Mark Saunokonoko: Madeleine McCann webpage under fire over free speech and charity status claims

Madeleine McCann webpage under fire over free speech and charity status claims

The official Find Madeleine McCann Facebook page has been criticised over controversial rules that appear to shut down the right to free speech.

Members of the public have also accused the McCann Facebook page of misleadingly proclaiming it is an official charity, instead of being correctly categorised as a limited liability company.

British girl Madeleine is still missing after mysteriously vanishing from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal more than ten years ago, in May 2007.

Those people who ask questions or "analyse the investigation" on the Find Madeleine Facebook page, operated by a family friend, will be banned, according to a post titled 'Rules of the Road'.

Facebook users will also be immediately ejected from the group if they attempt to debate parenting decisions about when it is appropriate to use babysitting services.



A post on the official Find Madeleine McCann Facebook page outlines rules for the group. Source: Facebook
"Please don't post your opinion on leaving children alone. Doing so will result in you being banned. No questions asked," the post states in large red font
"This is our page and we ultimately have the say on the content and tone ... anyone criticising Madeleine or her family in any way, will be banned."

Doctors Kate and Gerry McCann claimed somebody entered their two-bedroom unit while they were eating tapas with friends at a nearby resort restaurant and abducted Madeleine while she slept next to her younger brother and sister.

The lead detective on arguably the world's highest profile missing persons' case later wrote a book theorising Maddie died in an accident and her parents faked an abduction and disposed of her body.

Parents Kate and Gerry have always steadfastly denied any wrongdoing in the disappearance of their daughter, and Portugal's detectives shelved the case in 2008.

In a huge outpouring of sympathy and support following the alleged abduction, it was estimated almost $6.5m was donated to the official Find Madeleine Fund.

However, despite best practice, the fund was never set up as a registered charity and is in fact a limited liability company.



Facebook users highlighted the official Find Madeleine McCann Facebook page was wrongly listing itself as a 'charity' (left), but switched to 'community' after criticism. Source: Facebook

Last week, after sustained pressure, the Find Madeleine Facebook page quietly changed its official status from a "charity" to "community".

A key difference between a charity and limited liability company is the level of detail it is required by law to publically divulge each year.

Since its inception in 2007, the official fund, Leave No Stone Unturned Ltd, has only ever published the bare minimum of detail over how it has spent the millions of dollars donated by the public.

The Find Madeleine website claims because the organisation is currently focused on searching for one child only, Madeleine McCann, it cannot register as a charity.

Last week it was reported Operation Grange, led by London Metropolitan detectives, will next month request further funding from the UK government to continue the search for Madeleine.

Funding is due to expire in September, after almost $18m has so far been spent on an investigation that has to date yielded nothing.



Parents Kate and Gerry McCann, pictured next to a photo of Madeleine taken on the tragic holiday in Portugal. Source: AFP
In May, nine.com.au reported Scotland Yard's six-year investigation into Madeleine's disappearance was a poisoned chalice laced with critical errors because of a high level agenda to not interrogate the child's parents.

US criminal profiler Pat Brown has also been heavily critical of Operation Grange.

"What Scotland Yard was doing was not a proper investigation," Brown earlier told nine.com.au.

"Scotland Yard went in saying the McCanns are not suspects, and that [the disappearance of Maddie] is an abduction.

There is absolutely no way you should have entered an investigation saying that.

"They spent a tremendous amount of time following the most ridiculous leads ever. It was like watching a massive charade."

FOLLOW: Nine News podcast exploring Madeleine McCann case by Mark Saunokonoko coming soon

http://www.9news.com.au/world/2017/08/28/11/13/madeleine-mccann-webpage-under-fire-over-free-speech-and-charity-status-claims

You can't beat Mark Saunokonoko and Natasha Donn for reporting the facts without derogatory name-calling and lies.

Eat your heart out Tracey Kandola as Australia and Portugal show you how to do it.

Oh dearie me.    Criticism cannot be stamped out as it will make people even more determined to speak out.

Berners Lee gave the internet to the people and the people love it.   The computer whizzes of today will not tolerate any attempt to shut down free speech of that  I am sure.

Anyone who puts themselves into public awareness is going to come under scrutiny.    They asked for money from the public, they asked for help from the public.   Once they did that the public were going to ask questions.

"Officialdom" will always try and shut down changes that give the public a chance to "break free" from the hold "they" have had over us for hundreds of years.

I read an article on line last night about crypto currencies and how "TPTB" are afraid of the power this will give "ordinary" folk over their own money.   We have already seen the beginnings of regulation in America.  (not that I know much about it, but it is very interesting to see how we have to be controlled) 

Change must not be allowed, at least change that helps the cannon fodder.

Australian journalist keeping a healthy, professional investigative eye on all things McCann.

Thank you Mark!

lemonbutter wrote:Australian journalist keeping a healthy, professional investigative eye on all things McCann.

Thank you Mark!

We just need him to make a documentary now, and put it out on Australian tv!

Get'emGonçalo wrote:

lemonbutter wrote:Australian journalist keeping a healthy, professional investigative eye on all things McCann.

Thank you Mark!

We just need him to make a documentary now, and put it out on Australian tv!

Yes GeC! I most certainly agree with you

Richrd/Mark/Natasha what a great tv docu. that would make.

Instead we read that BBC were/are interested in a stupid docu. about trolling of the duo, trolling as some little known psychologists see it anyway. 

Seriously?

"Since its inception in 2007, the official fund, Leave No Stone Unturned Ltd"

Inception - Deception, it's just 2 letters

Rogue-a-Tory wrote:"Since its inception in 2007, the official fund, Leave No Stone Unturned Ltd"

Inception - Deception, it's just 2 letters

Yep! 

I. D.

Perhaps the "fund" has an identity crisis?

MayMuse wrote:

Rogue-a-Tory wrote:"Since its inception in 2007, the official fund, Leave No Stone Unturned Ltd"

Inception - Deception, it's just 2 letters

Yep! 

I. D.

Perhaps the "fund" has an identity crisis?

An IDentity crisis that ID (Isabelle Duarte) tried to replenish with a cash injection from ID (investigator departed) GA.