Madeline McCann: Fresh cash lifeline in search for missing child

by Verdi 18.09.16 9:25

James Murray finger on the pulse as always..

SCOTLAND Yard’s inquiry into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann from a holiday flat in Portgual in 2007 will continue until at least April after Home Office approval of new funding.

By [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Sunday 18th September 2016

Financing for the four-strong team of officers working on Operation Grange was due to end in October.

But a fresh request, believed to be for a sum of around £100,000, was submitted to the Home Office as the deadline approached and has now been signed off.

A Whitehall source had indicated funding would be approved if “compelling evidence that justifies the use of additional taxpayers’ money” was provided by the team.

A spokesman for the Home Office said on Friday: “We have provided the Metropolitan Police with the funding required for Operation Grange to continue until at least the end of this financial year.

“The resources required will be reviewed again at this point.”

So far the inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance from the apartment in Praia de Luz has cost £12million. At its height more than 30 officers were on the case.

Last month the "German Madeline McCann" was found 15 years after the girl's disappearance.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I despair sad

.

by Sceptic 18.09.16 14:06

Home office approve extra funding to end of financial year - in the Sunday Express

by Carrry On Doctor 18.09.16 15:45

Full article

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

"A Whitehall source had indicated funding would be approved if “compelling evidence that justifies the use of additional taxpayers’ money” was provided by the team.
A spokesman for the Home Office said on Friday: “We have provided the Metropolitan Police with the funding required for Operation Grange to continue until at least the end of this financial year."

If true, IMO it suggests an outcome likely to be a form of truth, rather than whitewash/archival.
Here's hoping.

by Doug D 18.09.16 15:56

‘But a fresh request, believed to be for a sum of around £100,000, was submitted to the Home Office as the deadline approached and has now been signed off.’

So where on earth has this request come from? (rhetorical).

As we know from Tony’s FOI requests:

(b) How much on each occasion the Met Police applied for

= This is not held by the MPS. We do not apply for funding, money is allocated from the Home Office.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

'Finger in the wind man' at the Home office having another lucky guess I suppose.

by Cmaryholmes 18.09.16 16:01

Or maybe it just indicates that the whitewash continues.

by **Jill Havern** 18.09.16 17:35

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Spotted on twitter, but not wishing to contaminate Ben Needham's thread, I thought I'd post it here instead.

by Guest 18.09.16 17:36

Is Amaral due to do something before April?

by Sceptic 18.09.16 17:43

Carrry On Doctor wrote:Full article

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[size=48]"A Whitehall source had indicated funding would be approved if “compelling evidence that justifies the use of additional taxpayers’ money” was provided by the team. [/size]
[size=48]A spokesman for the Home Office said on Friday: “We have provided the Metropolitan Police with the funding required for Operation Grange to continue until at least the end of this financial year."[/size]

[size=48]If true, IMO it suggests an outcome likely to be a form of truth, rather than whitewash/archival.[/size]
[size=48]Here's hoping.[/size]

My thoughts exactly - they have and are working on something and with a 6 month budget of only £100000 I don't think that involves flying backwards and forwards to Portugal to sit in on interviews of Portuguese suspects.

Meanwhile according to sources once close to the family the mccanns are concentrating on their more pressing agenda.

by Doug D 18.09.16 17:45

Another trip needed to Portugal by Alison Saunders to see if she can get more ‘cooperation’ than she managed last time?

I know plenty of people do not agree that the longevity of this Operation has anything to do with the Amaral case, but personally I am convinced that there will be no closure until that is finalized to try and avoid any more ‘egg on the face of the Met’ as they are scared stiff that any earlier decision is going to rebound on them big time.

It was three years ago now (June 2013) that Saunders went out to discuss the case, at a time when seemingly it was nothing to do with the CPS, and the subsequent lack of any progress down the ‘prosecution’ line, with not even a statement about ‘not enough evidence’ etc, seems to suggest it has still little to do with the CPS.

by **Tony Bennett** 18.09.16 18:09

"But a fresh request, believed to be for a sum of around £100,000, was submitted to the Home Office as the deadline approached and has now been signed off".

This makes a complete mockery and farce of the answer I got the other day from the Metropolitan Police to my recent FOI Act request (see Freedom of Information section of the forum) in which they claimed to have 'no information' about any such requests!

I shall definitely be asking for a review of, or appealing, that decision.

by Doug D 18.09.16 18:26

TB,

I did suggest it on the FOI thread, but in view of todays nonsense and last weeks ridiculous Met FOI response, how about going straight to the new Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham?

by HelenMeg 18.09.16 21:55

Carrry On Doctor wrote:Full article

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

"A Whitehall source had indicated funding would be approved if “compelling evidence that justifies the use of additional taxpayers’ money” was provided by the team.
A spokesman for the Home Office said on Friday: “We have provided the Metropolitan Police with the funding required for Operation Grange to continue until at least the end of this financial year."

If true, IMO it suggests an outcome likely to be a form of truth, rather than whitewash/archival.
Here's hoping.

Yes agree CoD - more and more likely now that OG will reveal at least partial truth - and will wait for outcome of Mc Cann appeal.

by Verdi 18.09.16 22:10

Doug D wrote:
I know plenty of people do not agree that the longevity of this Operation has anything to do with the Amaral case, but personally I am convinced that there will be no closure until that is finalized to try and avoid any more ‘egg on the face of the Met’ as they are scared stiff that any earlier decision is going to rebound on them big time.

I for one can't see the connection between Operation Grange and/or the UK establishment and the interminable litigation in Portugal against Goncalo Amaral.

If anyone can explain in the form of an 'idiots guide' it would be appreciated

by Doug D 18.09.16 22:24

Logically, there should be no connection between two honest cases and OG should be able to conclude today with a truthful summary of where they got to and how they have hit a brick wall.

However the Amaral case causes them a major problem, as if he is allowed to win (Alison Saunders attempted influence?), Amaral can effectively become a loose canon and any contradictions from him could become major embarrassments for the Met. and their credibility.

by willowthewisp 18.09.16 23:32

Doug D wrote:Logically, there should be no connection between two honest cases and OG should be able to conclude today with a truthful summary of where they got to and how they have hit a brick wall.

However the Amaral case causes them a major problem, as if he is allowed to win (Alison Saunders attempted influence?), Amaral can effectively become a loose canon and any contradictions from him could become major embarrassments for the Met. and their credibility.

So Mr Goncalo Amaral,isn't a bumbling,buffoon,Sardine munching,Four Hour Lunches,Cop after all? Clarence and the MSM had castigated this forthright Gentleman in such a manner,then had a Former UK Prime Minister,cajol a Portugal representative,to have him Dismissed as the Lead Detective on Madeleine McCann's disappearance?
The UK and CMMoM members are now able to see certain "Sphincters Twitching" if you will pardon my phrase,on the further funding of Operation Grange Remit and the Supreme Court outcome on a Defamation case brought about by the Parents of Madeleine McCann,against the Lead Detective writing a book of the Parents involvement in Madeleine's disappearance?
What happens if the Supreme Court are to find in favour of Mr Goncalo Amaral-No defamation and Operation Grange findings,Abduction?
I know there have been disagreements with Textusa,but the latest post about,"Pinky Clarence" and Operation Grange final findings and Funding until April 2017,Surpeme Court decision?

by Guest 18.09.16 23:34

Tony Bennett wrote:"But a fresh request, believed to be for a sum of around £100,000, was submitted to the Home Office as the deadline approached and has now been signed off".

This makes a complete mockery and farce of the answer I got the other day from the Metropolitan Police to my recent FOI Act request (see Freedom of Information section of the forum) in which they claimed to have 'no information' about any such requests!

I shall definitely be asking for a review of, or appealing, that decision.

But Tony... you have been ruled as ~~asking too many pertinent questions~~ vexatious.

by Guest 18.09.16 23:38

Verdi wrote:

I for one can't see the connection between Operation Grange and/or the UK establishment and the interminable litigation in Portugal against Goncalo Amaral.

If anyone can explain in the form of an 'idiots guide' it would be appreciated

Come on Verdi...

Every time Amaral was up in court OG was publicly doing stuff - like interviewing burglars, investigating previous incidents of someone entering teenage bedrooms and all the other crap.

People commented on this "coincidence" all along the process.

by Ray_Sneek 19.09.16 2:09

Do we know if Operation Grange have found the man of the Smithman efits yet? He was their main man. Has he been identified, eliminated, or what? Should we still be looking for him?

by MayMuse 19.09.16 4:15

How much more of tax payers money are they going to throw at this case?
100k, wasn't that same amount missing from the Find Madeleine Fund?

So, if the SC throws the McCanns appeal out or accepts it ( is this due October)? Can we safely say that this particular funding is to tie in with those findings?
Just a paper trail, like crumbs in Hanzel and Gretal, nothing leading to find what happened to Madeleine!
It all stinks!
IMO

by whodunit 19.09.16 4:49

It just needs to keep limping along until the Supreme Court in Portugal hands down it's ruling on the McCann appeal and then OG will 'act' accordingly. 100k for six months is barely enough to cover salaries for 4 investigators. [unless they make pennies]

by Verdi 19.09.16 5:09

BlueBag wrote:
Verdi wrote:

I for one can't see the connection between Operation Grange and/or the UK establishment and the interminable litigation in Portugal against Goncalo Amaral.

If anyone can explain in the form of an 'idiots guide' it would be appreciated
Come on Verdi...

Every time Amaral was up in court OG was publicly doing stuff - like interviewing burglars, investigating previous incidents of someone entering teenage bedrooms and all the other crap.

People commented on this "coincidence" all along the process.

I think you hit the spot with the use of the word 'coincidence' which could well be the case, although I appreciate the irony :). Either way I only see these spates of non-news as a momentary distraction, to divert attention away from Lisbon, not that there was much to distract from, the UK press weren't too keen to report on the Lisbon trial - at least not when it was going in Mr. Amaral's favour.

No matter how many burglars, dead or alive, are thrown into the mix it can have no impact whatsoever on the decision of a Portuguese court, so how can it then determine the future of Operation Grange? Operation Grange is a farce, it's never been a bona-fide review/investigation looking to solve the riddle of missing Madeleine McCann - they have spent the past 5+ years chasing their own tale (typo intended).

Not forgetting the original reason for the McCanns legal action against Goncalo Amaral, or the twists and turns it's since taken to circumvent past failures in the Lisbon Courts, it has never been about the PJ investigation per se nor subsequent interference by UK authorities - how then can it have any bearing on Operation Grange past, present or future? Whether Mr. Amaral eventually wins or loses this case, again, makes no difference to any live investigation the two are just not connected in any way. If Mr. Amaral has some explosive information to impart as suggested up-thread by Doug D, nothing Operation Grange does will change that. If the McCanns happen to succeed in their quest to kick the ground from under his feet, they can't wipe out information he may have - even if they silence him through a court of law (guffaw) there will always be someone out there prepared to take over the reins.

In my opinion, the McCanns completely scuppered their own case during that memorable pilgrimage to Lisbon to be represented by pseudo psychologists and such like and poor misguided Gerald pleading with the judge to let him speak about those pesky dogs. What a fiasco - but I digress!

I've yet to be convinced. I can see the reason people might want to believe it but no more than that.

by Verdi 19.09.16 5:15

whodunit wrote:It just needs to keep limping along until the Supreme Court in Portugal hands down it's ruling on the McCann appeal and then OG will 'act' accordingly. 100k for six months is barely enough to cover salaries for 4 investigators. [unless they make pennies]

The Lisbon court proceedings could go on for years with fresh appeals and counter appeals. I understand they are not too fussy about time scale.

by whodunit 19.09.16 5:21

Verdi wrote:
whodunit wrote:It just needs to keep limping along until the Supreme Court in Portugal hands down it's ruling on the McCann appeal and then OG will 'act' accordingly. 100k for six months is barely enough to cover salaries for 4 investigators. [unless they make pennies]
The Lisbon court proceedings could go on for years with fresh appeals and counter appeals. I understand they are not too fussy about time scale.

If the Supreme Court rejects this appeal I can't see how the McCanns can go on. There is no higher appeal court than the Supreme Court. Feasibly, they can go back to a lower court and file a new case charging Amaral with a different 'offense' but they can hardly re-file for the same offense under the exact same set of facts if it has been rejected by the highest court in the land.

Or can they? Seems TM get away with an astonishing amount of legal shenanigans, even in Portugal.

by Verdi 19.09.16 5:39

whodunit wrote:
Verdi wrote:
whodunit wrote:It just needs to keep limping along until the Supreme Court in Portugal hands down it's ruling on the McCann appeal and then OG will 'act' accordingly. 100k for six months is barely enough to cover salaries for 4 investigators. [unless they make pennies]
The Lisbon court proceedings could go on for years with fresh appeals and counter appeals. I understand they are not too fussy about time scale.

If the Supreme Court rejects this appeal I can't see how the McCanns can go on. There is no higher appeal court than the Supreme Court. Feasibly, they can go back to a lower court and file a new case charging Amaral with a different 'offense' but they can hardly re-file for the same offense under the exact same set of facts if it has been rejected by the highest court in the land.

Or can they? Seems TM get away with an astonishing amount of legal shenanigans, even in Portugal.

I'm frankly astonished the Portuguese courts took on the McCann case in the first place - anythings possible. The European Court of Human Rights? The McCann defence league said in early days they were thinking about suing the Portuguese police - or was it the country as a whole?

by Verdi 19.09.16 21:43

Madeleine McCann fund given £100k of government money to keep search alive until April

Last year’s account showed just £746,152 was left in the fund and it was now believed to stand at just £480,000.

And the couple face paying £434,000 to Portuguese former police chief Goncalo Amaral’s lawyers after losing libel action.

It would leave the funds at just £46,000.

Continued... [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The couple have vowed to use money from their official fund to continue the search themselves, adding: "We will continue to do everything we can to help find our daughter.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Eh?

What search?