The disappearance of 6-year-old Mary Boyle, Ireland's Madeleine McCann.

[Brietta]

Of course small girls are abducted and killed by known child killers but far more are killed by those closest to them such as family members.

In my opinion your generalisation is not applicable at a time and place in which a known serial killer of little girls may well have been operating.

[slartibartfast]

In my opinion your generalisation is not applicable at a time and place in which a known serial killer of little girls may well have been operating.

May being the operative word.

[ShiningInLuz]

May being the operative word.

There's that, plus the fact the County Donegal has an area only fractionally smaller than the Algarve.  In other words, that alone doesn't cut it down much.

To make a link, one needs to place Black somewhere close to where Mary Boyle disappeared, around the time of her disappearance.

Otherwise it is pure speculation.

[Brietta]

May being the operative word.

There may be evidence for his presence there or there may not be (I have already provided a cite which states there is)... evidence being the clincher.  Not as some deem sufficient, innuendo and rumour directed at those who by law enjoy the right to be as innocent as the next person unless there is evidence to the contrary.
At which stage the law will take its course ... not a Kangaroo court.

[Brietta]

There's that, plus the fact the County Donegal has an area only fractionally smaller than the Algarve.  In other words, that alone doesn't cut it down much.

To make a link, one needs to place Black somewhere close to where Mary Boyle disappeared, around the time of her disappearance.

Otherwise it is pure speculation.

It is not my speculation ... if you follow the links I have provided proof of his proximity has been claimed.

On the other hand ... don't you find it strange to be defending a child serial killer's right not to be speculated about in a missing child case ... but it seems to be fine to accept others to speculate in the vilest terms about an innocent member of the community?

[slartibartfast]

It is not my speculation ... if you follow the links I have provided proof of his proximity has been claimed.

On the other hand ... don't you find it strange to be defending a child serial killer's right not to be speculated about in a missing child case ... but it seems to be fine to accept others to speculate in the vilest terms about an innocent member of the community?

I think it is more about the willingness of some posters to latch onto anyone who has any connection in time or place to the point of the disappearance and imply that that person is in some way involved.

[ShiningInLuz]

It is not my speculation ... if you follow the links I have provided proof of his proximity has been claimed.

On the other hand ... don't you find it strange to be defending a child serial killer's right not to be speculated about in a missing child case ... but it seems to be fine to accept others to speculate in the vilest terms about an innocent member of the community?

As far as I can tell from the two links you have provided, Robert Black is alleged to have drunk at a pub in southern County Donegal, whilst the police investigation was conducted in northern County Donegal.  If my understanding is incorrect, please provide clarification thereof.


Throwing any old speculation into the pot will not progress justice for Mary Boyle.

[jassi]

As far as I can tell from the two links you have provided, Robert Black is alleged to have drunk at a pub in southern County Donegal, whilst the police investigation was conducted in northern County Donegal.  If my understanding is incorrect, please provide clarification thereof.


Throwing any old speculation into the pot will not progress justice for Mary Boyle.

No, I think that is right, By road they look to be about 50km apart.
Not even sure that the exact times coincide either. Sightings quoted as a year before and a year after Mary's disappearance, i.e. 2 years between sighting in the pub. No information of where he might have been in between times.

[ShiningInLuz]

No, I think that is right, By road they look to be about 50km apart.
Not even sure that the exact times coincide either. Sightings quoted as a year before and a year after Mary's disappearance, i.e. 2 years between sighting in the pub. No information of where he might have been in between times.

There is an interesting article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_ripper_and_the_swedish_murders on the BBC today.

There were two murders in Sweden when Peter Sutcliffe was on his killing spree.  On the date of one of the murders, Sutcliffe was working in Sweden.  The killings had similarities to several of the Sutcliffe murders.

As far as I can tell, that's about it.

Sutcliffe may be the culprit, but on this evidence, charges would not stand up in a criminal court.  So it is speculation.

[pathfinder73]

[Brietta]

I think it is more about the willingness of some posters to latch onto anyone who has any connection in time or place to the point of the disappearance and imply that that person is in some way involved.

Is the person who has been chosen by the investigative journalist and other conspiracy theorists to become the figure of speculation a convicted child killer?

[Brietta]

As far as I can tell from the two links you have provided, Robert Black is alleged to have drunk at a pub in southern County Donegal, whilst the police investigation was conducted in northern County Donegal.  If my understanding is incorrect, please provide clarification thereof.


Throwing any old speculation into the pot will not progress justice for Mary Boyle.

Nor will pure speculation about innocent people progress justice for Mary Boyle.

[Brietta]

There is an interesting article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_ripper_and_the_swedish_murders on the BBC today.

There were two murders in Sweden when Peter Sutcliffe was on his killing spree.  On the date of one of the murders, Sutcliffe was working in Sweden.  The killings had similarities to several of the Sutcliffe murders.

As far as I can tell, that's about it.

Sutcliffe may be the culprit, but on this evidence, charges would not stand up in a criminal court.  So it is speculation.

As is the speculation fed by Gemma O'Doherty: will that stand up in a criminal court?

[faithlilly]

There's that, plus the fact the County Donegal has an area only fractionally smaller than the Algarve.  In other words, that alone doesn't cut it down much.

To make a link, one needs to place Black somewhere close to where Mary Boyle disappeared, around the time of her disappearance.

Otherwise it is pure speculation.

It would appear that  Brietta is quite happy to accuse Black of a part in Mary's disappearance without evidence but not Mary's family.

[jassi]

Unless I've dreamed it, isn't the Garda now going to  review the case, so maybe her documentary will prove to have been of use in getting to that stage.