Pick any sentence from Kate's book.

[G-Unit]

We would later hear from the British police that it took until 10am on Friday, almost twelve hours after the alarm was raised, for roadblocks and checks to be put in place. [Madeleine]

The GNR initially thought woke and wandered. After less than one hour they called the PJ in. It took almost another hour for them to arrive. They also thought woke and wandered at first, but an hour later;

However, a little more than an hour later, about 02.00/02.30, as the child had not been found, he decided to contact SEF at Faro airport with the aim of alerting them in case anyone would board accompanied by some child, whoever she was and those accompanying her should be duly identified, however the various calls made were not attended. In the face of this situation I contacted the Faro Station from the police and told them what was going on and asked them to alert the SEF.
I also decided to alert the GNR in Lagos so that they would send out a warning so that the car and foot patrols that were out on the ground would pay attention and identify cars with people out driving at that time who were accompanied by a child (children).
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MANUEL_QUEIROZ.htm

Why were the police slow in accepting the abduction thesis? Firstly the calls from OC seem to have referred to a child having disappeared. At first contact Gerry said abducted, but they could also see the widespead searches being conducted. It was obvious that the holiday company and their guests were searching for a woke and wandered child. On the face of it, the parents hadn't convinced the OC people of the abduction or they wouldn't be searching. Holidaymakers who joined the search had the impression they were searching for a lost, not an abducted child. If the group hadn't convinced those who spoke the same language it seems harsh to blame those who didn't.

[Brietta]

Why don't you read my original post and reply to what I said and not what you say I said or think I said or what you you want to argue with.
That MO is becoming tiresome in the extreme.

You have made that same criticism once or twice before, Alice.  I think your problem may not be so much that I address the points as you would wish that you raise in your posts but that I address them too well for your liking.

The trick is not to complain ... but to counter 

[Brietta]

We would later hear from the British police that it took until 10am on Friday, almost twelve hours after the alarm was raised, for roadblocks and checks to be put in place. [Madeleine]

The GNR initially thought woke and wandered. After less than one hour they called the PJ in. It took almost another hour for them to arrive. They also thought woke and wandered at first, but an hour later;

However, a little more than an hour later, about 02.00/02.30, as the child had not been found, he decided to contact SEF at Faro airport with the aim of alerting them in case anyone would board accompanied by some child, whoever she was and those accompanying her should be duly identified, however the various calls made were not attended. In the face of this situation I contacted the Faro Station from the police and told them what was going on and asked them to alert the SEF.
I also decided to alert the GNR in Lagos so that they would send out a warning so that the car and foot patrols that were out on the ground would pay attention and identify cars with people out driving at that time who were accompanied by a child (children).
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MANUEL_QUEIROZ.htm

Why were the police slow in accepting the abduction thesis? Firstly the calls from OC seem to have referred to a child having disappeared. At first contact Gerry said abducted, but they could also see the widespead searches being conducted. It was obvious that the holiday company and their guests were searching for a woke and wandered child. On the face of it, the parents hadn't convinced the OC people of the abduction or they wouldn't be searching. Holidaymakers who joined the search had the impression they were searching for a lost, not an abducted child. If the group hadn't convinced those who spoke the same language it seems harsh to blame those who didn't.

Oh, I see.  The police didn't immediately take charge of the situation when they arrived and make their own assessment.

Madeleine was being searched for = 'woke and wandered' so no rush there then.

If only Madeleine's parents had been able to 'convince' the holiday staff of her abduction ... all would have been well.

I think you are labouring for justification - any justification at all - to excuse and to blame.

[Carana]

If it is your opinion that no one has the right to make unfounded allegations then surely your admonishment must also extend to Amaral? 

IIRC Amaral has already criticised the UK authorities along similar lines to the imaginary headline you've written above...?

This comes to mind....


FRAUD OR ABUSE OF TRUST?

During a more relaxed moment at one of these meetings, I come out with an ill-judged comment. Inopportune or undiplomatic, but this is my reasoning: thinking about the kinds of crime that may have been committed if the McCanns were involved in their daughter’s disappearance, something occurs to me. If they were involved in one way or another, then a crime of fraud or abuse of trust is a possibility concerning the fund that was set up to finance the search for Madeleine. Donations have reached nearly 3 million Euros.

If such a crime exists, Portugal would not have jurisdiction to investigate and try it. The fund being legally registered in England, it would be our English colleagues who would deal with the case. Our English colleagues then realise a hard reality: the strong possibility that they would have a crime to investigate in their own country, with the McCAnn couple as the main suspects: a prospect that does not seem to appeal to them. I notice a sudden pallor in the faces of those British people present.

(*Note: analysis of difficult latent prints - latent from the Latin latere, to hide, to lie.)


Taken individually, many of his spoutings can be understood as his own interpretation on events, I suppose, however bizarre some may seem. Taken together, however, coupled with his proclaimed "expertise", I'm not that suprised that a large proportion of the tabloid aficionados believe that he knew what he was talking about.

[Alfie]

This comes to mind....


FRAUD OR ABUSE OF TRUST?

During a more relaxed moment at one of these meetings, I come out with an ill-judged comment. Inopportune or undiplomatic, but this is my reasoning: thinking about the kinds of crime that may have been committed if the McCanns were involved in their daughter’s disappearance, something occurs to me. If they were involved in one way or another, then a crime of fraud or abuse of trust is a possibility concerning the fund that was set up to finance the search for Madeleine. Donations have reached nearly 3 million Euros.

If such a crime exists, Portugal would not have jurisdiction to investigate and try it. The fund being legally registered in England, it would be our English colleagues who would deal with the case. Our English colleagues then realise a hard reality: the strong possibility that they would have a crime to investigate in their own country, with the McCAnn couple as the main suspects: a prospect that does not seem to appeal to them. I notice a sudden pallor in the faces of those British people present.

(*Note: analysis of difficult latent prints - latent from the Latin latere, to hide, to lie.)


Taken individually, many of his spoutings can be understood as his own interpretation on events, I suppose, however bizarre some may seem. Taken together, however, coupled with his proclaimed "expertise", I'm not that suprised that a large proportion of the tabloid aficionados believe that he knew what he was talking about.

Yes precisely.   

It seems G-Unit is keen to change the subject now so...never mind.

[G-Unit]

Oh, I see.  The police didn't immediately take charge of the situation when they arrived and make their own assessment.

Madeleine was being searched for = 'woke and wandered' so no rush there then.

If only Madeleine's parents had been able to 'convince' the holiday staff of her abduction ... all would have been well.

I think you are labouring for justification - any justification at all - to excuse and to blame.

Thank you for your opinion. My opinion is that expecting the Portuguese police [or any other police] to accept the word of civilians as to what crime has been committed is unrealistic. Once the GNR arrived they took charge, largely by expanding the searches. Within 45-55 minutes they called in the PJ; not bad considering the language barrier. The PJ then did their bit; clearing the apartment and learning what had gone before. They ordered airport and road traffic checks within a reasonable time frame in my opinion, which is the point from the book I was addressing.

If you want examples of labouring to excuse and blame there are plenty; cadaver dogs alerting to fertilizer in gardens, pork chops and roadkill are classics.

[Alice Purjorick]

You have made that same criticism once or twice before, Alice.  I think your problem may not be so much that I address the points as you would wish that you raise in your posts but that I address them too well for your liking.

The trick is not to complain ... but to counter 

When I was a kid my daddy told me self publicists were bullshitters to be avoided. Nothing in my life has ever shown my daddy's advice to be wanting in any way..............including concerning those who believe they are they brains in this baileywick....

[Alfie]

We would later hear from the British police that it took until 10am on Friday, almost twelve hours after the alarm was raised, for roadblocks and checks to be put in place. [Madeleine]

The GNR initially thought woke and wandered. After less than one hour they called the PJ in. It took almost another hour for them to arrive. They also thought woke and wandered at first, but an hour later;

However, a little more than an hour later, about 02.00/02.30, as the child had not been found, he decided to contact SEF at Faro airport with the aim of alerting them in case anyone would board accompanied by some child, whoever she was and those accompanying her should be duly identified, however the various calls made were not attended. In the face of this situation I contacted the Faro Station from the police and told them what was going on and asked them to alert the SEF.
I also decided to alert the GNR in Lagos so that they would send out a warning so that the car and foot patrols that were out on the ground would pay attention and identify cars with people out driving at that time who were accompanied by a child (children).
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MANUEL_QUEIROZ.htm

Why were the police slow in accepting the abduction thesis? Firstly the calls from OC seem to have referred to a child having disappeared. At first contact Gerry said abducted, but they could also see the widespead searches being conducted. It was obvious that the holiday company and their guests were searching for a woke and wandered child. On the face of it, the parents hadn't convinced the OC people of the abduction or they wouldn't be searching. Holidaymakers who joined the search had the impression they were searching for a lost, not an abducted child. If the group hadn't convinced those who spoke the same language it seems harsh to blame those who didn't.

What do you mean by this exactly?  Are you saying that if the OC people had been convinced Madeleine had been abducted that no one would have bothered to go out looking for her...? &%+((£

[G-Unit]

There was nothing in Kate McCann's book which could be even remotely construed as a character assassination or defamation of anyone.
The same cannot be said of Goncalo Amaral's book ... although it does seem that writing defamatory, unfounded accusations is acceptable in Portuguese courts.

Perhaps Kate should have written her book in Portugal and used a Portuguese publisher.  Maybe she could do that for the next one.

It was not found to be defamatory in any Portuguese court. The lower court was only able to rule against Amaral, not the publisher or the documentary maker. That was because the judge said he did not enjoy the same freedom of speech as the others. Why? Because his, she said, was restricted by his duties as a retired policeman. He lost because of who he was, not because of what he said. The Appeal judges disagreed.

[Brietta]

It was not found to be defamatory in any Portuguese court. The lower court was only able to rule against Amaral, not the publisher or the documentary maker. That was because the judge said he did not enjoy the same freedom of speech as the others. Why? Because his, she said, was restricted by his duties as a retired policeman. He lost because of who he was, not because of what he said. The Appeal judges disagreed.

Yes that is what I said ~ it seems that the Portuguese courts do not have a problem with writings which defame named individuals with unfounded and preposterous accusations.

[Carana]

It was not found to be defamatory in any Portuguese court. The lower court was only able to rule against Amaral, not the publisher or the documentary maker. That was because the judge said he did not enjoy the same freedom of speech as the others. Why? Because his, she said, was restricted by his duties as a retired policeman. He lost because of who he was, not because of what he said. The Appeal judges disagreed.

Amaral was deemed to be an expert with intimate knowledge / understanding of the case up until he was unceremoniously and very publicly dumped after a few months on the case.

There is a regulation governing the duties and privileges of former members of the judiciary (although it only explicitly mentions magistrates). The PJ is part of the judiciary - the hint is in the name of the police force.

However.... I can see (sort of) that an infraction of internal regulations may not be sufficient in a civil damages case, particularly when there is no empirical evidence of the extent to which his spoutings negatively affected public opinion.

Back on the other side, it is true that various tabloid outlets hinted heavily at parental involvement during his brief tenure. However, I haven't found anything specific in the legal codes concerning responsibility for "leaks"...

[faithlilly]

Are you sure about that, Faith?  &%+((£

Absolutely Carana.

[ferryman]

I don't recall their being mass outrage in this country when Amaral said this last year:

When asked if people will ever learn what really happened, Mr Amaral responded: “Yes, we will, when MI5 opens the case files, we will find out.

“Don’t forget that the British secret services followed the case right from the beginning. I don’t know if that information will be made available but if it’s like the United States, it takes years to have access to confidential information.”

There he is alleging a British cover up at the highest level, and his evidence is - what exactly?  Did the country go into meltdown over his remarks?  I think most people never heard them, or if they did they rolled their eyes at this absurd little man.

But, but Alfie ....

Everything Amaral wrote is in the files.

Didn't you know?

[G-Unit]

Yes that is what I said ~ it seems that the Portuguese courts do not have a problem with writings which defame named individuals with unfounded and preposterous accusations.

Possibly because Portuguese judges know more about Portuguese law than people on Forums?

[Alfie]

Absolutely Carana.

Based on what exactly?