The Cuddlecat on the shelf myth by Mirror reporter Lori Campbell.

[John]

I would hazard a guess that Miss Campbell heard a rumour from someone, attributed it to the cops and wrote the story accordingly. The story appeared both in the Sunday Mirror on the 12th August 2007 and also in the Daily Mail which attributed the original article, thus the original claim, to the Mirror.

An excellent example of tabloid trash imo.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-474844/Madeleines-favourite-Cuddle-Cat-toy-placed-reach.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2007/08/12/maddy-was-alive-when-taken-98487-19613517/  (removed)

You can still read both articles here.

[misty]

It would seem that even our own top ex-detectives weren't adverse to quoting tabloid stories, if the attached is to be believed.

http://truthformadeleine.com/2008/05/where-is-the-high-shelf-in-madeleines-bedroom/
(assume article was originally posted in May 2008 but the comments made by Lord Stevens in NOTW cannot be corroborated at original source)

*snipped*
Early reports and many since May 2007 have described how Kate McCann “knew” that Madeleine had been taken. When questioned about this on her Woman’s Hour interview, she declined to elaborate on how she knew that Madeleine had been taken and hadn’t wandered off.

A recurring part of this story is that Madeleine’s favourite toy—CuddleCat—was placed on a high shelf in the room and was therefore out of reach of Madeleine.

Ex Metropolitan Police boss, Lord Stevens said to the News of the World in 2007;

“Meanwhile, the police investigation that started so disastrously has turned to farce. Every apparent stream of evidence has been either missed, fatally compromised or is simply ludicrous.

For instance, Mrs McCann being allowed to hang on to Madeleine’s favourite toy CuddleCat. Consoling for her, of course, but that’s not the point—it had gone to bed with Madeleine, been taken from her and placed on a high shelf, presumably by the abductor.

CuddleCat was therefore vital evidence. Even a rookie detective should know it was highly likely an abductor’s DNA would be on it.”

Lord Stevens’ comments were made in 2007, before the News of the World published the photos in May 2008. Had Lord Stevens looked at the bedroom, he may have had something different to say about it:

[John]

It would seem that even our own top ex-detectives weren't adverse to quoting tabloid stories, if the attached is to be believed.

http://truthformadeleine.com/2008/05/where-is-the-high-shelf-in-madeleines-bedroom/
(assume article was originally posted in May 2008 but the comments made by Lord Stevens in NOTW cannot be corroborated at original source)

*snipped*
Early reports and many since May 2007 have described how Kate McCann “knew” that Madeleine had been taken. When questioned about this on her Woman’s Hour interview, she declined to elaborate on how she knew that Madeleine had been taken and hadn’t wandered off.

A recurring part of this story is that Madeleine’s favourite toy—CuddleCat—was placed on a high shelf in the room and was therefore out of reach of Madeleine.

Ex Metropolitan Police boss, Lord Stevens said to the News of the World in 2007;

“Meanwhile, the police investigation that started so disastrously has turned to farce. Every apparent stream of evidence has been either missed, fatally compromised or is simply ludicrous.

For instance, Mrs McCann being allowed to hang on to Madeleine’s favourite toy CuddleCat. Consoling for her, of course, but that’s not the point—it had gone to bed with Madeleine, been taken from her and placed on a high shelf, presumably by the abductor.

CuddleCat was therefore vital evidence. Even a rookie detective should know it was highly likely an abductor’s DNA would be on it.”

Lord Stevens’ comments were made in 2007, before the News of the World published the photos in May 2008. Had Lord Stevens looked at the bedroom, he may have had something different to say about it:

An excellent find misty, clearly there never was any shelf in the room to place any soft toy on so the whole thing was obviously a malicious fabrication.  Added to that I can see no possible reason why Kate would have taken the toy away from her while she slept. Good work, I just love it when we bust myths 

[sadie]

An excellent find misty, clearly there never was any shelf in the room to place any soft toy on so the whole thing was obviously a malicious fabrication.  Added to that I can see no possible reason why Kate would have taken the toy away from her while she slept. Good work, I just love it when we bust myths 

There was the top of the wardrobe John.  Not a conventional shelf, but with all the translations it could easily have become the shelf in question.

[mercury]

From KMs book

When I realized Madeleine wasn’t actually there, I went through to our bedroom to see if she’d got into our bed. That would explain the open door. On the discovery of another empty bed, the first wave of panic hit me. As I ran back into the children’s room the closed curtains flew up in a gust of wind. My heart lurched as I saw now that, behind them, the window was wide open and the shutters on the outside raised all the way up. Nausea, terror, disbelief, fear. Icy fear. Dear God, no! Please,no!

On Madeleine’s bed, the top right-hand corners of the covers were still turned over, forming a triangle. Cuddle Cat and her pink princess blanket were lying where they’d been when we’d kissed her goodnight.  I dashed over to the second bed, on the other side of the travel cots where the twins slept on, oblivious, and looked out through the window. I’ve no idea what I expected to see there.
****
This is supportd by statements by GM on video saying shed been left sleepng with them there on her bed and were there on his check

Why would they change that insignificant detail to any reporter

[sadie]

From KMs book

When I realized Madeleine wasn’t actually there, I went through to our bedroom to see if she’d got into our bed. That would explain the open door. On the discovery of another empty bed, the first wave of panic hit me. As I ran back into the children’s room the closed curtains flew up in a gust of wind. My heart lurched as I saw now that, behind them, the window was wide open and the shutters on the outside raised all the way up. Nausea, terror, disbelief, fear. Icy fear. Dear God, no! Please,no!

On Madeleine’s bed, the top right-hand corners of the covers were still turned over, forming a triangle. Cuddle Cat and her pink princess blanket were lying where they’d been when we’d kissed her goodnight.  I dashed over to the second bed, on the other side of the travel cots where the twins slept on, oblivious, and looked out through the window. I’ve no idea what I expected to see there.
****
This is supportd by statements by GM on video saying shed been left sleepng with them there on her bed and were there on his check

Why would they change that insignificant detail to any reporter

Well there you go.

Well done mercury ... you have solved it in one. 

No shelf used.

[John]

There was the top of the wardrobe John.  Not a conventional shelf, but with all the translations it could easily have become the shelf in question.

The wardrobe you are referring to Sadie was at the rented villa.  At Ocean Club the wardrobe are built-in units. 

Ergo, there was no shelf in the children's bedroom.

[sadie]

The wardrobe you are referring to Sadie was at the rented villa.  At Ocean Club the wardrobe are built-in units. 

Ergo, there was no shelf in the children's bedroom.

Oh, I hadn't noticed that.  Well spotted John

But in any case as Kate said, she had found CCat on the bed ... so now it isn't important, it seems.

See post above this.

[Robittybob1]

Oh, I hadn't noticed that.  Well spotted John

But in any case as Kate said, she had found CCat on the bed ... so now it isn't important, it seems.

See post above this.

Not originally she didn't.
There are shelves in the wardrobe in the main bedroom.

[John]

Not originally she didn't.
There are shelves in the wardrobe in the main bedroom.

She was hardly likely to take the toy away and hide it out of reach in another bedroom. 

[Robittybob1]

She was hardly likely to take the toy away and hide it out of reach in another bedroom.

Who is the person you are referring to?  I don't think Kate had anything to do with it, but it could be another "she".
So did you have someone in mind?

[John]

Who is the person you are referring to?  I don't think Kate had anything to do with it, but it could be another "she".
So did you have someone in mind?

If Cuddlecat had been moved from the children's bedroom to another bedroom and placed out of Madeleine's reach then Kate would have reported it.  However, Kate stated from the outset that she found CC where she left him ie on Madeleine's bed.

[Robittybob1]

If Cuddlecat had been moved from the children's bedroom to another bedroom and placed out of Madeleine's reach then Kate would have reported it.  However, Kate stated from the outset that she found CC where she left him ie on Madeleine's bed.

That bolded bit is definitely in dispute.  I have had indications from others who saw the interview with Kate, years ago, where she talks about CC being seen on a high ledge.  I am not yet finished replaying selected videos in my browser history.
I saw it a few weeks back, but I struggle to find it again.  There might be someone checking that this information is always removed off the internet.

There is no logical way that the pink blanket and Cuddle Cat would be entirely hidden under the folded down portion of the blankets when they were beside her when she slept.   Who actually found them there?

[John]

That bolded bit is definitely in dispute.  I have had indications from others who saw the interview with Kate, years ago, where she talks about CC being seen on a high ledge.  I am not yet finished replaying selected videos in my browser history.
I saw it a few weeks back, but I struggle to find it again.  There might be someone checking that this information is always removed of the internet.

Was that not the dream she had where Madeleine was on a high hill?

[Robittybob1]

Was that not the dream she had where Madeleine was on a high hill?

Gerry denies that Kate had this dream.  I would have been happier to hear Kate deny that.