Is Kate McCann's book "Madeleine" a fair representation of the known facts?

[Benice]

Even though Kate McCann must know there's no evidence of abduction and that other opinions exist, that isn't addressed in her book. Once more the abduction is presented as a fact when it is by no means proved. The only justification she offers is her own opinion.

The book then documents every injustice she and her husband were subjected to, as the parents of an abducted child. She may indeed believe her daughter was abducted but expecting everyone else to believe it just because she says so is unrealistic.

The book would have been more interesting in my opinion if she had explained some of the anomalies which have aroused suspicion. We know from the witness statements that the group decided to operate their own listening service before they arrived in PdL, so her repeated claims that she left her children alone because the resort felt safe can be questioned. As can her claims that she never doubted the wisdom of leaving the patio door open; her friends testified that she did.

IMO she didn't write her book for a small group of people in a corner of the internet who (for various reasons imo) desperately want them to be guilty.   Why would she even bother - when it's obvious that even if Madeleine was found tomorrow, there are those who would immediately claim a conspiracy/cover up rather than admit they were wrong?

Neither does she have any obligation to prove her/their innocence to those same people - or to anyone else for that matter.   

Whatever concerns she may have had about adopting the listening method of childcare - it's obvious that the possibility of an abduction never entered their minds at any time.   Something which IIRC the PT AG stated was perfectly acceptable as they had no reason to think otherwise.   I'm sure that the fact that all of their children always slept soundly for hours immediately after going to sleep also featured strongly in their decision.

There is no evidence against the McCanns and no credible motive - which IMO is why some sceptics have resorted to conducting a marathon 'character assassination' against the McCanns and those in authority who believe that Madeleine was abducted. 

Fortunately poring over and dissecting every last word the McCanns have ever spoken and picking out bits which suit that particular agenda whilst ignoring anything that doesn't suit -  is not how professional policemen behave - but it is how kangaroo courts operate IMO.

Kate's book was a best seller and none of the scores of people mentioned in it have sued her for any of its content.  That should tell you something.
AIMHO

[slartibartfast]

IMO she didn't write her book for a small group of people in a corner of the internet who (for various reasons imo) desperately want them to be guilty.   Why would she even bother - when it's obvious that even if Madeleine was found tomorrow, there are those who would immediately claim a conspiracy/cover up rather than admit they were wrong?

Neither does she have any obligation to prove her/their innocence to those same people - or to anyone else for that matter.   

Whatever concerns she may have had about adopting the listening method of childcare - it's obvious that the possibility of an abduction never entered their minds at any time.   Something which IIRC the PT AG stated was perfectly acceptable as they had no reason to think otherwise.   I'm sure that the fact that all of their children always slept soundly for hours immediately after going to sleep also featured strongly in their decision.

There is no evidence against the McCanns and no credible motive - which IMO is why some sceptics have resorted to conducting a marathon 'character assassination' against the McCanns and those in authority who believe that Madeleine was abducted. 

Fortunately poring over and dissecting every last word the McCanns have ever spoken and picking out bits which suit that particular agenda whilst ignoring anything that doesn't suit -  is not how professional policemen behave - but it is how kangaroo courts operate IMO.

Kate's book was a best seller and none of the scores of people mentioned in it have sued her for any of its content.  That should tell you something.
AIMHO

Always slept soundly for hours?

[stephen25000]

IMO she didn't write her book for a small group of people in a corner of the internet who (for various reasons imo) desperately want them to be guilty.   Why would she even bother - when it's obvious that even if Madeleine was found tomorrow, there are those who would immediately claim a conspiracy/cover up rather than admit they were wrong?

Neither does she have any obligation to prove her/their innocence to those same people - or to anyone else for that matter.   

Whatever concerns she may have had about adopting the listening method of childcare - it's obvious that the possibility of an abduction never entered their minds at any time.   Something which IIRC the PT AG stated was perfectly acceptable as they had no reason to think otherwise.   I'm sure that the fact that all of their children always slept soundly for hours immediately after going to sleep also featured strongly in their decision.

There is no evidence against the McCanns and no credible motive - which IMO is why some sceptics have resorted to conducting a marathon 'character assassination' against the McCanns and those in authority who believe that Madeleine was abducted. 

Fortunately poring over and dissecting every last word the McCanns have ever spoken and picking out bits which suit that particular agenda whilst ignoring anything that doesn't suit -  is not how professional policemen behave - but it is how kangaroo courts operate IMO.

Kate's book was a best seller and none of the scores of people mentioned in it have sued her for any of its content.  That should tell you something.
AIMHO

Your beliefs seem to sum up that post quite succinctly.

Let's face it, you are hardly going to be critical of the Mccanns.

[Benice]

Your beliefs seem to sum up that post quite succinctly.

Let's face it, you are hardly going to be critical of the Mccanns.

And let's face it  -  you are never going to stop being critical of the McCanns.    So what?

[Benice]

Always slept soundly for hours?

Quote from Kates book

Sean and Amelie had always been perfect sleepers, and Madeleine had outgrown the restlessness of her babyhood, so, barring illness and the odd instance of playing up at bedtime, ours was normally a relatively quiet household by 8.00p.m.   If Madeleine ever woke during the night it was always in the small hours, practically never earlier than two or three in the morning.
End quote.

[ferryman]

You're child disappears while you're in a foreign country, you believe she's been abducted, the police stop actively looking for her after a week and decide that you covered up her death.  Fancy writing a "poor me" book.  What on earth have you got to complain about?  You should be glad the police bothered to look at all and thankful they didn't beat you to a pulp - you probably would have deserved it anyway, you disgusting child neglecter!

Slightly longer than a week, Alfie.  It was around the time Grime performed the searches with his dogs that that the PJ started looking inwardly towards the McCanns ....

[slartibartfast]

Quote from Kates book

Sean and Amelie had always been perfect sleepers, and Madeleine had outgrown the restlessness of her babyhood, so, barring illness and the odd instance of playing up at bedtime, ours was normally a relatively quiet household by 8.00p.m.   If Madeleine ever woke during the night it was always in the small hours, practically never earlier than two or three in the morning.
End quote.

Witness statements.

[Alfie]

Slightly longer than a week, Alfie.  It was around the time Grime performed the searches with his dogs that that the PJ started looking inwardly towards the McCanns ....

The PJ called off their search for Madeleine after one week, unlike police in Britain who kept up the search for April Jones for months.

[Alfie]

Witness statements.

Kate McCann is a witness to her own children's sleeping habits is she not?

[stephen25000]

The PJ called off their search for Madeleine after one week, unlike police in Britain who kept up the search for April Jones for months.

Cite.

[Brietta]

Even though Kate McCann must know there's no evidence of abduction and that other opinions exist, that isn't addressed in her book. Once more the abduction is presented as a fact when it is by no means proved. The only justification she offers is her own opinion.

The book then documents every injustice she and her husband were subjected to, as the parents of an abducted child. She may indeed believe her daughter was abducted but expecting everyone else to believe it just because she says so is unrealistic.

The book would have been more interesting in my opinion if she had explained some of the anomalies which have aroused suspicion. We know from the witness statements that the group decided to operate their own listening service before they arrived in PdL, so her repeated claims that she left her children alone because the resort felt safe can be questioned. As can her claims that she never doubted the wisdom of leaving the patio door open; her friends testified that she did.

Police refuse to rule out abduction as they seek to solve mystery of missing RAF man Corrie McKeague
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/police-refuse-rule-out-abduction-9001708

Until it is known for certain what may have happened to a missing person ... competent investigators don't rule everything out because it doesn't fit with the lead detective's theory.

[ferryman]

The PJ called off their search for Madeleine after one week, unlike police in Britain who kept up the search for April Jones for months.

Seemingly, two weeks:

The other dogs and their handlers remained on site until 18th May when at about 19.00 they returned to Cino/EPG as their presence was no longer require in P da L, although it was determined that if their use were required in the future, they would return.
Signed
30 November 2007
Operation Commander
Major Sequeira

[Benice]

Witness statements.

Cartas Rogatorias Vol V
 
Pages 20 to 21
 
Leicestershire Police Force
 
Statement by Sharon LEWIN
 
Occupation: Teaching Assistant
 
This statement (2 pages) is truthful in accordance with my understanding.
 
Date: 21st April 2008
 
I am the person referred to above and I work as a teaching assistant at Laurels Nursery School, Melton Road, Queniborough, Leicestershire. The nursery school has the capacity to receive about 80 children full-time, aged between 6 weeks and 5 years and is open from 07.30 to 18.00 daily. The children are grouped according to age and I work in the section that looks after children aged between two and half and three years old. I have worked at the nursery for five years and I am currently on maternity leave.
 
I got to know Madeleine and her parents Kate and Gerry through my work at the nursery school. Madeleine started at the nursery when she was about two years old.
 
When she was two and a half she joined the group supervised by me, I think it was in 2006, and she remained there for about 6 months. Madeleine attended on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
 
She would be dropped off between 08.00 and 08.30 and would return home at about 17.00. The dropping off and picking up was taken in turns by the parents and as a result of this Kate and Gerry asked me to take care of the children during the evening on some occasions. Kate would pick Madeleine up from the nursery at the end of the day and I would accompany them to their house. We would have tea and I would help give Madeleine her bath.
 
Kate and Gerry would go out and I would watch a DVD with the girl before telling her a bedtime story
 
I think I did this about 5 times and on each occasion it was at their home in Rothley

................ snipped..................................

..... I had the opportunity to be present at her bedtime when I looked after her. Bath time was at about 18.30 - 19.00 and she would later go to bed at about 19.30 – 20.00 I would read her a story or two and she would always fall asleep half way through.
 
Gerry and Kate would normally return home at about 22.30 and before this I would check whether she was all right, by looking around the bedroom door. I do not have knowledge of the girl waking up after she fell asleep.
 
This statement was made by me and is truthful in accordance with my understanding.

End quote

[G-Unit]

IMO she didn't write her book for a small group of people in a corner of the internet who (for various reasons imo) desperately want them to be guilty.   Why would she even bother - when it's obvious that even if Madeleine was found tomorrow, there are those who would immediately claim a conspiracy/cover up rather than admit they were wrong?

Neither does she have any obligation to prove her/their innocence to those same people - or to anyone else for that matter.   

Whatever concerns she may have had about adopting the listening method of childcare - it's obvious that the possibility of an abduction never entered their minds at any time.   Something which IIRC the PT AG stated was perfectly acceptable as they had no reason to think otherwise.   I'm sure that the fact that all of their children always slept soundly for hours immediately after going to sleep also featured strongly in their decision.

There is no evidence against the McCanns and no credible motive - which IMO is why some sceptics have resorted to conducting a marathon 'character assassination' against the McCanns and those in authority who believe that Madeleine was abducted. 

Fortunately poring over and dissecting every last word the McCanns have ever spoken and picking out bits which suit that particular agenda whilst ignoring anything that doesn't suit -  is not how professional policemen behave - but it is how kangaroo courts operate IMO.

Kate's book was a best seller and none of the scores of people mentioned in it have sued her for any of its content.  That should tell you something.
AIMHO

You seem to be very upset about my criticism of the book. It was OK, as I said, if you want to read a 'poor me' book. It was not, in my opinion, a fair representation of the facts.

The legal summary does mention abduction, but it doesn't say that's what happened;

While it is an unavoidable fact that Madeleine disappeared from Apartment 5A of the 'Ocean Club', the manner and circumstances under which this happened are not - despite the numerous diligences made in that sense -, therefore the range of crimes that were indicated and referred to during the inquiry remains untouched.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/LEGAL_SUMMARY.htm

I find it quite amusing that anyone who doesn't agree with the McCann's version of events is accused of 'desperately wanting them to be guilty'. I don't know what happened on 3rd May 2007 because, as the Legal Summary says, the evidence to support any of the possibilities isn't there. Therefore anyone who is convinced of the McCann's innocence  has reached that conclusion without evidence to support it.

On the other hand, there are facts showing that their evidence wasn't completely factual for some reason. What that reason was I don't pretend to know, but facts are facts and I see no reason why they should be ignored.

[ferryman]

I'm astounded that an (apparent) scholar of Shakespeare and Chaucer can make as big a hash of Kate's book as s/he also made of Mark Harrison's reports. ....