Where has the £266,000 gone?

[faithlilly]

As the public don't really make donations now, nor have they in any significant amount since 2008 and since no money was spent on litigation til years later it's a non-issue, but you're still determined to make something out of nothing.  That's what I take issue with.

The McCanns failed to tell donators that they were using the fund to pay for libel litigation. They had every opportunity to through the press, Kate's book or social media. Why do you think they didn't?

[Alfie]

The McCanns failed to tell donators that they were using the fund to pay for libel litigation. They had every opportunity to through the press, Kate's book or social media. Why do you think they didn't?

Because there wasn't a significant number of donors after the first few months and it was nobody's business (including yours) maybe?  Isn't a Fund aim "to support the McCann family" in unspecified ways anyway?

[misty]

The McCanns failed to tell donators that they were using the fund to pay for libel litigation. They had every opportunity to through the press, Kate's book or social media. Why do you think they didn't?

The money they received as a result of libel litigation did not go into their own pockets. What's the problem, exactly?

[Alfie]

Nothing is completely clear, but donation/web sales are very small over the years ending 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Income;

Year 1 £1,846,178    litigation £550,000
Year 2    £629,181       "         £375,000     
Year 3    £233,099
Year 4    £177,534   
Year 5    £856,303     Book      £738,487
Year 6      £70,250     NotW       £21,257
Year 7    £421,264     Book      £400,000
Year 8    Undisclosed

Total   £4,233,899        Total £2.084,744

From parents, friends, litigation £2,084,744

Total from Kate Mccann £1,138,487 Years; 2012 [£738,487] and 2014 [£400,000]

The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, both doctors, also hope sales of the book will raise £1million to continue funding the worldwide hunt.

Mrs McCann said: 'Every penny we raise through its sales will be spent on our search for Madeleine. Nothing is more important to us than finding our little girl.'
Daily Mail By SAM GREENHILL
Last updated at 11:07 PM on 6th May 2011

From litigation;

Express Newspaper Group £550.000 March 2008

T7 £375,000 Oct 2008

News of the World reward money [donations] £21,257.32 April 2011

All from http://www.mccannfiles.com/id502.html

So how much have they received from litigation versus how much they have spent on litigation?

[G-Unit]

Because there wasn't a significant number of donors after the first few months and it was nobody's business (including yours) maybe?  Isn't a Fund aim "to support the McCann family" in unspecified ways anyway?

Who bought the book? The public. Who bought the newspapers? The public. So all the money came from the public directly or indirectly.

The Fund stopped supporting the family ages ago. That clause was removed.

[Alice Purjorick]

I wonder why everyone forgets this, it has been posted more than often enough.
Readily available from Companies House. So from the horses mouth as it were and no reason to make up stories:

"Objects
2B. The objects of the Foundation are:
2B.1.1 To secure the safe return to her family of Madeleine McCann who was abducted in Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday 3rd May 2007; and
2B.1.2 To procure that Madeleine's abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to Justice.
2B.2 If the above objects are fulfilled then the objects of the Foundation shall be to pursue such purposes in similar cases arising in the United Kingdom, Portugal or elsewhere".

If the accounts for a limited company are no ones business why can they be obtained from Companies House and why is there a legal requirement to post them?

[G-Unit]

I agree, the public tend to donate first and ask questions later.  It is human nature to have regrets later on when the circumstances change.  I think most people would donate if they knew for sure that their donation would be used constructively in the search for Madeleine and not on face saving exercises.  In fact it would have been better if people wholly independent of the case were in charge of the funds.  I can see a new thread about to sprout.

I suppse it's natural to ask people you know and trust to be directors, but the drawback is they can later be seen as overly sympathetic.

[Alfie]

Who bought the book? The public. Who bought the newspapers? The public. So all the money came from the public directly or indirectly.

The Fund stopped supporting the family ages ago. That clause was removed.

When exactly?  All the while the public were making actual donations it was a clause, yes? 

[G-Unit]

When exactly?  All the while the public were making actual donations it was a clause, yes?

It's all here, Alfie;

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06248215/filing-history

[Alfie]

It's all here, Alfie;

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06248215/filing-history

I can't be bothered to wade through all that.  I'm sure you know the answers anyway. 

[faithlilly]

I can't be bothered to wade through all that.  I'm sure you know the answers anyway.

It would seem you don't though so perhaps a read would inform you?

[faithlilly]

Because there wasn't a significant number of donors after the first few months and it was nobody's business (including yours) maybe?  Isn't a Fund aim "to support the McCann family" in unspecified ways anyway?

The fund was sold as being transparent so it's ridiculous to now claim that the public are not allowed to ask questions when the see it clearly isn't.

[Alfie]

It would seem you don't though so perhaps a read would inform you?

No need, I know the gist, I'm not fanatical enough to read and log every last pound shilling and penny.

[Brietta]

I wonder why everyone forgets this, it has been posted more than often enough.
Readily available from Companies House. So from the horses mouth as it were and no reason to make up stories:

"Objects
2B. The objects of the Foundation are:
2B.1.1 To secure the safe return to her family of Madeleine McCann who was abducted in Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday 3rd May 2007; and
2B.1.2 To procure that Madeleine's abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to Justice.
2B.2 If the above objects are fulfilled then the objects of the Foundation shall be to pursue such purposes in similar cases arising in the United Kingdom, Portugal or elsewhere".

If the accounts for a limited company are no ones business why can they be obtained from Companies House and why is there a legal requirement to post them?

Thank you, Alice.

2B.1.2 To procure that Madeleine's abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to Justice.

Scotland Yard and the Policia Judiciaria reviewed Madeleine's case and reopened it in 2013.  In my opinion that is 'job done' as far as thorough investigation goes.
I have no doubt both policing bodies have striven absolutely to apprehend those responsible; do you feel Madeleine's Fund has not met the aim outlined in 2B.1.2 ?; if so ~ in what way do you feel they have been remiss?

2B.1.1 To secure the safe return to her family of Madeleine McCann who was abducted in Praia da Luz, Portugal on Thursday 3rd May 2007;

In my opinion, that is exactly what the PJ and SY are attempting to do.  One can only wish them every success as they follow lines of enquiry with the positive outlook that they may be searching for a living child.

**snip
Mr Duthie, who leads Scotland Yard's Homicide and Major Crime Command, told the Evening Standard: "There is ongoing work. There is always a possibility that we will find Madeleine and we hope that we will find her alive.

"That's what we want and that's what the family and the public want and that is why the Home Office continue to fund it. There is work that needs to be done still."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/19/madeleine-mccann-could-still-be-found-alive-insists-detective/

All in all I think Madeleine's Fund has gone as far towards achieving its stated aims as it would be possible to do. 

The important thing is that it has got us to this stage although the ultimate which is the recovery of Madeleine is yet to happen but who is to say it won't enabling the Fund money to be devoted to 2B.2.

Not bad for an allegedly "fraudulent fund".

[Alfie]

The fund was sold as being transparent so it's ridiculous to now claim that the public are not allowed to ask questions when the see it clearly isn't.

You're allowed to ask any question you like, doesn't mean you're obliged to receive an answer.  As for the transparency - you got a year of it and when it became apparent that the detail was going to be used as a stick with which to beat the McCanns still further, the fund became more opaque.  In any case after a year public donations had dried up.   Most of the money came from the litigation and book sales, not from the impoverished tiny kids and OAPs.