New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
The Complete Mystery of Madeleine McCann™ :: Professional and Featured blogs :: Blog: Dr Vernon Coleman, former GP and Police surgeon
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New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Dr Vernon Coleman MB ChB DSc FRSA
Dr Vernon Coleman MB ChB DSc FRSA
There are few couples in Britain who are better known than the McCanns. And yet the paradox is that there are few public couples about whom less seems to be known. They are surrounded by mystery, confusion, controversy and contradictions. Has any couple ever sought publicity quite so determinedly and yet managed to remain quite so enigmatic? Has there been a crime in British history so well publicised and yet so full of unanswered questions? Has there ever been a crime where the truth has become quite so lost amidst rumour and what seems to me to be a lot of spin – some of it apparently organised by professionals rather than a pair of doctors on a holiday.
I know of no other couple in British history about whom so many questions have been asked and yet so few answers seem to be available.
Whatever the truth, we should not forget that the McCanns left their daughter unattended and so have to accept a good part of the responsibility for whatever crime occurred. And in February 2017, a judge in Portugal’s highest court pointed out that the McCanns have not been ruled innocent.
There still seem to be many unanswered questions and puzzles about this enormously high profile case. There are a host of contradictions. And yet millions of pounds of public money have been spent investigating Madeleine’s disappearance. Since we are now approaching the 10th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance, it seems time for a summary of what we still don’t know.
The questions in this article are all genuine questions. I do not know the answers to any of them. (If I did I would write them as statements.) But I think it is in the public interest that the questions are asked. And I hope that one day they will all be answered.
Isn’t it about time a relatively small amount of money was spent taking the McCanns to court so that their story could be properly investigated? (I write as a doctor who has investigated many subjects and who has worked as a police surgeon.)
Surely a trial would help the couple by enabling them to answer many of the often asked questions? The suspicions will never go away. Indeed, I fear that the suspicions and doubts and rumours will grow stronger as the years go by. It is almost certain that whatever any of the Tapas Nine do with their lives, the first sentence of their obituaries has already been written.
I suspect that some parents might welcome an opportunity to put all the available evidence in the public domain and to have witnesses and critics properly and publicly questioned under oath.
Some might think that discussions about the case have in the past been limited by the McCanns’ alleged reluctance to answer some of the questions which have been asked, and by their willingness to take legal action against critics. It has been reported that the McCanns are threatening to sue Goncalo Amaral, if the Portugese policeman’s book The Truth of the Lie is published in the UK. This is odd because I believe that an English translation of Goncalo Amaral’s book has been freely available on the internet for some time.
It seems to me that the McCanns, the police and the politicians (how they became involved is a mystery in itself) have made things worse by what appears to be an endless publicity circus, which it seems to me was to some extent made worse by them or their associates. Precisely, what did Tony Blair and Oprah have to do with helping to find a small girl? What on earth made Prince Charles think he needed to get involved? It has, I understand, been claimed that in such cases, too much publicity can actually be harmful and can frighten abductors into doing something which they might not have planned. I suspect that is true.
Would not everyone – especially Madeleine – benefit if all the confusions and contradictions could be cleared away by a clear cut, forensic examination of all those involved and a proper analysis of the available facts? Would not questions asked, and answers given, under oath, help clear away the rumours and the fabrications – whatever their source?
Why I am constantly reminded of the confusion after the death of Dr David Kelly?
Over £12 million of taxpayers’ money has, it is said, been largely spent on looking for the alleged paedophile ring that the British police apparently believe is responsible for abducting Madeleine. To some, the police seem to be following the McCanns’ strong assertion, right from the start, that Madeleine had been abducted rather than following the possibility that she might have wandered or been killed in the locality.
The police will, of course, know that 70% of child murders are committed by people who know, or who are in some way close to, the child who is the victim.
(In reality, if Madeleine had wandered off then surely she would have been far more likely to have encountered someone who would have taken her home than that she would have happened to meet a wandering paedophile or paedophile gang?)
Is it true, as Kate McCann is reported to have claimed, that the shutters to the window of Madeleine’s room had been forced up? Or is it true, as others have suggested, that they might not have been forced? This is a simple and crucial question.
And here’s another mystery.
The loss of any human being is a tragedy.
But £12 million and more on an investigation into one missing child seems a good deal when other children go missing without any notable expenditure of public funds.
To put this in perspective, the current official ‘value of a prevented fatality’ in the UK is £1.83 million. In other words, that is how much the Government thinks it is reasonable to spend to prevent a single death. Every year, thousands of people die because the Government doesn’t think it is worth spending taxpayers’ money on drugs or surgery that would save their lives. This same figure must be used to justify road safety improvements. The NHS would not spend a fraction of the money spent on the search for a possibly imaginary paedophile gang even if it knew for certain that a life could be saved. This is of significance because the nation’s financial resources are inevitably finite. David Cameron, when Prime Minister, authorised the spending of this huge sum in this seemingly quixotic way.
Why was that?
Why are the McCanns apparently considered so very, very special and more worthy than thousands of other parents, grieving in similar circumstances? A growing number of people seem to feel that this is one of many mysteries that ought to be aired. It isn’t entirely absurd to say that anyone whose child goes missing abroad and who doesn’t have at least a bus load of Government employees fawning over them within a week should now feel cheated. And anyone who doesn’t have at least three cabinet ministers on the phone might also feel hard done by. Is it true that special branch officers escorted the McCanns back from Portugal? If so, is this now normal practice for all parents in such circumstances?
Surely, there could be no complaint if a little more public money were now spent on a proper investigation in a court of law. Indeed, would the McCanns themselves not benefit from an opportunity to put all the facts before a court?
Would not an independent analysis of all of the evidence help in finding a conclusion to this tragic case?
There are, it seems to me, a vast number of questions which could usefully be asked in a courtroom.
Here are just a few of the obvious questions which might usefully be asked and which would help remove for ever any undoubtedly unjust fears and suspicions some people might still have about Madeleine’s disappearance:
1. Is it true that the McCanns left their children at a crèche or play area in the mornings and the afternoons, and then left them unattended on at least some of the evenings while they were in Portugal? This seems odd to me because I would have thought that most people would, when taking their children on a family holiday, want to spend most of their time in their company. What was the relationship like between the McCanns and Madeleine before the trip to Portugal? Was Madeleine seen at the crèche or play area on the afternoon of the day she disappeared? And if so, by whom?
2. Is it really true that when the McCanns left their children unattended in the apartment, one of the doors was unlocked? I suspect that some people wouldn’t leave their camera or mobile telephone in an unlocked, rented apartment in a holiday area. Doesn’t it seem strange to leave three small children in such a situation? Have the McCanns ever taken public responsibility for their behaviour? Have they ever apologised for their behaviour? Is it true that Gerry McCann was playing tennis within days of Madeleine’s disappearance?
3. There is some confusion about how far away the McCanns were when they were dining. It has been said by Kate McCann that dining at the restaurant was akin to having a meal in the garden with the children upstairs in a nearby bedroom. (‘We were sitting outside and could just as easily have been eating on a fine spring evening in a friend’s garden, with the kids asleep upstairs in the house,’ she writes in her book.) But there seems to be evidence that the dining table was between 70 and 150 yards away from the apartment (different reports give differing figures) and it seems to me unlikely that anyone dining there could see or hear what was happening in the apartment. (I have seen it claimed that Gerry McCann has suggested that they were ‘essentially performing (their) own baby listening service’, though I find it difficult to understand this claim.) It has been claimed that the couple could see the apartment but this has been disputed. What is the truth? And even if they could see one outside wall of the apartment then, unless they are claiming to have X-ray vision, they wouldn’t be able to see what was happening inside.
4. The law in Britain is that if parents leave a child alone, and in such a way that the child might be at risk, then the parents can be prosecuted. Hundreds of parents are arrested every year for leaving their children (sometimes much older than the McCann children and sometimes for much shorter periods of time) without adult supervision. One father was arrested for leaving his child alone for just two minutes. Why was the behaviour of the McCanns considered acceptable? Since the McCanns claim that Madeleine was abducted (and this theory seems to be accepted by the British police) and that she must, therefore, have been left at risk, why have the McCanns not been charged by the British police? I believe the McCanns claim that their actions were ‘within the bounds of responsible parenting’ but is it not also the law in Portugal that it is an offence to leave children unattended? Why did social workers not take action over the fact that three small children had been left ‘at risk’? Would a single mother living in a council flat have been treated with such leniency if she had left three young children alone in an unlocked apartment? (In her book Kate McCann writes: ‘…we had a meeting with a social services manager and a local child protection officer. They went through various formalities with us and, while they took care to keep everything on a totally professional footing, I could tell they felt uncomfortable about having to subject us to this sort of scrutiny. But we’d resigned ourselves to it. We’d expected it, accepted it and we had nothing to hide.’) Whatever happened to Madeleine, there are doubtless many who find it difficult to avoid the feeling that her parents were at least partly responsible and that the authorities have behaved very strangely in taking no action. Am I alone in thinking that the McCanns should have been charged with child neglect? And should they have been allowed to remain in charge of their two remaining children? These are surely serious questions.
5. It has been alleged that Madeleine was a poor sleeper who occasionally walked in her sleep. Is this true? If so, was not it particularly risky for two doctors to leave her unattended in a strange, unlocked apartment in a foreign country? Did it not occur to either of them that a young child who was a poor sleeper and possibly a sleep walker might wander off through the unlocked door and then come to some harm? Is it not true that a babysitter could have been hired?
6. Prior to the holiday, was Madeleine ever given any form of medicine to help her sleep? Is it true that none of the McCann children was given anything at all by the McCanns to help them sleep during a holiday where their restlessness or failure to sleep might prove particularly inconvenient? Were any of the children given medication by anyone else?
7. How much alcohol did the McCanns consume while dining with their friends? Precisely how often did they check on their children? Are there no independent witnesses who can provide precise answers?
8. It is alleged that after Madeleine’s disappearance, the McCanns received telephone calls and/or support from Cherie Blair (the Prime Minister’s wife), Gordon Brown (the Chancellor of the Exchequer, due to become Prime Minister within weeks), Margaret Beckett (the foreign secretary) and the Pope. The local Ambassador is reported to have been involved. Is there any explanation for all this high profile support? The official figures in the UK show that a child goes missing every three minutes – well over 100,000 children a year. Do Cabinet Ministers telephone the parents of all these missing children? According to these figures, it is reasonable to estimate that several hundred children went missing on the same day that the McCanns lost their child. Did all those parents receive the same level of official support? If not, why not? Did Blair and Brown really provide the McCanns with a public relations representative? Who paid the bill? Can it conceivably be true (as has been alleged) that the British Government threatened to use the McCann investigation as a reason not to sign the Lisbon Treaty? Were SIS (MI5 and/or MI6) officers involved? Was it just a coincidence that alleged paedophile Sir Clement Freud had a holiday home close to the McCanns’ apartment? Is or was Gerry McCann a member of the Freemasons or any other private body? Has he signed the Scottish Bill of Rights?
9. Is it true that the McCanns continued to take their remaining children to the children’s play area after they had lost Madeleine?
10. What is the truth about the trained sniffer dogs which allegedly picked up the scent of a dead body in the McCanns’ apartment and in their hire car – as well as on Madeleine’s toy? Were these findings of any value? Were the dogs reliable? Was blood really found in the McCanns’ holiday apartment? If so, is it true that the blood was identified as Madeleine’s? If not, whose was it? There seems to be confusion about all these issues.
11. Is it true that Kate McCann refused to answer some of the questions posed by the Portuguese police? If so, why was this? Were any or all of the McCanns’ children conceived using IVF? Was Gerald McCann the father of them all?
12. Is it true that the McCanns have appointed a number of PR experts and high-powered lawyers (including extradition specialists and libel lawyers)?
13. Is it true that the McCanns’ friends had a ‘pact of silence’? If so, what was the reason for this?
14. Is it true that the McCanns refused to take a lie detector test? If so, what was the reason? Even if the test had not been admissible in court, it might have silenced some critics.
15. Is it true that the McCanns deleted some mobile phone records and that the Portuguese police were refused permission to examine medical, financial and credit card records? If so, why was this? Were the Portuguese police helped in every way possible by the British authorities?
16. Why did the McCanns form a fund raising company within less than a month of Madeleine’s disappearance? How did their limited company manage to spend £141,747 on administrative expenses in less than the first year? And was it really necessary to spend £26,113 on media monitoring? Precisely how has all the money donated to the Madeleine fund been spent? It has been claimed that the McCanns did not receive any remuneration from the fund but is it true that some of the money was used to help to pay the McCanns’ mortgage? If so, was that really what donors expected their money to be used for? Exactly how much of the money donated has been spent on legal fees on behalf of the McCanns? What was the McCanns’ financial situation before Madeleine’s disappearance? Why did directors of the fund resign? Why did last year’s accounts for Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned Limited (as published on the ‘beta.companieshouse.gov.uk’ website) show that Madeleine’s Fund had £490,839 in ‘investments’? What were the ‘investments’?
17. As mentioned above, the British police are alleged to have spent £12 million of taxpayers’ money on investigating one particular possibility – the abduction by a gang. Have they spent any effort (and any of our money) on investigating other possible scenarios – such as, for example, the one which appears to be favoured by the Portuguese police chief who investigated Madeleine’s disappearance? If not, why not? Are not taxpayers entitled to know exactly how their money has been spent? What was the police reaction to the fact that a number of people thought that one of the photo fit suspects looked remarkably like Gerry McCann? (As an aside, the Portuguese police investigation seems to me to have been extremely thorough and professional.)
18. Why, within months of Madeleine’s disappearance, did Gerry McCann go to the United States of America to appear on television and visit the White House? Was there ever any suggestion that Americans might have been involved in the alleged abduction? Was there a theory that Madeleine might have been taken to the USA? Might it not seem odd to some that a parent should fly across the Atlantic when their daughter had gone missing in Portugal?
19. Have all the friends with whom the McCanns were dining been thoroughly investigated and cleared by the British police?
20. The chief of police who was initially responsible for the search for Madeleine has made some serious allegations. Have any or all of these allegations been investigated by the British police?
21. Is it true, as has been claimed by a former British Ambassador (though not to Portugal), that British diplomatic staff were under instructions to put pressure on the Portuguese authorities? Is it true, as has been alleged, that British authorities were ordered to be present at every contact between the McCanns and the Portugese police? If so, who initiated these orders? And why?
These are all simple and straightforward questions and to most of them there should, surely, be some simple and straightforward answers. There are, of course, many more questions. How many photographs of Madeleine did the McCanns take with them to Portugal? What happened to Gerry McCann’s sports bag? Were the contents also missing?
Given all the circumstances, the questions do not seem to me to be intrusive or unfair and they are not intended to be.
And surely the answers to them might, just might, help the police. It seems to me hardly believable that after ten years there is still so much mystery over some of the answers.
Might not the answers also help members of the public understand the background to Madeleine’s disappearance a little more clearly? And might not some of the answers help counteract some of the remarkable rumours, insinuations and assertions which now surround this case?
The McCanns seem to have been protected by some very powerful individuals. Inevitably, there are questions being asked. Why did three Prime Ministers, a Foreign Secretary, a Pope, much of the Foreign Service, a Prince, the police and most of the mainstream media put so much effort into protecting a fairly ordinary pair of middle class doctors from the sort of natural suspicion which would, in any normal circumstances, be considered perfectly proper and reasonable? Why was the abduction claim (made so immediately and without much if any serious evidential support) be regarded as the only real explanation for Madeleine’s disappearance?
Might not lessons be learned which could help other parents and help prevent something similar happening in the future? Every few minutes a British child disappears. The problem of missing children is a huge one.
Surely every step should be taken to safeguard all other children.
Isn’t that what everyone wants?
Copyright Vernon Coleman 2017
http://www.vernoncoleman.com/main.htm
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Dr Vernon Coleman's biography http://www.vernoncoleman.com/biog.htm
Vernon Coleman
Biography and reference articles
(Please see the Notes at the bottom of this biography)
Vernon Coleman was educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall, Staffs. He then spent a year as a Community Service Volunteer in Liverpool where he was the first of Alec Dickson's 'catalysts'. (Ref 1 below). He studied medicine at Birmingham Medical School and qualified as a doctor in 1970. He has worked both in hospitals and as a GP. He resigned from the health service on a matter of principle. (Ref 2 below).
Vernon Coleman has organised many campaigns concerning iatrogenesis, drug addiction and the abuse of animals and has given evidence to committees at the House of Commons and the House of Lords. For example, he gave evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures (2001-2) on Tuesday 12.2.02
Dr Coleman's campaigns have often proved successful. For example, after a 15 year campaign (which started in 1973) he eventually persuaded the British Government to introduce stricter controls governing the prescribing of benzodiazepine tranquillisers. (`Dr Vernon Coleman's articles, to which I refer with approval, raised concern about these important matters,' said the Parliamentary Secretary for Health in the House of Commons in 1988.) (Ref 3 below)
Dr Coleman has worked as a columnist for numerous national newspapers including The Sun, The Daily Star, The Sunday Express and The People. He once wrote three columns at the same time for national papers (he wrote them under three different names, Dr Duncan Scott in The Sunday People, Dr James in The Sun and Dr Vernon Coleman in the Daily Star). At the same time he was also writing weekly columns for the Evening Times in Glasgow and for the Sunday Scot. His syndicated columns have appeared in over 50 regional newspapers in the United Kingdom and his columns and articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world. Dr Coleman resigned from The People in 2003 when the editor refused to print a column criticising the Government's decision to start the Iraq War. (Ref 6 below)
He has contributed articles and stories to hundreds of other publications including The Sunday Times, Observer, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Punch, Woman, Woman's Own, The Lady, Spectator and British Medical Journal. He was the founding editor of the British Clinical Journal. For many years he wrote a monthly newsletter called Dr Vernon Coleman's Health Letter. He has worked with the Open University and has lectured doctors and nurses on a variety of medical matters.
Vernon Coleman has presented numerous programmes on television and radio and was the original breakfast television doctor on TV AM. He was television's first agony uncle (on BBC1's The Afternoon Show) and presented three TV series based on his bestselling book Bodypower.
In the 1980s he wrote the algorithms for the first computerised health programmes - which sold around the world to those far-sighted individuals who had bought the world's first home computers. (Ref 4 and 5 below).
His books have been published in the UK by Arrow, Pan, Penguin, Corgi, Mandarin, Star, Piatkus, RKP, Thames and Hudson, Sidgwick and Jackson, Macmillan and many other leading publishing houses and translated into 25 languages. English language versions sell in the USA, Australia, Canada and South Africa as well as the UK. Several of his books have appeared on both the Sunday Times and Bookseller bestseller lists.
Altogether, he has written over 100 books which have, together, sold over two million copies in the UK alone. His self-published novel Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War has been turned into an award winning film (starring Pauline Collins, John Alderton and Peter Capaldi) and the book is, like many of his other novels, available in an audio version. Vernon Coleman has co-written five books with his wife, Donna Antoinette Coleman and has, in addition, written numerous articles (and books) under a vast variety of pennames (many of which he has now forgotten).
He has never had a proper job (in the sense of working for someone else in regular, paid employment, with a cheque or pay packet at the end of the week or month) but he has had freelance and temporary employment in many forms. He has, for example, been employed as: magician's assistant, postman, fish delivery van driver, production line worker, disc jockey, chemical laboratory assistant, author, publisher, draughtsman, meals on wheels driver, feature writer, drama critic, book reviewer, columnist, surgeon, police surgeon, industrial medical officer, social worker, night club operator, property developer, magazine editor, general practitioner, private doctor, television presenter, radio presenter, agony aunt, university lecturer, casualty doctor and care home assistant. He has received numerous awards and was for some time a Professor of Holistic Medical Sciences at the Open International University based in Sri Lanka.
Vernon Coleman collects books and has a larger library than most towns. A list of his favourite authors would require another book. He has never been much of an athlete, though he once won a certificate for swimming a width of the public baths in Walsall (which was, at the time, in Staffordshire but has now, apparently, been moved elsewhere) and once swam a mile for charity (he took so long that everyone else had gone home by the time he finished). He doesn't like yappy dogs, big snarly dogs with saliva dripping from their fangs or people who think that wearing a uniform automatically gives them status and rights over everyone else. He likes trains, dislikes planes and used to like cars until spoilsports invented speed cameras, bus lanes and car parks where the spaces are so narrow that only the slimmest of vehicles will fit in. He is inordinately fond of cats, likes pens and notebooks and used to enjoy watching cricket until the authorities sold out and allowed people to paint slogans on the grass. His interests and hobbies include animals, books, photography, drawing, chess, backgammon, cinema, philately, billiards, sitting in cafés and on benches and collecting Napoleana and old books that were written and published before dust wrappers were invented. He likes log fires and bonfires, motor racing and music by Beethoven, Mozart and Mahler and dislikes politicians, bureaucrats and cauliflower cheese. He likes videos but loathes DVDs. He obtains enormous pleasure from watching birds, squirrels, badgers, foxes and other wildlife.
In real life Vernon Coleman has homes in England and France but in his heart he lives in the delightful if isolated village of Bilbury in Devon where he and his wife have designed for themselves a unique world to sustain and nourish them in these dark and difficult times. He enjoys malt whisky, toasted muffins and old films. He is devoted to Donna Antoinette who is the kindest, sweetest, most sensitive woman a man could hope to meet and who, as an undeserved but welcome bonus, makes the very best roast parsnips on the planet.
Reference Articles referring to Vernon Coleman
Ref 1
`Volunteer for Kirkby'
The Guardian, 14.5.1965
(Article re VC's work in Kirkby, Liverpool as a Community Service Volunteer in 1964-5)
Ref 2
`Bumbledom forced me to leave the NHS'
Pulse, 28.11.1981
Vernon Coleman resigns as a GP after refusing to disclose confidential information on sick note forms.
Ref 3
`I'm Addicted To The Star'
The Star, 10.3.1988
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman has consistently called for rethinking on the drugs known as benzodiazepines. Now the Government's Committee on Safety of Medicines has reacted to Dr Coleman's campaign. They have issued stringent guidelines for the prescribing of the drugs. Mrs Currie (Health Minister) told a Commons standing committee that the Government acted because of Dr Coleman's columns in The Star. She said `Dr Coleman's articles, to which I refer with approval, raised concern about these important matters and I sent them to the appropriate bodies.'
Ref 4
`Medicine Becomes Computerised: Plug In Your Doctor.'
The Times, 29.3.1983
Sample quote: `When the children have finished playing the games on your Sinclair or Commodore Vic 20 computer, you can turn it to more practical purposes. For what is probably Britain's first home doctor programme for computers is now available. `Dr Vernon Coleman, one of the country's leading medical authors, has prepared the text for a remarkable set of six cassettes called The Home Doctor Series. Dr Coleman, author of the new book Bodypower, which is a new self-help approach to medicine, has turned his attention to computers.'
Ref 5
`Computer aided decision making in medicine'
British Medical Journal, 8.9.1984 and 27.10.1984
Editorial (and subsequent letter) discussing Vernon Coleman's computer software.
Ref 6
`Conscientious Objectors'
Financial Times magazine, 9.8.2003
Interview with VC after he resigned from The People.
Other interviews with Vernon Coleman
`Doctor with the Common Touch.'
Birmingham Post, 9.10.1984
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman has the golden gift of being able to sweeten the bitter pill of knowledge with a coating of humour, and of presenting revolutionary concepts in words everyone can understand.'
`Sacred Cows Beware: Vernon Coleman publishing again.'
The Scotsman, 6.12.1984
Sample quote: `Vernon Coleman's books combine straightforward advice with stern criticism of techniques, products or services which he believes to be a waste of time and money or which may cause actual harm.'
`Our Doctor Coleman Is Mustard'
The Sun, 29.6.1988
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman cuts like a scalpel through all the jargon to bring you fresh information on the medical matters that mean most to you...Dr Coleman's controversial views have often rocked the medical profession but that has never stopped him saying what he thinks.'
`The Sun's Medic reveals his all.'
GP, 12.7.1991
Sample quote: `He clearly believes what he writes and nobody `not the editor of The Sun or anyone else' tells him what stance to take. And once he gets his teeth into an issue he will campaign in partisan and highly effective style.'
`Reading the mind between the lines.'
BMA News Review, November 1991
Sample quote: `Not someone to mince his words.'
Doctors' Firsts
BMA News Review, 21.2.1996
Interview with VC.
`The big league of self publishing.'
Daily Telegraph, 17.8.1996
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman is one of a growing band of go-it-alone novelists who have taken the risk of publishing their own books. Dr Coleman's books are published in 22 languages and he was published for many years by mainstream publishers like Penguin, Reed and Harper Collins, before going it alone.'
`Doctoring the books'
Independent, 16.3.1999
Sample quote: `He says there are three things in life worth doing: trying to change the world, trying to have fun and trying to make money. If you can do all three things at the same time then that's fantastic.'
`Sick Practices'
Ode Magazine, July/August 2003
Sample quote: `Dr Vernon Coleman has made it his life's work to teach us about our self-healing abilities. The erudite Englishman wrote over 90 books on the subject.'
`You have been warned, Mr Blair.'
Spectator, 6.3.2004 and 20.3.2004
Sample quote: `He doesn't have an agent, a publisher, a distributor or a heap of remaindered copies reminding him he never earned out his advance, because he does all these jobs himself. As a result our doctor is completely independent, and can afford to stick two fingers up not only at medicine and mainstream publishing but also at Bush, Blair, Lord Hutton, those who want to surrender British sovereignty to a European superstate, the pharmaceutical industry, animal experimenters, Dr Atkins, Uncle Tom Cobley and everyone who eats meat.'
(Note the original article contained a number of errors which were corrected in a letter eventually published in The Spectator on 20.3.2004)
`Food for thought with a real live Maverick.'
Western Daily Press, 5.9.2006
Sample quote: `Simply a very good and genial individual and it's a great pity there aren't more like him.'
`The doctor will see you now'
Independent, 14.5.2008
Sample quote: `He's frank, fearless and prolific. He's outrageous, outspoken and iconoclastic. A Vernon Coleman book will change your life...and may even save your life.'
Note 1 : Significant interviews with Vernon Coleman have appeared in Devon Life (`Vernon Coleman Scourge of the BMA.'), National Health Executive, (`An interview with Vernon Coleman'), The Therapist (`Vernon Coleman - the doctor's dilemma.') and The Flag (`Interview with Dr Vernon Coleman.')
Note 2:
A profile article which appeared in The Independent on Sunday on 6.4.1996, and which was entitled 'Doctor on the Make', was considered unreasonably prejudiced and libellous and contained so many inaccuracies that a lengthy correction appeared in the same newspaper on 14.4.96 (titled: 'Portrait of a doctor in the doghouse was unfair') . A full apology to Vernon Coleman, from the Editor, then appeared in the same newspaper on 21.4.96. ('Apology to Vernon Coleman'). The original article is often quoted in scurrilous online biographies but the apology and corrections are never mentioned.
Note 3:
A curiously critical article entitled 'Why I won't be buying Vernon Coleman's Oil Apocalypse', which was published by an organisation called 'Transition Culture' in 2007, was written by an author who appears to have based his review on an advertisement. Shortly afterwards the author of the review published his own, rival book on the same subject - peak oil.
Note 4:
In the 1990s Vernon Coleman was severely criticised by the Press Complaints Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority for publishing articles and a book ('Food for Thought') proving that meat causes cancer. Both organisations refused to look at reference articles, published in medical journals, which were produced to support the claim. In both cases the complainant was the meat industry. In 2015 the World Health Organisation published an official warning that meat causes cancer.
Note 5:
Vernon Coleman's campaigning books and articles on controversial issues (such as prescription drugs, vivisection, vaccination and the dangers of eating meat) have attracted attacks from many lobby groups and public relations staff. These attacks have resulted in numerous lies and unduly biased reviews appearing in various parts of the media.
Note 6:
Vernon Coleman is NOT on Facebook, Twitter, linkedin or any other social media site. There are fake sites which were set up without his knowledge or approval. The only websites with which the author is connected are www.vernoncoleman.com, www.vernoncoleman.co.uk, www.vernoncoleman.net, www.vernoncoleman.org, www.vernoncoleman.uk and www.vernoncoleman.news
Vernon Coleman: Bestselling Author
His books have been published in the UK by Arrow, Pan, Penguin, Corgi, Mandarin, Star, Piatkus, RKP, Thames and Hudson, Sidgwick and Jackson, Macmillan and many other leading publishing houses. His books have been translated into 25 languages and English versions sell in America, Australia, Canada and South Africa as well as the UK. Several have appeared on both the Sunday Times and Bookseller bestseller lists. He has written over 100 books which have, together, sold over two million copies in the UK alone. His novel Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War has been filmed and is, like many of his other novels, available in an audio version. His books include: The Medicine Men (1975), Paper Doctors (1976), Stress Control (1978), Tunnel (1980), The Good Medicine Guide (1982), Bodypower (1983), Thomas Winsden's Cricketing Almanack (1983), Bodysense (1984), Life Without Tranquillisers (1985), Mindpower (1986), Know Yourself (1988), Alice's Diary (1989), Village Cricket Tour (1990), Eat Green Lose Weight (1990), Why Animal Experiments Must Stop (1991), Alice's Adventures (1992), Bilbury Chronicles (1992), Betrayal of Trust (1994), Food for Thought (1994, 2000), The Man Who Inherited a Golf Course (1995), People Watching (1995), How To Stop Your Doctor Killing You (1996, 2003), Alice and Other Friends (1996), Spiritpower (1997), Superbody (1999), How To Live Longer (2001), Paris in My Springtime (2002), England Our England (2002), Rogue Nation (2003), People Push Bottles Up Peaceniks (2003), Confronting the Global Bully (2004), Too Many Clubs and Not Enough Balls (2005), Animal Experiments Simple Truths (2006), Coleman's Laws (2007), Oil Apocalypse (2007), Gordon is a Moron (2007), Mr Henry Mulligan (2007), The OFPIS File (2008), Cat Tales (2008), What Happens Next? (2009), Moneypower (2009), Bilbury Pudding (2009), Bloodless Revolution (2009), 101 Things I Have Learned (2010), The 100 Greatest Englishmen and Englishwomen (2010), 2020 (2010). He has co-written four books with his wife, Donna Antoinette Coleman.
Vernon Coleman: Journalist
He has worked as a columnist for numerous national newspapers including The Sun, The Daily Star, The Sunday Express and The People and has written columns for over 50 regional newspapers. His columns and articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world. He has contributed articles to hundreds of other publications including The Sunday Times, Observer, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Punch, Woman, Woman's Own, The Lady, Spectator and British Medical Journal. He was the founding editor of the British Clinical Journal. He was for some years one of the highest paid columnists in Britain.
Vernon Coleman: Broadcaster
He has presented numerous programmes on television and radio and was the original breakfast television doctor. He was television's first agony uncle (on BBC1's The Afternoon Show). He has presented three TV series based on his bestselling book Bodypower.
Vernon Coleman: Doctor
He qualified as a doctor in 1970 and has worked both in hospitals and as a GP. He is still registered and licensed to practice as a GP principal. He has founded and organised many campaigns concerning iatrogenesis, drug addiction and the abuse of animals and has given evidence to committees at the House of Commons and House of Lords. Dr Coleman's campaigns have often proved successful. For example, after a 15 year campaign (which started in 1973) he eventually persuaded the British Government to introduce stricter controls governing the prescribing of benzodiazepine tranquillisers. `Dr Vernon Coleman's articles, to which I refer with approval, raised concern about these important matters,' said Edwina Currie, Parliamentary Secretary for health in the House of Commons in 1988.
Vernon Coleman
Biography and reference articles
(Please see the Notes at the bottom of this biography)
Vernon Coleman was educated at Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall, Staffs. He then spent a year as a Community Service Volunteer in Liverpool where he was the first of Alec Dickson's 'catalysts'. (Ref 1 below). He studied medicine at Birmingham Medical School and qualified as a doctor in 1970. He has worked both in hospitals and as a GP. He resigned from the health service on a matter of principle. (Ref 2 below).
Vernon Coleman has organised many campaigns concerning iatrogenesis, drug addiction and the abuse of animals and has given evidence to committees at the House of Commons and the House of Lords. For example, he gave evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures (2001-2) on Tuesday 12.2.02
Dr Coleman's campaigns have often proved successful. For example, after a 15 year campaign (which started in 1973) he eventually persuaded the British Government to introduce stricter controls governing the prescribing of benzodiazepine tranquillisers. (`Dr Vernon Coleman's articles, to which I refer with approval, raised concern about these important matters,' said the Parliamentary Secretary for Health in the House of Commons in 1988.) (Ref 3 below)
Dr Coleman has worked as a columnist for numerous national newspapers including The Sun, The Daily Star, The Sunday Express and The People. He once wrote three columns at the same time for national papers (he wrote them under three different names, Dr Duncan Scott in The Sunday People, Dr James in The Sun and Dr Vernon Coleman in the Daily Star). At the same time he was also writing weekly columns for the Evening Times in Glasgow and for the Sunday Scot. His syndicated columns have appeared in over 50 regional newspapers in the United Kingdom and his columns and articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world. Dr Coleman resigned from The People in 2003 when the editor refused to print a column criticising the Government's decision to start the Iraq War. (Ref 6 below)
He has contributed articles and stories to hundreds of other publications including The Sunday Times, Observer, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Punch, Woman, Woman's Own, The Lady, Spectator and British Medical Journal. He was the founding editor of the British Clinical Journal. For many years he wrote a monthly newsletter called Dr Vernon Coleman's Health Letter. He has worked with the Open University and has lectured doctors and nurses on a variety of medical matters.
Vernon Coleman has presented numerous programmes on television and radio and was the original breakfast television doctor on TV AM. He was television's first agony uncle (on BBC1's The Afternoon Show) and presented three TV series based on his bestselling book Bodypower.
In the 1980s he wrote the algorithms for the first computerised health programmes - which sold around the world to those far-sighted individuals who had bought the world's first home computers. (Ref 4 and 5 below).
His books have been published in the UK by Arrow, Pan, Penguin, Corgi, Mandarin, Star, Piatkus, RKP, Thames and Hudson, Sidgwick and Jackson, Macmillan and many other leading publishing houses and translated into 25 languages. English language versions sell in the USA, Australia, Canada and South Africa as well as the UK. Several of his books have appeared on both the Sunday Times and Bookseller bestseller lists.
Altogether, he has written over 100 books which have, together, sold over two million copies in the UK alone. His self-published novel Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War has been turned into an award winning film (starring Pauline Collins, John Alderton and Peter Capaldi) and the book is, like many of his other novels, available in an audio version. Vernon Coleman has co-written five books with his wife, Donna Antoinette Coleman and has, in addition, written numerous articles (and books) under a vast variety of pennames (many of which he has now forgotten).
He has never had a proper job (in the sense of working for someone else in regular, paid employment, with a cheque or pay packet at the end of the week or month) but he has had freelance and temporary employment in many forms. He has, for example, been employed as: magician's assistant, postman, fish delivery van driver, production line worker, disc jockey, chemical laboratory assistant, author, publisher, draughtsman, meals on wheels driver, feature writer, drama critic, book reviewer, columnist, surgeon, police surgeon, industrial medical officer, social worker, night club operator, property developer, magazine editor, general practitioner, private doctor, television presenter, radio presenter, agony aunt, university lecturer, casualty doctor and care home assistant. He has received numerous awards and was for some time a Professor of Holistic Medical Sciences at the Open International University based in Sri Lanka.
Vernon Coleman collects books and has a larger library than most towns. A list of his favourite authors would require another book. He has never been much of an athlete, though he once won a certificate for swimming a width of the public baths in Walsall (which was, at the time, in Staffordshire but has now, apparently, been moved elsewhere) and once swam a mile for charity (he took so long that everyone else had gone home by the time he finished). He doesn't like yappy dogs, big snarly dogs with saliva dripping from their fangs or people who think that wearing a uniform automatically gives them status and rights over everyone else. He likes trains, dislikes planes and used to like cars until spoilsports invented speed cameras, bus lanes and car parks where the spaces are so narrow that only the slimmest of vehicles will fit in. He is inordinately fond of cats, likes pens and notebooks and used to enjoy watching cricket until the authorities sold out and allowed people to paint slogans on the grass. His interests and hobbies include animals, books, photography, drawing, chess, backgammon, cinema, philately, billiards, sitting in cafés and on benches and collecting Napoleana and old books that were written and published before dust wrappers were invented. He likes log fires and bonfires, motor racing and music by Beethoven, Mozart and Mahler and dislikes politicians, bureaucrats and cauliflower cheese. He likes videos but loathes DVDs. He obtains enormous pleasure from watching birds, squirrels, badgers, foxes and other wildlife.
In real life Vernon Coleman has homes in England and France but in his heart he lives in the delightful if isolated village of Bilbury in Devon where he and his wife have designed for themselves a unique world to sustain and nourish them in these dark and difficult times. He enjoys malt whisky, toasted muffins and old films. He is devoted to Donna Antoinette who is the kindest, sweetest, most sensitive woman a man could hope to meet and who, as an undeserved but welcome bonus, makes the very best roast parsnips on the planet.
Reference Articles referring to Vernon Coleman
Ref 1
`Volunteer for Kirkby'
The Guardian, 14.5.1965
(Article re VC's work in Kirkby, Liverpool as a Community Service Volunteer in 1964-5)
Ref 2
`Bumbledom forced me to leave the NHS'
Pulse, 28.11.1981
Vernon Coleman resigns as a GP after refusing to disclose confidential information on sick note forms.
Ref 3
`I'm Addicted To The Star'
The Star, 10.3.1988
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman has consistently called for rethinking on the drugs known as benzodiazepines. Now the Government's Committee on Safety of Medicines has reacted to Dr Coleman's campaign. They have issued stringent guidelines for the prescribing of the drugs. Mrs Currie (Health Minister) told a Commons standing committee that the Government acted because of Dr Coleman's columns in The Star. She said `Dr Coleman's articles, to which I refer with approval, raised concern about these important matters and I sent them to the appropriate bodies.'
Ref 4
`Medicine Becomes Computerised: Plug In Your Doctor.'
The Times, 29.3.1983
Sample quote: `When the children have finished playing the games on your Sinclair or Commodore Vic 20 computer, you can turn it to more practical purposes. For what is probably Britain's first home doctor programme for computers is now available. `Dr Vernon Coleman, one of the country's leading medical authors, has prepared the text for a remarkable set of six cassettes called The Home Doctor Series. Dr Coleman, author of the new book Bodypower, which is a new self-help approach to medicine, has turned his attention to computers.'
Ref 5
`Computer aided decision making in medicine'
British Medical Journal, 8.9.1984 and 27.10.1984
Editorial (and subsequent letter) discussing Vernon Coleman's computer software.
Ref 6
`Conscientious Objectors'
Financial Times magazine, 9.8.2003
Interview with VC after he resigned from The People.
Other interviews with Vernon Coleman
`Doctor with the Common Touch.'
Birmingham Post, 9.10.1984
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman has the golden gift of being able to sweeten the bitter pill of knowledge with a coating of humour, and of presenting revolutionary concepts in words everyone can understand.'
`Sacred Cows Beware: Vernon Coleman publishing again.'
The Scotsman, 6.12.1984
Sample quote: `Vernon Coleman's books combine straightforward advice with stern criticism of techniques, products or services which he believes to be a waste of time and money or which may cause actual harm.'
`Our Doctor Coleman Is Mustard'
The Sun, 29.6.1988
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman cuts like a scalpel through all the jargon to bring you fresh information on the medical matters that mean most to you...Dr Coleman's controversial views have often rocked the medical profession but that has never stopped him saying what he thinks.'
`The Sun's Medic reveals his all.'
GP, 12.7.1991
Sample quote: `He clearly believes what he writes and nobody `not the editor of The Sun or anyone else' tells him what stance to take. And once he gets his teeth into an issue he will campaign in partisan and highly effective style.'
`Reading the mind between the lines.'
BMA News Review, November 1991
Sample quote: `Not someone to mince his words.'
Doctors' Firsts
BMA News Review, 21.2.1996
Interview with VC.
`The big league of self publishing.'
Daily Telegraph, 17.8.1996
Sample quote: `Dr Coleman is one of a growing band of go-it-alone novelists who have taken the risk of publishing their own books. Dr Coleman's books are published in 22 languages and he was published for many years by mainstream publishers like Penguin, Reed and Harper Collins, before going it alone.'
`Doctoring the books'
Independent, 16.3.1999
Sample quote: `He says there are three things in life worth doing: trying to change the world, trying to have fun and trying to make money. If you can do all three things at the same time then that's fantastic.'
`Sick Practices'
Ode Magazine, July/August 2003
Sample quote: `Dr Vernon Coleman has made it his life's work to teach us about our self-healing abilities. The erudite Englishman wrote over 90 books on the subject.'
`You have been warned, Mr Blair.'
Spectator, 6.3.2004 and 20.3.2004
Sample quote: `He doesn't have an agent, a publisher, a distributor or a heap of remaindered copies reminding him he never earned out his advance, because he does all these jobs himself. As a result our doctor is completely independent, and can afford to stick two fingers up not only at medicine and mainstream publishing but also at Bush, Blair, Lord Hutton, those who want to surrender British sovereignty to a European superstate, the pharmaceutical industry, animal experimenters, Dr Atkins, Uncle Tom Cobley and everyone who eats meat.'
(Note the original article contained a number of errors which were corrected in a letter eventually published in The Spectator on 20.3.2004)
`Food for thought with a real live Maverick.'
Western Daily Press, 5.9.2006
Sample quote: `Simply a very good and genial individual and it's a great pity there aren't more like him.'
`The doctor will see you now'
Independent, 14.5.2008
Sample quote: `He's frank, fearless and prolific. He's outrageous, outspoken and iconoclastic. A Vernon Coleman book will change your life...and may even save your life.'
Note 1 : Significant interviews with Vernon Coleman have appeared in Devon Life (`Vernon Coleman Scourge of the BMA.'), National Health Executive, (`An interview with Vernon Coleman'), The Therapist (`Vernon Coleman - the doctor's dilemma.') and The Flag (`Interview with Dr Vernon Coleman.')
Note 2:
A profile article which appeared in The Independent on Sunday on 6.4.1996, and which was entitled 'Doctor on the Make', was considered unreasonably prejudiced and libellous and contained so many inaccuracies that a lengthy correction appeared in the same newspaper on 14.4.96 (titled: 'Portrait of a doctor in the doghouse was unfair') . A full apology to Vernon Coleman, from the Editor, then appeared in the same newspaper on 21.4.96. ('Apology to Vernon Coleman'). The original article is often quoted in scurrilous online biographies but the apology and corrections are never mentioned.
Note 3:
A curiously critical article entitled 'Why I won't be buying Vernon Coleman's Oil Apocalypse', which was published by an organisation called 'Transition Culture' in 2007, was written by an author who appears to have based his review on an advertisement. Shortly afterwards the author of the review published his own, rival book on the same subject - peak oil.
Note 4:
In the 1990s Vernon Coleman was severely criticised by the Press Complaints Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority for publishing articles and a book ('Food for Thought') proving that meat causes cancer. Both organisations refused to look at reference articles, published in medical journals, which were produced to support the claim. In both cases the complainant was the meat industry. In 2015 the World Health Organisation published an official warning that meat causes cancer.
Note 5:
Vernon Coleman's campaigning books and articles on controversial issues (such as prescription drugs, vivisection, vaccination and the dangers of eating meat) have attracted attacks from many lobby groups and public relations staff. These attacks have resulted in numerous lies and unduly biased reviews appearing in various parts of the media.
Note 6:
Vernon Coleman is NOT on Facebook, Twitter, linkedin or any other social media site. There are fake sites which were set up without his knowledge or approval. The only websites with which the author is connected are www.vernoncoleman.com, www.vernoncoleman.co.uk, www.vernoncoleman.net, www.vernoncoleman.org, www.vernoncoleman.uk and www.vernoncoleman.news
Vernon Coleman: Bestselling Author
His books have been published in the UK by Arrow, Pan, Penguin, Corgi, Mandarin, Star, Piatkus, RKP, Thames and Hudson, Sidgwick and Jackson, Macmillan and many other leading publishing houses. His books have been translated into 25 languages and English versions sell in America, Australia, Canada and South Africa as well as the UK. Several have appeared on both the Sunday Times and Bookseller bestseller lists. He has written over 100 books which have, together, sold over two million copies in the UK alone. His novel Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War has been filmed and is, like many of his other novels, available in an audio version. His books include: The Medicine Men (1975), Paper Doctors (1976), Stress Control (1978), Tunnel (1980), The Good Medicine Guide (1982), Bodypower (1983), Thomas Winsden's Cricketing Almanack (1983), Bodysense (1984), Life Without Tranquillisers (1985), Mindpower (1986), Know Yourself (1988), Alice's Diary (1989), Village Cricket Tour (1990), Eat Green Lose Weight (1990), Why Animal Experiments Must Stop (1991), Alice's Adventures (1992), Bilbury Chronicles (1992), Betrayal of Trust (1994), Food for Thought (1994, 2000), The Man Who Inherited a Golf Course (1995), People Watching (1995), How To Stop Your Doctor Killing You (1996, 2003), Alice and Other Friends (1996), Spiritpower (1997), Superbody (1999), How To Live Longer (2001), Paris in My Springtime (2002), England Our England (2002), Rogue Nation (2003), People Push Bottles Up Peaceniks (2003), Confronting the Global Bully (2004), Too Many Clubs and Not Enough Balls (2005), Animal Experiments Simple Truths (2006), Coleman's Laws (2007), Oil Apocalypse (2007), Gordon is a Moron (2007), Mr Henry Mulligan (2007), The OFPIS File (2008), Cat Tales (2008), What Happens Next? (2009), Moneypower (2009), Bilbury Pudding (2009), Bloodless Revolution (2009), 101 Things I Have Learned (2010), The 100 Greatest Englishmen and Englishwomen (2010), 2020 (2010). He has co-written four books with his wife, Donna Antoinette Coleman.
Vernon Coleman: Journalist
He has worked as a columnist for numerous national newspapers including The Sun, The Daily Star, The Sunday Express and The People and has written columns for over 50 regional newspapers. His columns and articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world. He has contributed articles to hundreds of other publications including The Sunday Times, Observer, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Punch, Woman, Woman's Own, The Lady, Spectator and British Medical Journal. He was the founding editor of the British Clinical Journal. He was for some years one of the highest paid columnists in Britain.
Vernon Coleman: Broadcaster
He has presented numerous programmes on television and radio and was the original breakfast television doctor. He was television's first agony uncle (on BBC1's The Afternoon Show). He has presented three TV series based on his bestselling book Bodypower.
Vernon Coleman: Doctor
He qualified as a doctor in 1970 and has worked both in hospitals and as a GP. He is still registered and licensed to practice as a GP principal. He has founded and organised many campaigns concerning iatrogenesis, drug addiction and the abuse of animals and has given evidence to committees at the House of Commons and House of Lords. Dr Coleman's campaigns have often proved successful. For example, after a 15 year campaign (which started in 1973) he eventually persuaded the British Government to introduce stricter controls governing the prescribing of benzodiazepine tranquillisers. `Dr Vernon Coleman's articles, to which I refer with approval, raised concern about these important matters,' said Edwina Currie, Parliamentary Secretary for health in the House of Commons in 1988.
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
The McCanns seem to have been protected by some very powerful individuals. Inevitably, there are questions being asked. Why did three Prime Ministers, a Foreign Secretary, a Pope, much of the Foreign Service, a Prince, the police and most of the mainstream media put so much effort into protecting a fairly ordinary pair of middle class doctors from the sort of natural suspicion which would, in any normal circumstances, be considered perfectly proper and reasonable? Why was the abduction claim (made so immediately and without much, if any, serious evidential support) be regarded as the only real explanation for Madeleine’s disappearance?
WHAT 'other' erm, 'explanation' indeed, Dr Vernon Coleman MB ChB DSc FRSA?
As GM, himself, has 'alluded' to, publicly.
10th February 2010:
GM: "Where... where, you know... where is... where... where is... where is... where is the child? We're looking for that evidence. Where is the child? What other explanation can explain how she's not here.?"
GA 'offered up' an OTHER 'explanation', that he believes 'explains' 'how she's not here' and the 'non litigious' (family 'source' quote ) McCan'ts SUED him.
WHAT 'other' erm, 'explanation' indeed, Dr Vernon Coleman MB ChB DSc FRSA?
As GM, himself, has 'alluded' to, publicly.
10th February 2010:
GM: "Where... where, you know... where is... where... where is... where is... where is the child? We're looking for that evidence. Where is the child? What other explanation can explain how she's not here.?"
GA 'offered up' an OTHER 'explanation', that he believes 'explains' 'how she's not here' and the 'non litigious' (family 'source' quote ) McCan'ts SUED him.
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comments
"Why did three Prime Ministers, a Foreign Secretary, a Pope, much of the Foreign Service, a Prince, the police and most of the mainstream media put so much effort into protecting a fairly ordinary pair of middle class doctors...?"
--------------------------------------
Surely, FOUR UK Prime Ministers, (TB, GB, DC, TM) FOUR UK Home Secretaries (JS, AJ, TM, AR) TWO METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMISSIONERS (PS, BHH)
--------------------------------------
Surely, FOUR UK Prime Ministers, (TB, GB, DC, TM) FOUR UK Home Secretaries (JS, AJ, TM, AR) TWO METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMISSIONERS (PS, BHH)
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
And Cressida Dick.
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Doctor Vernon Coleman.
Slightly off topic of Vernon Coleman,but links in with a"Cover Up"?
Remember how the"Establishment was duped" by a"Cigar Smoking reptile"who had snuggled up to how many Prime Ministers,Royalty,Heads of states in his child abuse conquests,Haute De La Gurane,Jersey?
Now Madeleine McCann's disappearance may not be on the same scale,but what cannot simply be explained is of the importance to protect an"unknown person's",are they Government figures?
Perhaps Mr Coleman will need better protection after releasing his questions to the public gaze?
Remember how the"Establishment was duped" by a"Cigar Smoking reptile"who had snuggled up to how many Prime Ministers,Royalty,Heads of states in his child abuse conquests,Haute De La Gurane,Jersey?
Now Madeleine McCann's disappearance may not be on the same scale,but what cannot simply be explained is of the importance to protect an"unknown person's",are they Government figures?
Perhaps Mr Coleman will need better protection after releasing his questions to the public gaze?
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Get'emGonçalo wrote:And Cressida Dick.
?
Has 'she' said she 'supports' the McCan'ts, then?
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Re Vernon Coleman
Maybe not yet,but is it a matter of Time before Cressida Dick is supporting the family at this present time,a bit like David Cameron,Operation stGrange,to help the McCann Family?jeanmonroe wrote:Get'emGonçalo wrote:And Cressida Dick.
?
Has 'she' said she 'supports' the McCan'ts, then?
speaking of dodgy Dave,interesting quote from his lips last night on an interview with regard to the last Election and the Battle Bus,told the interviewer(Jon Snow)he was making a Mountain out of a mole hill,on Elections fraud claims?
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
(In reality, if Madeleine had wandered off then surely she would have been far more likely to have encountered someone who would have taken her home than that she would have happened to meet a wandering paedophile or paedophile gang?)
And far less likely to have cleaned and sterilised her apartment before she opened the window, 'gemmied' the shutter (or whatever you call it) climbed out leaving no forensic trace, then 'wandered off' into the open arms of that paedophile who casually walked off into the night leaving no trace.
And far less likely to have cleaned and sterilised her apartment before she opened the window, 'gemmied' the shutter (or whatever you call it) climbed out leaving no forensic trace, then 'wandered off' into the open arms of that paedophile who casually walked off into the night leaving no trace.
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
You'd 'think, wouldn't you, that all the 'high ups' would have 'employed' their OWN 'armies' of 'minions' to 'go through, with a fine toothed comb' and 'read' EVERY WORD of the publicly available 'case files' and 'interviews given, sworn police statements' etc.
That, it seems, they haven't is, imo, very, very, odd, given the recent 'exposes' of 'ner-do-wells' they have been 'associated' with and photographed with.
The 'list' would be to 'endless' to post here, but one 'example' would be Prince C and the 'rev' Peter Ball. (now in jail for child abuse offences)
WHY the 'high ups' seemingly 'accept, as gospel' what they 'are TOLD' without personally 'querying' the 'veracity' of what they have ONLY 'been TOLD' is just 'odd' to me.
'Incuriousity' by the 'high ups' in Madeleine's case is 'strange'
They want the 'kudos' bit, of being 'associated' with Madeleine's 'plight' but don't, it 'appears', seem to want the 'justice' bit for Madeleine.
Agreed, their life long earned 'reputations' would be in tatters, in minutes, if it transpired they were so 'easily duped' but even that doesn't preclude them from doing 'a bit of digging' themselves, does it?
'Weird' doesn't 'cover it' for me, about the incuriousity of the 'elites' about Madeleine's 'case'.
That, it seems, they haven't is, imo, very, very, odd, given the recent 'exposes' of 'ner-do-wells' they have been 'associated' with and photographed with.
The 'list' would be to 'endless' to post here, but one 'example' would be Prince C and the 'rev' Peter Ball. (now in jail for child abuse offences)
WHY the 'high ups' seemingly 'accept, as gospel' what they 'are TOLD' without personally 'querying' the 'veracity' of what they have ONLY 'been TOLD' is just 'odd' to me.
'Incuriousity' by the 'high ups' in Madeleine's case is 'strange'
They want the 'kudos' bit, of being 'associated' with Madeleine's 'plight' but don't, it 'appears', seem to want the 'justice' bit for Madeleine.
Agreed, their life long earned 'reputations' would be in tatters, in minutes, if it transpired they were so 'easily duped' but even that doesn't preclude them from doing 'a bit of digging' themselves, does it?
'Weird' doesn't 'cover it' for me, about the incuriousity of the 'elites' about Madeleine's 'case'.
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Excellent OP.
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
This is the first time I've heard this man's name, but he certainly has his finger on the pulse. Here is a snippet for another one of his articles, and he's bang on.
Snipped
"All over Britain, hospitals are being closed. And even when whole hospitals aren’t being closed, many accident and emergency departments are being shut.
Numerous excuses have been given for this – and administrators have been busy lying through their teeth as they have merrily closed down local hospitals and casualty units. The excuses given are feeble, inaccurate and misleading and display an almost criminal failure either to understand the facts or to tell the truth. And since the quality of medical journalism in the UK is now at an all-time low (with many health correspondents having absolutely no medical knowledge or training) the simplistic and inaccurate excuses are given publicity and credence.
Here are the commonest excuses for the closures:
1. There isn’t enough money. This is rubbish. The NHS is awash with money. The problem is that the money is spent on the wrong things. Thousands of NHS administrators now earn huge six figure salaries (with inflation-linked pensions). Thousands have been given huge payoffs – and then almost immediately rehired as advisers. Over the past six years, NHS managers received nearly £2 billion in redundancy settlements with more than 3,000 members of staff being handed payouts of over £100,000 each. In one case, a married couple who were NHS managers received almost £1 million when they were ‘let go’ and were then quickly rehired in the health service. This is an appalling waste of money. Moreover, it is, it seems, almost impossible for a hospital to sack an incompetent administrator without giving them a lottery win type ‘goodbye bonus’. If the NHS were closed down tomorrow, and the money used to buy private BUPA style care, there would be more than enough money available to buy private health care for every man, woman and child in Britain. The level of service would be infinitely better than it is with the NHS.
2. There aren’t enough doctors or nurses. This is also rubbish. Britain is full of doctors and nurses who can’t get jobs. The problem is that the NHS spends too much of its money on hiring administrators – and then allowing them to waste money on expense account fripperies.
3. The number of old people in Britain is rising. And old people cost a good deal of money. (This is a straightforward, old-fashioned lie. The evidence shows that most pensioners require – and receive – surprisingly little medical care. )
4. Administrators are closing hospitals in an attempt to ‘rationalise’. It does not seem to occur to them that if patients have to travel 40 or 50 miles to hospital then they will probably be dead by the time they arrive there"
Link to full article: http://www.vernoncoleman.com/areclosing.htm
There NHS isn't short of money, and hasn't been since Gordon Brown poured billions of pounds into the NHS when Labour came to power in 1997. Stop giving those at the top over inflated salaries and put the money where it is needed the most...........on frontline services.
Snipped
"All over Britain, hospitals are being closed. And even when whole hospitals aren’t being closed, many accident and emergency departments are being shut.
Numerous excuses have been given for this – and administrators have been busy lying through their teeth as they have merrily closed down local hospitals and casualty units. The excuses given are feeble, inaccurate and misleading and display an almost criminal failure either to understand the facts or to tell the truth. And since the quality of medical journalism in the UK is now at an all-time low (with many health correspondents having absolutely no medical knowledge or training) the simplistic and inaccurate excuses are given publicity and credence.
Here are the commonest excuses for the closures:
1. There isn’t enough money. This is rubbish. The NHS is awash with money. The problem is that the money is spent on the wrong things. Thousands of NHS administrators now earn huge six figure salaries (with inflation-linked pensions). Thousands have been given huge payoffs – and then almost immediately rehired as advisers. Over the past six years, NHS managers received nearly £2 billion in redundancy settlements with more than 3,000 members of staff being handed payouts of over £100,000 each. In one case, a married couple who were NHS managers received almost £1 million when they were ‘let go’ and were then quickly rehired in the health service. This is an appalling waste of money. Moreover, it is, it seems, almost impossible for a hospital to sack an incompetent administrator without giving them a lottery win type ‘goodbye bonus’. If the NHS were closed down tomorrow, and the money used to buy private BUPA style care, there would be more than enough money available to buy private health care for every man, woman and child in Britain. The level of service would be infinitely better than it is with the NHS.
2. There aren’t enough doctors or nurses. This is also rubbish. Britain is full of doctors and nurses who can’t get jobs. The problem is that the NHS spends too much of its money on hiring administrators – and then allowing them to waste money on expense account fripperies.
3. The number of old people in Britain is rising. And old people cost a good deal of money. (This is a straightforward, old-fashioned lie. The evidence shows that most pensioners require – and receive – surprisingly little medical care. )
4. Administrators are closing hospitals in an attempt to ‘rationalise’. It does not seem to occur to them that if patients have to travel 40 or 50 miles to hospital then they will probably be dead by the time they arrive there"
Link to full article: http://www.vernoncoleman.com/areclosing.htm
There NHS isn't short of money, and hasn't been since Gordon Brown poured billions of pounds into the NHS when Labour came to power in 1997. Stop giving those at the top over inflated salaries and put the money where it is needed the most...........on frontline services.
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Here's another article written by Dr Vernon Coleman in 2007
Would you hire the McCanns as babysitters?
http://www.vernoncoleman.com/wouldyouhire.htm
Would you hire the McCanns as babysitters?
http://www.vernoncoleman.com/wouldyouhire.htm
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Question 4
Why were the McCanns not charged with neglect?
I think there are a number of reasons. Firstly, that Madeleine disappeared in Portugal and so initially British police and social services would not have been involved. Secondly, I think both Portuguese and British felt that the McCanns had already suffered enough by losing their daughter. Thirdly, I think somehow the McCanns managed to convince the Portuguese that it's quite normal for British parents to leave their children home alone while they go out for the evening. Also, they tried to cover themselves by telling police that they were checking at least every 30 mins. Also, I think in many cases of child neglect there are other issues in addition to the neglect of leaving the children alone for social services to take into account, in the McCanns case the children's other needs were being met, they weren't malnourished or without adequate clothing, heating etc.
Why were the McCanns not charged with neglect?
I think there are a number of reasons. Firstly, that Madeleine disappeared in Portugal and so initially British police and social services would not have been involved. Secondly, I think both Portuguese and British felt that the McCanns had already suffered enough by losing their daughter. Thirdly, I think somehow the McCanns managed to convince the Portuguese that it's quite normal for British parents to leave their children home alone while they go out for the evening. Also, they tried to cover themselves by telling police that they were checking at least every 30 mins. Also, I think in many cases of child neglect there are other issues in addition to the neglect of leaving the children alone for social services to take into account, in the McCanns case the children's other needs were being met, they weren't malnourished or without adequate clothing, heating etc.
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
"A father has told how his decision to leave his two-year-old daughter alone in the car for 10 minutes while he nipped to a nearby shop to buy Calpol almost led to his children being taken into care.
Tim Haines, a family law advocate, was arrested and prosecuted for “wilful exposure of a child to risk of significant harm” and faced a year-long battle to stop his five children being taken into care"
Not always the case,
Which begs the question
"Why are they so special"
Tim Haines, a family law advocate, was arrested and prosecuted for “wilful exposure of a child to risk of significant harm” and faced a year-long battle to stop his five children being taken into care"
Not always the case,
Which begs the question
"Why are they so special"
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Thoroughly enjoyed reading that.
Very fair observations, if nothing else.
He nearly lost me over his joy at cricket, but pulled me back over cauliflower cheese.
Thanks for posting
Very fair observations, if nothing else.
He nearly lost me over his joy at cricket, but pulled me back over cauliflower cheese.
Thanks for posting
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Basil with a brush- Posts : 129
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
There are at least four McCann articles on his website for those who want to read more.
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Re: New article by Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: Too Many Questions and Too Few Answers
Is it also a fair observation to say:
Innocent parents of a missing child would, after (and I'm going to try and be extra fair and give them almost ten years here) a reasonable amount of time, start to ask the investigators "Do you really believe my child may have died in the apartment? What are the chances the dogs could be wrong? How? Why her? Oh no, please don't tell me you think that. Please!"
I think it's very fair to say.
Point me in the direction somewhere, where words to this effect, by the parents, have up untill now, been documented.
These words would stand out all the time in my mind.
Instead, it's these:
Absolutely.
Incredibly.
Emphatic.
Just in case anybody is in any doubt, as I am myself sometimes, as to why they may be here.
Innocent parents of a missing child would, after (and I'm going to try and be extra fair and give them almost ten years here) a reasonable amount of time, start to ask the investigators "Do you really believe my child may have died in the apartment? What are the chances the dogs could be wrong? How? Why her? Oh no, please don't tell me you think that. Please!"
I think it's very fair to say.
Point me in the direction somewhere, where words to this effect, by the parents, have up untill now, been documented.
These words would stand out all the time in my mind.
Instead, it's these:
Absolutely.
Incredibly.
Emphatic.
Just in case anybody is in any doubt, as I am myself sometimes, as to why they may be here.
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Similar topics
» Dr Vernon Coleman's latest article: The McCann Mystery
» Would you hire The Mccanns/Vernon Coleman
» Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: What the Hell is Going on?
» Dr Vernon Coleman: Would you hire the McCanns as babysitters?
» Dr Vernon Coleman: Former GP and Police Surgeon
» Would you hire The Mccanns/Vernon Coleman
» Dr Vernon Coleman: The McCanns: What the Hell is Going on?
» Dr Vernon Coleman: Would you hire the McCanns as babysitters?
» Dr Vernon Coleman: Former GP and Police Surgeon
The Complete Mystery of Madeleine McCann™ :: Professional and Featured blogs :: Blog: Dr Vernon Coleman, former GP and Police surgeon
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