[Archived] The Mccann Saga

[jim mk2]

Says the spoon salesman who regards the Mail as the font of all wisdom ......keep up the good work Eno !!

[Oklahoma]

Thank you for your fantastic and informative contribution to the thread.

"I trust the McCanns absolutely implicitly," says Sir Richard Branson

It could be a bit embarrassing for the publicity-seeking Richard Branson if the McCanns are convicted and found guilty. Personally if I was a billionaire with a spare 100 grand to give away, I'd be more inclined to give it to a children's missing persons charity, rather than donate it to two people who might - I stress might be guilty of a terrible crime.

I'm keeping an open mind about the McCanns. I don't know the forensic evidence against them so I'm not going to start throwing stones at them. A few months ago I didn't suspect them of being involved. It's only in recent weeks that a doubt has crept in. The father, Gerry McCann, hasn't struck me as a guilty man. But I may be wrong.

I think the Portugese police have certainly made a string of basic errors. They seemed to be painfully slow to respond to the crime. The apartment wasn't sealed off properly, leaving the possibility that forensic evidence may have become contaminated. In the early stages they apparently failed to make proper house-to-house inquiries and failed to inform Spanish border police. So a possible kidnapper was given every opportunity to flee the country.

There were lengthy delays in calling in proper specialists and sniffer dogs to the apartment. It took the Portugese police weeks to issue an e-fit of a man who was seen carrying a child near the apartment. They then issued a ridiculous e-fit of a man who looked like an egg with a side parting.

I think the Portugese police have been completely out of their depth. They could probably cope with a stolen handbag or a missing passport in the Algarve, but when there's a missing four-year-old child with half the world's media there, the police have simply been out of their depth.

That's not me being xenophobic and just having a pop at nasty Europeans. I genuinely feel that a more competent and professional police force would have had a much better chance of solving this tragic case.

Just look at the e-fit that the police eventually came up with. How are the people of Praia da Luz supposed to identify someone from that picture ?

The portuguese police didn't do the best work but I wonder if the british police has found the murderer of the Liverpool kid yet. Maybe it's out of their depth as well.

The boarders could have been closed but if it really mattered, I think the parents would call the police before calling the british press.

The portuguese police had a few problems handling the pressure from the press and the british goverment. Or didn't you know that your PM is close friend of the McCann's?

[blue phil]

The portuguese police didn't do the best work but I wonder if the british police has found the murderer of the Liverpool kid yet. Maybe it's out of their depth as well.

You can be sure the police will know the names of those responsible as will half the local community . Proving it and getting people to testify is another matter .

We've had similar problems right here in Blackburn .

The Portuguese police on the other hand seemingly haven't a clue who's responsible .

[Rovermatt]

This morning's news was leading with a rather chilling picture of a cute blonde child slung onto the back of a local woman in Morocco. The photo was taken by a Spanish tourist a month ago.

[Cocker]

This morning's news was leading with a rather chilling picture of a cute blonde child slung onto the back of a local woman in Morocco. The photo was taken by a Spanish tourist a month ago.

And its this kind of thing that gets to me. If it was her, either go and get a proper look and then get her back or if your a bit worried about your safety, then call the police and follow them - its not that difficult. Now with it all over the news its like saying "we know your there so do you want to hide again and we will come and find you. I will count to a million" Its like the woman said who took the pic. "Even if its not her it will be someone like her because she didnt look like she belonged with that family"

On my recent trip away I spotted a girl of her description (I know there are millions that will look like her but everyone should keep looking) I got a closer look and found it wasn't her (obviously) however, the Mrs said "well what if it was her what would you have done about it" Well I wouldn't have come back home and mentioned to the police that I may have spotted her - these people need their heads seeing too

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

A view on the McCanns from the former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, John Stalker

I agree with John Stalker when he says: "I've been horrified by the abject failure of the Portuguese detectives to adhere to basic principles of policing."

I disagree with Stalker when he says: "Why have the McCanns remained so silent?" The McCanns have been in the public eye constantly over the last six months and have given a large number of media interviews, but because of the Portugese legal system they are not supposed to discuss specific details in the case.

Stalker says of the McCanns: "They are extremely intelligent and articulate people". Yet possessing these qualities doesn't necessarily make you innocent. Having said that, I share Stalker's view that Madeleine was probably the victim of an abduction rather than being killed by either of her parents.

[herbergeehh]

On my recent trip away I spotted a girl of her description (I know there are millions that will look like her but everyone should keep looking) I got a closer look and found it wasn't her (obviously) however, the Mrs said "well what if it was her what would you have done about it" Well I wouldn't have come back home and mentioned to the police that I may have spotted her - these people need their heads seeing too

"If it turns out to be her and she's found I'll collect a reward".. "Worst case scenario, it's not her and I've gotten my name in the paper, maybe with a nice picture.."

Not saying they're all like that, but it does seem like some of them are..

[Paul]

The Daily Express and Daily Star both carry front-page apologies in Wednesday's editions under the headline, "Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry".

BBC News Item

The McCanns seem to have an astonishing hold over the media. The media attention, TV reporting and headlines they managed to generate in the early months of their daughter's disappearance was quite amazing. Now they have achieved something which I think is almost unheard of, a public front page apology from not one, but two, British tabloid newspapers. Retractions and apologies have long been hidden away on page 28 in the smallest font possible by all the printed media, except for this case.

I have no axe to grind with the McCanns except to wonder just how do they manage it or what on earth do they have with which they can threaten the press?

[Flopsy]

A pretty decent case for libel per chance? The fact that they are intelligent, fairly wealthy, with a lot of monetary backing from elsewhere?

I mean look at the coverage the McCanns got compared to Shannon Mathews(?) up north. Maddie got front page and top bill headlines for weeks whilst Shannon got pushed behind a lot less serious stories.

[Grabbi Graeme]

The Mccann publicity machine has been pushed to the news front again by this, but the story of a girl missing has disapeared from the media over the last few months, apart from the odd person saying that they have spotted Maddie in a cafe in France/Spain or wherever.

Unless a major breakthrough happens (and I do think she is still alive) this story will fade like the missing Ben Needham who never got half the coverage that the Mccann story got.

[blue phil]

I mean look at the coverage the McCanns got compared to Shannon Mathews(?) up north. Maddie got front page and top bill headlines for weeks whilst Shannon got pushed behind a lot less serious stories.

Thankfully they found this kid .....but when you look at the circumstances of this case a whole lot of pertinent questions need to be addressed about both the family and the society that produces them .

Personally I think the media have been fairly restrained here ......

As for the McCanns having , as Paul said "an astonishing hold over the media" ........if that's the case then why did they have to read (literally) hundreds of stories implying they were murderers to the extent that they had to threaten legal action ?

Great hold eh ....?

[Paul]

I think you know precisely what I meant and it most certainly was not that the family should have to endure unsubstantiated claims of murder.

[blue phil]

I have no axe to grind with the McCanns except to wonder just how do they manage it or what on earth do they have with which they can threaten the press?

What they "have" with which they can "threaten" the press is a damn good case for libel - a means which they have used with remarkable restraint and tolerance given the level of slurs aimed at them .

Perhaps you should make your observations on the McCanns a little clearer , Paul - to make the claim that the "McCanns seem to have an astonishing hold on the media" and not expect a gentle rebuff is asking a bit much IMO .

You can always sue me for libel if I've been a little too critical for your liking ......

[Paul]

I think it has far more to do with your desire to nit pick other's posts and look for reaction. I suggest the media attention the McCanns generated around the disappearance of their daughter is unparalleled in recent years. For your benefit the publicity to which I refer is the mass of media output very cleverly generated to ensure her face is or was constantly in the public view, creating significant pressure on the authorities to maintain the search for Madeline. Compare this with the media attention surrounding Shannon Matthews (a name I had not heard until she was found) or the youngster shot in Liverpool some months ago. Two broadly similar cases neither of which has enjoyed sustained media attention.

In my adult life I cannot recall an occassion when the British media has issued a front page public apology to an injured party. If you can point to one I would be interested, as in my cleary limited experience retractions, corrections and apologies are usually buried in the bowels of the relevant publication. While I cannot name specific individuals the McCanns are not the first to be libelled by the British media, it is therefore "astonishing" they have achieved front page apologies.

In this sense the McCanns have a "hold" over the media in that they generated something one might describe as a "fascination" with the story. You will appreciate from the additional punctuation the way in which I am using these words. I hope this clarifies my previous post for you, I will try to improve my language use in future.

It is only laterly the McCanns would have had the libel case to threaten the press. I wasn't suggesting the parents spent their time threatening retribution on tabloid editors if Maddy wasn't on the front page. I was asking how so much attention was created and pondering what the McCanns did to maintain this attention.

[jim mk2]

. Compare this with the media attention surrounding Shannon Matthews (a name I had not heard until she was found) or the youngster shot in Liverpool some months ago. Two broadly similar cases neither of which has enjoyed sustained media attention.

Shannon has been headline news every day since her disappearance ; perhaps you're reading the wrong newspapers ?

The McCanns have used the media very cleverly and have been well advised how to stay in the spotlight by Clarence Mitchell, a former BBC reporter. The Express were certainly "obsessed" by the McCann case, probably because they thought the story sold newspapers and boosted their flagging circulation. They were wrong on both counts of course.

[Paul]

Shannon has been headline news every day since her disappearance ; perhaps you're reading the wrong newspapers ?

I read The Guardian / Independent on Saturdays and The Observer, possibly I'm reading the right newspapers? As I don't read a daily paper but do listen to the BBC extensively it probably further demonstrates the depth to which the McCanns managed to spread their story. As far as I can recall radio coverage of Shannon only began in ernest after she was found.

[jim mk2]

The Times and Telegraph gave the story extensive coverage as obviously did the red-tops. Shannon has also been the main story several times on BBC 6pm and late night news - have you been abroad ?

[Paul]

No, apart from a couple of days in Holland, I've been home. The Shannon story bypassed me totally until she was found.

[broadsword]

Seven shildren by five different fathers, what the heck's that all about?

A somewhat unusual family arrangement.

[ABBEY]

its been on tv and radio paul 24/7

[Rovermatt]

Did anyone see the fascinating program this evening on Channel 4 about the Matthews family?

[tony gale's mic]

The Shannon Matthews case only came to light fairly late on in the case. I remember reading a few articles in prominent places (like on the BBC news website) asking why the McCanns had recieved such press but this case had recieved such little press comparitively. As if by magic, it soon started appearing on the front page of every newspaper and headline of every news report as if to say 'oh no look we care about poor kids too'. There certainly wasn't reporting on this from the outset thats for sure.

[blue phil]

In this sense the McCanns have a "hold" over the media in that they generated something one might describe as a "fascination" with the story. You will appreciate from the additional punctuation the way in which I am using these words. I hope this clarifies my previous post for you, I will try to improve my language use in future.

Hopefully you will make the point a little clearer in future ....and maybe be a little less sensitive to criticism .

The McCanns have skilfully used the media as a vehicle , so to speak , yet the coverage was not directed nor conducted by them . Rather it was driven by the newspapers and the readers ....for motives that have already been covered in this thread .

As for your comments about the (non) coverage of the Shannon girl and Rhyss Jones I can only say that I find them astonishing .

[blue phil]

Did anyone see the fascinating program this evening on Channel 4 about the Matthews family?

I couldn't bring myself to watch it , Matt ....but I've read enough about the case (despite the lack of coverage in the media ) to know that there's something sick about certain sectors of our society . The white working (or under) class has no political voice whatsoever to serve their interests . No discipline , no family structure and zilch education do not an happy society make I'm afraid .....

Incidentally one of the papers gave the statistic that over 1300 registered sex offenders lived within 20 miles of Shannon's "home" . WTF is going on ...?

[Rovermatt]

It was eye-opening to say the least.