Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann

by **Tony Bennett** 08.07.11 20:58

So, Andy Coulson, former Editor of the News of the World has been arrested. He may yet turn out to be a criminal.

Andy Coulson was our current Prime Minister's Director of Communications prior to and after the General Election.

In March 2010 he appointed Clarence Mitchell as his Deputy, to help win the Election. Cameron obvioulsy approved his choice. This man, Mitchell, was once described as 'lying with as many teeth as he has in his mouth', by the Head of the Portuguese Lawyers' Association, Carlos Anjos.

These are cunning people, no doubt covering up much evil. Max Clifford, a man to be reckoned with even if you don't like what he does, once said he made much more money keeping stories out of the press than putting them in the press. How exactly did he achieve that, I wonder?

Murdoch's papers have led the campaign to promote the hypothesis that Madeleine was abducted.

It may be wishful thinking to believe that the Murdoch Empire is not only crumbling, but collapsing.

But sometimes, evil institutions can collapse very suddenly, like a dam bursting.

The mighty Babylonian Empire, at its apparent zenith, collapsed in a single night. Whilst the great and the good of Babylon were engaged in an orgy of sex - and drinking out of silver and gold goblets stolen form Jerusalem - the Persians crept in along the dry river bed of the Euphrates and overran the city that very night. And that was the end of the mighty Babylonian Empire.

One day the McCann abduction theory may similarly collapse just like the proverbial house of cards.

And bring down a whole lot of others with them.

by Gillyspot 08.07.11 21:01

We can only hope so Tony

I never realised when I started reading up about the Madeleine Mccann case that the Mccanns were so protected - although I did see Murdoch and Gordon Brown were. Still can't understand why though.

by Cheshire Cat 08.07.11 22:04

So many articles to plough through but this is pretty essential reading I think:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8626421/Phone-hacking-David-Cameron-is-not-out-of-the-sewer-yet.html

But Coulson also performed one other function. He helped draw Cameron deep into the inner circle that surrounds Rupert Murdoch. In particular Cameron allowed himself to become a member of what is now known as the Chipping Norton set, a group of louche and affluent Londoners who centred around Rebekah Brooks’s Oxfordshire home, barely a mile from Cameron’s constituency residence.

Soon News International, through Coulson, had a key say in Conservative Party decision-making and even personnel appointments.

by Willo 08.07.11 23:00

This I think is the tip of an iceberg, there will be many heads to fall yet. Police, journalists, other publications and hopefully a few murderers. Stories of backhanders, under the table payments, corrupt police and government officials are now leaking out. News of the World might not be the only collapsing institution or the oldest

Mr Mitchell is seen scrambling over to the otherside of the hacking fence like the loyal trooper he is. If he knew he was hacked 3 years ago why did he not kick up a stink then? Another Mitchell smokescreen? I think he wasn't hacked but to be seen to be hacked now, courts more public sympathy for him and indeed the McCanns and also distances him from the offences. A man with his morals would have found it hard to resist being privvy to illicit information.

This investigation could be the lever that lifts the lid on a myriad of other crimes and hopefully finds out the depths the corrution has reach both in the Government and public sectors. There will be a lot of people wandering around with clenched buttocks.

I would hope the McCanns are finally found out when their protective shield is ripped away and they are left swinging in the breeze.

But then the record of proper internal investigations within Britain is not good.

by listener 09.07.11 0:20

Willo wrote:

But then the record of proper internal investigations within Britain is not good.

Understatement of the year-decade-century! Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann 110921

Polititions Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann 173510

by Angelique 09.07.11 1:37

I too hope that this will bring down the Murdoch Empire but I think it is a vain hope. There are too many connections which will make sure any leads will result in dead ends. These people are protecting a money spinner - Madeleine - and likewise the McCanns will expect to be shielded from any investigation.

I think it's a bit like the Banks - too big to fall.

by Guest 09.07.11 9:14

Willo wrote:
Mr Mitchell is seen scrambling over to the otherside of the hacking fence like the loyal trooper he is. If he knew he was hacked 3 years ago why did he not kick up a stink then? Another Mitchell smokescreen? I think he wasn't hacked but to be seen to be hacked now, courts more public sympathy for him and indeed the McCanns and also distances him from the offences. A man with his morals would have found it hard to resist being privvy to illicit information.

Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann 351181

Well said Willo, my thoughts exactly.

by puzzled 09.07.11 11:02

Angelique wrote:I too hope that this will bring down the Murdoch Empire but I think it is a vain hope.

I think this is a fair point. His empire extends across the globe, and the News of the World is just one paper. In Australia, he virtually controls all the media. Of course, all his papers should be boycotted, but he makes most of his money from telecommunications anyway, so the only way to really hit him where it hurts - in the wallet - is to refuse to subscribe to any of his channels.

by **PeterMac** 09.07.11 11:54

There was a Bond film written round his character. The media mogul who actually controlled and created the news rather than merely reporting it.
Bond, the true Brit, saw him off.

by Guest 09.07.11 12:42

PeterMac wrote:There was a Bond film written round his character. The media mogul who actually controlled and created the news rather than merely reporting it.
Bond, the true Brit, saw him off.

Tomorrow Never Dies and the infamous Elliott Carver.

by Daisy 10.07.11 3:31

PeterMac wrote:There was a Bond film written round his character. The media mogul who actually controlled and created the news rather than merely reporting it.
Bond, the true Brit, saw him off.

The script they are playing out can be seen in many movies/tv programs old and new. It's all out there, what's to come. Some call it predictive programming, I tend to agree.

by **PeterMac** 10.07.11 8:06

But just imagine for a second...
that among the 11,000 pages of evidence, among the million e-mails, among the vast amounts of 'stuff' the NOTW and the Sun have collected over the past decade there are transcripts of conversations between conspirators, conversations between people who thought they were protected, and evidence which is now going to be handed to the Police.
And the Police in turn are going to have to be seen to be impartial and honest. This time at least.
Just imagine how Mitchell now feels. Just imagine how Cameron, Blair and Brown now feel.
Just imagine how anyone with a trace of a guilty conscience now feels - - - - -
And hold that thought.

by Guest 10.07.11 11:10

I did notice this morning that Cameron is quoted as saying that he will "leave no stone unturned", investigating this matter.

What is so special about this phrase, 'leave no stone unturned' ? Is it some kind of SOS call ?

I'm really sick of hearing it.

by **Jill Havern** 10.07.11 11:19

Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann Book10

Book review: Jane Roberts, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

‘Leave No Stone Unturned’, the subtitle of this book, is a powerful phrase, summoning up images for me of woodlice scurrying for cover at the first hint of light. And indeed, this is very much the theme of the book — to shed light into hitherto dark corners of professional practice of social responsibility. I am less sure about the ponderous term ‘social responsibility’ in this context, but let us pass on. The book is timely, given the avalanche of child abuse inquiries hitting the headlines. Furthermore, scrutiny more recently has focused not just on residential care workers, but also on the bigger battalions of the medical profession. Some unflinching reflection of the systems in which we, as psychiatrists, work is surely right.

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/178/2/187

winkwink

by Guest 10.07.11 11:30

Nice one Get'em Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann 351181

I wonder if Cameron is letting all those people know who frequently used that phrase, that their game is well and truly up?

It's no wonder the Labour party are desperate for a Judge to be named now !!

by Guest 10.07.11 11:36

I cringe whenever I hear anyone come out with the expression "leaving no stone unturned" because of its association with the McCanns and their murky fund but it could
just be another of those over-used cliches like "at the end of the day", "lessons will be learned" and "at this moment in time" which people say without even thinking.

by Guest 30.05.12 22:48

PeterMac wrote:There was a Bond film written round his character. The media mogul who actually controlled and created the news rather than merely reporting it.
Bond, the true Brit, saw him off.

Read ' The Fountainhead' by American Ayn Rand anyone?
Compulsory reading on the motives and decisionmaking of newspaper tycoons.

by roy rovers 31.05.12 0:34

Gillyspot wrote:We can only hope so Tony

I never realised when I started reading up about the Madeleine Mccann case that the Mccanns were so protected - although I did see Murdoch and Gordon Brown were. Still can't understand why though.

In the case of Murdoch because the story sold newspapers due to the kind hearts of the readers. In the case of Brown for political reasons because it made him look good to intervene (remember the time when he seemed to be single handedly running the country). However if the Scotland Yard review turns out to be a whitewash in the face of the obvious then I fear I shall have to revise my view to something altogether more sinister - paedophiles, masons and a cover-up at the top / heart of our establishment etc.

by butterfly23 01.10.12 22:30

i just wonder- could all this have anything to do with gerry's '' empty file '' on the cat register....? was it getting looked at & thats why its been somehow emtied by some unknown person >>>> someone who has since benn silenced like many others !!!!

by Guest 06.06.13 10:27

Coulson denies phone hacking

Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann _51606573_fa1d16c0-9c6c-4f82-b0b8-ab66ddd94f78

Former No 10 communications chief Andy Coulson pleads not guilty in court to phone hacking and bribing officials

More to follow.

6 June 2013 Last updated at 10:15

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22796785

by Guest 06.06.13 12:27

Lets not forget this:

Coulson charged over Sheridan trial evidence

Andy Coulson's arrest - and Madeleine McCann Martin-William-wee

Martin Williams
Senior News Reporter
Thursday 31 May 2012

ANDY Coulson, David Cameron's former director of communications, was arrested and charged last night by police investigating alleged perjury in the trial of former MSP Tommy Sheridan

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/coulson-charged-over-sheridan-trial-evidence.17749022

by Guest 20.06.13 14:05

18 June 2013 Last updated at 15:19

Andy Coulson appears in court on perjury charge

Reporting restrictions on Mr Coulson's court appearance have been lifted
The prime minister's former director of communications, Andy Coulson, has appeared in court charged with perjury.
The 45-year-old appeared in private at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday, where he made no plea or declaration and was granted bail.
A contempt of court order was granted at the hearing banning media coverage.
The order was challenged by a number of media organisations and following legal submissions was lifted on Tuesday by Sheriff John McCormack.
Mr Coulson was represented at last week's hearing by the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, Richard Keen QC.
Communications director
Mr Coulson had been detained at his London home in May last year and then driven more than 400 miles to Glasgow by officers from the former Strathclyde Police.
He was held at Govan police station, where he was questioned and later charged.
Mr Coulson became editor of the now defunct News of the World newspaper in 2003, before he resigned in 2007.
He also served as Prime Minister David Cameron's director of communications before resigning in January 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22956043

Must be careful

by plebgate 20.06.13 21:35

I am glad the media challenged the reporting restrictions decision.

Why should it be in place for Coulson, was any such decision made in the Sheridan case?

by **Tony Bennett** 20.06.13 22:47

Cherry Blossom wrote:Let's not forget this:

18 June 2013 Last updated at 15:19

Andy Coulson appears in court on perjury charge

Mr Coulson became editor of the now defunct News of the World newspaper in 2003, before he resigned in 2007. He also served as Prime Minister David Cameron's director of communications before resigning in January 2011

Whilst we're 'not forgetting', Cherry Blossom, let's also remember that these two - Cameron and Coulson - appointed, in March 2010, the McCanns' chief public relations officer, Clarence Mitchell, the man who openly boasted that his job as Head of Blair's 'Media Monitoring Unit' was 'to control what comes out in the media', as Cameron's Deputy Director of Communications