make an informed choice in regard to donating because they were deliberately kept in the dark about how a large chunk of the money was going to be spent.

At the time the vast majority of people were donating it was not obvious what failures were occurring in the search for Madeleine which eventually led to the removal of the person who subsequently became the primary cause for such extensive litigation. Such a shame for all concerned that he didn't follow the same route as TdA or quietly retire to the Azores.

[G-Unit]

Why ever not? It certainly didn't stop people in their thousands donating to an overseas purely libel litigation fund at a later date, mistakenly under the impression that they were supporting justice for Madeleine.

A Fund to be used to defend, not to attack. The attack was presented as a defense, but many people interpreted it as an attack on freedom of speech, as did the Appeal Court. That Fund had a clear open objective and achieved it.

People knew exactly what the money was to be used for and donated to it for a wide variety of reasons. I think a member of this forum said he donated because everyone should be able to defend themselves in court.

[Brietta]

A Fund to be used to defend, not to attack. The attack was presented as a defense, but many people interpreted it as an attack on freedom of speech, as did the Appeal Court. That Fund had a clear open objective and achieved it.

People knew exactly what the money was to be used for and donated to it for a wide variety of reasons. I think a member of this forum said he donated because everyone should be able to defend themselves in court.

If memory serves me well the member's post to which you refer is Jean-Pierre whose post had nothing to do with Madeleine's Fund but was actually in reference to his donation to Goncalo Amaral's Fund.

[Lace]

In my opinion,   suing Amaral was in fact going to help the search for Madeleine,  as they put their point forward that Amaral was saying Madeleine was dead,  if people thought Madeleine was dead,  then why would they keep a look out for her?   Why would,  if they thought they had any helpful information for the police regarding Madeleine, come forward and report it?   

To stop Amaral's book being published and sold to the public,   the McCann's sued and put their side of the story out there.    There was no proof that Madeleine was dead and Madeleine needed the publics help to find her.

As a person who give readily to the Madeleine fund,   I am in agreement with what the McCann's did and have no issue with them using the fund for suing Amaral.

[stephen25000]

In my opinion,   suing Amaral was in fact going to help the search for Madeleine,  as they put their point forward that Amaral was saying Madeleine was dead,  if people thought Madeleine was dead,  then why would they keep a look out for her?   Why would,  if they thought they had any helpful information for the police regarding Madeleine, come forward and report it?   

To stop Amaral's book being published and sold to the public,   the McCann's sued and put their side of the story out there.    There was no proof that Madeleine was dead and Madeleine needed the publics help to find her.

As a person who give readily to the Madeleine fund,   I am in agreement with what the McCann's did and have no issue with them using the fund for suing Amaral.

The Mccanns 'story' as you call it, was already out there, worldwide.

There is no law as far as I am aware that people should believe the Mccanns 'story', and many certainly don't.

As to taking legal action, that was their foolish choice. It gave Amaral more publicity and it has achieved NOTHING.

[G-Unit]

If memory serves me well the member's post to which you refer is Jean-Pierre whose post had nothing to do with Madeleine's Fund but was actually in reference to his donation to Goncalo Amaral's Fund.

Exactly. As I said, the reason he donated was so Amaral had the means to defend himself in court.

[Benice]

In my opinion,   suing Amaral was in fact going to help the search for Madeleine,  as they put their point forward that Amaral was saying Madeleine was dead,  if people thought Madeleine was dead,  then why would they keep a look out for her?   Why would,  if they thought they had any helpful information for the police regarding Madeleine, come forward and report it?   

To stop Amaral's book being published and sold to the public,   the McCann's sued and put their side of the story out there.    There was no proof that Madeleine was dead and Madeleine needed the publics help to find her.

As a person who give readily to the Madeleine fund,   I am in agreement with what the McCann's did and have no issue with them using the fund for suing Amaral.

I agree.   Any Fund money used to defend and maintain Madeleine's RIGHT to be regarded as a living, missing child who should be searched for -  and not publicly dismissed as dead by a proven corrupt cop - when there is no evidence to show that  - is OK with me.     

The fact that it is obviously not OK with some people - is inexplicable to me - and also very sad  IMO.

[Benice]

I'm absolutely sure that if most of those who donated money AT ANY TIME were told up front that that money would be used for libel litigation they would not have donated. I assume that's why the McCanns have never included the fact in the aims of the fund detailed on their website.

So where is your evidence to prove what 'MOST' of the people who donated would have done?   You can have no way of knowing that unless you know everyone who did donate and their reasons for doing so.    Wishful thinking doesn't count.

For all anyone knows, people may have donated when they found out that the policemen in charge of the case was an arguido accused  - and later proven to be implicated in an attempt to cover up the torture of the mother of his previous and only other 'missing child' case.   Who knows?
 

[faithlilly]

At the time the vast majority of people were donating it was not obvious what failures were occurring in the search for Madeleine which eventually led to the removal of the person who subsequently became the primary cause for such extensive litigation. Such a shame for all concerned that he didn't follow the same route as TdA or quietly retire to the Azores.

However they latterly knew so why not inform the public, via there website, then?

[Alfie]

Thank you.

Is there any reason why Mr Brian Kennedy thought, by 17 May 2007, that the fund would not be for living expenditure (travel, accommodation, expenses back home whilst off work), or search expenditure (for the missing Madeleine McCann)?  But rather thought, a fortnight after Madeleine went missing, that legal expenditure was top of the pile?

And that is precisely the change of thread direction I predicted...

[Alfie]

I'm absolutely sure that if most of those who donated money AT ANY TIME were told up front that that money would be used for libel litigation they would not have donated. I assume that's why the McCanns have never included the fact in the aims of the fund detailed on their website.

"Absolutely sure" based on what?  Conducted a far reaching survey have you?  You seem to have completely ignored all the points I made last night, par for the course I suppose.

[faithlilly]

In my opinion,   suing Amaral was in fact going to help the search for Madeleine,  as they put their point forward that Amaral was saying Madeleine was dead,  if people thought Madeleine was dead,  then why would they keep a look out for her?   Why would,  if they thought they had any helpful information for the police regarding Madeleine, come forward and report it?   

To stop Amaral's book being published and sold to the public,   the McCann's sued and put their side of the story out there.    There was no proof that Madeleine was dead and Madeleine needed the publics help to find her.

As a person who give readily to the Madeleine fund,   I am in agreement with what the McCann's did and have no issue with them using the fund for suing Amaral.

That was the justification but I'm afraid the trial judge rode a horse and cart through that.

[Alfie]

Absolutely NOT!!   All they have been used for now is to cover the McCanns own asses!

...and that has backfired big time leaving them to pay a huge damages and legal expenses bill.

So are you telling us that NONE of the fund has been spent on trying to find Madeleine?

[Alfie]

And round and round we go. You may have changed your name Alfie but your MO has remained exactly the same. transparent but still rather tedious.

When you answer my posts without even attempting to address the questions posed therein. am going to take you to task about it.  If this poses you discomfort simply ignore my posts, but if you answer them without addressing my questions I will continue to highlight this.

[Alfie]

No matter how small or large the contribution from the public to the fund was, and we have no evidence that anyone other than Brian Kennedy actually gave the McCanns any money, the public were unable to make an informed choice in regard to donating because they were deliberately kept in the dark about how a large chunk of the money was going to be spent.

They were told on 17th May 2007 it would be used for legal fees, did the donations dry up as a result?  Why do you think people gave money to the McCanns in the first few weeks of Madeleine's disappearance?  For what purpose?  You seem to know everything so tell us why.