Grenville Green in Lisbon to support Goncalo Amaral - January 2010

A REPORT FROM GRENVILLE GREEN IN LISBON

Here’s some brief notes about Grenville Green’s 6 days in Portugal (11 to 16 January), based on what he told me on a 2-hour journey tonight from Gatwick Airport to Cambridgeshire, where tonight he’s reunited with his wife again. I’m sure he’ll have more to say in due course.

So far as he’s concerned, it was very much ‘mission accomplished’. He was able to demonstrate by his physical presence in Lisbon British support for Goncalo Amaral, he was in the court-room for the best part of all three days, he met up with some of Amaral’s supporters including of course the tireless Joana Morais, he was interviewed by British TV journalists and appeared on SKY and BBC News with his comments on free speech, and he made it to the fund-raising dinner in Lisbon for Amaral.

On the court case, as the proceedings were entirely in Portuguese, he could not follow the content, but instead chose to focus on the body-language of those in the court room.

Most noticeable, he said, was the strange body language of Dr Gerald McCann. Most of the time, he stared resolutely and fixedly ahead, at no-one in particular. His translator would whisper the English translation of what was being said to him and as the first day wore on he was showing more and more irritation at what was being said. This was evident from his shifting around on his bottom, rubbing and scratching his head and ear, mostly with is left arm, immediately after each segment of translation was whispered to him.

Grenville, who had not seen Dr Gerald McCann’s performance outside the court on day two, said that his impatience and annoyance seemed to reach a peak during that morning.

Dr Kate McCann sat next to her husband, also relatively impassive. Occasionally they would whisper to each other.

The lady judge was described by Grenville as ‘young and very attractive’. He said: “She seemed to be far too young to be a judge on such an important and complex matter”. He said she intervened relatively rarely in the proceedings. He was told by one of the Portuguese that she was not selected specially for this trial; according to the person he spoke to, there was a strict rota for judicial appointments for trials and she was selected only on that basis. He also learnt that she was the daughter of one of Portugal’s most senior prosecutors.

There were two to three dozen people sitting on the public benches on the first day; rather fewer on days two and three. Many of those he saw on day one were also at the dinner for Amaral.

As Amaral entered the court, Grenville shouted: “Good luck from England, Goncalo Amaral”. This led to a couple of British journalists taking an interest in him and interviewing him.

He also met Joana Morais who was very friendly to him. She spent time in the court surrounded by what appeared to be translators and supporters of Goncalo Amaral. Once inside the court, he was introduced to Amaral; the two men shook hands and Grenville gave him a Grenville-style bear hug.  

The evidence of the police officers, Moite Flores and the publishers of the book all came across authoritatively and seemed to cause Dr Gerald McCann to squirm, wriggle and twitch as some of the proceedings were translated to him.

Grenville got tickets for the fund-raising event on day one from his hotel. As the event at the Marraparque (not sure if I’ve spelt that right) was some distance away from where he was staying, he had to get a taxi there. He booked a return taxi and wished he hadn’t as he and Stephen enjoyed the dinner so much he didn’t want to leave. There were 60-70 guests there.

During the main address by one of Amaral’s supporters, Grenville heard his name mentioned. This was followed by a round of enthusiastic applause from those present. A little later on there was a reference to the work of the Madeleine Foundation.

During the dinner Grenville asked if one of the Portuguese people would pass a gift from him to Amaral. The gift was of a fridge magnet showing a 1939 to 1945 war poster. The poster showed a child digging in the garden and his mother planting a seed against the slogan: ‘Dig for Victory’. When Grenville began to explain the link between the poster and Goncalo Amaral’s work, the Portuguese chap said: “Come and explain to Mr Amaral himself, I’ll translate for you”.

Grenville went over and explained that whilst the British child was digging to plant seeds, he had been digging for the truth. Grenville told him that he’d also bought one for his own fridge at home and said that every time he looked at it he would think of Mr Amaral. When Grenville had to go when his taxi arrived, he and Stephen tried to slip away quietly but were spotted by Mr Amaral who came over to shake hands and thank him warmly for coming. He also said through a translator: “I hope you can come to Portugal again; I want to tell you that if you do you will be made very welcome.

At the dinner Stephen was very well received, many people chatting to him. Grenville had a long chat to Duarte Levy. He also bought Amaral’s new book: ‘The English Gag’ which he hopes to get a Portuguese person to translate for him. Joana Morais was unable to attend the dinner as she needed to upload material for her blog about the trial. She told Grenville that keeping up the blog was almost a full-time job and at busy times meant working until the early hours of the morning.

https://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/gg/grens%20photographs%20(5).JPG

THIS REPORT WAS SENT TO THE EXPRESS EDITOR

This is the report which was filled in on line! At the time of sending you this copy,

I have not heard a thing from the Express - Grenville.



Grenville Green
45 C**** C****
N***
N*** N** **

Mobile Tel: 07*****

23rd Jan 2010

Dear Editor

Because I feel strongly about the verbal abuse directed at the Portuguese Police in our British media regarding the McCann case, I felt compelled to travel to Lisbon to show my support for Goncalo Amaral at the 3-day Hearing last week.

I was impressed by the coverage of this event by your reporter Nick Fagge. Out of all our national newspapers, the Express published the most balanced and most comprehensive account, without resorting to cheap sensationalism. Therefore, I have decided to contact your newspaper with the account of my own visit.

I stood outside the “Palasio da Justice”, the Courthouse in Lisbon where Goncalo Amaral was defending his right of free speech, enshrined in Article 37.0 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.

I held up two notices reading "Freedom and Democracy on Trial in Lisbon" and "Portuguese Republic Constitution on Trial in Lisbon".

The British press in general do not report fairly on Snr. Amaral and, in my experience, do not always report the truth. The latest insult to his integrity was the recent report that he had said “F*** the McCanns” just before the Court Hearing. He speaks very little English and had actually said, “Nao, forca aos McCanns” which, I understand, translates as “No, good luck to the McCanns”.

This vilification in the British press is typical of the ignorance and biased reporting of elements of the media regarding this case. To obtain an accurate over-view, including world-wide comments, I would encourage you to read the internet site of Joana Morais.

I demonstrated in support of Snr. Amaral outside the Courthouse, and then attended the Court Hearing for two and a half days, starting on Tues 12th January. I was accompanied by my son who has Downs syndrome.

On Thursday evening my son and I went to a fund-raising dinner at Frei Antonio, a restaurant in Mafra (approx 50km from Lisbon). We were warmly welcomed, and one woman we met there told us about her demonstration outside the Court. She had handed out red carnations which have come to symbolise a peaceful revolution in Portugal's history. She had offered a symbolic flower to a VIP who had refused to take it. When asked why, he had replied “I don't believe in it.” She asked, “What don't you believe in, peaceful revolution or free speech?”

That evening I purchased Snr. Amaral's second book, just published, entitled “A Mordaca Inglesa- a historia de um livro proibido” (The English Gag-the story of a banned book).

This Police Inspector, on a matter of principle, had found it necessary to leave the job he loved-incurring loss of income and substantial loss of pension rights-in order to write his first book, “Maddie-The Truth about the Lie". It dealt with the evidence around Madeleine McCann, a British child, who disappeared from a holiday complex in Portugal in May 2007.

His second book, “The English Gag”, is an account of the banning of his first book and the attempt by the British Government to silence a Portuguese citizen, in breach of that country's constitution. His account opposed the theory of abduction for which there is no reliable evidence.

We reluctantly had to leave our new-found friends as the taxi was waiting. Snr. Amaral shook my hand warmly and agreed to be photographed with us. I was left with a profound impression of a man with a depth of character who was gentle, thoughtful and warm. Several people had spoken that evening to warm applause, thus showing their unshakeable admiration for his courage.

The Hearing continues in February, but my fear is that decisions have already been made. I hope and pray that I am proved wrong and that Portugal's constitution prevails!

Yours sincerely

Grenville Green