'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

by **Tony Bennett** 04.06.14 0:59

KEVIN (RICHARD) HALLIGEN: A BIOGRAPHY

Kevin Richard Halligen

(Note: Links in the article may not always work)

1961 14 July - Born Dublin

1988 (Aged 27) Said to have been working for the next 15 years in ‘Defence Technology’

1991 March (Aged 29) - Married Kevin R. Halligen married Jennifer P. Darvill (or Palmer) in Alton, Hampshire

1990s – Begins to work on (‘been closely involved in’) "Special" Projects for the Ministry of Defence. The commentator ‘Blackwatch’ once wrote of this period of Halligen’s life as follows: “Like many entering the worlds of private security and defence, Halligen has spent much of his prior career precariously enmeshed in lucrative projects for the Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defense”.

By 1995. Halligen is working for DSB Special Batteries Ltd, based in Crawley, West Sussex. In 1995, the exhibited at the International Power Sources Symposium at the The Brighton Thistle Hotel, Brighton, on 24 to 26 April 1995. DSB Special Batteries Ltd manufactured and marketed battery packs and rechargers for the military, industrial and commercial markets in the United Kingdom.

In 1997 the company was taken over by AEA Technology Systems. Now working for AEA, Halligen began research and development on Lithium-ion batteries. AEA Technology later won contracts with the Ministry of Defence, providing batteries for the Army's Bowman Battlefield System and French Military thermal imaging cameras, for ‘unmanned aerial vehicles’ (i.e. drones, ot UAVs) for the US Departments of Homeland Security and Defense (unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs) and for NASA, including contracts for the Mars Landing Mission in 2003 and the first Comet Landing Mission.

AEA Technology Space, a partner company of AEA Technology Systems, later became ABSL Space Products and was later under a direct contract from government arms supplier QinetiQ to supply of rechargeable (secondary) Lithium-ion batteries.

In June 1996 June (aged 34), Halligen wrote a highly technical article on rechargeable batteries whilst working for DCB Special Batteries: http://www.latestproducts.info/techarchive/articles/2008/12/rechargeable-batteries-in-portable-applications/

In 2000, 29 February, his later friend and partner Henri Herman Exton, QPM Grade 7, Ministry of Defence, was awarded the O.B.E.

Approx 1998 onwards to 2003 (aged late 30s), Halligen worked for Cap Gemini and the Ernst and Young and later for Cap Gemini Ernst and Young when the two firms merged. These were defence and aerospace contractors. Halligen advised the Ministry of Defence and the government on ‘Business and Contracting Strategy’.

In 2000, Halligen becomes Company Secretary of Jungor Thames Valley Ltd. The company is owned by Linda O’Connell and operates from the handsome and extensive grounds of ‘Stanenorr in rural Normandy’ near Guildford. The company provides catering equipment, marquees and furniture for events. Halligen has no shares in the company and is not appointed Director. It is not a remunerated position, and the fact he doesn't sign the annual return suggests this is a casual arrangement (having shares would incur income tax liabilities on his Cap Gemini job). The address Halligen provides is Stable Cottage, Thursley Road in Elstead. The cottage is just 30 minutes’ drive from Cap Gemini headquarters in Woking and is within yards of the MOD and British Army's Longmoor Training Estate on Elstead and Hankley Common (source: Jongor Annual Return, October 2000).

2003 February (aged 41) – Halligen appointed Director at the Inkerman Group by Sir John Walker and the rest of the board. Sir John Walker later says he regretted appointing Halligen. Halligen became the Chief Executive Officer of Inkerman Global, and also Executive Technical Director of The Inkerman Group. An announcement at the time suggested that “Kevin will focus on technology-centric issues and his prime task will be to roll out and deliver the revolutionary Minerva Programme, which addresses all facets of the multi-layered threat faced by Industry and Government in the post-September 11 era”.

RESIGNATIONS FROM INKERMAN

(a) In the summer of 2002, Halligen and Major General John Holmes (ex Director of Special Forces) were recruited by Gerald Moore and Sir John Walker of Inkerman Group specifically for the ‘Minerva Programme’ (anti-terrorist, emergency response project performed in association with QinetiQ, the UK government defence agency).

(b) In January 2003, John Holmes leaves abruptly, after little more than 6 months at Inkerman ,to work on ‘Project Unicorn’ for the Metropolitan Police with Nicola Heath and Paul Cardew.

(c) Kevin Halligen resigns from Inkerman on 31 August 2003, allegedly following a drunken outburst, some eight months after Holmes’ resignation.

(d) On 27 August 27th 2003, a few days before Halligen resigns, Tim Craig-Harvey (still working at Inkerman), Natasha Duval and Kevin Halligen register a company to be known as The Chimera Partnership, using an address used by General Major John Holmes on his SOE application - 15 St Botolph Street, London.

In an article discussing the above, ‘Blackwatch’ wrote: “Kevin Halligen and John Holmes used Inkerman's 1 Cornhill Head Office address as their contact address for SOE International Ltd, while Tim Craig-Harvey also used Inkerman’s Cornhill address when registering the Red Defence website. Inkerman continued using the 1 Cornhill address until January 2005. Why both Halligen and Holmes still used the Inkerman office during this time isn't clear, especially when several parties alleged that Halligen's drunken departure from Inkerman was so emphatic and acrimonious.

March 2004 – Kevin Halligen receives a much-prized U.S. Department of Defense pass, valid until February 2005.

On 5 April 2004, Halligen set up a new firm, SOE International, with General Major John Holmes, former Director of Special Forces) and Nicola Heath (‘Terror Psychology Advisor’) – Company Ref. No. 5094037. General John Holmes and Nicola Heath had worked on ‘Project Unicorn’ for the Met Police. It was given ‘Non-Trading’ status.

The same year he established The Chimera Partnership with Tim Craig-Harvey and Natasha Duval.

On 30th July 2004 Tim Craig-Harvey, Natasha Duval and Halligen set up Red Defence Ltd (Company No. 05193728). It remained a dormant company for much of its lifetime.

On 19 August 2004 Nicola Heath and Major General John Holmes set up SOE Academy Ltd (No. 5210093).

On 19 January 2005, (aged 43), the domain name RedDefence.com is registered by Halligen and his friend Tim Craig-Harvey; the administrative address is given as 1 Cornhill, London, the address given by the Inkerman Group, although Halligen had by now ceased working for them.

On 17 March 2005 Halligen and Tim Craig-Harvey registered a second ‘Red Defence’ company: Red Defence International Ltd (Company No. 05396823). Tim Craig-Harvey becomes Company Secretary and Director and provides the contact address: Flat 2, 113A Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6HJ.

In 2005 or 2006 (aged 44) – Halligen obtained the contract to work for Trafigura, in which it is said that he promised to free two captive Trafigura staff in Ivory Coast, after allegations they had dumped toxic waste there, injuring or even killing many Africans in the process. Halligen was unsuccessful in his mission. Trafigura were represented by leading libel firm Carter-Ruck.

2007 - Halligen apparently describing himself as LLP/Attorney, working for Patton Boggs.

2007, 3 May (aged 45) – Madeleine reported missing

From 22 to 26 July, Gerry McCann visited the U.S. capital, Washington D.C. Among those he met was Senator Richard Shelby. The Forensic Science prepared their final report on the forensics for the McCann investigation iin March 2008. In March 2008, immediately he was offered the Madeleine McCann contract, Halligen’s business partners Andre Hollis (then Oakley’s CEO and President of Van Sycoyoc) were [url=http://foreignlobbying.org/registrant/Van Scoyoc Associates/]lobbying the US Senate and House of Representatives on behalf of the U.K. Forensic Science Service, and met [/url]Shelby. Shelby’s 2008 election campaign was robustly supported by QinetiQ North America and Patton Boggs. As payback for this support, Shelby awarded QinetiQ North America a contract worth around £5 million to provide work on behalf of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile, Research, Development and Engineering Centre. Former Managing Director of QinetiQ, Simon Bennett, took over the Forensic Science Service at this time (April 2008).

November 2007 - Oakley Strategic Services LLC is founded in the U.S. by Colonel Ken Irish III. Halligen is recruited as Director. (In 2008, the company was one of several National Security specialists to contribute to a workshop entitled: 'Shariah Law and [url=https://jillhavern.forumotion.net/Downloads/In 2008 the company was one of several National Security specialists to contribute to a workshop entitled, 'Shariah, Law and %C2%91Financial Jihad%C2%92: How Should America Respond]Financial Jihad: How Should America Respond[/url]?'. The workshop was co-sponsored by The McCormick Foundation and The Center for Security Policy. Both Nickolas Abramo, Oakley’s Director of Operations and Ken Irish, Oakley’s registered owner, attended the workshop. The company said it “assessed the risks and dangers posed by Shariah-Compliant Finance (SCF) and the indirect impact the phenomenon might have on human rights”.

2007, sometime between June and December, Halligen forms the Oakley International Group LLC in the U.S., apparently together with Andre Hollis (Vice President of Van Sycoyoc and regular Fox News commentator), Tim Unruh (from Patton Boggs) and probably Colonel John Garrett (also of Patton Boggs). The initial date of registration appears to have been as late as 12 February 2008. It was set up as a Foreign Limited Liability Company, trading in defence & aeronautical search and navigations systems and equipment. On the face of it, it had no connection whatsoever with searching for missing people or children nor even with the spheres of private investigation and detection. Records searched on the internet recently show that Oakley International appear not to be trading and that Kevin Halligen is the sole owner.

2008, probably March (aged 46), appointed as private investigator by the Directors of the Find Madeleine Fund; paid £500,000 plus expenses. During this time he is described by the Washington Post as “staying in a Willard Hotel suite for months at a time, drinking the days away at pricey Georgetown restaurants…travelling everywhere in a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Town Car”.

2008 August (Aged 47) Sacked by the Directors of Madeleine’s Fund after a blazing row

2009 February (Aged 47) – Changes his address to ‘The Beeches’, Henley Park, Cobbett Hill Road, Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2BZ, which has been the home of Julia Lynne Powell since 1999. It is another of Halligen’s girlfriends Kevin R Halligen (Patton Boggs LLP/Attorney),

2009 3 April – Kevin Halligen and Tim Craig-Harvey set up a company called VIGIL LIMITED, at 5th Floor, 26-28 Great Portland Street, London W1W 8AS (Company No. 06868379).

2009 9 April – Lawsuit RYECROFT CONSULTANTS SA v. HALLIGEN filed. By this time Halligen is described as ‘on the run’

2009 October – Arrested at Hotel, Oxfordshire, following a tip-off

2010 22 December (Aged 49) Kevin Halligen was ordered to be extradited to the USA by the Home Secretary.

2011 21 June – His appeal against that decision was rejected by the High Court as he, through his solicitors, did not submit a correct notice of appeal in time.

2013 27 June (Aged 51) – After pleading guilty in the U.S. to the charges against him, is released, having already served nearly 4 years in prison - and returned to live in Dublin.

Note: I acknowledge the assistance of past articles by 'Blackwatch' in compiling this biography - TB

by **Tony Bennett** 04.06.14 1:04

The programme is to be called: 'The McCanns and the Conman'. Or 'The Man who Conned the McCanns'.

But, given his employment history (above), can he be dismissed merely as a con-man and fraudster? Does his career not, rather, suggest that he might have played a role as a high-level ‘fixer’, arranger and negotiator in the murky world of defence contracts?

The 'spin' on Halligen and the truly giant sum of £500,000 plus expenses he was apparently paid by the McCann Team is this:

“Poor old McCanns. Sincere, but terribly naive. Desperate to do whatever they could to find Madeleine, but made an expensive mistake etc. etc.”

The programme has been trailed as one in which we may find that Halligen has actually helped Operation Grange in their search for the truth (however unlikely it may seem).

But let us suppose for a moment that ‘The McCanns and the Conman’ has been prepared by true, fearless investigative journalists, dedicated to telling their viewers how as much as £600,000-£700,000 - donated by pensioners' weekly pensions, childrens' pocket money etc. etc. - was ‘conned’ out of a grieving couple.

And suppose also that we are going to get an accurate picture of Halligen’s very extensive work over two decades in the world of the defence industry in both the U.K. and the U.S.

We would surely expect, then, to see a full and fair account of his employment history.

And we would surely expect to see all the following sorts of questions about Kevin Halligen’s precise role on behalf of the McCann Team to be raised - and answered:

* At what point did you decide to give up on Metodo 3, and Gary Hagland, or no longer use them full-time?

* Why?

* Was it anything to do with the arrest in February 2008 of one of Metodo 3's Madeleine investigators, Antonio Jiminez Raso, on serious criminal charges?

* What other firms of security/intelligence/search agencies apart from Halligen's Oakley did you contact?

* Why did you reject them?

* What was the first you knew about Halligen?

* Which one of the Fund's Directors first knew or contacted him?

* Who did the background checks on him?

* What did these background checks reveal?

* Were you aware of his dishonest role in the Trafigura scandal?

* What was the nature of the interview process for Halligen?

* Who actually interviewed him for the job?

* What was the precise nature of the contract?

* Was the contract in writing?

* When was the first payment made to Halligen?

* In fact, is there any proof that any payment was made direct to Halligen, or did payments go via one of Brian Kennedy's many holding companies?

* How much was the first payment?

* On what date was it paid?

* What other payments were made and on what dates?

* On what precise dates did Halligen report to Brian Kennedy, the McCanns or any of the Directors about his results?

* What did he tell them?

* To what extent did each single Director take part in the various decisions to seek, appoint , monitor and supervise Halligen?

* Has each Director been asked by the TV company what their knowledge is of the origin and genesis of the Halligen fiasco?

Unless these and similar questions are asked and dealt with in the programme, it cannot be a proper exposure of...

...HOW (allegedly) THE McCANNS WERE CONNED

by Watching The Detectives 04.06.14 10:29

I believe the 1 Cornhill and 15 Boltoph St addresses are virtual offices used by many companies.

by Guest 04.06.14 10:37

http://www.executiveoffices.co.uk/virtual-offices/1-cornhill-ec3v-3nd

1 Cornhill is certainly a virtual office site but 15 St Botolph Street seems to be a regular one.

by **Tony Bennett** 04.06.14 10:40

Some news just in, earlier this morning, from someone I'll refer to as 'a trusted source of information who has proved reliable in the past':

Please also refer to the lengthy bio in the OP

QUOTE

Tim Craig-Harvey is to appear in the Halligen documentary.

Tim Craig-Harvey and his coterie of friends figured prominently in the companies Halligen formed together with Major General John Holmes- whose company Erinys, along with Bell Pottinger, featured in the mysterious Litvinenko story - the Russian diplomat who was poisoned to death by something radioactive - polonium. Suspicions point to the Russian government, and the whole affair caused a major diplomatic row with the British government.

In fact, Halligen was a regular at the same lap-dancing club where the polonium was detected - namely the Hey Jo club. The club is above a Russian Restaurant on Jermyn Street - where Halligen lived at the time. In the original 2009 articles which exposed Halligen, he was noted to have spent much of his time drinking heavily in the Hey-Jo club and 'surrounded by a clutch of mobile 'phones'.

Halligen was exactly who he said he was. A man with contacts who had experience working
covertly for government schemes and contracts.

Is it possible that Operation Grange are going to do the same as was done in the Barry Bulsara/George case - that is, (allegedly) plant evidence (which in this case would point to an as-yet unnamed abductor?

Don't forget that the Investigating Officer in the Barry Bulsara case was none other than DCS Hamish Campbell, the very man also put in charge of DCI Redwood's Operation Grange. And Hamish Campbell in the Bulsara case worked under the corrupt Brian Moore (Commanding Officer at the corrupt Stoke Newington Police Station), who some years before was all but held responsible for framing an entirely innocent man for a non-fatal shooting incident by the device of planting firearms residue in the man's coat packet (same as seems to have occurred in the Bulsara case).

But now look at another amazing connection.

Halligen's Oakley International, formed after Madeleine was reported missing, brought in Det Supt Andy Tattersall to help in the McCann Team's investigation.

And where did Andy Tattersall make his name?

On the Jill Dando investigation, working alongside DCS Hamish Campbell!

And it's interesting now to look back at the things which Tattersall, who hails from the Manchester area, said about the conviction of Barry Bulsara - when the case had been referred to the Court of Appeal. Here are some extracts from an article in the Manchester Evening News. Remember he made these remarks about a man whose conviction for murdering Jill Dando was quashed:

SUB-QUOTE

A TOP Manchester detective who worked on the Jill Dando murder inquiry believes the right man was convicted of her killing.

Det Supt Andy Tattersall was one of an elite team of detectives who helped identify Barry George as the murder suspect and built up a case against him.

A TOP Manchester detective who worked on the Jill Dando murder inquiry believes the right man was convicted of her killing.

Det Supt Andy Tattersall was one of an elite team of detectives who helped identify Barry George as the murder suspect and built up a case against him.

George was jailed two years after Crimewatch presenter Miss Dando, 37, was shot in the head on her doorstep in Fulham in April 1999.

But he has always protested his innocence and yesterday, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) announced that George is to be allowed a second appeal against his conviction for murder.

Mr Tattersall was one of a team of officers called in to analyse evidence gathered by Metropolitan Police during their investigation.

After George's conviction, he said he was convinced the right man had been convicted. He said at the time: "There was absolutely no doubt about it in my mind. A lot of the evidence was circumstantial, but when you put the pieces of the jigsaw together and saw the full picture, it had to be him."

The detective said that he had not changed his mind over the conviction. Asked if he still believed George killed Miss Dando, Mr Tattersall, said: "Yes, I do. As far as I am concerned it was a solid conviction and the evidence is safe."

To refer a conviction to the Court of Appeal the CCRC must decide there is a 'real possibility' that the conviction, if referred, will be quashed [NOTE: It WAS quashed - T.B.] It has concluded evidence regarding the firearms discharge does raise such a possibility.

An Old Bailey jury took five days to decide by a 10-1 majority decision that George killed Miss Dando.

At George's trial a piece of forensic evidence was pivotal in securing his conviction.

The prosecution claimed a single speck of firearm residue found in his coat pocket linked him to the shooting. But doubts have been raised about the microscopic particle, which some experts say may not have come from a gun.

George is being represented by solicitor Jeremy Moore of Manchester-based firm Carter Moore. Mr Moore said: "The new evidence is that the prosecution experts are now saying that their firearms residue evidence is of no evidential value - it is considered neutral.

"We are pretty confident it is a very strong case for the court to consider." The court is not likely to hear the case for several months.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "This case was thoroughly investigated and the evidence placed before a jury by the Crown Prosecution Service, who convicted Barry George of the murder of Jill Dando in July 2001".

END SUB-QUOTE

Also, let us not forget that the crime reporter first on the spot in this case, and who shaped public perception of the case, blaming a Serbian hit-man, was none other than the McCanns PR supremo, Clarence Mitchell, then the BBC's top crime reporter.

UNQUOTE

by Bishop Brennan 04.06.14 10:57

Sounds like they got the old team back together again! Scary stuff though isn't it?

by **Tony Bennett** 04.06.14 11:10

Bishop Brennan wrote:Sounds like they got the old team back together again! Scary stuff though isn't it?

Do you think all this will come out on Channel 5 tonight?

I don't.

There's better information about this case on this forum than anywhere out on the mainstream media.

by russiandoll 04.06.14 11:12

Who claimed Litvinenko was a diplomat? He was a fugitive ex- FSB officer. This from a trusted source?

It wasn't you posting on Textusa blog re the digs was it, Tony, claiming that SY were there to plant cadaverine for the dogs to alert to?

Maddie now,[ even though indirectly ] linked to the Litvinenko murder.

I think I am losing the will to live.

by Guest 04.06.14 11:15

Bishop Brennan wrote:Sounds like they got the old team back together again! Scary stuff though isn't it?

I'd say it was sad rather than scary. It's a shame there isn't an island somewhere where those so inclined can go to act out their James Bond fantasies and leave the rest of us to go about our mundane business.

by **Tony Bennett** 04.06.14 11:34

russiandoll wrote:Maddie now [ even though indirectly ] linked to the Litvinenko murder.

I think I am losing the will to live.

But I hope you're not losing the will, russiandoll, to find out as much as we possibly can about the real Kevin Halligen - and all his contacts at senior government and MoD level, both here and the U.S.?

About his presence in the Jermyn Street lap-dancing club where the polonium was detected - right next to a Russian restaurant?

About why Halligen pulled in Det Supt Andy Tattersall to help him in the Madeleine McCann investigation - after he had been heavily involved in the very dubious prosecution of Barry Bulsara, and then boldly said: 'We got the right man' at the very moment the Court of Appeal was about to quash his conviction?

About why the Head of the Met put in charge of Operation Grange the very Investigating Officer in the Dando case, DCS Hamish Campbell, who had been in charge of getting evidence against Bulsara, telling the press in advance that the killer must be 'an obsessive loner', and then arresting and charging him?

Surely as a fellow seeker-after-truth on this forum, you also seek answers to these questions, and have the will to find out about them?

P.S. In answer to your question, I'm not guilty of your charge of posting a recent comment on Textusa's blog

by russiandoll 04.06.14 11:40

Glad not you posting that on TEXTUSA and I am not losing the will to discover more about KH and my auto change is already on the tv !

by Guest 04.06.14 11:46

So this is on at the same time as the England match then?

I might have to toss a coin....

by AndyB 04.06.14 11:59

Clay Regazzoni wrote:So this is on at the same time as the England match then?

I might have to toss a coin....

Yes, its difficult to know which will be the least stressful. Or disappointing

by **Tony Bennett** 04.06.14 14:19

More about the mysterious introduction of Det Supt Andy Tattersall - one of the team that wrongly prosecuted Barry Bulsara/George for the murder of Jill Dando - here in this report from the Daily Telegraph, 9 September 2008:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Madeleine McCann: Top British detectives are lined up to join the hunt

Some of the country's most experienced police detectives are being approached to join a team to help find Madeleine McCann.

'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer Madeleine-mccann-46_789493c

'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer Madeleine-mccann-46_789493c

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing while on a family holiday in Portugal in May, 2007. Photo: PAUL GROVER

By Ben Farmer
4:38PM BST 09 Sep 2008

The Find Madeleine Fund has asked for lists of suitable retired or soon-to-retire officers from forces across the country.

The fund, which is now being bankrolled by Brian Kennedy, the owner of Sale Sharks rugby team, is understood to have approached several police forces around the country including Greater Manchester.

Madeleine, three, disappeared from the family's apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal during a family holiday in May last year.

Chief Supt Steve Heywood, head of Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) serious crime division, is among those who have been asked to provide a list of officers, while Mr Kennedy is said to have already met former Det Supt Andy Tattersall, who retired from the force last year.

Mr Tattersall co-wrote the A To Z Checklist of Murder Investigation which is used by police forces across the country.

He worked on the investigation into the murder of special branch officer Stephen Oake, stabbed to death by terrorist Kamel Bourgass during a raid in 2003, and was involved in the Jill Dando murder case.

A spokesman for GMP said: "We have given details of some eligible officers or former officers. As far as we are aware, no decision has been made by the fund."

Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, said: "Kate and Gerry McCann, the fund and its backers have always sought to employ or use the very best people and resources in the search for Madeleine.

"If police expertise is potentially available anywhere, the fund and Gerry and Kate would naturally considering using it".

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ADDITIONAL NOTE BY TB re STEVE HEYWOOD

"GOLF IN PORTUGAL" - NEWSLETTER - Nº 61

Welcome to our March 2007 monthly "Golf in Portugal" Newsletter.

"LUCKY GOLFER"

Each month 10 golfers are randomly selected. From these 10 golfers a second draw is made for the winner of the prize sponsored by Apartment Hotel Formosa Park ****, at Praia do Ancão between Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo in the Algarve. All of the same monthly 10 golfers will be notified that they are now qualified for the annual Grand Draw.

In the Grand Draw one person will be the “Lucky Golfer” and receive from http://www.algarvegolf.net/ a sum of € 1.000,00 to be spent in the Algarve. The money can be spent in an Algarve Hotel of the winner’s choice, green fees, or a combination of both.

As in the past the 10 monthly winners; the winner of the prize sponsored by Apartment Hotel Formosa **** and the Grand Draw will all be notified by e-mail and also announced in our Golf Newsletter.

The 10 nominated golfers for the month of February are: Tommy Arnold, Lis McElroy, Vinny Entwistle, Steve Heywood, Ferry van Houten, Brian Reid, David Roberts, Frank Shand, Debra Vout, Steve Witter.

The February winner of the prize sponsored by Apartment Hotel Formosa Park is – Tommy Arnold

General Algarve News

An agreement has been signed to take to bring the charismatic 38-year-old Darren Clarke on board as their touring Pro.

Another change in ownership of Algarve golf courses occurred previously when some weeks ago the CS Group (owners of the 5-Star São Rafael Hotel in Albufeira", purchased the Morgado and Álamos courses near Portimão including the property development assets of the Herdade do Morgado de Reguengo from the Tivoli Hotel Group.

The 77th Portuguese Open Amateur Championships for both men and ladies were held at the Quinta de Cima and the Quinta da Ria courses near Tavira. There were 96 contestants in the men's event and 36 in the ladies', and after two qualifying stroke-play rounds those with the leading scores played match-play for the Championships. Iñigo Urquizo, a 24-year-old law graduate from San Sebastian in Spain, became the 2007 champion by defeating Frenchman Anthony Pailler 3&2 in the 36-hole final. The English golfer Holly Aitchison (who is 19), became the lady Amateur Champion after beating Nicola Roessler from Germany by the same margin. João Carlota, a 16-year-old Vilamoura junior, lost to Urquizo in the semi-final, the same stage at which Ana Melo, aged only 15, from Terceira GC in the Azores lost 1 down to the eventual winner.

Solverde Casinos staged a "Simply the Best" fun tournament at the Quinta da Ria course. The 88-player field qualified during the sponsor's 2006 circuit of tournaments by scoring nearest-the-pin shots. Cândido da Luz, a member of ADC Quinta do Lago won the Stableford event with 40 points after a count-back decision as he had tied with Vilamoura golfer Valdomero Rodrigues. There were also novelty prizes for balls closest to the hole after the 2nd strokes on some par-4's and 3rd strokes on par-5's. The new circuit comprises five tournaments starting with the 5th Espinho Casino tournament at the Oporto Course in the north on the 24th-25th March and ends in September.

International News

Aaron Baddeley from Australia birdied three of his final four holes Sunday to pass Friday and Saturday leader Jeff Quinney and win the FBR Open at TPC Scottsdale. This was his second PGA Tour victory. Baddeley climbed 46 places to World N 44 and secured a place in the WGC-Accenture Match Play.

Henrik Stenson birdied the 18th hole for a one stroke victory at the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club ahead of World Nº 4 Ernie Els who was second, and World Nº 1 Tiger Woods was tied for third with Niclas Fasth. Stenson climbed 4 places to Nº 10 and becomes the 65th player to have reached Top-10 status since the OWGR began just under 21 years ago.

Phil Mickelson shot a 6-under par 66 to tie the tournament record at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, winning by five shots from Kevin Sutherland for the 30th victory of his PGA TOUR career. Playing for a fourth straight week after a long layoff Mickelson’s third win, this event moved him up 2 places to Nº 4.

Peter Hedblom picked up his first European Tour win for eleven years as birdies on the 16th and 17th helped him to a one stroke win over Jean-Francois Lucquin at the Maybank Malaysian Open. The win takes Hedblom to Nº 147, a leap of 138 places. This week’s other winner was Miguel Rodriguez at the Kai Fieberg Costa Rica Open on the European Challenge Tour.

Charles Howell-III won the Nissan Open in California on the third sudden-death play-off hole against Phil Mickelson. Howell, who began the final round three shots behind Mickelson shot a final-round of 65. Howell climbed 29 places to Nº 16 and gave him a total improvement of 66 places to date in 2007. Mickelson moved up a Nº 3 in the World.

Mikko Ilonen edged out Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Shiv Kapur of India and Andrew Tampion of Australia to win the Indonesia Open by one stroke at Damai Indah Golf and Country Club in Jakarta. This first European Tour win ever by a Finn moves Illonen to Nº 182, and a jump of 139 places.

Scott Sterling holed a tricky three-footer to secure his first Nationwide Tour victory in the Jacobs Creek Open, a co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour of Australia and Nationwide Tour. Sterling is the new World Number 392.

Richard Sterne won the Vodacom Championship on the Sunshine Tour at the second hole of a sudden death play-off from Louis Oosthuizen at Pretoria Country Club after the pair had been locked on 14-under par 274 after 72 holes of regulation play. Sterne moved to Nº 155, an improvement of 57 places.

Welshman, Jamie Donaldson, survived a thrilling fight with Argentina’s Emilio Dominguez to complete an impressive wire-to-wire victory at the Abierto Telefonica de Guatemala. The 31-year old champion carded a final day of 68 on his way to a 72-hole record of 23 under par 265. The win took him to World Nº 413.

Henrik Stenson became the first Swede, and only the second European, to win a World Golf Championships event as he defeated the defending champion Geoff Ogilvy in the final of the WGC - Accenture Match Play at the Gallery Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona. He reached the highest World Ranking ever for a Swedish player as he jumped 3 places to Nº 5, and bettering the 7th position achieved by Swedish Jesper Parnevik in May of 2000.

Fred Funk won the Mayakoba Golf Classic on the second hole of a playoff with Jose Coceres to become only the second man to win a PGA TOUR event after winning on the Champions Tour. The 2005 Players Champion moved up to Nº 69, an improvement of 29 places. This week's other winners were Nicholas Thompson at the HSBC NZ PGA Championship and Louis Oosthuizen at the Telkom PGA Championship

(André Jordan of Lusotur, with Oceânico's Chris Stilwell and Gerry Fagan)

The management of the seven Oceânico courses in the Algarve has been entrusted to Troon Golf of Scottsdale, Arizona, the same company that already manages Oceânico two courses on São Miguel island in the Azores. This acquisition was made a year ago in partnership with the Portuguese company, Siram. Oceânico are also developing the Royal Óbidos Golf Resort on the Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) about an hour's drive north of Lisbon. Oceânico will now own ten courses and have therefore become the largest owners of golf facilities in the country, and a major player in EuropeThe dominating item of golf news of recent days has been the purchase of all five Vilamoura courses by Oceânico Golf Group. After 12 years of tenure by André Jordan Group of Lusotur Golfes, S.A., during which time the Millennium and Victoria courses were built and the other three (Pinhal, Laguna and Vilamoura Old Course) upgraded, this well-established golf destination now looks forward to an even brighter future. A 25-minute drive west along from Faro is the site where Oceânico are building their two golf courses and residential complexes, the "Amendoeira Resort". The two challenging 18-hole courses designed respectively by Christy O'Connor Jr. and Nick Faldo, are both due for opening in 2008.

by **Tony Bennett** 03.06.20 11:40

Today I saw this article, via Twitter, in the Manchester Evening News:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/rise-excruciating-fall-steve-heywood-18352855?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

I hope the link works.

It features the disciplining of Steve Heywood, whom I mentioned in a 2014 article on CMOMM (above) in connection with his holidaying with his mates from Greater Manchester Police (MP) in golf resorts on the Algarve, Portugal, very close to Praia da Luz.

This all could be of some relevance to the Madeleine McCann case as we know that the McCanns' co-ordinating lawyer, senior Freemason Edward Smethurst, had very close connections with senior members of GMP and also had holidayed every summer in Praia da Luz since 1999.

'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

A checklist of points that should be covered in any programme purporting to explain 'How the entire McCann Team was conned'

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: 'The McCanns and the Conman' - 1. The biography of Kevin Halligen 2. A checklist of questions for tonight's Channel 5 programme to answer

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

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