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Disappeared and Abducted Children and Young Adults => Madeleine McCann (3) disappeared from her parent's holiday apartment at Ocean Club, Praia da Luz, Portugal on 3 May 2007. No trace of her has ever been found. => Topic started by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 01:57:18 AM

Title: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 01:57:18 AM
What is known about the George brooks sighting of a girl with a couple at the Lagos Marina?
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

George Brooks only comes up 3 times on the search engine for the site.  So IMO it basically it isn't being discussed.
1.http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=6532.msg439676#msg439676

Quoting G-unit "One of the first reports was that of 'George Burke' who saw a couple with a child who looked like Madeleine near Lagos marina. It was in all the British newspapers on 5th May.
http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

It is also mentioned in a statement aimed at the UK, not the Portuguese, police. The statement has a date of 4th May, and it's headed 'Information from the family'. How were the McCann family able to give this information to Leicestershire police about Burke/Brooks's sighting on 4th? Why was this said; 'The police have not yet spoken to this male'?
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

It's not clear whether this man ever contacted the PJ.

His sighting hits the headlines again in November 2007, following which the PJ do get involved and go looking for him. They're told his whereabouts are unknown since he took off on 21st September.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

It hit the news again in August 2008 saying the PJ never contacted him, but they did, in April 2008 after receiving Michael Wright's rog statement.

Where George disappeared to in September 2007 I don't know, but he was supposed to be resident in Burgau in May 2007. He still has relatives living there who put the PJ into contact with him in April 2008.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm"

2.. http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=8204.msg406523#msg406523  Just mentioned in a list of PJ files.

3.  http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=6215.msg233694#msg233694 
Quoting Anna: 
Re: Has Employing PIs Been Worth the Money Paid ?
« Reply #149 on: April 19, 2015, 10:56:53 PM »
QuoteModifyRemove
Quote from: Brietta on April 19, 2015, 10:27:52 PM
Alfred R Jones

There is correspondence in the files between Paiva and Amaral which proves that sightings were not followed up - specifically the one I remember is the sighting at Lagos Marina of a couple seen with a young child early morning 4th May 2007 - a sighting that was only very half-heartedly followed up, and then dismissed as "not relevant to the investigation".  Dismissed on what grounds exactly?  Was the couple traced?  Who was this child?  Where is the information in the files?

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=4962.msg176384#msg176384


That would be George Brooks' sighting
http://www.mccannfiles.com/id399.html"  [Hitting this last link just brought me back to Google!]

The link above took me to a post by Alfred Jones
"Re: Claim Portuguese police ignored Madeleine McCann leads.
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2014, 08:09:32 AM »
QuoteModifyRemove
There is correspondence in the files between Paiva and Amaral which proves that sightings were not followed up - specifically the one I remember is the sighting at Lagos Marina of a couple seen with a young child early morning 4th May 2007 - a sighting that was only very half-heartedly followed up, and then dismissed as "not relevant to the investigation".  Dismissed on what grounds exactly?  Was the couple traced?  Who was this child?  Where is the information in the files?"

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=4962.msg176347#msg176347  "Topic: Claim Portuguese police ignored Madeleine McCann leads."

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 02:14:22 AM
Did the papers try and solve this mystery?

1. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-saw-maddy-dragged-away-by-vicious-524118
"A British expat insists he saw Madeleine McCann hours after she vanished - being cruelly dragged towards a marina by a couple.

George Burke said a small girl, who bore a remarkable resemblance to Madeleine, was being hauled along by a "vicious-looking" man and a woman.


He added: "It was dark and they were hurrying towards the marina. There was no-one else around at the time and they looked very suspicious."

George saw the couple and the child while driving past Lagos marina and rail station at 6am on the morning of May 4.

He told Portuguese police after news of Madeleine's disappearance was announced.

Astonishingly, they did not take his report seriously. But now he is to quizzed again by the McCanns' private detectives, who say the sighting may be crucial.


A british businessman's sighting of Madeleine McCann near a marina eight hours after she vanished has convinced private detectives she WAS smuggled out of Portugal by sea.

George Burke insists he saw a vicious-looking man and a woman dragging a Madeleine lookalike along a road that leads to Lagos marina.

But investigators believe Portuguese police who interviewed the dad-of-two failed to take the sighting seriously.

A source said: "The private investigators are now concentrating on Lagos and the marina.

"What Mr Burke saw could be incredibly valuable.

"He was concerned enough to call the police and they eventually followed up on his information.

"Now the investigators want to talk to Mr Burke. There is a strong chance Madeleine was taken by boat from the marina and is still alive somewhere."


George, who is from Liverpool but now lives in Portugal, saw the couple with the girl as he drove past the marina at about 6am on May 4. He said: "It was very, very dark and it was hard to make out exactly what the couple looked like. But through the gloom I could see a very suspicious-looking man and woman, with a child who fitted Madeleine's description.

"Though there was nobody else on the road, they were hurrying across a road that leads straight to the train station and marina."" End quote.





Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 02:18:22 AM
Next report:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-496909/I-saw-Madeleine-dragged-marina-says-new-witness.html

Quote: "'I saw Madeleine being dragged towards the marina,' says new witness
Last updated at 10:11 28 November 2007


A British businessman has come forward and claimed that he saw Madeleine McCann only eight hours after she went missing as she was dragged towards a Portuguese port by a "suspicious-looking" man and woman.
The British expat, George Burke said he saw a girl who looked "remarkably like Madeleine" being dragged along a road leading to Lagos marina at 6am on May 4th.

Although Burke reported the sighting to Portuguese police at the time, it has taken until now for his account to be taken seriously, according to the McCanns' private detectives, Metodo 3.

Scroll down for more...

Madeleine
Mr Burke, who is originally from Liverpool but now lives in Portugal, said he saw the suspicious couple as he drove past the marina early on the morning after Madeleine went missing.

He told the Daily Mirror: "It was very, very dark and it was hard to make out exactly what the couple looked like. But through the gloom I could see a very suspicious-looking man and woman, with a child who fitted Madeleine's description.

"Though there was nobody else on the road, they were hurrying across a road that leads straight to the train station and marina."

Scroll down for more...

marina
The McCanns have said in the past that they believe that their daughter was taken by sea, possibly to Morocco or elsewhere in North Africa.

A source said: "The private investigators are now concentrating on Lagos and the marina.

"What Mr Burke saw could be incredibly valuable.

"He was concerned enough to call the police and they eventually followed up on his information.

"Now the investigators want to talk to Mr Burke. There is a strong chance Madeleine was taken by boat from the marina and is still alive somewhere."" End quote.

Not much to go on.

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 02:22:47 AM
This one makes some comments: https://reggied123.wordpress.com/tag/george-burke/
"
GEORGE BURKE
APRIL 1, 2015
Reporting of the George Brooks sighting
“…. on Sunday, 6 May I went to the pizzaria in PdL and bought a large quantity of pizzas. I was attended by a girl from Liverpool. I explained to her my relationship to the McCanns and she told me that her father ‘George’ had seen a man carrying a child in his arms in the early morning of 4 May in the resort.” – Michael Wright (husband of Kate McCann’s cousin Anne-Marie Wright) in his rogatory statement of 16th April, 2008.

The above statement suggests that someone other than Jane Tanner and the Smith family may have seen someone carrying a child in Praia da Luz in the hours after Madeleine disappeared, though it now appears that the sighting was in Lagos rather than PdL.

Anyway, the sighting had been reported to Leicestershire Police the day after Madeleine disappeared by the man mentioned in the statement, George Brooks, and reported in the press during the following days. The Reporting of the George Brooks Sighting shows how treatment of the sighting by the press changed during these days."
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 02:49:16 AM
Mention on A very early Sky News report so there is no excuse it wasn't reported https://youtu.be/rkt4bGb87xo?t=119  the video title suggests this was on the Saturday 5th May 2007.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 02:59:36 AM
This is interesting as they comment on the language used in the reports "04/05/07

http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id27.htm

Praia da Luz
A Briton, who runs a company in the Algarve, has told police he spotted a couple carrying a young child, early on Friday morning 04 May 2007.
 
George Burke, from Liverpool, was driving home from nearby Lagos around 6.00am when he caught the two people in his car headlights. "I couldn't see them clearly because it was dark and windy. They scurried down a side road and out of sight."
 
The sighting was subsequently taken up by Metodo 3 and provided a lead story in many newspapers on 28 November 2007. Except this time, the story was presented in a much more dramatic light with the child, now almost certainly Madeleine, being 'cruelly dragged along' by a 'vicious-looking man'.
 
However, nowhere in the quotes attributed to Mr Burke does he mention that the child was being 'cruelly dragged along the road' or does he use the phrase 'vicious-looking man'.
 
He says: "It was very, very dark and it was hard to make out exactly what the couple looked like. But through the gloom I could see a very suspicious-looking man and woman, with a child who fitted Madeleine's description. Though there was nobody else on the road, they were hurrying across a road that leads straight to the train station and marina."
 
He adds (but only reported in The Sun): "They were trying to carry the kid without anyone seeing."
 
07/05/07
Lagos, Portugal
Police investigate a claim that a man was seen dragging a girl towards the marina at Lagos, a short drive from Praia da Luz." End quote.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 06:01:48 AM
Does anyone know what happened to George Burke Brooks?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 20, 2018, 09:17:50 AM
Why would this man speak to the family and to the press but not to the police? Did he give a false name, did the family and the press get his name wrong, or was George Burke a different person than George Brooks.

Michael Wright said he bought a large quantity of pizzas in Praia da Luz on Sunday 6th May and spoke to 'George's' daughter who told him what her father had seen.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MICHAEL_WRIGHT.htm

It seems the meals provided by Mark Warner weren't enough;

That every day around 13H00, he heads to no. 4-G (where the family of the missing child is staying) and to no. 4-1 (where 10 people are lodged) to deliver lunch. He repeats this routine at 20H00 to take them dinner.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TIAGO_BARREIROS.htm

I can't quite work out why the PJ went to Lagos Marina in December 2007 looking for a Pizza Hut, but they did and came away with a photocopy of George Brook's passport.

It was only in April 2008 that they went to the right location; Pizza Real, Rua da Praia, Luz. The manager contacted 'Amy' who had spoken to Wright. Then her mother rang them back, then her father George. This is what he said;

Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

There's no record of 'George' contacting the PJ in May 2007, so no record of anyone declaring that the sighting  'would not be of interest to the investigation'.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Wonderfulspam on February 20, 2018, 09:25:05 AM


Michael Wright said that 'Amy' said that her father said that he saw....

....& then plenty of artistic licence was used by the British media.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on February 20, 2018, 10:43:04 AM
There is no doubt according to the dates that the sighting was in the files at the beginning of May 2007.

There is no doubt that it was not followed until the Rebelo investigation made the attempt to do so in December  of that year.

No wonder the whole issue is mired in confusion.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 10:54:14 AM
Why would this man speak to the family and to the press but not to the police? Did he give a false name, did the family and the press get his name wrong, or was George Burke a different person than George Brooks.

Michael Wright said he bought a large quantity of pizzas in Praia da Luz on Sunday 6th May and spoke to 'George's' daughter who told him what her father had seen.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MICHAEL_WRIGHT.htm

It seems the meals provided by Mark Warner weren't enough;

That every day around 13H00, he heads to no. 4-G (where the family of the missing child is staying) and to no. 4-1 (where 10 people are lodged) to deliver lunch. He repeats this routine at 20H00 to take them dinner.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/TIAGO_BARREIROS.htm

I can't quite work out why the PJ went to Lagos Marina in December 2007 looking for a Pizza Hut, but they did and came away with a photocopy of George Brook's passport.

It was only in April 2008 that they went to the right location; Pizza Real, Rua da Praia, Luz. The manager contacted 'Amy' who had spoken to Wright. Then her mother rang them back, then her father George. This is what he said;

Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

There's no record of 'George' contacting the PJ in May 2007, so no record of anyone declaring that the sighting  'would not be of interest to the investigation'.

I think the George who contacted the PJ in 2008 was George Burke. George Brooks was not involved in this except by mistake.
Was Amy George's daughter?  So she could be Amy Burke or Amy Brooks or Amy Burke Brooks.  I wonder if she is still in PdL. 
@SiL do you know this person?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 11:21:59 AM
dragged or carried?  in the above articles there were 10 instances of dragged and 6 instances of carry.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on February 20, 2018, 11:32:35 AM
There is no doubt according to the dates that the sighting was in the files at the beginning of May 2007.

There is no doubt that it was not followed until the Rebelo investigation made the attempt to do so in December  of that year.

No wonder the whole issue is mired in confusion.

Obviously a low priority.

Have OG got anywhere with it, or have they too given it a low priority ?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 12:07:18 PM
Obviously a low priority.

Have OG got anywhere with it, or have they too given it a low priority ?
IMO:
What a job to sort that out 7-10 years later.  Why I'm interested in this is that there was the Victoria Beckham lookalike asking about a new daughter at the marina in Barcelona.  Since it was a marina as opposed to a train station or an airport, that fact might give us a clue as to how the daughter was expected to get there.  Marina - by boat seems logical and  Lagos the Lagos Marina to the Barcelona Marina is possible, even if a bit unusual due to the distance.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on February 20, 2018, 12:54:39 PM
Obviously a low priority.

Have OG got anywhere with it, or have they too given it a low priority ?

When the Ribero investigation were playing catch up on information apparently neglected by his predecessor, they didn't seem able to progress it much either.

The optimum time to do this was at the date of first mention in the files of the 8th of May. That was the time to follow up on the sighting by investigating it.

If there was personnel available to shadow senior British officers ... surely there must have been personnel available to be sent out to check on a couple seen with a child in the dark small hours of the first day of Madeleine's disappearance?

The McCluskey sighting was investigated and perhaps eliminated ... proving that Mr and Mrs McCluskey's report was a valid one although unfortunately the child they saw was apparently not Madeleine.

If Rebelo couldn't pull the chestnut of negligence out of the fire in 2007 ... what chance did Madeleine or Operation Grange have in 2013 when the case was officially reopened?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: ShiningInLuz on February 20, 2018, 01:16:51 PM
Was Amy George's daughter?  So she could be Amy Burke or Amy Brooks or Amy Burke Brooks.  I wonder if she is still in PdL. 
@SiL do you know this person?
Not personally as I don't know anyone called Amy.

But I know lots of people without knowing their names.  My family might know her.  And we have friends and contacts who might know her.

However the Madeleine topic is highly unpopular in Luz, so making enquiries is like trying to push water uphill.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 20, 2018, 01:35:37 PM
Next report:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-496909/I-saw-Madeleine-dragged-marina-says-new-witness.html

Quote: "'I saw Madeleine being dragged towards the marina,' says new witness
Last updated at 10:11 28 November 2007


A British businessman has come forward and claimed that he saw Madeleine McCann only eight hours after she went missing as she was dragged towards a Portuguese port by a "suspicious-looking" man and woman.
The British expat, George Burke said he saw a girl who looked "remarkably like Madeleine" being dragged along a road leading to Lagos marina at 6am on May 4th.

Although Burke reported the sighting to Portuguese police at the time, it has taken until now for his account to be taken seriously, according to the McCanns' private detectives, Metodo 3.

Scroll down for more...

Madeleine
Mr Burke, who is originally from Liverpool but now lives in Portugal, said he saw the suspicious couple as he drove past the marina early on the morning after Madeleine went missing.

He told the Daily Mirror: "It was very, very dark and it was hard to make out exactly what the couple looked like. But through the gloom I could see a very suspicious-looking man and woman, with a child who fitted Madeleine's description.

"Though there was nobody else on the road, they were hurrying across a road that leads straight to the train station and marina."

Scroll down for more...

marina
The McCanns have said in the past that they believe that their daughter was taken by sea, possibly to Morocco or elsewhere in North Africa.

A source said: "The private investigators are now concentrating on Lagos and the marina.

"What Mr Burke saw could be incredibly valuable.

"He was concerned enough to call the police and they eventually followed up on his information.

"Now the investigators want to talk to Mr Burke. There is a strong chance Madeleine was taken by boat from the marina and is still alive somewhere."" End quote.

Not much to go on.
Let's not forget that there is a railway station at that Lagos Port too.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 20, 2018, 01:39:17 PM
Let's not forget that there is a railway station at that Lagos Port too.
Also that a boat was taken out of Lagos marina before the port gate were closed at IIRC 8pm.

It was moored in the kind of canal which links the Port and Marina to the Ocean.   Where ever it was going, it was on "stand by".

Possibly quite innocent but worth noting.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 20, 2018, 01:44:49 PM
There is no doubt according to the dates that the sighting was in the files at the beginning of May 2007.

There is no doubt that it was not followed until the Rebelo investigation made the attempt to do so in December  of that year.

No wonder the whole issue is mired in confusion.

The sighting was reported to Leicestershire Police (not the PJ) on 4th May 2007 by 'family to the McCann's'. When the PJ received the information isn't clear.

So while the 'family to the McCanns' were still in the UK on 4th May they knew about this sighting, knew 'George's' phone number in Portugal and reported it to LP.

How did that happen, I wonder? How did 'George' get in touch with the family and why? All he had to do was speak to the PJ.

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on February 20, 2018, 02:01:10 PM
The sighting was reported to Leicestershire Police (not the PJ) on 4th May 2007 by 'family to the McCann's'. When the PJ received the information isn't clear.

So while the 'family to the McCanns' were still in the UK on 4th May they knew about this sighting, knew 'George's' phone number in Portugal and reported it to LP.

How did that happen, I wonder? How did 'George' get in touch with the family and why? All he had to do was speak to the PJ.

The sighting was known about by the Portuguese investigators if the files are anything to go by ...
(http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page4.jpg)
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page4.jpg
DIC ... Departamento de Investigação Criminal de Portimão - Polícia Judiciária
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 20, 2018, 02:12:50 PM
The sighting was reported to Leicestershire Police (not the PJ) on 4th May 2007 by 'family to the McCann's'. When the PJ received the information isn't clear.

So while the 'family to the McCanns' were still in the UK on 4th May they knew about this sighting, knew 'George's' phone number in Portugal and reported it to LP.

How did that happen, I wonder? How did 'George' get in touch with the family and why? All he had to do was speak to the PJ.
Perhaps he was frightened of contacting the PJ/

Robert Murats Mum set up her desk for info, she said, because people might feel more at ease speaking to her than the PJ
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on February 20, 2018, 02:28:19 PM
Perhaps he was frightened of contacting the PJ/

Robert Murats Mum set up her desk for info, she said, because people might feel more at ease speaking to her than the PJ

What I don't understand is that something about it must have been in the public domain to precipitate Manuel Martins email to the Policia Judicairia dated 8th May 2007.

Snip
I have followed the case in the press as I live in the Algarve. However my attention has been drawn by the news that an English citizen (George Burke) who returned to the village in the morning from Lagos and who says that he saw a couple with a child at about 06.00. Would this person not be suspicious due to being from the village and be returning 7 seven hours after the events? Please excuse my boldness and if I am bringing false accusations due to lack of information, I apologise again but feel that I have to share my preoccupation. I hope this does not make you lose time.
Good luck

Was sending the email prompted by anecdotal evidence?  Although the press is mentioned, was it reported at the time?  I don't recall seeing anything at the time and now so much 'old stuff' has been removed it is difficult to track what was and wasn't reported.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: ShiningInLuz on February 20, 2018, 02:50:44 PM
If you look up the Pizza Hut in Lagos, it has one entrance facing the train station.  There is another on the first floor above the marina.

This information comes from Google, and is dated Aug 2009.  Personally, I doubt the business relocated between May 2007 and Aug 2009, but I cannot be bothered digging further.

One Pizza hut, one marina, one train station.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 05:52:28 PM

Could that boat, or any boat have gone to the area off Luz Beach and picked up Madeleine from there?  Smithman was heading in that direction.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 20, 2018, 05:56:41 PM
What I don't understand is that something about it must have been in the public domain to precipitate Manuel Martins email to the Policia Judicairia dated 8th May 2007.

Snip
I have followed the case in the press as I live in the Algarve. However my attention has been drawn by the news that an English citizen (George Burke) who returned to the village in the morning from Lagos and who says that he saw a couple with a child at about 06.00. Would this person not be suspicious due to being from the village and be returning 7 seven hours after the events? Please excuse my boldness and if I am bringing false accusations due to lack of information, I apologise again but feel that I have to share my preoccupation. I hope this does not make you lose time.
Good luck

Was sending the email prompted by anecdotal evidence?  Although the press is mentioned, was it reported at the time?  I don't recall seeing anything at the time and now so much 'old stuff' has been removed it is difficult to track what was and wasn't reported.

On 5th May Burke's story was in the Mail, the Sun and Sky also reported it.
http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 20, 2018, 06:05:31 PM
If you look up the Pizza Hut in Lagos, it has one entrance facing the train station.  There is another on the first floor above the marina.

This information comes from Google, and is dated Aug 2009.  Personally, I doubt the business relocated between May 2007 and Aug 2009, but I cannot be bothered digging further.

One Pizza hut, one marina, one train station.

It's not the Pizza place where Amy worked though. That was Pizza Real, Rua da Praia in Luz.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 06:46:56 PM
Let's not forget that there is a railway station at that Lagos Port too.
OK but doesn't your theory have the same problem then too.  If Madeleine went to Porta did she get there by boat or rail?
If this George Brooks sighting has anything to do with it a good assumption would be to think they needed a boat or the rail, but not a road vehicle as they likely had one of these to get from PdL to Lagos in the first place.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 06:53:05 PM
Could that boat, or any boat have gone to the area off Luz Beach and picked up Madeleine from there?  Smithman was heading in that direction.
I would imagine that would be tricky at night time.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 07:02:34 PM
I would imagine that would be tricky at night time.

Not with a small dinghy it wouldn't
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 07:13:42 PM
dragged or carried?  in the above articles there were 10 instances of dragged and 6 instances of carry.
Can we have some discussion as to the state of the child?  Was it male or female?  Was it alive or dead? Was it being carried or dragged?

As I think when an animal is dead and you drag it, you drag it along the ground.  I don't think the impression was given of a child being dragged along the ground but on her feet, possibly resisting hence alive.

Had she been dead  and been carried there wouldn't be the implication of parents being mean etc.  Would you take a dead child on a train journey?  That is going to be noticed for sure.  If you are worried about being seen you can't go by train surely.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 07:23:53 PM
Not with a small dinghy it wouldn't
It depends on whether Smithman is carrying a living girl or a dead child.  My thoughts today is from reports given by Silvia Batista (who had spent hours observing the McCanns, and hence the PJ are thinking in terms of a dead child. - because "Kate wanted a priest" [Not her exact words].)
Are you thinking the abductor would take her out into deeper water and drown her or just to dump her dead body?  That is possible.  What I was meaning was to  take a dinghy out to meet a larger boat that would abduct a child to another port very distant from PdL would be tricky on a windy night.
Like how would Madeleine get around to the Barcelona Marina by the 6th?  You won't get there by dinghy.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Carana on February 20, 2018, 07:30:08 PM
It depends on whether Smithman is carrying a living girl or a dead child.  My thought s today is from reports given by Silvia Batista (who had spent hour observing the McCanns the PJ are thinking in terms of a dead child. - because Kate wanted a priest.)
Are you thinking take her out into deeper water and drown her or just to dump her?  That is possible .  What I was meaning was to  take a dinghy out to meet a larger boat that would abduct a child to another port very distant from PdL.
Like how would Madeleine get around to the Barcelona Marina by the 6th?  You won't get there by dinghy.

I never quite understood the Barcelona saga. Some guy thought he heard a woman ask about a "daughter" and thought there might be a connection and reported it. At the time, online comments were that he might have misheard, i.e. that she might have said a "quarter" which is apparently slang for cocaine.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 07:36:20 PM
What I don't understand is that something about it must have been in the public domain to precipitate Manuel Martins email to the Policia Judicairia dated 8th May 2007.

Snip
I have followed the case in the press as I live in the Algarve. However my attention has been drawn by the news that an English citizen (George Burke) who returned to the village in the morning from Lagos and who says that he saw a couple with a child at about 06.00. Would this person not be suspicious due to being from the village and be returning 7 seven hours after the events? Please excuse my boldness and if I am bringing false accusations due to lack of information, I apologise again but feel that I have to share my preoccupation. I hope this does not make you lose time.
Good luck

Was sending the email prompted by anecdotal evidence?  Although the press is mentioned, was it reported at the time?  I don't recall seeing anything at the time and now so much 'old stuff' has been removed it is difficult to track what was and wasn't reported.
Did you have a link to this email?  I can only think "Manuel Martins " is not a witness but a concerned citizen who has heard the news (it was on the Sky Reort on the 5th)  and is pointing the finger back at George IMO.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 07:39:18 PM
It depends on whether Smithman is carrying a living girl or a dead child.  My thoughts today is from reports given by Silvia Batista (who had spent hours observing the McCanns, and hence the PJ are thinking in terms of a dead child. - because "Kate wanted a priest" [Not her exact words].)
Are you thinking the abductor would take her out into deeper water and drown her or just to dump her dead body?  That is possible.  What I was meaning was to  take a dinghy out to meet a larger boat that would abduct a child to another port very distant from PdL would be tricky on a windy night.
Like how would Madeleine get around to the Barcelona Marina by the 6th?  You won't get there by dinghy.

No.  I do not think that Madeleine is dead.

It would have been possible to take Madeleine by dinghy to a larger boat and then possibly to Barcelona, or even elsewhere.
A larger boat could have made it to Barcelona in the time.  Someone plotted the route aeons ago, and it was possible.

No, I don't have a cite, but this is just my opinion.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 07:54:21 PM
No.  I do not think that Madeleine is dead.

It would have been possible to take Madeleine by dinghy to a larger boat and then possibly to Barcelona, or even elsewhere.
A larger boat could have made it to Barcelona in the time.  Someone plotted the route aeons ago, and it was possible.

No, I don't have a cite, but this is just my opinion.
OK so someone has said in the past it was possible to cover that distance.    Rather than planning a rendezvous it might have been easier just to go to a marina where boats are securely moored. 
Transferring kids off a dinghy would be tricky.  Would the person have to:
1.  take the dinghy ashore after the transfer or
2.  just leave the dinghy to drift? 

What is the option you choose there? Option 1 or 2?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on February 20, 2018, 07:56:32 PM
Did you have a link to this email?  I can only think "Manuel Martins " is not a witness but a concerned citizen who has heard the news (it was on the Sky Reort on the 5th)  and is pointing the finger back at George IMO.

5 -1 Apensos V, Vol  1 Page 4 to 5
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on February 20, 2018, 08:00:00 PM
OK so someone has said in the past it was possible to cover that distance.    Rather than planning a rendezvous it might have been easier just to go to a marina where boats are securely moored. 
Transferring kids off a dinghy would be tricky.  Would the person have to:
1.  take the dinghy ashore after the transfer or
2.  just leave the dinghy to drift? 

What is the option you choose there? Option 1 or 2?

Aren't dinghys tied up to the larger boat?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 08:00:22 PM
OK so someone has said in the past it was possible to cover that distance.    Rather than planning a rendezvous it might have been easier just to go to a marina where boats are securely moored. 
Transferring kids off a dinghy would be tricky.  Would the person have to:
1.  take the dinghy ashore after the transfer or
2.  just leave the dinghy to drift? 

What is the option you choose there? Option 1 or 2?

Option 3.  Haul the dinghy back on board.

Sea going vessels of quite limited size do carry dinghies you know.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 08:01:54 PM
Aren't dinghys tied up to the larger boat?

Some are.  Some are carried on board.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 08:16:48 PM
Option 3.  Haul the dinghy back on board.

Sea going vessels of quite limited size do carry dinghies you know.
With option 3 are they using the same dinghy as they took with them?  Rather than taking a dinghy from the shore.
 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 08:33:19 PM
With option 3 are they using the same dinghy as they took with them?  Rather than taking a dinghy from the shore.
 

They are on the boat with the dinghy.  They go ashore in the dinghy to the beach and pick up Madeleine from the abductor.  They take Madeleine back to the boat in the dinghy.  They pull the dinghy back on board the boat.  They sail away or motor away.

How do you think sailing people do their shopping if there isn't a marina?

Whoops.  In my opinion.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 08:40:14 PM
They are on the boat with the dinghy.  They go ashore in the dinghy to the beach and pick up Madeleine from the abductor.  They take Madeleine back to the boat in the dinghy.  They pull the dinghy back on board the boat.  They sail away or motor away.

How do you think sailing people do their shopping if there isn't a marina?

Whoops.  In my opinion.
Do they go fishing instead?

So they would need to keep in contact using cellphone communications. Either that or anchor up.  I have  feeling someone would have noticed this larger craft anchoring up.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 20, 2018, 08:45:13 PM
Did you have a link to this email?  I can only think "Manuel Martins " is not a witness but a concerned citizen who has heard the news (it was on the Sky Reort on the 5th)  and is pointing the finger back at George IMO.

I think that is correct. So the PJ had an e-mail from a concerned citizen and they may or may not have had a statement from LP.

They had another 'continuation statement' from DC Markley. A friend of a friend of Kate's Aunt and Uncle had a vision that Madeleine was on a boat in Lagos Marina. This person set off to Portugal, visited the Marina and identified and photographed the 'Shearwater' as the boat in her vision.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS_VISION.htm

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 08:54:39 PM
Do they go fishing instead?

So they would need to keep in contact using cellphone communications. Either that or anchor up.  I have  feeling someone would have noticed this larger craft anchoring up.

You can't go fishing for fresh water.

Cell Phone or Ship to Shore.

It depends on how far off you are and if it's dark.  They could lay off and then come in closer once it is dark.

Now then, as for timing.  If the man Jane Tanner saw was the abductor/smithman then he could have contacted the boat to say he had got the child and then lurked around those back allies to give them the time they needed to get to the  beach to meet him. 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 09:15:44 PM
You can't go fishing for fresh water.

Cell Phone or Ship to Shore.

It depends on how far off you are and if it's dark.  They could lay off and then come in closer once it is dark.

Now then, as for timing.  If the man Jane Tanner saw was the abductor/smithman then he could have contacted the boat to say he had got the child and then lurked around those back allies to give them the time they needed to get to the  beach to meet him.
You could have made a good crim.  They are all possible scenarios. all for the purpose of abducting a living girl.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 09:20:18 PM
You could have made a good crim.  They are all possible scenarios. all for the purpose of abducting a living girl.

Elementary, my dear Watson.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 09:22:39 PM
Elementary, my dear Watson.
Or a great detective.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 20, 2018, 09:26:46 PM
I think that is correct. So the PJ had an e-mail from a concerned citizen and they may or may not have had a statement from LP.

They had another 'continuation statement' from DC Markley. A friend of a friend of Kate's Aunt and Uncle had a vision that Madeleine was on a boat in Lagos Marina. This person set off to Portugal, visited the Marina and identified and photographed the 'Shearwater' as the boat in her vision.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS_VISION.htm
OK there were people suggesting that it was Kate and Gerry carrying/dragging their daughter at 6 AM on the 4th near the Lagos Marina, but if it was would they be directing the PJ down there by relating that vision to the PJ?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 20, 2018, 09:31:36 PM
OK there were people suggesting that it was Kate and Gerry carrying/dragging their daughter at 6 AM on the 4th near the Lagos Marina, but if it was would they be directing the PJ down there by relating that vision to the PJ?

This is hardly likely, is it.  More holes than one of those Swiss cheeses, so I won't bother to point them out.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 20, 2018, 09:50:57 PM
OK there were people suggesting that it was Kate and Gerry carrying/dragging their daughter at 6 AM on the 4th near the Lagos Marina, but if it was would they be directing the PJ down there by relating that vision to the PJ?

Were there? People have suggested all sorts of things.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 20, 2018, 10:10:04 PM
Were there? People have suggested all sorts of things.

All of which are simples if you say them quick like.... 8(0(*

All boats arriving from abroad must contact either a port or marina office.

In the main, most marinas require you to come ashore with passports, ship's papers and insurance documents (whether you are in the marina or anchored off).


Or risk a nasty encounter with the odd Coast Guard Cutter or two.

http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Portugal?rc=Formalities
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Mr Gray on February 20, 2018, 10:13:35 PM
All of which are simples if you say them quick like.... 8(0(*

All boats arriving from abroad must contact either a port or marina office.

In the main, most marinas require you to come ashore with passports, ship's papers and insurance documents (whether you are in the marina or anchored off).


Or risk a nasty encounter with the odd Coast Guard Cutter or two.

http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Portugal?rc=Formalities
That's for boats, arriving from abroad and would not affect boats cruising around the, coast
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 20, 2018, 10:25:51 PM
That's for boats, arriving from abroad and would not affect boats cruising around the, coast

And?
continue to the logical conclusion allowing for the fact you cannot tie/anchor up just because you fancy it.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Mr Gray on February 20, 2018, 10:28:54 PM
And?
continue to the logical conclusion allowing for the fact you cannot tie/anchor up just because you fancy it.


Doesn't have to be the marina ..Could be the beach .
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: ShiningInLuz on February 20, 2018, 10:42:12 PM
It's not the Pizza place where Amy worked though. That was Pizza Real, Rua da Praia in Luz.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm
Thus far, I am getting two stories.

There is George of Pizza Hut, Lagos, who allegedly witnessed this sighting.  The verifiable details stack up - train station, marina.  I did not know there was a Pizza Hut in Lagos, but I am not a fan of Pizza Hut.

Then there is the tale of the conversation about this sighting in Pizza Real, in Luz.  I have no reason at this point in time to doubt this conversation took place i.e. that the alleged sighting was discussed in a Luz pizza joint, by Amy and a McCann friend.

From there, the Luz convo seems to have flashed to LP, who then faxed it to the PJ, who checked it out (presumably).

This leaves me with 2 queries.  The first is how it got flashed to LP so quickly.  The other is how George of Burgau got sucked into the quagmire.

Perhaps MW was not yet providing food to the McCann entourage.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 20, 2018, 10:46:03 PM

Doesn't have to be the marina ..Could be the beach .

So your logical conclusion is being stuck on a beach ?
Try working it through from alpa to omega then post it in one hit.
Hint:
First work out what the objective is.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Mr Gray on February 20, 2018, 10:47:57 PM
So your logical conclusion is being stuck on a beach ?
Try working it through from alpa to omega then post it in one hit.
Hint:
First work out what the objective is.

I think a small clue to the objective is in the thread title... Or maybe I'm way off, the mark
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 20, 2018, 10:58:32 PM
Could that boat, or any boat have gone to the area off Luz Beach and picked up Madeleine from there?  Smithman was heading in that direction.
Exactly, it could have been heading towards a pick up off the little rock beach adjacent and west of the Fortezela.

The beach that vanishes at high tide but has a deep inlet into the hillside between two massive rocks ...  and a tunnel that had been skilfully hidden when Heri visited.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 20, 2018, 11:05:30 PM
OK but doesn't your theory have the same problem then too.  If Madeleine went to Porta did she get there by boat or rail?
If this George Brooks sighting has anything to do with it a good assumption would be to think they needed a boat or the rail, but not a road vehicle as they likely had one of these to get from PdL to Lagos in the first place.
Rob, I dont actually think that Madeleine went there; I amjust going along with your theory, in case.

I think she was taken North towards Porto
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 12:04:51 AM
Rob, I dont actually think that Madeleine went there; I amjust going along with your theory, in case.

I think she was taken North towards Porto
Sorry that is where I meant Porto not Porta.  How does she get to Porto?  By road rail or sea?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 12:10:50 AM
Do they go fishing instead?

So they would need to keep in contact using cellphone communications. Either that or anchor up.  I have  feeling someone would have noticed this larger craft anchoring up.

The larger craft could be just over the horizon and it could be in morse (lights) contact with someone (Smithman?) on a high building in PdL.  I went all over this about 4 years ago but no-body picked up on it.

I think that the roof or even top balcony at The Staff Quarters on Rua d'Escola might have had a roof high enough to see a message being flashed from a larger vessel anchored just over the horizon for lower places in PdL ... but visible from high up.

At that time, on this forum, I questioned if messages by morse or similar were exchanged and Smithman then had to move to make his rendezvous with a smaller boat on the little rocky beach immediately adjoining the Fortezela (to its west).  This is where the tunnel that British ex soldiers Colin Shakile and his workmate (IIRC) explored and were shown  exiting from it in the worlds press.  It is also the tunnel that was blocked off and so skilfully disguised that master sleuth Heriberto Janosch photographed it not realizing that there was a tunnel behind.

I wonder who went to such pains to hide it and why?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 12:20:05 AM
Thus far, I am getting two stories.

There is George of Pizza Hut, Lagos, who allegedly witnessed this sighting.  The verifiable details stack up - train station, marina.  I did not know there was a Pizza Hut in Lagos, but I am not a fan of Pizza Hut.

Then there is the tale of the conversation about this sighting in Pizza Real, in Luz.  I have no reason at this point in time to doubt this conversation took place i.e. that the alleged sighting was discussed in a Luz pizza joint, by Amy and a McCann friend.

From there, the Luz convo seems to have flashed to LP, who then faxed it to the PJ, who checked it out (presumably).

This leaves me with 2 queries.  The first is how it got flashed to LP so quickly.  The other is how George of Burgau got sucked into the quagmire.

Perhaps MW was not yet providing food to the McCann entourage.
I think you have the situation correct - well at this stage.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 12:20:34 AM
Or a great detective.
and Ex Royal Navy, I think?

Eleanor was quite a girl and a half.  I will let her tell you about it, (if she wishes, of course)
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 01:26:18 AM
I think that is correct. So the PJ had an e-mail from a concerned citizen and they may or may not have had a statement from LP.

They had another 'continuation statement' from DC Markley. A friend of a friend of Kate's Aunt and Uncle had a vision that Madeleine was on a boat in Lagos Marina. This person set off to Portugal, visited the Marina and identified and photographed the 'Shearwater' as the boat in her vision.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS_VISION.htm
Did anyone get to see what 'Shearwater' looked like?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 01:39:43 AM
Sorry that is where I meant Porto not Porta.  How does she get to Porto?  By road rail or sea?
I think that she went by boat up to Sines (about 60 miles north, Crow flies, and 90 miles by sea). and arrived just before dawn.  Sines is a huge mainly commercial port IIRC.and according to GE in 2007 ish largely empty of boats and shipping. 

I think that a white van met the boat and Madeleine was transferred at dawn into the back of that van.   By using this method of transportation, for the first crucial hours Madeleine would have been out at sea whilst all the searches went on around PdL.  She wouldn't have been on trunk roads or motorways going out of the Lagos area, so subject to Police road blocks..

Once in the van she was sedated, lain down in the back and driven up to Porto, either by motorway, or the old trunk road going north (the N10, I believe).   The main perp in the meantime took the train up arriving at Porto at about mid-day.

Two things link into this + several other things.  Some i cannot mention.

1)  Carlos Moreira's sighting at 8 am east of Lisbon on the main N10.  This was at a roadside cafe which I visited.  A little girl lying ?asleep? on a pile of variously reported at the time, rags or clothes.    Man and woman in the van.  Carlos noticed that he man told the older woman to go back to the van and in one report, now missing, it said that an attempt seemed to be being made to hide this little girl.

https://joana-morais.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/fat-gypsies-white-vans-and-pink-pyjamas.html


2)  The taxi drivers sighting statement.  Please read

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/SERVICE_INFORMATION.htm#p3p809

Mystery:  There is no number 79 Rua Andre de Castro in Vila Nova da Gaia.  Historically before May 3rd 2007 it used to be on the south side of a blind alleyway adjoining the New Catholic Church, which was in its early days of construction.  The alleyway was roughly rock paved and not wide enough for a taxi.  The part in the middle of the alleyway was not visible from either end.

Anyone going along that alleyway could have gone thru the broken down high wall into the grounds of the building work to the new church or into the childrens Creche on the same land or into the school buildings also on the same plot of ground.... or ... (two other ideas). 

Because of the connections that creches and schools and priests seem to have to paedophilia, in more abundance than others, I am always looking at them more carefully.




Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on February 21, 2018, 01:51:25 AM
Did anyone get to see what 'Shearwater' looked like?

Shearwater is the name of a boat manufacturer. The name is often emblazoned on the hull of their boats - see Google images.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 02:06:03 AM
Shearwater is the name of a boat manufacturer. The name is often emblazoned on the hull of their boats - see Google images.
That is possible but the PJ would be amiss to say the boat's name was Shearwater when that was in reality the make of the boat.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 02:07:24 AM
Found this addition description of the man and the woman.  "07 May 2007

A British expat told yesterday how he saw a "suspicious" couple with a child like Maddy rushing towards a railway station not long after the little girl disappeared.

Supermarket owner George Burke, from Liverpool, said that a "vicious looking" man and woman were carrying the child, eight miles from where she was abducted.

The sighting was about eight hours after Maddy had vanished from her bed at the Ocean Club resort as she slept beside her two-year-old twin brother and sister.

Father-of-two Mr Burke said he was driving home just before 6am on Friday when he caught the couple in his headlights.

"It was very, very dark, " he said. "It was hard to make out exactly what the couple looked like, but through the gloom I could definitely see a very suspicious-looking man and woman, carrying a child who fitted Madeleine's description.

"Though there was nobody else on the road, they were hurrying across a dual carriageway that leads straight to the train station and marina in Lagos.

"The woman was in her thirties, darkhaired and slim. The man, also in his thirties, was less than six feet tall and slightly stocky.

He had shoulder-length hair and looked quite tanned. They did not look like tourists and they certainly didn't seem to be British.

"You could tell from their posture that they were trying to carry the child without anyone seeing it and they were extremely disturbed when I caught them in my headlights.

"It was only after I returned home to my house in Burgau, along the coast from Praia da Luz, that I realised the importance of what I had seen. I quickly rang the police."

Portuguese police alerted airports, ports and border controls several hours after the alarm was raised, before cordoning the area.

Helped by Mr Burke's description, they have built a profile of the man they believe is their prime suspect. Mr Burke said they told him not to tell the media what he had seen but he decided to break his silence to help to track down the kidnapper.

"I'm the father of two teenagers myself, " he added, "but you can't begin to understand the agony and the distress that the child's parents are going through."

- Daily Express   from http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

Also from the same site:
"11 August 2008

Police also failed to interview pizza worker George Brooks, 61, of Liverpool, who saw a suspicious couple carrying a child near the local marina hours after Maddie vanished.

Mr Brooks spoke to the McCanns' private detectives. But by the time Portuguese police visited his restaurant they were told he had left.

- The Sun"
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 02:07:36 AM
Also that a boat was taken out of Lagos marina before the port gate were closed at IIRC 8pm.

It was moored in the kind of canal which links the Port and Marina to the Ocean.   Where ever it was going, it was on "stand by".

Possibly quite innocent but worth noting.

to reach a boat moored outside the marina because the gate was closed, one would HAVE to walk by George Burkes Pizza Hut restaurant.  The closest place for the boat to be moored after the restaurant is over 250 metres further on.  Presumably a car /van could have been parked in the Marina car park which would add another approx 200 metres dragging a reluctant child.   A total of approx. 450 metres  .... a long walk in such circumstances

ETA.  Having just read Robs last post, and seen the bit about driving along the dual carriageway when George saw them, I think I am wrong.  I cant make up my mind what he means about dual carriageway, but seems that the trio were farther away from where the boat outside the gate would have been moored.

So even further to walk.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 02:10:10 AM
to reach a boat moored outside the marina because the gate was closed, one would HAVE to walk by George Burkes Pizza Hut restaurant.  The closest place for the boat to be moored after the restaurant is over 250 metres further on.  Presumably a car /van could have been parked in the Marina car park which would add another approx 200 metres dragging a reluctant child.   A total of approx. 450 metres  .... a long walk in such circumstances
Is that from Google Earth?  Boat owners would have access to the marina would they not?

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 02:29:37 AM
Is that from Google Earth?  Boat owners would have access to the marina would they not?
I have been there but mostly forgotten now.

Yep it is from GE.  I typed in Pizza hut George lagos Portugal .... and it flew me there.

The Marina gate is the line across the channel which I likened to a canal in one of my posts.  Just to the south of the Marina.  The port is closer to the sea and appears to be fully open overnight.  The pontoons where I think a boat outside the gate would moor overnight is just south of the gate.

Seemed a nice place when we visited in 2010.  Much more built up now tho.

Lagos is historical with Phoenicians, Caannanites aand Cathegenians using the port in ancient times.   I wish i had spent more time there


Lagos also has a small aerodrome.  That is to the north of the Marina.

There is also a bigger aerodrome at the Penina Golf course near Alvor and Figueira where Joana C went missing.  I think both are probably just for private planes.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on February 21, 2018, 02:33:09 AM
That is possible but the PJ would be amiss to say the boat's name was Shearwater when that was in reality the make of the boat.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/OA2_8/02_volume_II_o_apenso_VIII_325.jpg
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/OA2_8/02_volume_II_o_apenso_VIII_326.jpg

Outros Apensos VIII Vol II a

Pages 322 – 330

 

 

Policia Judiciaria

 

Date: 2007-05-18

 

 

 

Service Information

 

 

 

To: The Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation in Portimao, Dr G. Amaral

 

From: Inspector José Luís

 

 

 

Subject: Inquiries Made

 

 

I inform you that in accordance with superior orders, an investigation team consisting of myself and Inspectors Santos Martins and Marques Bom went to Lagos Marina today at about 11.00 with the aim of collecting elements relating to the occupants of a vessel that was moored there at the mooring post B40, registered under the name of “Shearwater”.

 

Due to the absence of Engineer Martinho Fortunado, Director of Lagos Marina, contact was made with Sra Ingrid who clarified the following in her capacity as Administrator of the complex:

 

The “Shearwater” vessel is registered under the number 30E11386, has a Canadian flag and has been “tightly” moored at the marina since 19-10-2006 when it entered the marina in provenance from Portimao marina where it had undergone some repairs.

 

The vessel’s owner is B. Cook, born in Ontario, Canada, (Canadian address and 2 telephone numbers supplied).

B. Cook is a frequent client of Lagos Marina. He has used the marina for the past 8 years and remains here for long periods, he lives on the vessel, being a solitary, easy going person.

 

Whenever he needs to leave the marina he uses a bicycle for transport, which is usually situated on top of the vessel, perfectly visible from the outside.

 

When the vessel arrived from Portimao, it was manned by R. Barker, identified by document ****, a British citizen and friend of B. Cook and who is currently in Turkey.

 

The “Shearwater” hardly ever sails, in spite of appearing to have all the necessary conditions for regular use.

 

Although it is an 8.10 metre long vessel, it has a central mast the dimensions of which require the mobile bridge to be raised. When the employees of the marina were asked about boat movements requiring the raising of the mobile bridge (manual registers) it was established that the bridge had not been raised during the months of April or May of 2007.

 

Whilst the team of investigators was present at Lagos Marina, Mr Cook who was next to his vessel, was pointed out to them to them. He was immediately approached, the investigators using a cover story, as if they were just carrying out a routine check.

 

Under these terms a brief conversation was held with B. Cook who presented his identification and placed the vessel at the officers’ disposal for any check they cared to make.

There was nothing strange about the situation nor anything that aroused any interest.

 

A photographic register was made of the vessel (interior and exterior) as well as of B. Cook himself and is attached to this report.

 

Signed

Inspector Luis

==================================================================

Boat looks like a Shearwater. Maybe they just adopted manufacturer's name for the vessel.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 02:35:50 AM
"1) George Brooks, an ex-pat from Liverpool, claims to have seen a suspicious couple carrying a child, near Lagos marina, 7/8 hours after Madeleine had been reported missing. For reasons unknown, in all early media reports he is referred to as 'George Burke'. Despite the claims of many of these reports, it appears that Mr Brooks never made an official statement to the Portuguese police."

2. "George contacted police as soon as he got home but border and port authorities were not alerted for another 12 hours."
"http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

From the bow of the boat it isn't a speed boat like some of the Shearwater designs  It has rails more like a yacht.  Is there an actual description?




There is an outline of the craft in this photo (http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/sitebuilderpictures/221b.jpg) http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 21, 2018, 03:01:56 AM
and Ex Royal Navy, I think?

Eleanor was quite a girl and a half.  I will let her tell you about it, (if she wishes, of course)

This is a fact, Sadie.  Ex Royal Navy, that is.  And done a bit of messing about in small boats.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 05:19:07 AM
if a launch could do 20 knots per hour (37 km/h) the distance from Lagos to Barcelona looks to be 1400 km it would take 38 hours to travel that.   So if the trip started at 7:00 AM on the 4th it could with constant travel arrive by 9:00 PM on the 5th so there is plenty of time to get there by the early hours of the 7th.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 06:37:02 AM
The boat that attracts my attention is:http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS.htm

439     Albufeira Riamar           PT   04/05/07               04/05/07               PT   

It does not have details of its destination or where  it leaves from and from Google images Riamar is a brand of boat so we don't have a registered name of it either. 
Photo below shows a launch capable of going right around to Barcelona in a couple of days (with passengers).
And it looks like the launch "Shearwater" at the Lagos Marina in the PJ and McCann blog photos.

Features:
Looks like Shearwater.  http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS_VISION.htm
Could have left from Lagos Marina
Could have gone to Barcelona
Capable of carrying passengers
Left on the 4th May 2007

Strange that they know when it left but its not recorded from where!
 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 06:40:45 AM
Riamar (Double click small image to get larger image.)

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 06:48:51 AM
And there was a boat like that left sitting around in the Algarve  https://algarve.boatshed.com/riamar_riamar_aveiro-boat-110266.html

(https://d385tlrw8quush.cloudfront.net/400/300/110266_BoatPic_Main.jpg)
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 06:51:23 AM
Brand of Riamar boats  (https://4vector.com/i/free-vector-riamar-boats_042662_riamar-boats.png)
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 08:02:46 AM
Also that a boat was taken out of Lagos marina before the port gate were closed at IIRC 8pm.

It was moored in the kind of canal which links the Port and Marina to the Ocean.   Where ever it was going, it was on "stand by".

Possibly quite innocent but worth noting.
That is 8 PM on the 3rd of May.  Is that in the file? 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 09:39:57 AM
That is 8 PM on the 3rd of May.  Is that in the file?
I don't know where I got it from now, Rob, but it was talked about in the months after Madeleine vanished.   Some in depth boat and Lagos harbour research was done by members of ' The 3 A's ' forum.  It is quite possible that i got it from there.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: slartibartfast on February 21, 2018, 10:19:56 AM
Castles in the air.

In My Opinion.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 11:11:33 AM
Castles in the air.

In My Opinion.
Careful what you are saying slarti, because other people will remember it. 

I dont know if there are any on here that were reading about the analysis of the boats and Lagos harbour and port, (including on The 3A's) like I did, but some will remember.

Your comment might come back to bite you !
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 11:17:25 AM
Castles in the air.

In My Opinion.
Castles in the air. - visionary unattainable schemes; daydreams.

Well was that written because the identification of the "Shearwater" was based on a vision?   But what I noticed was that the person who had the vision was willing to go to the Lagos marina and identify a boat.  They put their money where their mouth was.  So they must have felt there was a value to that vision.   

But what was the chances the "abductors boat" still being in the Marina?  Not great in my opinion.  So it becomes a matter of identifying all the boat movements accurately.

It was another 2 years before the importance of the Barcelona Marina became known.

Had it been impossible to get from Lagos to Barcelona in 3 days then it would start to crumble.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 11:23:28 AM
Also that a boat was taken out of Lagos marina before the port gate were closed at IIRC 8pm.

It was moored in the kind of canal which links the Port and Marina to the Ocean.   Where ever it was going, it was on "stand by".

Possibly quite innocent but worth noting.
Does that port gate show up on Google Earth?

I see a walkway across the channel but no gate as such.   
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 11:43:16 AM
(https://www.algarverealestate.com/i/algarve-guide/lagos/pedestrian-bridge-over-the-river-bensafrim.jpg)
From that photo if the swing bridge was down at night yachts would be prevented from leaving but launches could still go under it with ease.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 21, 2018, 11:53:28 AM
Castles in the air. - visionary unattainable schemes; daydreams.

Well was that written because the identification of the "Shearwater" was based on a vision?   But what I noticed was that the person who had the vision was willing to go to the Lagos marina and identify a boat.  They put their money where their mouth was.  So they must have felt there was a value to that vision.   

But what was the chances the "abductors boat" still being in the Marina?  Not great in my opinion.  So it becomes a matter of identifying all the boat movements accurately.

It was another 2 years before the importance of the Barcelona Marina became important.

Had it been impossible to get from Lagos to Barcelona in 3 days then it would start to crumble.

The Barcelona Marina became important how? Some man told the McCann's detectives about a woman he saw in Barcelona and produced an e-fit. It took him two years to decide to come forward. Dave Edgar released the e-fit during a press conference without making any inquiries at all to verify the story.

The story was, in my opinion, part of the 'awareness campaign' rather than a serious sighting.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 12:07:00 PM
The Barcelona Marina became important how? Some man told the McCann's detectives about a woman he saw in Barcelona and produced an e-fit. It took him two years to decide to come forward. Dave Edgar released the e-fit during a press conference without making any inquiries at all to verify the story.

The story was, in my opinion, part of the 'awareness campaign' rather than a serious sighting.
I can't think of another press conference where the McCanns are more excited by a lead, hence I call it "important".
https://youtu.be/BbleCtwbzYY
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on February 21, 2018, 12:09:41 PM
The Barcelona Marina became important how? Some man told the McCann's detectives about a woman he saw in Barcelona and produced an e-fit. It took him two years to decide to come forward. Dave Edgar released the e-fit during a press conference without making any inquiries at all to verify the story.

The story was, in my opinion, part of the 'awareness campaign' rather than a serious sighting.

MADDIE HUNT FOCUSES ON YACHT
A £3MILLION superyacht has become the latest focus in the two-year hunt for Madeleine McCann.
9 AUG 2009UPDATED03:39, 10 FEB 2013

A £3MILLION superyacht has become the latest focus in the two-year hunt for Madeleine McCann.

It was moored at a Spanish marina three days after Maddie vanished when a woman with an Australian accent asked a man: "Are you here to deliver my new daughter?" The luxury boat - named Willpower - is owned by mega-rich Aussie socialite Rhonda Wyllie.

But the 52-year-old is said to be "devastated" by the news and has vowed to do all she can to help investigators.

There is NO suggestion Rhonda - widow of property tycoon Bill Wyllie - is connected to Maddie's disappearance.

Willpower, which is currently for sale, is a 105ft Sunseeker big enough to sleep six guests and carry four crew.

Last night Rhonda's brother Wayne McGrath said: "I have spoken to my sister and she is absolutely devastated.

"She doesn't know anything about this.

"She does go to Spain - she's been there for the last two or three years. But the only reason she goes is to entertain friends."

Wayne added: "She is happy to co-operate with and help any investigation."

The People has learnt most of the crew who have worked on Willpower in recent years have been Australian.

It's believed investigators want to find out all they can about anyone connected to the yacht to rule them out of the probe.

Records show Willpower was at the Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona when a woman - said to look like Posh Spice Victoria Beckham - approached a British man and asked about the child.

It is believed she had mistaken him for a "courier".

A source close to the worldwide Hunt for Maddie said: "Any information the yacht's owners can give would be very helpful."

Willpower is thought to be in the south of France at present.

Madeleine vanished from a Portuguese apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007 - just before her fourth birthday.

She was on holiday with mum Kate, dad Gerry and the couple's twins Sean and Amelie, then aged two.

The children were alseep in the flat while their parents dined with friends at a nearby restaurant when Maddie was last seen.

Since then, heart specialist Gerry and GP Kate, of Rothley, Leics, have campaigned tirelessly around the world to find their missing daughter.

A new global appeal was launched in London on Thursday after the possible "Aussie Spice" link came to light.

Kate and Gerry, both 41, have already had more than 600 calls after an E-fit picture of a suspect was released.

Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "There has been an overwhelming response.

"Kate and Gerry are very pleased and grateful to people for making such an effort to help them."


But a woman named as a match for the E-fit claims she has not left Australia for years.

Judith Aron, of Glen Iris, Victoria, said: "I'm 53 years old and I certainly don't look like a Spice Girl.

"I'm totally shocked anybody may have thought I have some connection to the case.

"I have been looking after my sick father and I haven't left the country since 2000."

russell.myers@people.co.uk
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/maddie-hunt-focuses-on-yacht-1669058
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 21, 2018, 12:20:21 PM
(https://www.algarverealestate.com/i/algarve-guide/lagos/pedestrian-bridge-over-the-river-bensafrim.jpg)
From that photo if the swing bridge was down at night yachts would be prevented from leaving but launches could still go under it with ease.
It doesn't look like a gate does it?   Maybe it is a mix up with translation?  Both gate and door translate as porte or portas IIRC.

I think everthing except ocean going big ships could get under there, cos (am I right?) even large yachts can fold their mast down, can't they ?

I dont remember seeing that bridge, but it wouldn't be very noticable except when the bridge was lifted .... just another bridge at other times !


If there is anything in this report that a boat was moored on the Ocean side of the erm gate and if this boat was used to carry madeleine, then as far as i can see the only purpose for mooring it there was .... for a quiet, quick get away as needed.

Personally I find it unlikely that Madeleine would be taken there and more or less dragged for a distance on to that boat.


More likely IMO that she would have been picked up via dinghy and transferred aboard a big boat before sailing off to Barcelona, or Sines maybe.  Probably picked up from that rocky beach with tunnel, cos Smithman was heading that way at the Smiths sighting

Only my thoughts, other thoughts are perfectly valid.  do present them
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 12:27:52 PM
The word "important" is used in this news release.  https://youtu.be/gd_6yxcgAo0
One line there was proven true,  "Her parents insist this hunt will go on" and that was in 2009 and it is 2018 now.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: slartibartfast on February 21, 2018, 02:10:46 PM
It doesn't look like a gate does it?   Maybe it is a mix up with translation?  Both gate and door translate as porte or portas IIRC.

I think everthing except ocean going big ships could get under there, cos (am I right?) even large yachts can fold their mast down, can't they ?

I dont remember seeing that bridge, but it wouldn't be very noticable except when the bridge was lifted .... just another bridge at other times !


If there is anything in this report that a boat was moored on the Ocean side of the erm gate and if this boat was used to carry madeleine, then as far as i can see the only purpose for mooring it there was .... for a quiet, quick get away as needed.

Personally I find it unlikely that Madeleine would be taken there and more or less dragged for a distance on to that boat.


More likely IMO that she would have been picked up via dinghy and transferred aboard a big boat before sailing off to Barcelona, or Sines maybe.  Probably picked up from that rocky beach with tunnel, cos Smithman was heading that way at the Smiths sighting

Only my thoughts, other thoughts are perfectly valid.  do present them

You would be very lucky to get a small lake yacht under there if closed and yachts do not routinely lower their masts as it is a major operation.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 09:24:25 PM
Riamar (Double click small image to get larger image.)
Someone might like to comment here as to whether you think a small boat like the one in the pic is large enough to go around the coast of Portugal and Spain.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 21, 2018, 09:45:45 PM
MADDIE HUNT FOCUSES ON YACHT
A £3MILLION superyacht has become the latest focus in the two-year hunt for Madeleine McCann.
9 AUG 2009UPDATED03:39, 10 FEB 2013

A £3MILLION superyacht has become the latest focus in the two-year hunt for Madeleine McCann.

It was moored at a Spanish marina three days after Maddie vanished when a woman with an Australian accent asked a man: "Are you here to deliver my new daughter?" The luxury boat - named Willpower - is owned by mega-rich Aussie socialite Rhonda Wyllie.

But the 52-year-old is said to be "devastated" by the news and has vowed to do all she can to help investigators.

There is NO suggestion Rhonda - widow of property tycoon Bill Wyllie - is connected to Maddie's disappearance.

Willpower, which is currently for sale, is a 105ft Sunseeker big enough to sleep six guests and carry four crew.

Last night Rhonda's brother Wayne McGrath said: "I have spoken to my sister and she is absolutely devastated.

"She doesn't know anything about this.

"She does go to Spain - she's been there for the last two or three years. But the only reason she goes is to entertain friends."

Wayne added: "She is happy to co-operate with and help any investigation."

The People has learnt most of the crew who have worked on Willpower in recent years have been Australian.

It's believed investigators want to find out all they can about anyone connected to the yacht to rule them out of the probe.

Records show Willpower was at the Port Olimpic marina in Barcelona when a woman - said to look like Posh Spice Victoria Beckham - approached a British man and asked about the child.

It is believed she had mistaken him for a "courier".

A source close to the worldwide Hunt for Maddie said: "Any information the yacht's owners can give would be very helpful."

Willpower is thought to be in the south of France at present.

Madeleine vanished from a Portuguese apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007 - just before her fourth birthday.

She was on holiday with mum Kate, dad Gerry and the couple's twins Sean and Amelie, then aged two.

The children were alseep in the flat while their parents dined with friends at a nearby restaurant when Maddie was last seen.

Since then, heart specialist Gerry and GP Kate, of Rothley, Leics, have campaigned tirelessly around the world to find their missing daughter.

A new global appeal was launched in London on Thursday after the possible "Aussie Spice" link came to light.

Kate and Gerry, both 41, have already had more than 600 calls after an E-fit picture of a suspect was released.

Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "There has been an overwhelming response.

"Kate and Gerry are very pleased and grateful to people for making such an effort to help them."


But a woman named as a match for the E-fit claims she has not left Australia for years.

Judith Aron, of Glen Iris, Victoria, said: "I'm 53 years old and I certainly don't look like a Spice Girl.

"I'm totally shocked anybody may have thought I have some connection to the case.

"I have been looking after my sick father and I haven't left the country since 2000."

russell.myers@people.co.uk
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/maddie-hunt-focuses-on-yacht-1669058

That bit's easy enough. What was the result ?do you know?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: slartibartfast on February 21, 2018, 10:58:15 PM
Someone might like to comment here as to whether you think a small boat like the one in the pic is large enough to go around the coast of Portugal and Spain.

If you have a good lifeboat service available...
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 21, 2018, 11:38:58 PM
If you have a good lifeboat service available...

Failing that wear a Kings Lynn whelk fisherman's ganzie. [from when the whelkers were sail boats].
It is a bit grizzly but the heavy ganzie ensured you went straight down in the event of falling overboard.
In a thing that size you'd struggle to have locker space for much food !
On the night in question hypothermia would have been a consideration too.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 21, 2018, 11:53:16 PM
Failing that wear a Kings Lynn whelk fisherman's ganzie. [from when the whelkers were sail boats].
It is a bit grizzly but the heavy ganzie ensured you went straight down in the event of falling overboard.
In a thing that size you'd struggle to have locker space for much food !
On the night in question hypothermia would have been a consideration too.
Get food when they refuel.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 22, 2018, 08:54:06 AM

Some people row across The Atlantic.  You don't need a particularly big boat to go to sea
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Mr Gray on February 22, 2018, 09:17:16 AM
Some people row across The Atlantic.  You don't need a particularly big boat to go to sea

A lot would depend on the experience  of the skipper
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 22, 2018, 09:38:19 AM
A lot would depend on the experience  of the skipper

It would.  And the weather.  I have been to sea in some very small boats.  And whether it was Sail or Motor.  Both is good.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on February 22, 2018, 10:57:52 AM
"  They went to sea in a Sieve, they did,
   In a Sieve they went to sea:
In spite of all their friends could say,
On a winter’s morn, on a stormy day,
   In a Sieve they went to sea!
And when the Sieve turned round and round,
And every one cried, ‘You’ll all be drowned!’
They called aloud, ‘Our Sieve ain’t big,
But we don’t care a button! we don’t care a fig! "
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 22, 2018, 11:30:23 AM
The McCann's immediate reaction was to demand the closure of roads, borders, ports and airports. As early as July 2007, however, it was to the shore of PdL to what had become 'her' rocks where Kate went when she wanted to feel close to her daughter.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 11:56:48 AM
A lot would depend on the experience  of the skipper
You wouldn't want to travel through the night without specialised navigation equipment. 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 12:00:03 PM
The McCann's immediate reaction was to demand the closure of roads, borders, ports and airports. As early as July 2007, however, it was to the shore of PdL to what had become 'her' rocks where Kate went when she wanted to feel close to her daughter.
Would you call that evidence?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Mr Gray on February 22, 2018, 12:02:00 PM
You wouldn't want to travel through the night without specialised navigation equipment.

I've travelled at night on a34 ft sailing yacht.. With lights and charts... It's part of basic sailing
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 22, 2018, 12:06:30 PM
The McCann's immediate reaction was to demand the closure of roads, borders, ports and airports. As early as July 2007, however, it was to the shore of PdL to what had become 'her' rocks where Kate went when she wanted to feel close to her daughter.
'Demand' ?  Where did they demand? 

Maybe they requested, maybe they urged but never did I see them demand
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on February 22, 2018, 12:14:26 PM
The McCann's immediate reaction was to demand the closure of roads, borders, ports and airports. As early as July 2007, however, it was to the shore of PdL to what had become 'her' rocks where Kate went when she wanted to feel close to her daughter.
I have been there and understand where Kate was coming from. 

When I lost my son, all I wanted to do was sit in a calm place, away from intrusions and people, near to the natural elements.   I didn't have the sea to comfort me, but watching the clouds and the bees, butterflies and birds, whilst I went over things in my mind, helped me
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 12:16:32 PM
I've travelled at night on a34 ft sailing yacht.. With lights and charts... It's part of basic sailing
On the type of boat I chose as a lookalike to the images of the "Shearwater", I didn't see any lights on the boat.  OK correction there are port and starboard lights and a white light on the cabin.  Not good enough for travelling IMO.


[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 22, 2018, 03:01:25 PM
On the type of boat I chose as a lookalike to the images of the "Shearwater", I didn't see any lights on the boat.  OK correction there are port and starboard lights and a white light on the cabin.  Not good enough for travelling IMO.

What do you think people do with these boats?  Muck about in Ponds?  Or sit around in Marinas?

They have to be sea going to get to foreign Marinas in the first place.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 06:16:56 PM
What do you think people do with these boats?  Muck about in Ponds?  Or sit around in Marinas?

They have to be sea going to get to foreign Marinas in the first place.
To race around at 20 knots at night would need special equipment.  Travelling in the daytime in calm to moderate weather should not have been a problem.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: John on February 22, 2018, 06:25:06 PM
What do you think people do with these boats?  Muck about in Ponds?  Or sit around in Marinas?

They have to be sea going to get to foreign Marinas in the first place.

Absolutely and every one is checked by customs or the port authorities on arrival and departure.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 06:30:22 PM
Absolutely and every one is checked by customs or the port authorities on arrival and departure.
There are many small marinas along the coast there won't be customs at each of those.
Karen Sisson pointed out there was a marina at Cabopino. 

Her words from yesterday "Hi well, first thoughts, Shearwater seems to be a brand of boat as well as an individual, could it have been a different boat. It is interesting to see that the police followed up a dream lead. I thought they dismissed such leads. As to whether such a boat could do the journey I'm no sailer but I would have thought so yes. Just to say there is a marina at Cabopino too. Puerto Cabopino.

I looked it up on Google Earth and there didn't appear to be controls.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on February 22, 2018, 06:34:28 PM
There are many small marinas along the coast there won't be customs at each of those.

Just nipping up the coast a bit.  And then do a runner.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 07:21:32 PM
Just nipping up the coast a bit.  And then do a runner.
The records weren't comprehensive, that is for sure.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 07:50:57 PM
Column headings

"Page    Port      Boat            Flag  In         From        Out      To           Crew & dockets"

record for Riamar
"439     Albufeira Riamar           PT   04/05/07               04/05/07               PT

Nothing under the heading "from" and "To"
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 08:19:20 PM
In the document about the vision of the boat why did the PJ or the McCanns think it was the Marina at Lagos?
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS_VISION.htm

Was it because of the Brooks sighting on the morning of the 4th near the Lagos marina? 

The information from the family.  (http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/BV/02volume_II_apenso_VIII_Page_331.jpg)

Why do they go to Lagos?

"I spoke to Kate McCann on Tuesday 8th of May 07. She told me that a friend of her Aunt & Uncle from Leicester had a friend that had a strong vision that Madeleine was on a boat with a man in the Marina in Logos. "  Did the vision specify the marina at Lagos?
Where is this other Marina? Albufeira - 60 odd KM away. to the East.


Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 08:41:56 PM
Where it says "I spoke to Kate today and she has given me photographs of the boat. She has also given me photographs of a man who has been on the boat. This is not the man the woman had in her vision."  do you think Kate went with these persons to the Marina?  Or did Kate hand to the police photos that the people, who followed up on the vision, gave to Kate?

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS_VISION.htm
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on February 22, 2018, 09:16:01 PM
Where it says "I spoke to Kate today and she has given me photographs of the boat. She has also given me photographs of a man who has been on the boat. This is not the man the woman had in her vision."  do you think Kate went with these persons to the Marina?  Or did Kate hand to the police photos that the people, who followed up on the vision, gave to Kate?

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/BOATS_VISION.htm

No-one says, but Kate may be referring to this vision in her book. Her Aunt was very religious so it's possible that the Lagos incident was related to prayer;

There were a couple of ‘visionary’ experiences in particular I took very seriously. One of them had come through prayer which, at the time, gave it even greater credibility in my eyes. I begged the police to look into these. They were very sceptical, to put it mildly. [madeleine]
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 22, 2018, 09:49:26 PM
Absolutely and every one is checked by customs or the port authorities on arrival and departure.

It is all strictly regulated by maritime law...................................except at 37.0909° N, 8.7591° W.
where International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea seemingly has never been heard of and even if it has it does not apply  (&^&
Chapter V – Safety of navigation
This chapter requires governments to ensure that all vessels are sufficiently and efficiently manned from a safety point of view. It places requirements on all vessels regarding voyage and passage planning, expecting a careful assessment of any proposed voyages by all who put to sea. Every mariner must take account of all potential dangers to navigation, weather forecasts, tidal predictions, the competence of the crew, and all other relevant factors. It also adds an obligation for all vessels' masters to offer assistance to those in distress and controls the use of lifesaving signals with specific requirements regarding danger and distress messages. It is different from the other chapters, which apply to certain classes of commercial shipping, in that these requirements apply to all vessels and their crews, including yachts and private craft, on all voyages and trips including local ones.
[/b]
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 09:53:34 PM
No-one says, but Kate may be referring to this vision in her book. Her Aunt was very religious so it's possible that the Lagos incident was related to prayer;

There were a couple of ‘visionary’ experiences in particular I took very seriously. One of them had come through prayer which, at the time, gave it even greater credibility in my eyes. I begged the police to look into these. They were very sceptical, to put it mildly. [madeleine]
I have had experience of visions following prayer and they can be very confusing.  If there was a mention of the marina's name was it said in a sentence or was it in writing e.g.vision of a sign post?  I could imagine the vision being in Portuguese and the English speaking person having no way of remembering it, but may have remembered the aspect of the Marina and the shape of the boat.    I would be most impressed of a vision that said "Shearwater" and "Marina da Lagos" especially if that person had not studied a map of the Algarve or had never been there before. 
So in the end it could be any marina close by and any boat with a cabin?.  In fact we can't be sure which craft is being featured in the photos.  The photo on the McCann Blogs was different to all the ones on the PJ site so I wonder if Kate held some photos back for herself.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 22, 2018, 10:00:10 PM
It is all strictly regulated by maritime law...................................except at 37.0909° N, 8.7591° W.
where International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea seemingly has never been heard of and even if it has it does not apply  (&^&
Chapter V – Safety of navigation
This chapter requires governments to ensure that all vessels are sufficiently and efficiently manned from a safety point of view. It places requirements on all vessels regarding voyage and passage planning, expecting a careful assessment of any proposed voyages by all who put to sea. Every mariner must take account of all potential dangers to navigation, weather forecasts, tidal predictions, the competence of the crew, and all other relevant factors. It also adds an obligation for all vessels' masters to offer assistance to those in distress and controls the use of lifesaving signals with specific requirements regarding danger and distress messages. It is different from the other chapters, which apply to certain classes of commercial shipping, in that these requirements apply to all vessels and their crews, including yachts and private craft, on all voyages and trips including local ones.
[/b]
You can write a law like that quite easily and I agree it gives good advice but how is it going to be enforced?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 25, 2018, 08:16:23 PM

"PIZZA REAL" was where Amy Brooks, daughter of George Burke Brooks, previously worked.  I was surprised that the date of this follow-up was in 2008/04/24 nearly a year after the sighting.


http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/SERVICE_INFORMATION.htm

"4201 to 4202-Service information re: Wright's suspect statement George Brooks
TRANSLATION BY ALBYM

16-Processos Volume 16 Pages 4201 to 4202
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4201
 
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4202
 
SERVICE INFORMATION

To: Paulo Rebelo

From: Ricardo Paiva, Inspector

Date: 2008/04/24

Re: Various Activities Regarding the Investigation NUIPC 201/07.0GALGS

Regarding the content of the attached email from British Authorities, with particular focus with respect to the statement by Michael Terrence Wright, in the international letter of request which is being implemented by the Leicestershire Police, on the 6th of May, 2007, in Praia da Luz, a pizza kitchen worker, of British nationality and originally from Liverpool, commented to that witness that her father, George, had seen a man carrying a child, in the early hours of May 4th of 2007. He does not know if George contacted the authorities about this. This testimony was recorded by Inspector Joao Carlos and myself as follows:

--Yesterday, after heading toward Praia da Luz late, we located the pizzeria shop (PIZZA REAL) mentioned by that witness. It is situated in a kiosk on Rua da Praia. Even though it was closed at the time, we obtained the telephone number ********* of said pizzeria which is open from 18H00. This same night, we contacted the manager, C*******, using that telephone number and she immediately identified the employee as Amy. She told us that Amy was no longer in Portugal and that she had returned to the U.K. She was requested to contact Amy and ask her to contact this police force.

--Today, at 11.37, the signatory received a telephone call from *******, from a woman who identified herself as J***, mother of Amy, and who told me that as soon as possible, George, her husband, and Amy's father, would contact us. Around 17H16, we were contacted by George, Amy's father, from telephone no. *********. Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation.
Signed,
Ricardo Paiva"
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: slartibartfast on February 25, 2018, 08:27:17 PM
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/SERVICE_INFORMATION.htm

"4201 to 4202-Service information re: Wright's suspect statement George Brooks
TRANSLATION BY ALBYM

16-Processos Volume 16 Pages 4201 to 4202
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4201
 
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4202
 
SERVICE INFORMATION

To: Paulo Rebelo

From: Ricardo Paiva, Inspector

Date: 2008/04/24

Re: Various Activities Regarding the Investigation NUIPC 201/07.0GALGS

Regarding the content of the attached email from British Authorities, with particular focus with respect to the statement by Michael Terrence Wright, in the international letter of request which is being implemented by the Leicestershire Police, on the 6th of May, 2007, in Praia da Luz, a pizza kitchen worker, of British nationality and originally from Liverpool, commented to that witness that her father, George, had seen a man carrying a child, in the early hours of May 4th of 2007. He does not know if George contacted the authorities about this. This testimony was recorded by Inspector Joao Carlos and myself as follows:

--Yesterday, after heading toward Praia da Luz late, we located the pizzeria shop (PIZZA REAL) mentioned by that witness. It is situated in a kiosk on Rua da Praia. Even though it was closed at the time, we obtained the telephone number ********* of said pizzeria which is open from 18H00. This same night, we contacted the manager, C*******, using that telephone number and she immediately identified the employee as Amy. She told us that Amy was no longer in Portugal and that she had returned to the U.K. She was requested to contact Amy and ask her to contact this police force.

--Today, at 11.37, the signatory received a telephone call from *******, from a woman who identified herself as J***, mother of Amy, and who told me that as soon as possible, George, her husband, and Amy's father, would contact us. Around 17H16, we were contacted by George, Amy's father, from telephone no. *********. Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation.
Signed,
Ricardo Paiva"

Robitty, could you put at least a short sentence before your cut&paste so we know what point they are illuminating.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 25, 2018, 08:37:24 PM
Robitty, could you put at least a short sentence before your cut&paste so we know what point they are illuminating.
OK I copied and pasted that document as it was about the sighting of a man and woman with a girl on the morning of the 4th.  I know we had discussed this in this thread but I want to double check if we had already mentioned this file. 
I have just completed 2 searches of the UK Justice site and the term "PIZZA REAL" had never appeared before so I have a feeling it was a new find.
"PIZZA REAL" was where Amy Brooks previously worked.  I was surprised that the date of this follow-up was in 2008/04/24 nearly a year after the sighting.  They certainly make it hard for  themselves IMO.

To be really certain it was new I'd have to refresh the whole thread.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 25, 2018, 09:35:43 PM
You can write a law like that quite easily and I agree it gives good advice but how is it going to be enforced?

Rule one:  Serious nasty types do not hide their identities or run unecessary risks.
They hide their intentions.
If your argument is seriious then on that basis no laws are worthwhile.
Maritime law and regulation is a bit more comples
Check out radar.
Edit: Removed personal comment.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Miss Taken Identity on February 25, 2018, 11:04:42 PM
So was smithman taking MBM to a boat?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on February 25, 2018, 11:14:01 PM
I don't like you using the terms "your narrow minded view".  That felt personal. If you fix it up I'll let the post remain otherwise it will go.
I said what I meant and vice versa.
If it offends you that much then whoosh it.
I still said it and I still think it. Burning the book will not materially affect that view point.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 25, 2018, 11:30:17 PM
So was smithman taking MBM to a boat?
He could have been taking her to someone who had a boat.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on February 26, 2018, 10:38:21 PM
That was interesting George Burke Brooks was being discussed on another forum albeit a few days earlier
Some good references to cross check to see if any new information surfaces.  I feel I have covered these.
If Yvonne Martin is quoted correctly it would be odd to think Kate knew the day after that a couple had abducted Madeleine.  Could George have gone straight around to the McCanns and told them of his sighting that morning?

PS:  If it was on Sky News on the 5th would the McCanns have been informed prior to that?  You would think so and the LP or the PJ as well.  [I'm finding writing this incredible that it was considered not relevant by the PJ immediately, yet a year later they try and look into it again.]



" George Burke???
Post by **** on Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:33 pm

Yvonne Martin reported an interesting comment made by Kate McCann on the morning of 4th May;/

During the conversation the mother told her that she did not understand why a couple had abducted her daughter.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/YVONNE-WARREN-MARTIN.htm

On the following day (5th) Sky news, the Mail and the Sun carried a report by a certain George Burke saying he had seen a couple with a child heading for the Marina in Lagos at 6am on 4th.

In November 2007 the story re-emerged because, apparently, Metodo 3 had decided to look at it.

In August 2008 it hit the headlines again, but his name is now George Brooks as in the PJ Files, but is it the same man?
http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

Is it a coincidence that Kate mentioned a couple and then this man's story appeared? There was also the 'vision' about Lagos Marina by someone connected to Kate.

The man was supposed to live in Burgau. What interests me is that most of the people in the area can be found using google. I can find no record of a George Burke or a George Brooks however. Has anyone else ever checked him out?"
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Lace on February 27, 2018, 04:13:30 PM
He could have been taking her to someone who had a boat.

He could have Rob. 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: John on March 01, 2018, 12:30:02 AM
Topic please.  I believe it has something to do with a boat.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on March 01, 2018, 12:52:04 AM
That was interesting George Burke Brooks was being discussed on another forum albeit a few days earlier
Some good references to cross check to see if any new information surfaces.  I feel I have covered these.
If Yvonne Martin is quoted correctly it would be odd to think Kate knew the day after that a couple had abducted Madeleine.  Could George have gone straight around to the McCanns and told them of his sighting that morning?

PS:  If it was on Sky News on the 5th would the McCanns have been informed prior to that?  You would think so and the LP or the PJ as well.  [I'm finding writing this incredible that it was considered not relevant by the PJ immediately, yet a year later they try and look into it again.]



" George Burke???
Post by **** on Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:33 pm

Yvonne Martin reported an interesting comment made by Kate McCann on the morning of 4th May;/

During the conversation the mother told her that she did not understand why a couple had abducted her daughter.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/YVONNE-WARREN-MARTIN.htm

On the following day (5th) Sky news, the Mail and the Sun carried a report by a certain George Burke saying he had seen a couple with a child heading for the Marina in Lagos at 6am on 4th.

In November 2007 the story re-emerged because, apparently, Metodo 3 had decided to look at it.

In August 2008 it hit the headlines again, but his name is now George Brooks as in the PJ Files, but is it the same man?
http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

Is it a coincidence that Kate mentioned a couple and then this man's story appeared? There was also the 'vision' about Lagos Marina by someone connected to Kate.

The man was supposed to live in Burgau. What interests me is that most of the people in the area can be found using google. I can find no record of a George Burke or a George Brooks however. Has anyone else ever checked him out?"
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MICHAEL_WRIGHT.htm (McCann family relative by marriage?
snipped
"As for additional information I would like to add that on Sunday, 6 May I went to the pizzaria in PdL and bought a large quantity of pizzas. I was attended by a girl from Liverpool. I explained to her my relationship to the McCanns and she told me that her father 'George' had seen a man carrying a child in his arms in the early morning of 4 May in the resort. I asked her if her father had spoken about this to the Portuguese authorities. I don't know if the information was ever investigated."

See George Burke Brooks Statement  (http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm)
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 01, 2018, 01:25:23 AM
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MICHAEL_WRIGHT.htm (McCann family relative by marriage?
snipped
"As for additional information I would like to add that on Sunday, 6 May I went to the pizzaria in PdL and bought a large quantity of pizzas. I was attended by a girl from Liverpool. I explained to her my relationship to the McCanns and she told me that her father 'George' had seen a man carrying a child in his arms in the early morning of 4 May in the resort. I asked her if her father had spoken about this to the Portuguese authorities. I don't know if the information was ever investigated."

See George Burke Brooks Statement  (http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm)
they call that George Brooks statement but where are his words.  I don't get it really.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: John on March 01, 2018, 02:24:56 AM
they call that George Brooks statement but where are his words.  I don't get it really.

Just correspondence.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 01, 2018, 07:31:42 AM
Just correspondence.
Was George Brooks ever spoken to?  I'll have to go back to the start of this thread and see what the story was.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 01, 2018, 07:46:25 AM
#3 "This one makes some comments: https://reggied123.wordpress.com/tag/george-burke/
"
GEORGE BURKE
APRIL 1, 2015
Reporting of the George Brooks sighting
“…. on Sunday, 6 May I went to the pizzaria in PdL and bought a large quantity of pizzas. I was attended by a girl from Liverpool. I explained to her my relationship to the McCanns and she told me that her father ‘George’ had seen a man carrying a child in his arms in the early morning of 4 May in the resort.” – Michael Wright (husband of Kate McCann’s cousin Anne-Marie Wright) in his rogatory statement of 16th April, 2008.

The above statement suggests that someone other than Jane Tanner and the Smith family may have seen someone carrying a child in Praia da Luz in the hours after Madeleine disappeared, though it now appears that the sighting was in Lagos rather than PdL.

Anyway, the sighting had been reported to Leicestershire Police the day after Madeleine disappeared by the man mentioned in the statement, George Brooks, and reported in the press during the following days. The Reporting of the George Brooks Sighting shows how treatment of the sighting by the press changed during these days."

That says George brooks reported it to LP on the 4th, but they weren't in PdL on the 4th so that must mean he reported it by phone to the LP IMO.
Did he also report it to the McCanns?  For the report is definitely on the News on the 5th https://youtu.be/rkt4bGb87xo?t=119   Time appears on the video is it 4:49 PM?.  It certainly wasn't kept a secret.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 01, 2018, 08:03:32 AM
The sighting was reported to Leicestershire Police (not the PJ) on 4th May 2007 by 'family to the McCann's'. When the PJ received the information isn't clear.

So while the 'family to the McCanns' were still in the UK on 4th May they knew about this sighting, knew 'George's' phone number in Portugal and reported it to LP.

How did that happen, I wonder? How did 'George' get in touch with the family and why? All he had to do was speak to the PJ.
Am I understanding this correctly now.  George makes a sighting at around 6 AM  he rings the LP in England and the LP contact Gerry and Kate's family in the UK and the family tells Kate and Gerry in PdL?????   Then Yvonne turns up and Kate says to her she can't understand why a couple would abduct her daughter.    That just about makes sense.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/YVONNE-WARREN-MARTIN.htm
"- During the conversation the mother told her that she did not understand why a couple had abducted her daughter. "
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 01, 2018, 10:57:03 AM
Am I understanding this correctly now.  George makes a sighting at around 6 AM  he rings the LP in England and the LP contact Gerry and Kate's family in the UK and the family tells Kate and Gerry in PdL?????   Then Yvonne turns up and Kate says to her she can't understand why a couple would abduct her daughter.    That just about makes sense.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/YVONNE-WARREN-MARTIN.htm
"- During the conversation the mother told her that she did not understand why a couple had abducted her daughter. "

I find this difficult to believe.
What time was this call made?
Why would anyone ring the LP when they weren't even involved at that point ? The logic would be to contact the police on the ground in PDL.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 01, 2018, 11:20:06 AM
I find this difficult to believe.
What time was this call made?
Why would anyone ring the LP when they weren't even involved at that point ? The logic would be to contact the police on the ground in PDL.
A lot of detail we don't know.  Did George Burke Brooks get involved or hear about the disappearance the evening before?  His daughter or any other person could have rung him and told him about it.  Was there contact information issued along with the news item on the morning of the 4th.  Maybe he rang Sky News first and they put him onto the LP.  Somehow Sky News knew about it on the 5th. 
There was that thread http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=9185.0  the Time Line Information and it had a list of phone calls to and from the McCanns.  Was there a phone call from the LP after 8:00 AM on the 4th?

http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=9185.msg448349#msg448349

There are a block of calls that have the phone number kept secret:
 
"9.01.55 am ... calls Gerry (1.46 minutes)

9.04.16 am ... calls Gerry (1.28 minutes)

9.05.38 am anonymous number calls Gerry (2.12 minutes)

9.09.32 am ... calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.09.44 am ... calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.09.56 am ... calls Kate (0 seconds) SMS

9.10.39 am Kate calls ... (0 seconds) SMS"

Were these to/from the LP?  So that is just before Yvonne turns up at 9:30 AM.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 01, 2018, 11:32:22 AM
Why would LP contact any of the McCann family at that point?
They had no official role at that time and Madeleine might have turned up at any moment.
Surely any contact they made would be to Portuguese police, or possibly the Foreign Office.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Miss Taken Identity on March 01, 2018, 12:56:28 PM
Since we can't discuss a motive for being bagged onto a boat dead or alive, and we also can't discuss evidence of stranger abduction, only because there isn't any. Are you sure this thread can continue? if so on what do you expect to establish?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on March 01, 2018, 03:53:47 PM
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

16-Processos Volume 16 Pages 4201 to 4202
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4201
 
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4202
 
SERVICE INFORMATION

To: Paulo Rebelo

From: Ricardo Paiva, Inspector

Date: 2008/04/24



--Today, at 11.37, the signatory received a telephone call from *******, from a woman who identified herself as J***, mother of Amy, and who told me that as soon as possible, George, her husband, and Amy's father, would contact us. Around 17H16, we were contacted by George, Amy's father, from telephone no. *********. Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation.
Signed,
Ricardo Paiva

In bold - the most important statement on the document. Why was it "not of interest" to the investigation?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Lace on March 01, 2018, 05:02:50 PM
Am I understanding this correctly now.  George makes a sighting at around 6 AM  he rings the LP in England and the LP contact Gerry and Kate's family in the UK and the family tells Kate and Gerry in PdL?????   Then Yvonne turns up and Kate says to her she can't understand why a couple would abduct her daughter.    That just about makes sense.

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/YVONNE-WARREN-MARTIN.htm
"- During the conversation the mother told her that she did not understand why a couple had abducted her daughter. "

That could be what happened Rob,  it does make sense.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 01, 2018, 06:38:57 PM
Why would LP contact any of the McCann family at that point?
They had no official role at that time and Madeleine might have turned up at any moment.
Surely any contact they made would be to Portuguese police, or possibly the Foreign Office.

Immediately after that there is a call from the UK Consulate.

"9.12.04 am Geteesha mob calls Kate (262 seconds)

9.14.28 am UK consulate in Portugal calls Gerry (3.58 minutes)

9.16.07 am ... calls Gerry (1 second)"


Who is this Geteesha? 

"9.12.04 am Geteesha mob calls Kate (262 seconds)

9.14.28 am UK consulate in Portugal calls Gerry (3.58 minutes)"

Geteesha is talking to Kate the same time as Gerry is talking to the UK Consulate.

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 01, 2018, 06:44:17 PM
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

16-Processos Volume 16 Pages 4201 to 4202
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4201
 
16_VOLUMEXVIa_Page_4202
 
SERVICE INFORMATION

To: Paulo Rebelo

From: Ricardo Paiva, Inspector

Date: 2008/04/24



--Today, at 11.37, the signatory received a telephone call from *******, from a woman who identified herself as J***, mother of Amy, and who told me that as soon as possible, George, her husband, and Amy's father, would contact us. Around 17H16, we were contacted by George, Amy's father, from telephone no. *********. Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation.
Signed,
Ricardo Paiva

In bold - the most important statement on the document. Why was it "not of interest" to the investigation?
Yes and who is making that statement is it George's recollection or Ricardo Paiva telling us what the PJ determined?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 02, 2018, 07:05:20 AM
Yes and who is making that statement is it George's recollection or Ricardo Paiva telling us what the PJ determined?


It says he contacted the OH in May 2007. Who or what is that?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 07:45:32 AM


It says he contacted the OH in May 2007. Who or what is that?
I read some phrase like Operation Headquarters.
or it could be a spelling error  HO  - head office.  e,g, Scotland Yard. HO.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 02, 2018, 08:54:37 AM
I read some phrase like Operation Headquarters.
or it could be a spelling error  HO  - head office.  e,g, Scotland Yard. HO.

I have looked at the original;

referiu que havia sido contactado pela Policia Judiciaria em Maio de 2007

that he had been contacted by the Policia Judiciaria in May 2007.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

It seems Burke is saying the PJ contacted him in May 2007 and that's when he reported his sighting.

There's no evidence that the PJ spoke to him in May 2007.

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 10:34:16 AM
I have looked at the original;

referiu que havia sido contactado pela Policia Judiciaria em Maio de 2007

that he had been contacted by the Policia Judiciaria in May 2007.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

It seems Burke is saying the PJ contacted him in May 2007 and that's when he reported his sighting.

There's no evidence that the PJ spoke to him in May 2007.
No evidence other than it is written in the file!

Let me understand this you have discovered a translation error?



What has been translated as "Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation. "

really says "that he had been contacted by the Policia Judiciaria in May 2007. "  Maybe we should translate the whole of that report.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 02, 2018, 10:45:24 AM
No evidence other than it is written in the file!

Let me understand this you have discovered a translation error?

It is hearsay, Paiva is repeating what Burke told him. There's no other record that it happened. In my opinion it's unlikely that the PJ contacted him in May 2007; they couldn't find him in December 2007.

I do seem to have found an error, yes.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 10:54:40 AM
It is hearsay, Paiva is repeating what Burke told him. There's no other record that it happened. In my opinion it's unlikely that the PJ contacted him in May 2007; they couldn't find him in December 2007.

I do seem to have found an error, yes.
contacted just means something as simple as a phone call, and to mobile number that means he could be anywhere but they still contacted him. 
Paiva would not have written in his report "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation."  That isn't George saying that but the PJ officer IMO.

Who do you think thought that: "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation"?

You can't say that unless there was some contact. 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 02, 2018, 11:55:30 AM
contacted just means something as simple as a phone call, and to mobile number that means he could be anywhere but they still contacted him. 
Paiva would not have written in his report "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation."  That isn't George saying that but the PJ officer IMO.

Who do you think thought that: "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation"?

So they phoned him, didn't record what was said, didn't take a statement and then threw the number in the bin? Unlikely, imo. In thse early days they responded to reports much more fully than that.

I think it's Burke saying "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation." 

I know that the UK police were aware of his sighting and they had a phone number for him. It seems to be a supermarket. When the UK police passed the information to the PJ I don't know.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page3.jpg
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 12:02:56 PM
So they phoned him, didn't record what was said, didn't take a statement and then threw the number in the bin? Unlikely, imo. In thse early days they responded to reports much more fully than that.

I think it's Burke saying "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation." 

I know that the UK police were aware of his sighting and they had a phone number for him. It seems to be a supermarket. When the UK police passed the information to the PJ I don't know.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page3.jpg
Burke makes pizzas not statements like that!  When would a pizza man use the term "aforementioned"?

"Here is the pizza you aforementioned in your order"

So you are saying Burke so in contact with the investigation that he knows when his reported sighting was considered "not be of interest to the investigation".
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Mr Gray on March 02, 2018, 12:18:20 PM
Burke makes pizzas not statements like that!  When would a pizza man use the term "aforementioned"?

"Here is the pizza you aforementioned in your order"

So you are saying Burke so in contact with the investigation that he knows when his reported sighting was considered "not be of interest to the investigation".

This si one of the reasons I dont think we can take the statements as entirely accurate
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 02, 2018, 12:33:49 PM
Burke makes pizzas not statements like that!  When would a pizza man use the term "aforementioned"?

"Here is the pizza you aforementioned in your order"

So you are saying Burke so in contact with the investigation that he knows when his reported sighting was considered "not be of interest to the investigation".

Burke had nothing to do with Pizzas. His daughter worked for Pizza Real in PdL. Please remember that Portuguese isn't English, things are expressed differently.

When they finally got hold of Burke he said it had been dealt with at the time. He never rang the PJ and he never made a statement imo. Instead he spoke to the newspapers and the 'family'. A very elusive and unreliable witness in my opinion.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on March 02, 2018, 06:27:01 PM
Burke had nothing to do with Pizzas. His daughter worked for Pizza Real in PdL. Please remember that Portuguese isn't English, things are expressed differently.

When they finally got hold of Burke he said it had been dealt with at the time. He never rang the PJ and he never made a statement imo. Instead he spoke to the newspapers and the 'family'. A very elusive and unreliable witness in my opinion.
IYO only

What makes you claim that he never contacted the PJ ?
What makes you think he was an elusive and unreliable witness?   

He very quickly came back after the Police had contacted his wife .... just a matter of hours on the same day.

Are you trying to protect the PJ at Burke-Brookes expence?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on March 02, 2018, 07:13:11 PM
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/P16/16_VOLUME_XVIa_Page_4202.jpg

snipped
Sobre os factos em questao....referiu que havia ja sido contactado pela PJ em Maio de 2007 e nessa altura relatou a Policia que cerca das 06H00M da manha do dia 04 de Maio de 2007 viu um casal a passear na Marina de Lagos e o homem levava uma crianca ao colo, tendo-se logo na altura averiguado  aquela  situacao e chegado e verificado que a mesma nao se revisitia de qualquer interesse para a investigacao.
E tudo quanto me cumpre levar ao conhecimento de V. Ex*para os fins tidos por convenientes.
(Ricardo Paiva)

Regarding the facts in question ... he mentioned that he had already been contacted by the PJ in May 2007 and at that time he reported to the police that at around 0600 a.m. on the morning of 04 May 2007 he saw a couple strolling in the Lagos Marina and the man carried a child to his lap, and at that time the situation was ascertained and arrived and verified that the situation was not reviewed of any interest for the investigation.
And all that it is necessary for me to bring to your knowledge for the purposes deemed convenient.
(Ricardo Paiva)
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 02, 2018, 07:55:01 PM
IYO only

What makes you claim that he never contacted the PJ ?
What makes you think he was an elusive and unreliable witness?   

He very quickly came back after the Police had contacted his wife .... just a matter of hours on the same day.

Are you trying to protect the PJ at Burke-Brookes expence?

No, I have looked at the evidence and I can think of no reason why the PJ wouldn't interview this man if he had contacted them on 4th May. Why would they not, when they were following all leads?

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/SEX_OFFENDERS_INFORMATION.htm#p1p134
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/NUNO_LOURENCO.htm
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LANCE_PURSER.htm
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 08:11:54 PM
Burke had nothing to do with Pizzas. His daughter worked for Pizza Real in PdL. Please remember that Portuguese isn't English, things are expressed differently.

When they finally got hold of Burke he said it had been dealt with at the time. He never rang the PJ and he never made a statement imo. Instead he spoke to the newspapers and the 'family'. A very elusive and unreliable witness in my opinion.
You say "Burke had nothing to do with Pizzas."  but at the beginning of the page on George Burke it says "There is a male who owns a pizza hut in the resort called George originally from Liverpool. He states that on Friday morning at 5.55 AM on Friday 4th May 2007 he saw a couple acting suspiciously carrying a child near to the marina.

He can be contacted on the following number: ***

The pizza hut is near to a place called Amy Dukes.

The police have not yet spoken to this male."

You say "His daughter worked for Pizza Real in PdL." I agree with that, but I have the impression father and daughter worked in separate facilities.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 02, 2018, 08:44:27 PM
You say "Burke had nothing to do with Pizzas."  but at the beginning of the page on George Burke it says "There is a male who owns a pizza hut in the resort called George originally from Liverpool. He states that on Friday morning at 5.55 AM on Friday 4th May 2007 he saw a couple acting suspiciously carrying a child near to the marina.

He can be contacted on the following number: ***

The pizza hut is near to a place called Amy Dukes.

The police have not yet spoken to this male."

You say "His daughter worked for Pizza Real in PdL." I agree with that, but I have the impression father and daughter worked in separate facilities.

'In the resort'. Why would they say that if it was in Lagos? The telephone number given seems to be a supermarket. Bear in mind this information didn't come from Burke, it came from 'the family'. Where and what is Amy Dukes? He spoke to the press, but seems to have told them all something different.

a Briton who runs a company in the Algarve
British tourist George Burke
Supermarket owner George Burke
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 09:45:57 PM
'In the resort'. Why would they say that if it was in Lagos? The telephone number given seems to be a supermarket. Bear in mind this information didn't come from Burke, it came from 'the family'. Where and what is Amy Dukes? He spoke to the press, but seems to have told them all something different.

a Briton who runs a company in the Algarve
British tourist George Burke
Supermarket owner George Burke
Did the PJ go to the Marina and make inquiries?  Did they follow it up?  It was on Sky TV the next day so they can't say they didn't know about it.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 09:54:55 PM
Kazlux - one of the file translators had this to say about George Burke.

http://themaddiecasefiles.com/who-s-who-in-the-mccann-case-t17175.html?sid=049376bd8df9b7e0c3477f5afe6fc636

"Brooks (Burke), George A British ex-pat. On his way home to Praia da Luz from Lagos before dawn on May 4, in his headlights he witnessed a couple carrying a child. The couple darted down a side road. Owns a restaurant (Pizza Hut) in Portugal; allegedly questioned by Metodo3"
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Alice Purjorick on March 02, 2018, 10:17:43 PM
Burke makes pizzas not statements like that!  When would a pizza man use the term "aforementioned"?

"Here is the pizza you aforementioned in your order"

So you are saying Burke so in contact with the investigation that he knows when his reported sighting was considered "not be of interest to the investigation".

There was a joke in this country that went along the lines:
"What do you say to a modern languages graduate when he/she is at work?"
"Big Mac and fries please"
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 02, 2018, 10:50:22 PM
There was a joke in this country that went along the lines:
"What do you say to a modern languages graduate when he/she is at work?"
"Big Mac and fries please"
They should apply with the PJ and become interpreters.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on March 03, 2018, 01:42:34 AM
No, I have looked at the evidence and I can think of no reason why the PJ wouldn't interview this man if he had contacted them on 4th May. Why would they not, when they were following all leads?

http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/SEX_OFFENDERS_INFORMATION.htm#p1p134
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/NUNO_LOURENCO.htm
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LANCE_PURSER.htm
Please correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me that the PJ cherry picked which leads and sightings to follow.   I know they were very busy, but this one could have been very pertinent.

...........

Right from the word go, did Amaral decide that The Mccanns had done it?   Did he, or did he not, from day one say that he already knew who had done it ? 

Did he neglect leads that might have proved otherwise ?   

1)  Because there were several sightings up in Porto that were interesting, that no-one ever mentioned other than in a non positive way.   In fact, IIRC, two of them were rubbished.  One sighting statement, from up there, was substantially altered by a new statement that overuled the first, which came straight from the "Horses mouths",  a taxi driver and Police Officer on the spot.*%6^ $65*

The overruling statement came from Portimao Police who were NOT on the spot and changed the bona fide original statement in 5 ways.


2)  According to Matt James there were well over 20 sightings in Malta (28 sightings IIRC), yet it appears that these were ignored *%6^


Did Madeleine in the first place, go by boat part of the way to Porto?  I think she may have done.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 03:56:19 AM
'In the resort'. Why would they say that if it was in Lagos? The telephone number given seems to be a supermarket. Bear in mind this information didn't come from Burke, it came from 'the family'. Where and what is Amy Dukes? He spoke to the press, but seems to have told them all something different.

a Briton who runs a company in the Algarve
British tourist George Burke
Supermarket owner George Burke
Where did those 3 options come from? 
1. a Briton who runs a company in the Algarve
2. British tourist George Burke
3. Supermarket owner George Burke


(http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/LagosMarinaGeorgeBrooks.jpg.w560h425.jpg)

There was a Pizza Hut at the Marina da Lagos was this where expat George worked/owned/ran company?

http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

"1) George Brooks, an ex-pat from Liverpool, claims to have seen a suspicious couple carrying a child, near Lagos marina, 7/8 hours after Madeleine had been reported missing. For reasons unknown, in all early media reports he is referred to as 'George Burke'. Despite the claims of many of these reports, it appears that Mr Brooks never made an official statement to the Portuguese police."

Was this because it was associated with the information from the family?  "2) Meanwhile, a friend of Kate McCann's aunt and uncle has a friend that claims to have had a strong vision that Madeleine was on a boat with a man in the marina in Lagos..."


Here is a report with a little more detail "07 May 2007

Last night an expatriate British businessman described how he saw a couple carrying a young child eight hours after Madeleine went missing.

George Burke, originally from Liverpool, was driving home at 6am on Friday after dropping his son at a station when the man and woman were caught in his headlights and immediately scurried out of sight. He said he thought nothing more about the incident until he heard about Madeleine's disappearance, after which he contacted police.

- Daily Mail"


Was his only connection to the Lagos marina the fact that he dropped his son off at the railway station?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 04:02:33 AM
"George contacted police as soon as he got home but border and port authorities were not alerted for another 12 hours.

- Daily Mirror"

http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

"11 August 2008

Meanwhile, it has emerged police failed to quiz Liverpool man George Brooks, 61, who saw a suspicious couple carrying a child in Praia da Luz hours after Madeleine vanished.

By the time police finally visited the restaurant where he worked, he had left and they made no further effort to contact him.

- Daily Mirror"

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 04:10:17 AM
This is the transcript "Ian Woods: The police are checking out one possible sighting about eight hours after Madeleine disappeared. Just before dawn a motorist said that his car headlights picked out a couple on the road; they had a child with them and, according to him, it looked as if they were trying to avoid being seen."

So where did Ian Woods get this bit of information from?  "The police are checking out one possible sighting about eight hours after Madeleine disappeared"  that sounds as if the police are aware of it.
http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

video = https://youtu.be/4MSPtShACg4
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 04:14:10 AM
The most detailed description to date ""Though there was nobody else on the road, they were hurrying across a dual carriageway that leads straight to the train station and marina in Lagos.

"The woman was in her thirties, darkhaired and slim. The man, also in his thirties, was less than six feet tall and slightly stocky.

He had shoulder-length hair and looked quite tanned. They did not look like tourists and they certainly didn't seem to be British.

"You could tell from their posture that they were trying to carry the child without anyone seeing it and they were extremely disturbed when I caught them in my headlights.

"It was only after I returned home to my house in Burgau, along the coast from Praia da Luz, that I realised the importance of what I had seen. I quickly rang the police."

Portuguese police alerted airports, ports and border controls several hours after the alarm was raised, before cordoning the area.

Helped by Mr Burke's description, they have built a profile of the man they believe is their prime suspect. Mr Burke said they told him not to tell the media what he had seen but he decided to break his silence to help to track down the kidnapper.

"I'm the father of two teenagers myself, " he added, "but you can't begin to understand the agony and the distress that the child's parents are going through.""
http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on March 03, 2018, 06:02:29 AM

-snip=

(http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/LagosMarinaGeorgeBrooks.jpg.w560h425.jpg)

There was a Pizza Hut at the Marina da Lagos was this where expat George worked/owned/ran company?

http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/Nigel/id399.htm

"1) George Brooks, an ex-pat from Liverpool, claims to have seen a suspicious couple carrying a child, near Lagos marina, 7/8 hours after Madeleine had been reported missing. For reasons unknown, in all early media reports he is referred to as 'George Burke'. Despite the claims of many of these reports, it appears that Mr Brooks never made an official statement to the Portuguese police."

Was this because it was associated with the information from the family?  "2) Meanwhile, a friend of Kate McCann's aunt and uncle has a friend that claims to have had a strong vision that Madeleine was on a boat with a man in the marina in Lagos..."


Here is a report with a little more detail "07 May 2007

Last night an expatriate British businessman described how he saw a couple carrying a young child eight hours after Madeleine went missing.

George Burke, originally from Liverpool, was driving home at 6am on Friday after dropping his son at a station when the man and woman were caught in his headlights and immediately scurried out of sight. He said he thought nothing more about the incident until he heard about Madeleine's disappearance, after which he contacted police.

- Daily Mail"


Was his only connection to the Lagos marina the fact that he dropped his son off at the railway station?

If a boat moored outside the Marina gates was used to take Madeleine away then it would have been positioned just off this picture to the south, along a canal like channel leading to the sea.  You can just see the tip of the channel at the top of the picture.  Immediately below the cut off was the Marina "gate" which according to reports was closed at 8pm.

A boat was reported to have have left the marina before the "gates" closed and been moored there.  It may have been moored there for a totally innocent reason and probably was.

However, it should be looked at because if George Brooks saw a couple with a child in mysterious circumstances near that Pizza Hut, then it must be pointed out that to get to that moored boat from the main roads, it was necessary to pass that Pizza Hut.

Just where were they going otherwise, I wonder?   
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 03, 2018, 06:31:57 AM
Did the PJ go to the Marina and make inquiries?  Did they follow it up?  It was on Sky TV the next day so they can't say they didn't know about it.

If Burke had contacted them they would have interviewed him in my opinion. Do Portuguese police watch Sky in case there's a lead on there? I very much doubt it. Even if they did they probably hold the same opinion as Rowley about newspaper stories.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 06:45:35 AM
If Burke had contacted them they would have interviewed him in my opinion. Do Portuguese police watch Sky in case there's a lead on there? I very much doubt it. Even if they did they probably hold the same opinion as Rowley about newspaper stories.
George says he was told by the PJ not to report it to the news media so I take that to mean it did report it.  If they didn't follow it up, that is their problem.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 03, 2018, 08:19:28 AM
George says he was told by the PJ not to report it to the news media so I take that to mean it did report it.  If they didn't follow it up, that is their problem.

He was the first to claim in the media that the police had ignored his evidence, but he wouldn't be the last. Many of those who made this claim had one thing in common; there is no evidence that they ever contacted the police.

Looking in the files we can see that the police diligently followed up some very tenuous leads, which suggests to me that they would not have ignored this sighting had they been informed.

The British police were informed by 'family', seemingly on 4th May. The family weren't in Portugal, so how did they get the information?

Was this man Burke or Brooks? He couldn't be both.

It would have been interesting if the PJ had asked this man to come and see them when they finally tracked him down, with his passport.  They couldn't confirm his identity on the telephone.



Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 10:06:25 AM
He was the first to claim in the media that the police had ignored his evidence, but he wouldn't be the last. Many of those who made this claim had one thing in common; there is no evidence that they ever contacted the police.

Looking in the files we can see that the police diligently followed up some very tenuous leads, which suggests to me that they would not have ignored this sighting had they been informed.

The British police were informed by 'family', seemingly on 4th May. The family weren't in Portugal, so how did they get the information?

Was this man Burke or Brooks? He couldn't be both.

It would have been interesting if the PJ had asked this man to come and see them when they finally tracked him down, with his passport.  They couldn't confirm his identity on the telephone.
we never know we might be able to contact him and clear it up. 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 03, 2018, 11:03:58 AM
we never know we might be able to contact him and clear it up.

My opinion is that taking an interest in the case is acceptable, interfering with witnesses isn't.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 11:09:43 AM
My opinion is that taking an interest in the case is acceptable, interfering with witnesses isn't.
Call it what you want.  Clearing up the misunderstandings. 
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: sadie on March 03, 2018, 12:00:03 PM
we never know we might be able to contact him and clear it up.
I can see no harm in this, so long as it is done very sensitively, backing off immediately if he bridles in any way.

It needs someone who is very diplomatic in their approach ... and who knows, he might have been instructed not to talk to anyone.


Thinking about it, I am 50/50 about approaching him
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 03, 2018, 01:43:57 PM
Call it what you want.  Clearing up the misunderstandings.

I have called it what it is; interfering with a witness in a live investigation.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: barrier on March 03, 2018, 02:36:18 PM
I can see no harm in this, so long as it is done very sensitively, backing off immediately if he bridles in any way.

It needs someone who is very diplomatic in their approach ... and who knows, he might have been instructed not to talk to anyone.


Thinking about it, I am 50/50 about approaching him

One wonders what your attitude would be if its suggested getting in touch with the McCanns to clear something up?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 03, 2018, 02:37:55 PM
One wonders what your attitude would be if its suggested getting in touch with the McCanns to clear something up?

What an excellent idea. Straight from the horse's mouth so to speak.  8(>((
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 06:24:37 PM
I can see no harm in this, so long as it is done very sensitively, backing off immediately if he bridles in any way.

It needs someone who is very diplomatic in their approach ... and who knows, he might have been instructed not to talk to anyone.


Thinking about it, I am 50/50 about approaching him
The biggest problem will be getting a lead as to where he is.  The PJ couldn't work it out 11 years ago, and I have my doubts now.  We don't even know his proper name.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 03, 2018, 06:28:38 PM
The biggest problem will be getting a lead as to where he is.  The PJ couldn't work it out 11 years ago, and I have my doubts now. We don't even know his proper name.

Perhaps a nom de plume, or "The man that never was"
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 06:43:23 PM
Perhaps a nom de plume, or "The man that never was"
Len Port seems to be a man of talent would he still be around - if anyone knows it would be Len.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on March 03, 2018, 07:09:30 PM
Len Port seems to be a man of talent would he still be around - if anyone knows it would be Len.

Did you miss this page?
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page6.jpg
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 07:33:34 PM
Did you miss this page?
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page6.jpg
I had seen his image but not the whole photo of the passport.  27 November 1945, 8 years plus, not a good age for guys especially if he had eaten too many pizzas.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 03, 2018, 07:46:44 PM
Did you miss this page?
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page6.jpg

That is George Brooks. The man who spoke to the press was George Burke. Are they two different men or the same man giving a false name?

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 07:55:40 PM
That is George Brooks. The man who spoke to the press was George Burke. Are they two different men or the same man giving a false name?
Did the PJ actually speak to him, before they discounted his sighting?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 03, 2018, 08:06:45 PM
Did the PJ actually speak to him, before they discounted his sighting?

I don't know what you mean.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 08:14:14 PM
I don't know what you mean.
'Did the PJ speak to the person who made the sighting at the marina at 6:00 AM?  Regardless of his name.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 03, 2018, 08:50:56 PM
'Did the PJ speak to the person who made the sighting at the marina at 6:00 AM?  Regardless of his name.

A man identifying himself as George, Amy's father, rang them on 24/04/2008.

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 03, 2018, 08:59:01 PM
Where does Amy fit into the story?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 09:03:43 PM
A man identifying himself as George, Amy's father, rang them on 24/04/2008.
A year later!  OK
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 03, 2018, 09:18:50 PM
Where does Amy fit into the story?
As I understand it George lived in Burgau and he had two teenage kids. Amy was his daughter, and the son (unknown).  It was endevouring getting the son onto the train at the marina that was the reason he went to the Marina da Lagos.  It was on the way home from doing that that he saw the couple with the child.

Some days later Michael Wright spoke to Amy who was working at Pizza Real in PdL and she said it was her father who made the sighting on the 4th.

This is what the PJ say:

"Regarding the content of the attached email from British Authorities, with particular focus with respect to the statement by Michael Terrence Wright, in the international letter of request which is being implemented by the Leicestershire Police, on the 6th of May, 2007, in Praia da Luz, a pizza kitchen worker, of British nationality and originally from Liverpool, commented to that witness that her father, George, had seen a man carrying a child, in the early hours of May 4th of 2007. He does not know if George contacted the authorities about this. This testimony was recorded by Inspector Joao Carlos and myself as follows:

--Yesterday, after heading toward Praia da Luz late, we located the pizzeria shop (PIZZA REAL) mentioned by that witness. It is situated in a kiosk on Rua da Praia. Even though it was closed at the time, we obtained the telephone number ********* of said pizzeria which is open from 18H00. This same night, we contacted the manager, C*******, using that telephone number and she immediately identified the employee as Amy. She told us that Amy was no longer in Portugal and that she had returned to the U.K. She was requested to contact Amy and ask her to contact this police force.

--Today, at 11.37, the signatory received a telephone call from *******, from a woman who identified herself as J***, mother of Amy, and who told me that as soon as possible, George, her husband, and Amy's father, would contact us. Around 17H16, we were contacted by George, Amy's father, from telephone no. *********. Regarding the facts in question, he states that he had already contacted the OH in May of 2007 and at this time relayed to the police that at around 06H00 in the morning on the 4th May, 2007, he saw a couple passing the Marina de Lagos. The man was carrying the child. It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation.
Signed,
Ricardo Paiva"  http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/GEORGE_BURKE_BROOKS.htm

What does Michael Wright say in his statement?

The bit "As for additional information I would like to add that on Sunday, 6 May I went to the pizzaria in PdL and bought a large quantity of pizzas. I was attended by a girl from Liverpool. I explained to her my relationship to the McCanns and she told me that her father 'George' had seen a man carrying a child in his arms in the early morning of 4 May in the resort. I asked her if her father had spoken about this to the Portuguese authorities. I don't know if the information was ever investigated."  [Even though this seems to be a link added to his statement by the translators of the file.  I believe the text forms part of his rogatory interview.] http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MICHAEL_WRIGHT.htm


I still dispute the claim the George said the following: "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation".

http://www.burgauuncovered.com/

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 04, 2018, 07:09:03 AM
Snip
I still dispute the claim the George said the following: "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation".

http://www.burgauuncovered.com/
[/quote]

You are saying that Paiva added that sentence, but it doesn't make sense. If Paiva knew that the sighting had been ruled out in May 2007, why bother looking for Burke in April 2008?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 04, 2018, 07:44:49 AM
Snip
I still dispute the claim the George said the following: "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation".

http://www.burgauuncovered.com/


You are saying that Paiva added that sentence, but it doesn't make sense. If Paiva knew that the sighting had been ruled out in May 2007, why bother looking for Burke in April 2008?
This could account for it.  I take it that Paiva is not a Coordinating Inspector so he is under orders.  He could have been told to revisit the George Burke Brooks case.  He covers the inaction by saying "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation".
I can't see how the informant becomes so up with the case that he could say about the sighting he made "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation".
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 04, 2018, 09:09:18 AM
This could account for it.  I take it that Paiva is not a Coordinating Inspector so he is under orders.  He could have been told to revisit the the George Burke Brooks case.  He covers the inaction by saying "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation".
I can't see how the informant becomes so up with the case that he could say about the sighting he made "It was ascertained at that time that the aforementioned situation would not be of interest to the investigation".

Paiva had no need to cover up any inaction by the PJ. The reason is plain to see; there's no evidence that Burke ever told them about his sighting.



Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Brietta on March 04, 2018, 09:23:30 AM
Paiva had no need to cover up any inaction by the PJ. The reason is plain to see; there's no evidence that Burke ever told them about his sighting.

There may have been phone records to verify his call ... which may still have been in existence when Operation Grange started tying up loose ends.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 04, 2018, 09:31:48 AM
What makes you think this is a loose end ?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 04, 2018, 09:34:56 AM
There may have been phone records to verify his call ... which may still have been in existence when Operation Grange started tying up loose ends.

If he had called they would have known his name and phone number.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 04, 2018, 10:22:42 AM
Paiva had no need to cover up any inaction by the PJ. The reason is plain to see; there's no evidence that Burke ever told them about his sighting.
When were all the newspaper articles?  Would not the PJ do their own enquiries if they were not informed but it was an all the papers and on Sky News.  OK it possible they missed it.  But I don't believe that one bit.  Did they choose to ignore it?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 04, 2018, 10:23:58 AM
If he had called they would have known his name and phone number.
Records can get lost.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 04, 2018, 02:30:19 PM
When were all the newspaper articles?  Would not the PJ do their own enquiries if they were not informed but it was an all the papers and on Sky News.  OK it possible they missed it.  But I don't believe that one bit.  Did they choose to ignore it?

I don't know if the police in any country follow leads from their own media, let alone chasing up stories in the foreign MSM. They probably take the same view as Rowley; most of them are nonsense.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 04, 2018, 02:33:37 PM
Records can get lost.

But there's no evidence that they did, so why suggest it? It's far more likely imo that they weren't contacted.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 04, 2018, 04:42:05 PM
But there's no evidence that they did, so why suggest it? It's far more likely imo that they weren't contacted.
What sort of evidence is there when records get lost?  Things like claims of contact but no record of it.  Claims that the situation was deemed unrelated to the case but no file notes about who it was that morning.  Two possible indicators to me.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 04, 2018, 04:44:59 PM
What sort of evidence is there when records get lost?  Things like claims of contact but no record of it.  Claims that the situation was deemed unrelated to the case but no file notes about who it was that morning.  Two possible indicators to me.

How much reliance can you put on the claims ?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 04, 2018, 05:10:37 PM
How much reliance can you put on the claims ?
I'm not saying "records were lost", but that "records can get lost".
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 04, 2018, 08:07:45 PM
What sort of evidence is there when records get lost?  Things like claims of contact but no record of it.  Claims that the situation was deemed unrelated to the case but no file notes about who it was that morning.  Two possible indicators to me.

There's no evidence that Burke contacted the PJ. There's evidence that he contacted 'the family' and the media. Many of those who spoke to the media claimed that the PJ ignored them. None of those who did give evidence to the PJ had any problem at all; the PJ acted and their evidence was recorded.

It seems to have been a continual theme in this case; that the PJ ignored leads. It makes me wonder if there was some kind of campaign aimed at discrediting them.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: jassi on March 04, 2018, 08:15:50 PM
I must say this whole story sounds a bit dubious to me, almost like a set-up to support an abduction.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 04, 2018, 08:41:28 PM
There's no evidence that Burke contacted the PJ. There's evidence that he contacted 'the family' and the media. Many of those who spoke to the media claimed that the PJ ignored them. None of those who did give evidence to the PJ had any problem at all; the PJ acted and their evidence was recorded.

It seems to have been a continual theme in this case; that the PJ ignored leads. It makes me wonder if there was some kind of campaign aimed at discrediting them.
You would have to consider what came first, the PJ ignoring leads or the campaign discrediting them.  If it became aware they were ignoring leads, especially if they were suggested by the British liaison officers.

Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: slartibartfast on March 04, 2018, 08:54:02 PM
You would have to consider what came first, the PJ ignoring leads or the campaign discrediting them.  If it became aware they were ignoring leads, especially if they were suggested by the British liaison officers.

I think “ignoring” is a pejorative term employed to denigrate the PJ. The reviewed all the leads and filed the most far fetched. SY appear to have spent the last few years investigating those far fetched leads. IMO
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 04, 2018, 09:10:57 PM
I think “ignoring” is a pejorative term employed to denigrate the PJ. The reviewed all the leads and filed the most far fetched. SY appear to have spent the last few years investigating those far fetched leads. IMO
I don't know that is why I have made it a separate thread.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Eleanor on March 04, 2018, 09:22:28 PM

I give up.  No On Topic. Be as nasty as you like. And just do your own thing.  Just don't come crying to me when it all gets a bit horrid.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 06, 2018, 06:54:38 PM
(http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/ap/A1_5/apenso5_vol_1_Page6.jpg)

This passport was issued in the year 2000 so any current photo of George will be of a man around 20 years
 on.

Born Nov 1945 so already 55 in the year 2000
so now 73 in 2018 and showing the effects of years in the Algarve sun. ( I might get my arithmetic right soon!)
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 06, 2018, 07:07:19 PM
We may have located George Brooks!
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 06, 2018, 07:23:42 PM
We may have located George Brooks!

Well done. Now find George Burke.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 06, 2018, 08:13:19 PM
Well done. Now find George Burke.
Find one find them both.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on March 06, 2018, 09:22:51 PM
Well done. Now find George Burke.

His daughter Amy's surname is Burke, hence the confusion.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 06, 2018, 09:36:21 PM
His daughter Amy's surname is Burke, hence the confusion.

Are you suggesting that George Brooks told the press his name was George Burke because that was his daughter's surname?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: misty on March 06, 2018, 09:40:28 PM
Are you suggesting that George Brooks told the press his name was George Burke because that was his daughter's surname?

I'm suggesting that the press got it wrong.
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: G-Unit on March 06, 2018, 10:22:12 PM
I'm suggesting that the press got it wrong.

Well I know they're pretty useless, but really?
Title: Re: Could Madeleine have been abducted by boat?
Post by: Robittybob1 on March 06, 2018, 11:00:03 PM
His daughter Amy's surname is Burke, hence the confusion.
That is one of many possibilities.