The tapas group and the 'reconstitution' that was never to take place.

[Carana]

They shouldn't have needed to be compelled. As innocent bystanders, one might have expected them to be only too pleased to assist the investigation, wherever it led.

I was replying to John's assertion that "political masters" meant that they hadn't compelled them to do so. I'm not aware of statutes that could have compelled them to attend anyway.

As to innocent bystanders, in the abstract, I'd agree with you. In context, I don't.

[G-Unit]

the law is about justice...not always your own personal opinion of what justice means though

The law may be about justice, but it doesn't always get it right. That's why we have the words miscarriage of justice davel dear.

[stephen25000]

to arrest someone you need evidence... I would have thought you knew that. Your claims re political interference are ridiculous

There was undeniable political interference in this case.

Why do you deny it ?

[G-Unit]

There was undeniable political interference in this case.

Why do you deny it ?

The 3 "family liaison officers were flown out "at the request of the Foreign Commonwealth Office.

Further information emerged regarding the 2 additional experts Buck had announced on Tuesday May 8th.
Ambassador Buck said they were "kidnapping experts" and had joined the 3 other British investigators who had been in Portugal since Saturday
"... two 'Cracker-style' criminal behaviour experts from Britain flew into the Algarve yesterday to join investigators..."
They were from CEOP and their dispatch had been organised by the British Foreign Office.
"A spokeswoman for the CEOP said the move was unprecedented and had been organised by the Foreign Office."

An internal document was sent by the Foreign Office ordering British diplomats 'to avoid offering support' to Robert Murat unless charges were presented against him."

Personal intervention of Gordon Brown was reported. Gordon Brown was reported to have urged police to give more public details after the McCanns voiced their concern about the lack of disclosure by Portuguese detectives.

A memo was leaked to the Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure regarding a diplomat's concerns about the case.

The leaked memo was routed through the British diplomatic mission in Brussels
The leaked memo was sent "just days" after Madeleine disappeared.
The leaked memo warned the Foreign Office of concerns regarding the McCanns and warned of the risks of siding with the McCanns in public.
The diplomat immediately had doubts after being sent to Praia da Luz due to what he considered to be inconsistencies in their testimonies and "confused declarations" as to the whereabouts of the McCanns and their friends on May 3.
The memo mentions instructions "from London" that consular staff "overstretch their authority and put pressure on Portuguese authorities."
The memo refers to orders sent the previous day from the Foreign Office in London commanding embassy staff to provide all possible assistance to the McCanns and that the McCanns "had to be "accompanied at all times during any contact with the Portuguese police" by a member of consular staff or by British police officers sent out from the UK.
He also mentioned their lack of cooperation with the Portuguese police
http://newsoutlines.blogspot.co.uk/p/british-foreign-office-timeline.html

[Brietta]

The 3 "family liaison officers were flown out "at the request of the Foreign Commonwealth Office.

Further information emerged regarding the 2 additional experts Buck had announced on Tuesday May 8th.
Ambassador Buck said they were "kidnapping experts" and had joined the 3 other British investigators who had been in Portugal since Saturday
"... two 'Cracker-style' criminal behaviour experts from Britain flew into the Algarve yesterday to join investigators..."
They were from CEOP and their dispatch had been organised by the British Foreign Office.
"A spokeswoman for the CEOP said the move was unprecedented and had been organised by the Foreign Office."

An internal document was sent by the Foreign Office ordering British diplomats 'to avoid offering support' to Robert Murat unless charges were presented against him."

Personal intervention of Gordon Brown was reported. Gordon Brown was reported to have urged police to give more public details after the McCanns voiced their concern about the lack of disclosure by Portuguese detectives.

A memo was leaked to the Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure regarding a diplomat's concerns about the case.

The leaked memo was routed through the British diplomatic mission in Brussels
The leaked memo was sent "just days" after Madeleine disappeared.
The leaked memo warned the Foreign Office of concerns regarding the McCanns and warned of the risks of siding with the McCanns in public.
The diplomat immediately had doubts after being sent to Praia da Luz due to what he considered to be inconsistencies in their testimonies and "confused declarations" as to the whereabouts of the McCanns and their friends on May 3.
The memo mentions instructions "from London" that consular staff "overstretch their authority and put pressure on Portuguese authorities."
The memo refers to orders sent the previous day from the Foreign Office in London commanding embassy staff to provide all possible assistance to the McCanns and that the McCanns "had to be "accompanied at all times during any contact with the Portuguese police" by a member of consular staff or by British police officers sent out from the UK.
He also mentioned their lack of cooperation with the Portuguese police
http://newsoutlines.blogspot.co.uk/p/british-foreign-office-timeline.html

Perhaps the Foreign Office had their concerns about the number of British children being abused in their beds while their parents slept.

Perhaps they had their concerns about the Investigation Co-ordinator being made an arguido in the alleged torture case concerning the mother of another missing child which happened on his watch.

Perhaps just another example of the paranoia surrounding all that seemed to go wrong in that individual's car crash of a life ... everyone else responsible for the situations he found himself in, particularly his financial woes, but himself.

[Mr Gray]

There was undeniable political interference in this case.

Why do you deny it ?

because it isn't true.....the Uk may have given help to the investigation but that is not political inteference

[Mr Gray]

whenever a uk citizen is involved in  crime abroad the embassy is there to help

[G-Unit]

Perhaps the Foreign Office had their concerns about the number of British children being abused in their beds while their parents slept.

Perhaps they had their concerns about the Investigation Co-ordinator being made an arguido in the alleged torture case concerning the mother of another missing child which happened on his watch.

Perhaps just another example of the paranoia surrounding all that seemed to go wrong in that individual's car crash of a life ... everyone else responsible for the situations he found himself in, particularly his financial woes, but himself.

Perhaps they knew nothing about any of the above when their 'unprecedented' support and interference commenced on 3rd May.

[Mr Gray]

Perhaps they knew nothing about any of the above when their 'unprecedented' support and interference commenced on 3rd May.

unprecedented support...the McCanns knew how to mobilise support for a practically unprecedented crime

[stephen25000]

unprecedented support...the McCanns knew how to mobilise support for a practically unprecedented crime

Crime unknown.

[Brietta]

Perhaps they knew nothing about any of the above when their 'unprecedented' support and interference commenced on 3rd May.

The fact of the assaults on British children has been the subject of derision and denial among sceptics since Dr McCann referred to being told about it by the ambassador at the time ... with your cyclopaedic knowledge of the case, surprised you were ignorant of that.

I still haven't quite worked out why this outrage for the search for a missing child.

[G-Unit]

unprecedented support...the McCanns knew how to mobilise support for a practically unprecedented crime

They certainly did. So much so that the Foreign Office ignored concerns raised by their own man on the ground.The crime has not yet been identified.

[stephen25000]

because it isn't true.....the Uk may have given help to the investigation but that is not political inteference

Since when does the average person abroad, receive phone calls and assistance from 2 now former P.M.'s. ?

That's interference.

Also, as is well know, brown had discussions with Socrates over the matter.

[John]

to arrest someone you need evidence... I would have thought you knew that. Your claims re political interference are ridiculous

Obstruction of a criminal investigation is a serious matter and an arrestable offence.

The Portuguese police were prevented from doing their job on two fronts, no wonder this case with all its conspiracies has endured for over eight years.

[Mr Gray]

No they aren't, the Portuguese police were prevented from doing their job on two fronts, no wonder this case with all its conspiracies has endured for over eight years.

absolute rubbish john...the uk police told the pj to investigate the parents...remember...which they did and the archiving report made it clear what the pj found...sweet fa