HEREEE'S................BRUNT! My ten years of looking for Madeleine: how the McCann case has dominated my life

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My ten years of looking for Madeleine: how the McCann case has dominated my life

Martin Brunt, sky news crime correspondent

2 MAY 2017 • 11:14AM

I know so much about the story of Madeleine McCann, the heartbreakingly little girl who vanished into thin air.

In the ten years since she disappeared I’ve spoken to her parents, their friends, the heads of Scotland Yard and the Portuguese police, private investigators, Government ministers and diplomats, witnesses and suspects, the family’s supporters and their trolls.

I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more and have struck up friendships. They don’t like why I’m there. I don’t think there’s a word for the look on their faces

In the resort where she went missing I’ve chatted for many hours with residents, expats, taxi drivers, waiters and bar owners. A lot of bar owners.

But what do I really know? What do I know about the only thing that matters, what happened to three-year-old Madeleine after her parents left her and her two-year-old twin siblings Sean and Amelie sleeping in their rented holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on a breezy, late Spring night 10 years ago on Wednesday?

The answer, of course, is nothing. There are theories galore and wild speculation, but for all the time and money spent by police, journalists and armchair detectives, nobody has unearthed the slightest proof to explain her fate. For crime reporters, as an unsolved case it stands alone.

There have been two Portuguese police investigations and Scotland Yard has spent more than £11 million since it began its own inquiry in 2011. In six years the British detectives identified 600 ‘potentially significant’ individuals, all of whom have been ruled out. They have one significant line of enquiry which may or may not provide an answer.

And that’s why I’m sitting here in an editing room, more baffled and fascinated by the story than I was 10 years ago, putting the final touches to a TV documentary that hopes to shed some light, at least on what’s happened since.

‘Madeleine.’ That’s all I have to say to colleagues, friends or family who ask me what I’m working on. I don’t even have to say her surname for them to understand what’s keeping me busy. By her first name, she is so well known as the little girl at the heart of an enduring mystery.

I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more and have struck up friendships with several people. They greet me warmly enough, but they don’t like why I’m there. I don’t think there’s a word for the look on their faces, a mixture of smile and scowl.

In the absence of facts there’s a vacuum filled by speculation and opinion, more often than not tinged with a lack of sympathy for her parents. That is especially true in Portugal, where I’ve seldom met anyone who cannot get over the hurdle of Kate and Gerry McCann leaving their three asleep while they dined with friends across the holiday complex. Kate McCann has described tomorrow’s anniversary as ‘a horrible marker of time, stolen time’.

Nobody can beat up the parents for leaving the children more than the couple do themselves. Long ago they acknowledged they made a mistake, one they have to wake up to each morning.

Yet, the level of hostility the McCann family continues to attract, mainly on on social media, is dreadful - heaping more misery on their blighted lives. A recent posting on a Facebook page which is devoted to the theory that Madeleine’s body is buried in Praia da Luz carried an apparent photograph of her brother Sean, attributing to him a ‘comment’ in which he criticises his parents.

One of those behind the posting told me he had contacted Sean’s school in a bizarre attempt to enlist its help in a campaign to retrieve Madeleine’s body. I knew Scotland Yard was aware of the activity, but they appeared to have done nothing about it. I was told it was something they did not want to discuss with me.

Two months ago someone posted an apparent photograph of the family having lunch in a restaurant. While they were still eating, the picture was put on Twitter, followed by a map and directions to the restaurant along with many vile comments such as ‘Are the kids with them or are they also home alone?’ And ‘Shame they didn’t choke.’ One poster suggested spitting in their food, another wanted to pour beer over them.

As far as I know, none of the McCanns has ever been physically attacked, but I’ve learned as well as anyone the human impact social media activity can have.

Three years ago Leicestershire police were sent a dossier of the online anti-McCann hostility, which included death threats. After six months they decided to take no action against anyone.

I confronted one of the McCann critics, Brenda Leyland, a woman who had Tweeted many nasty comments. She invited me into her home for a chat, though she didn’t want to be interviewed formally. Four days later she took her own life.

In an interview for our documentary the former Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he couldn’t understand why police refused to investigate the McCann trolls.

The former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP), Jim Gamble, described the thousands of online attacks as "a legacy of bile" that would always be there on the Internet to confront Madeleine’s younger twin brother and sister.

We reveal in the documentary details of a secret report Mr Johnson commissioned from CEOP in 2009 to explore the possibility of Scotland Yard getting involved. It led to the Metropolitan Police reviewing the case in 2011 and then launching their own full investigation two years later.

The document exposes the early failures of the first Portuguese investigation and the chaos added by many British agencies competing to help. They included the Association of Chief Police Officers, the National Policing Improvement Agency, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service and others. It led to the Portuguese authorities accusing Britain of acting like "a colonial power."

In turn, says the leaked report, it lead to growing distrust between the McCanns and both Portuguese and UK police. So much so, that when the McCanns later hired a series of private investigators, the couple refused to share the information that was gathered with either force.

We’ve also spoken to former detective Colin Sutton, who was in the running to head the Scotland Yard investigation before he retired. He says that a senior officer rang and warned him that if he took on the case he would not be able to do everything he wished. He interpreted that as a ban on any formal interview with the McCanns.

Mr Sutton says that if Scotland Yard really did intend to "re-analyse and re-assess everything, accept nothing", as Det Chief Insp Andy Redwood told BBC Crimewatch in 2013, it should have interviewed the McCanns under caution at the start, if only to rule them out. Mr Sutton says that from the beginning they (OG?) did accept something, 'the abduction theory.'

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it didn’t formally interview the McCanns because it was satisfied the couple had been ruled out by the initial Portuguese investigation.

Without that interview, says Mr Sutton, the Scotland Yard inquiry was flawed from the start and so the McCanns have still not had the "proper" investigation Alan Johnson promised them.

The growing distrust between the McCanns and police was so bad that when the McCanns later hired private investigators, they refused to share the information gathered

The 10th anniversary has been an excuse for me to contact my fellow hacks who spent many weeks in Praia da Luz in the summer of 2007 to see if they have learned anything more than me.

So far, despite recent headlines about breakthroughs and new leads, they haven’t. Over the years we have all tried very hard to beat each other to exclusives, sometimes going to extraordinary lengths. I remember turning up one January to discover that three of my rivals had spent Christmas in Praia da Luz and shared a lonely festive lunch in the dimly-lit Fortaleza restaurant with the sound of freezing waves crashing on the rocks below.

It was a reminder that Madeleine’s disappearance has played such a big part in our lives and, as long as it remained a mystery, we couldn’t let it go.

There’s talk of a reporters’ reunion, but that would hardly be appropriate. Now, Madeleine’s safe return, wouldn’t that be a cause for celebration for us all?

Searching For Madeleine is on Sky 1 on Tuesday, 2 May at 10pm, and on Sky News on Wednesday, 3 May at 8pm
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He (CS) says that A SENIOR OFFICER RANG and WARNED him that if he took on the case he would not be able to do everything he wished. He interpreted that as A BAN on ANY 'formal' (under 'caution'?) interview with the McCanns.

Now, WHY do you 'suppose', THAT 'might be'?

"it (OG) should have interviewed the McCanns under caution at the start, if only to rule them out" Mr Sutton says "that from the beginning they (OG?) did accept 'something',.......'the abduction theory.'"

How does he sleep?

Perhaps CS 'might' like to 'name' the 'senior officer' who 'warned him'...off'! (possibly doing a 'kosher' investigation?)

jta: There's a 'rumour' Pinky will be on Kelly's 'sofa' tomorrow, 3rd May 2017.

"In the ten years since she disappeared I’ve spoken to her parents, their friends, the heads of Scotland Yard and the Portuguese police, private investigators, Government ministers and diplomats, witnesses and suspects, the family’s supporters and their trolls."

Yes, Martin, and we all know what happened to Brenda don't we?
It's disgusting that he still refers to sceptics as trolls.
Why doesn't he grow up and stop this name calling?
You don't see Natasha Donn referring to McCann supporters as trolls, despite their behaviour on social media.

As I understood it, Operation Grange themselves are not actually allowed to interview anyone independently. I thought they have to make a request to the PJ and send a list of questions they would like them to ask. It seems odd however that they seem to have made several requests to the PJ to re interview ocean club workers and local residents who had already been ruled out, but not the McCanns or Tapas crew.

He talks of 'their Trolls'  which is dehumanising language like they are pets or animals. And Scotland Yard took no action? Well that's possibly because saying what you think is not a crime. All the McCann supporters obviously think it should be. 
   Yes we know Stephen Birch and his claims at being in contact with a 12 year old sibling of a missing child is deranged but what has that got to do with the opinions of millions of ordinary people? The Anti-troll /free speech agenda continues!
   
 Curiously he is careful not to label Brenda Leyland a troll, despite singling her out for special attention as the 'main troll'. He is trying to minimize his responsibility, which is just a callous self preservation tactic.

What a damning indictment of the Operation Grange investigation!  Just goes to show many of us have seen right through both the McCanns and SY's shady Remit.

ChippyM wrote:He talks of 'their Trolls'  which is dehumanising language like they are pets or animals. And Scotland Yard took no action? Well that's possibly because saying what you think is not a crime. All the McCann supporters obviously think it should be. 
   Yes we know Stephen Birch and his claims at being in contact with a 12 year old sibling of a missing child is deranged but what has that got to do with the opinions of millions of ordinary people? The Anti-troll /free speech agenda continues!
   
 Curiously he is careful not to label Brenda Leyland a troll, despite singling her out for special attention as the 'main troll'. He is trying to minimize his responsibility, which is just a callous self preservation tactic.

Unbelievable isn't he?

Why didn't he go to South Africa and doorstep Stephen Birch?

Colin 'oatlandish' Sutton said he would come back to the forum after the Sky documentary was aired to take part in discussions.

I hope he does cos I'm getting mixed messages from him.

Hi Jeanmonroe,thanks for the article,it was a pity the Telegraph failed to put to the test of the 100%DNA Sky News Report 2007?
Why didn't they ask"Brunty"about the funds allocated to pay PR firm,to keep Madeleine on the front page of the Red Tops for Twelve Months?
How come"Brunty"never got around to interviewing Metodo 3,Kevin Haligen,henri Exton,Dave Edgar or Clarence Mitchell,Brian Kennedy on the"Find Madeleine Fund"?
Notice how he sidestepped the involvement of Sir Bernard Hogan Howe"Dossier"No charges against Mrs Brenda Leyland? 
That wasn't how you pursued Mrs Brenda Leyland you "Hounded her"**nty,shown every fifteen minutes on Sky News,you stated to Brenda,"Reported to the Police"then used,"well Sweepyf@ce,It's Not a Secret Anymore"?
In 2017 Judas Brunt alive and well to collect his"pieces of silver"Ten years after reporting on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann,along with his side kick,Big Jim Gamble,Ex RUC Officer,know anything about "Kincora Boys Home"Cover Up,eh Big Jim?
The UK Police tried to "Frame" Colin Wallace on his solicitor friends death,MI5,due to what(Colin) had uncovered at Kincora?

What an outrage! 

This is so bad, why can't something be done about this!!! Seriously I am sick to death of reading how they have been handled with kid gloves by our govt, by the police, by the msm....it's just not right!

Recently I have become interested in many cases ranging from 9/11, Waco, 7/7 and other things. 2 months ago, I would have said people were nuts to believe all these conspiracies, I've had many debates with people who have tried to convince me...I absolutely despised any discussion about it, but having read and watched a lot I have a genuine sense of clarity. The whole world is full of corruption to the highest levels and this case is no different, for whatever reason, someone or some people are protecting these two. And in my opinion, this has gone beyond the McCann's facing justice.

The Metropolitan Police HAS CONFIRMED it DID NOT FORMALLY INTERVIEW the McCanns because it was satisfied the couple had been ruled out by the initial Portuguese investigation.

"Without that interview", says Mr Sutton, "the Scotland Yard 'inquiry' WAS FLAWED FROM THE START.."

So, just so NO-ONE can get 'the wrong end of the stick', the McCan'ts did NOT 'co-operate' with UK POLICE forces, as WELL as they ALSO did NOT 'co-operate' with the PORTUGUESE POLICE force!

What 'parents', anywhere in the 'world', of a 'missing' child would NOT 'co-operate' with THREE separate Police forces, 'investigating' THEIR daughter's 'disappearance'?

jeanmonroe wrote:The Metropolitan Police HAS CONFIRMED it DID NOT FORMALLY INTERVIEW the McCanns because it was satisfied the couple had been ruled out by the initial Portuguese investigation.

"Without that interview", says Mr Sutton, "the Scotland Yard 'inquiry' WAS FLAWED FROM THE START.."

Well,they"Obviously"failed to read what the Portugal PJ statement had concluded,didn't they?
The Portugal Supreme Court finding is available for you to Read Mr Mark Rowley,31 January 2017?

But they haven't been ruled out, have they?

This all coming out now is very damning for the McCanns and their 'abduction' story, and  must be excruciatingly embarrassing for Operation Grange, whose Remit is looking devastatingly corrupt!  Ten years down the road and the PJ's original investigation still remains the most credible, viable direction, and it points straight to the McCanns.  

Chickens are coming home to roost in a big way!

jeanmonroe wrote:The Metropolitan Police HAS CONFIRMED it DID NOT FORMALLY INTERVIEW the McCanns because it was satisfied the couple had been ruled out by the initial Portuguese investigation.

"Without that interview", says Mr Sutton, "the Scotland Yard 'inquiry' WAS FLAWED FROM THE START.."

So, just so NO-ONE can get 'the wrong end of the stick', the McCan'ts did NOT 'co-operate' with UK POLICE forces, as WELL as they ALSO did NOT 'co-operate' with the PORTUGUESE POLICE force!

What 'parents', anywhere in the 'world', of a 'missing' child would NOT 'co-operate' with THREE separate Police forces, 'investigating' THEIR daughter's 'disappearance'?

But, how does somebody not co-operate with police?

If the police wanted to talk to you, they'd talk to you wouldn't they? Is not co-operating an option?

So, somebody is instructing our police not to question the gruesome twosome, which begs the question why, and who... which is, now I've done a quick count, two questions.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, who now leads Operation Grange, said: "Everyone has a theory, what I want are facts."
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Perhaps DCI Wall could 'state', publicly, unequivocally, as FACT, that 'Madeleine WAS abducted'
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Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, who now leads Operation Grange, said: "Everyone has a theory, what I want are facts."

"what I want are facts"

'Ask the McCanns, Nic.'

Oh no, you're not 'allowed' to, are you, Nic?

Get'emGonçalo wrote:Colin 'oatlandish' Sutton said he would come back to the forum after the Sky documentary was aired to take part in discussions.

I hope he does cos I'm getting mixed messages from him.

That's what I thought! 

Where exactly is he being misquoted I ask myself - or is it only justification for indecisive ramblilngs?

The only people to be trusted in this sordid affair, in my opinion, are those who work relentlessly behind the scenes (no, not you Ruckster) free gratis and for nothing!

pennylane wrote:This all coming out now is very damning for the McCanns and their 'abduction' story, and  must be excruciatingly embarrassing for Operation Grange, whose Remit is looking devastatingly corrupt!  Ten years down the road and the PJ's original investigation still remains the most credible, viable direction, and it points straight to the McCanns.  

Chickens are coming home to roost in a big way!

Very much so pennylane! +1 That can't be a nice feeling for the pair who have "nothing" to do with it!

Get'emGonçalo wrote:"In the ten years since she disappeared I’ve spoken to her parents, their friends, the heads of Scotland Yard and the Portuguese police, private investigators, Government ministers and diplomats, witnesses and suspects, the family’s supporters and their trolls."

Yes, Martin, and we all know what happened to Brenda don't we?
It's disgusting that he still refers to sceptics as trolls.
Why doesn't he grow up and stop this name calling?
You don't see Natasha Donn referring to McCann supporters as trolls, despite their behaviour on social media.

It says in the article that he confronted Brenda.  So much for the supporters who have been tweeting that it was Brenda who invited him to talk.    She invited her into his home ater he confronted her.    False news abounds but truth comes out in the end.

I have never before heard of an investigation starting from the end and working toward the beginning but it is never going to get to the beginning because the very people who reported the crime are not being interviewed.   Alan Johnsone is long gone so why are the police still not being allowed to interview them?

Brunt makes sure he cites the most awful example of trolling, but he fails to mention the many thousands of posters on various forums who debate very politely and intelligently.   PAH.

"..........and must be excruciatingly embarrassing for Operation Grange, whose 'Remit' is looking devastatingly corrupt!"

"The PJ's original investigation still remains the most credible, viable direction, and it points straight to the McCanns."
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And that's why, imo, OG is still 'open' with just 3 officers.

Because, again, imo, if OG was 'shut' the PJ would 'shelve' their 'end' and release their 'files', which would be, imo, 'excruciatingly embarrassing' for Operation Grange and their countless 'false leads/suspects' and 'mis-direction', all deliberately, imo, 'leading AWAY' from the McCan'ts......at 'any cost'

WHY, they would do that, is another 'story' entirely, imo!

(Reckon I've just used up my 'quota' of 'imo'!)

BlueBag wrote:How does he sleep?

Under a stone.

Quote:"I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more and have struck up friendships. They don’t like why I’m there. I don’t think there’s a word for the look on their faces."

I bet there isn't a word for the look on our faces every time he pops up.

Three years ago Leicestershire police were sent a dossier of the online anti-McCann hostility, which included death threats. After six months they decided to take no action against anyone.

I confronted one of the McCann critics, Brenda Leyland, a woman who had Tweeted many nasty comments.
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'death threats' TO Brenda L eh, Martin?

Must have 'slipped' your 'recollection'!

You haven't, strangely, 'mentioned' THEM in you 'piece'!

Here's a 'reminder'

The hate messages directed at lonely divorcee Brenda ­Leyland were tweeted by someone who aggressively defended the McCanns on the internet.
The Sunday Express has passed on the five disgraceful messages to Leicestershire Police

They were sent on Friday, October 3, from someone calling themselves Rainne and addressed directly to Ms Leyland’s Twitter account, @sweepyface.
The following day her body was found at the Marriott Hotel in Leicester where she had fled to after being identified as the sender of tweets expressing her views on the Madeleine mystery.
Today we can disclose some of the appalling comments sent to her.

The first states: “Hoping you get beaten so bad you beg for mercy, only to have gasoline thrown on you and set ablaze.”
The next adds: “You have reached the end of your torturing campaign against the McCann family, understand.”
The third message is a direct threat against her life with the sadistic author stating: “Death is waiting and watching for u @sweepyface..Do you feel it????”
The next attack was so disgusting it is unsuitable for publication.
(@SWEEPYFACE is a whore who needs to be raped to death, oral, anal, vaginal, till she bleeds all that poison out)
The last message states: “Sweepyface, we’re coming for you. Do you feel us?? The decent kind folk who pray for this family and their sad loss.You go to hell *****.”

Perhaps you'll add/edit a bit into your TV 'special' mentioning your 'heroes' erm, 'supporters' behavior, towards anyone that dosn't 'toe' the 'official line'!

Or NOT!

Philip Anders wrote:Quote:"I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more and have struck up friendships. They don’t like why I’m there. I don’t think there’s a word for the look on their faces."

Why is he there?

I would hope the reason he is there is to establish the truth.

Who could object to that?

Unless he has another reason that is objectionable?

Philip Anders wrote:Quote:"I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more and have struck up friendships. They don’t like why I’m there. I don’t think there’s a word for the look on their faces."

I bet there isn't a word for the look on our faces very time he pops up.

WHY has he 'been back' to PDL 20 'times'?

He's also 'wrong' about there 'not being a word' for 'the look on their faces' when he's 'there'!

The 'word' starts with a 'C', and ends with a 'T', and almost 'rhymes' with his OWN 'surname'!

For anyone who hasn't read 'The McCann family and the Dossier of Death':
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"I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more..."
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Well, that's NINETEEN more 'times' than the parents, whose child went 'missing' from PDL, have!

jeanmonroe wrote:"I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more..."
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Well, that's NINETEEN more 'times' than the parents, whose child went 'missing' from PDL, have!

He's got a home there so he's hardly going backwards and forwards 'in the line of duty'.

jeanmonroe wrote:"I’ve been back to Praia da Luz 20 times or more..."
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Well, that's NINETEEN more 'times' than the parents, whose child went 'missing' from PDL, have!

Be fair, the McCanns have been there a couple of times for court hearings when they thought they were going to be awarded a million quid.