Madeleine McCann 'captive and alive' theory picked apart by former editor

Madeleine McCann 'captive and alive' theory picked apart by former editor

By Mark Saunokonoko


There is "no evidence" to support a theory missing girl Madeleine McCann is alive and living with her abductor in Portugal, according to a former leading UK newspaper editor.

Last week a retired UK detective claimed Maddie, who would now be 15 years old, was probably still somewhere in Portugal, and could even remain held captive in the small Algarve coastal town where she vanished more than 11 years ago.

Ex-cop David Edgar told British tabloid The Sun how he believed Maddie may not even be aware that she has been the subject of a massive worldwide search which began in May 2007.

But the recently retired editor of The Sunday Express, Martin Townsend, today described Edgar as being "wedded" to that theory since being hired by the McCanns in 2008.

Appearing on Channel Nine's TODAY, Townsend was asked if there was any evidence which backed up Edgar's belief. "No, none whatsoever," he replied.

"It is a theory that David Edgar, this detective, has actually expounded before. He is absolutely wedded to it," Townsend added.




Edgar, now aged 61, worked for Kate and Gerry McCann from 2008 until 2011, which is when London's Metropolitan Police launched Operation Grange to review and investigate Madeleine's mysterious disappearance.

Of all the British newspapers, it was The Express group, including Townsend's The Sunday Express, which took the most aggressive stance on Madeleine's case, and unproven theories about the possible involvement of her parents.

Mr and Mrs McCann have always steadfastly denied any knowledge of how their daughter vanished and disputed many of the stories and headlines which appeared in The Express newspaper group. In 2008 the couple from Rothley, Leicestershire successfully sued The Express group for £550,000.

Townsend told Channel Nine there was "some sort of logic" to Edgar's theory, which arose from a potential line of inquiry a pedophile gang stole Maddie.

"The window of opportunity to abduct [Madeleine] was so small that the operation to take her from that holiday apartment must have been very well thought through," Townsend said.


The one-time Portuguese lead detective on the case, Goncalo Amaral, wrote an explosive book in 2008, hypothesising an unproven theory that Maddie died in apartment 5A and her abduction had been simulated.

Several months after Maddie vanished Mr and Mrs McCann were declared arguidos, a kind of formal suspect, but that legal status was lifted when the case was shelved in 2008.

Townsend said Mr and Mrs McCann have come under "tremendous pressure" and the search for Madeleine had taken an enormous toll on the pair.

"They are still absolutely committed to finding their daughter," Townsend said.

"They have never given up hope … both parents think she is in Portugal somewhere, and hopefully still alive."
Operation Grange has cost British taxpayers more than $20 million.

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Video also on this link: https://www.9news.com.au/2018/10/08/14/25/madeleine-mccann-alive-held-captive-david-edgar-theory-no-evidence-former-editor-claims

Townsend was Sunday Express editor from 2001 - 2018, so has seen the whole thing through.

He says that Edgar is 'wedded to his theory', that may well be, but Townsend is clearly still wedded to the McCann party line himself.

At last, someone talking sense ....

I would think him being ex editor ...

he will know all the stuff he has not been allowed to print over the years....

as Doug says ...he has seen the whole thing through..so will know all the background...

and has obviously ...reached his own conclusion ...

Sounds like a man who knows way more than he can say and is hedging his bets.

Several months after Maddie vanished Mr and Mrs McCann were declared arguidos, a kind of formal suspect, but that legal status was lifted when the case was shelved in 2008.

Townsend said Mr and Mrs McCann have come under "tremendous pressure" and the search for Madeleine had taken an enormous toll on the pair.

"They are still absolutely committed to finding their daughter," Townsend said.

"They have never given up hope … both parents think she is in Portugal somewhere, and hopefully still alive."
Operation Grange has cost British taxpayers more than $20 million.

Never mind what this ex-editor says about Edgar, this ^^^ says it all.

Press coverage of Madeleine McCann's disappearance was divided in the extreme, from one day to the next.  You have to ask why the Express Group and The Times (Murdoch empire) were singled out in particular for their negative coverage of the case, above all others who were equauly damning - both resolved by a hefty out of court financial settlement and a wordy apology published.