Duarte Levy: It was under great secrecy that Gerry McCann, Maddie’s father, entered the group of directors who manage the financial fund

It was under great secrecy that Gerry McCann, Maddie’s father, entered the group of directors who manage the financial fund

McCann family controls the fund

By Duarte Levy

Despite his promises of transparency, it was under great secrecy that Gerry McCann, Maddie’s father, entered the group of directors who manage the financial fund that was created nine days after the little girl’s disappearance.

The ‘Find Madeleine’ officially collected almost three million euros, but not being a charitable institution, it is legally exempt from publishing its accounts, exhaustively explaining how the money was used, which doubtlessly explains the fact that the recently disclosed documents don’t include any reference to the payment of instalments of the mortgage on Kate and Gerry McCann’s house, as well as other personal expenses.

Gerry McCann himself recently told several media that the ‘Find Madeleine’ fund’s money is running out.

Gerry McCann’s entrance into the direction actually happens after several personalities who had initially supported the family, started distancing themselves from the couple, which has also coincided with a major diminution of financial income.

With Gerry McCann’s entry into the abovementioned fund’s direction, which officially took place late last year, Maddie’s parents assured complete control over the ‘Find Madeleine’ fund, given the fact that the majority of its directors are members of the McCann family: Kate McCann, Gerry McCann, Peter Hubner, Brian Kennedy, John McCann, Edward Smethurst, Doug Skehan, Jon Corner and Michael Linett.

source: 24horas, 13.04.2009
Translated by astro

Original Source: TIMES: TUESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2007
September 11, 2007 Frances Gibb, Legal Editor and David Brown

Kate and Gerry McCann face being stopped from paying their mounting legal bills out of the £1 million of public donations to the campaign to find their missing daughter.

As the couple engaged two of Britain’s top criminal lawyers and a leading Portuguese lawyer, the trustees of Madeleine’s Fund were still considering whether the fund could pay for their legal bills in Portugal and London after they were made official suspects in their daughter disappearance.

The trustees are understood to fear a possible backlash from some people who made donations as well as possible legal challenges to the use of the fund for such a controversial purpose.

A family friend said: “The fund is looking into whether it can legally pay for the legal advice that is currently being given to Kate and Gerry.”

The six trustees, who include family members and friends of the couple, were selected because of their “appropriate legal, business and charitable experience”. So far public donations of £1,036,104 have been received by Madeleine’s Fund.

According to one solicitor, using fund money to help to pay for legal advice would not be an option.

Julian Young, president of the West London Law Society said: “People have given money to help fund the child’s return and not help the parents. If it had been said originally that the money was wanted to help with legal fees then people perhaps would not have been so generous.”

The McCanns’ hiring of Michael Caplan, QC, from Kingsley Napley, who successfully resisted General Pinochet’s extradition to Spain betwen 1998 and 2000 in a case that memorably went three times to the House of Lords, is a signal that the couple may plan to fight any extradition request to stand trial in Portugal should they be charged.

But legal experts said yesterday that under the fast-track European Arrest Warrant introduced across Europe between 2003 and 2004, the pair would have little chance of preventing extradition going ahead.

No case has to be shown by the requesting state; only that the alleged offence is one of a list of 32 agreed crimes, including murder and manslaughter.

Unlike traditional extradition arrangements, a request cannot be refused on political grounds.

As well as Mr Caplan, the McCanns have engaged Angus McBride from the same firm, who is known for high-profile work where reputations need protecting.

Mr McBride, who specialises in all kinds of criminal defence work, has also developed a particular expertise in handling the media and managing and protecting the reputation of people and companies subject to media or criminal investigation.

His high-profile cases have included the Jubilee Line extension fraud trial; and two Premiership footballers accused of rape in 2003.

Mr Caplan, who has a quiet, almost shy manner and assiduously avoids press publicity or behind-the-scenes briefings, has practised law since 1977, focusing on domestic and international, criminal and regulatory law.



Mr and Mrs McCann have also hired a senior lawyer in Portugal.

Catherine Wolthuizen, of Fair Trials Abroad, said:

“It might be they are going to look for legal advice for quite a long time on issues relating to evidence gathering, the police investigation and extradition.”

Madeleine's Fund - The Directors

There are currently six directors of the Fund, at 11 July 2011. They are:

Peter Hubner; a retired consultant, friend of the McCanns, appointed 21 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 2 ; Resigned 19 September 2010.

Brian Kennedy, a retired head teacher, Kate's Great Uncle, appointed 16 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 1;

John McCann, a medical representative, Gerry's brother, appointed 16 May 2007, - No. of Company appointments: 1; Resigned 23 July 2010.

Esther McVey, managing director of a public relations & communications company, Kate's schoolfriend, appointed 20 June 2007, No. of Company appointments: 1; (Resigned) - replaced by Edward Smethurst:

Edward Smethurst, commercial law specialist with wealthy McCann supporter Brian Kennedy's company, appointment announced 09 January 2008

Dr Doug Skehan, clinical director in cardiology at Glenfield Hospital, Gerry's boss, appointed 16 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 2; Resigned 24 August 2010.

Philip Tomlinson, a retired solicitor and former coroner in Leicestershire, appointed 20 June 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 5; (Resigned) replaced by Jon Corner:

Jon Corner, film producer and friend of the McCanns (wife is a longtime friend of Kate) and Godparent to the twins, Amelie and Sean, appointment announced 09 January 2008. Reportedly drafted in to help Clarence Mitchell look at offers they have received, such as making a docudrama or writing a book.

Michael Linnett, a retired accountant, appointed 15 August 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 8

Gerry McCann, father of Madeleine McCann, appointed 12 November 2008

Kate McCann, mother of Madeleine McCann, appointed 12 November 2008

Company Secretary: BWB Secretarial Limited, appointed: 15 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 26
BWB (No.2) Limited was set up as a director on 15 May 2007 and resigned the next day, 16 May 2007

[Acknowledgement: pamalam at gerymccannsblog.co.uk]

Madeleine McCann - New book by journalists Hernâni Carvalho and Luis Maia, "Maddie: Neither Truth nor Consequence."

29/10/08

Maddie : Ni vérité ni conséquence

A new book from journalists Hernâni Carvalho and Luis Maia, entitled, "Maddie: Neither Truth nor Consequence," returns to the most significant moments in the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the little British girl the authorities have decided to no longer look for.

The two journalists have already published a book about the first 129 days of the investigation.

"Kate and Gerry are a complementary pair, a typical product of the second half of the twentieth century. He, the child-man, who needs to be directed by someone he trusts. She, the iron lady, who needs to control, because fears being controlled by other people. Curiously, this is the profile of many couples who need to resort to assisted conception. Also, curiously, it is the profile of a couple who regularly indulge in perversions," the journalists write.

Hernâni Carvalho, one of the journalists, who has received the highest commendations for his work, has been to war zones like Bosnia, Timor and Afghanistan. Nowadays, he presents brief news items on crime on one of the most popular Portuguese television channels, TVI.

Duarte Levy SOS Madeleine McCann 29/10/08