Book Ban Overturned

candyfloss wrote:

pennylane wrote:Just posted on MM .... GA stated on TV1 tonight that he is updating the book with additional chapters.

Thank you pennylane, that sounds very interesting, it will definitley become No.1 seller again. :yahoo: Can't wait to see his interview on TV1, I'm sure it will be uploaded by Joana soon.

Yes I'm sure the interview will be uploaded.

Posted by Taya on MCF: GA said this is an important day for him and for the Portuguese justice and he has no doubt the McCanns have no fundamentation to sue him. The book will be back on sale but he said probably will add some pages about what was his life during all the time he has lived in silence.

Also saying Goncalo has lost quite a lot of weight.

pennylane wrote:Just posted on MM .... GA stated on TV1 tonight that he is updating the book with additional chapters.

This is wonderful news

Wonder what GA will have to say in the additional chapters and will his book be available in the UK?

kathyBelle wrote:The McCanns close friend Jon Corner, is pretty high up in the media, I wonder if he has the influence to order a media blackout. Maybe things are going on behind the scenes, that involve the McCanns. It seems strange that not one British newspaper has reported the news about the ban being lifted.

The Euro Weekly News have reported the news about the ban being lifted, hopefully others will follow soon.

I imagine it is Clarence at work again.

If people were sufficiently interested enough in this book and its author there are/were plenty of sites to read it on without having to physically buy the book so I dont see what difference this is going to make.My very humble opinion only of course.

Press release from The Madeleine Foundation re: Goncalo Amaral`s book back on sale

http://t.co/QuLXaeY

Seventeen days after Goncalo Amaral Day, the Portuguese Court of Appeal allows Mr Amaral to sell his book ‘The Truth About A Lie’ once again

News Release from The Madeleine Foundation
Tuesday 19 October 2010, 8.00pm


This morning, a Portuguese newspaper, Diário de Notícias, reported that the Portuguese Court of Appeal had overturned the draconian orders of two previous lower Portuguese courts, and has allowed Goncalo Amaral once again to sell his book ‘The Truth About A Lie’.

The news reached the English-speaking world through the blog of Portuguese blogger Joana Morais, who rapidly translated the news report, as she has translated so many Portuguese reports for an English readership over the past three years.

Tonight we learn that this news has been confirmed by all the major Portuguese newspapers in their online editions; these include Sol, Jornal de Noticia, Correio de Manhaã, TVI24, and A Bola. According to Google News tonight, there is a totals of 33 news items on the internet tonight, all apparently so far in Portuguese, about this stunning news. So far as we are aware, not one British newspaper has yet reported on this news, despite the saturation coverage the British press gave to the original banning of Mr Amaral’s book in September last year and to his unsuccessful appeal in January and February this year.

The Portuguese press is tonight quoting Dr Kate McCann as saying that the Portuguese Appeal Court’s decision is ‘unbelievable’. Given all the significant contradictions amongst the police witness statements of the McCanns and their ‘Tapas 9’ friends, some might say the same about their own accounts of what really happened to Madeleine McCann.

All members, supporters and followers of The Madeleine Foundation will want to join with us in congratulating Mr Amaral on a courageous and sustained fight to win the right to publish his book.

At the same time we remember that the Portuguese judicial system has yet to find judicial time to hear Mr Amaral’s appeal against his conviction last May for allegedly filing a false report, and that he also faces a further criminal case on the basis of what we say are unfounded accusations against him by the partner of serial liar and murderess Leonor Cipriano, now serving a 16-year jail term for murdering her own eight-year-old daughter, who she claimed had been abducted.

The news comes just 17 days after The Madeleine Foundation held a series of events in support of ‘Goncalo Amaral Day’ on 2 October, a day we established in honour of a man who has sacrificed much to bring us the facts about the Madeleine McCann investigation.

Though many people scoffed at our efforts, thousands of British people are now better informed about Mr Amaral through our leaflet: ‘Your Questions Answered about Goncalo Amaral’, which has been distributed in many British towns.

Finally, we have been asked about the continuing ban on our own book: ‘What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann? - 60 Reasons which suggest she was not abducted”. Whilst it is true that an undertaking was given by the book’s author, Tony Bennett, not to further sell or distribute it, as we said at the time, circumstances might lead to that undertaking no longer being appropriate.

We will be reviewing the situation at a forthcoming Committee meeting and it is possible that Tony will make an application to the High Court to be freed from his undertaking not to sell the book. High Court undertakings may be varied or nullified at any time if circumstances change.

Committee of The Madeleine Foundation
19 October 2010

Well in my very humble opinion, it will make a world of difference. Most people are NOT sufficiently interested to go trawling through the internet to read a book, but to see the book on obvious display in the shops is another thing altogether.

It is not just about the book; Dr Amaral is now free to speak on television about his theories, and his documentary and DVD may also be broadcast.

Rainbow wrote:If people were sufficiently interested enough in this book and its author there are/were plenty of sites to read it on without having to physically buy the book so I dont see what difference this is going to make.My very humble opinion only of course.

Hi Rainbow, of course you are entitled to your very humble opinion and free to read Goncalo Amaral's book for free if you desire. I am a supporter of Goncalo Amaral's and I want to buy his book, I feel like I want to contribute to his finances. Dr Amaral has lost a lot of money, thanks to the McCanns, who have used Madeleine, to line not just their pockets, but the pockets of their wider family.

I have in my possession a banned book. Since it was banned people beg me to borrow it. I also had a book that a famous popstar tried to ban. It changed hands for hundreds of pounds just because someone tried to ban it and it aroused peoples curiosity.
That is real life.

Shibboleth wrote:It is not just about the book; Dr Amaral is now free to speak on television about his theories, and his documentary and DVD may also be broadcast.

Indeed Shib. Snr. Amaral is about to embark on another new journey. He needs professional advisers to guide him on how best to capitalise on today's events. He is a man who will never give up. Are you listening TM?

Rainbow wrote:If people were sufficiently interested enough in this book and its author there are/were plenty of sites to read it on without having to physically buy the book so I dont see what difference this is going to make.My very humble opinion only of course.

There is a world of difference between having to search for something on the internet and walking into your local supermarket and being hit with a controversial book on a stand right next to a checkout while you're waiting in line. This overturned ban puts Snr. Amaral's book on a plate to those who, for whatever reason didn't go looking for it on the net. There is a HUGE difference, imvho.

I so agree maebee - even those who have no interest in the Maddie case will buy the book just to see why the McCanns tried to get it banned.

Rainbow wrote:If people were sufficiently interested enough in this book and its author there are/were plenty of sites to read it on without having to physically buy the book so I dont see what difference this is going to make.My very humble opinion only of course.

There is a huge difference between being motivated enough to read a book online, than reading whilst tucked up in bed with a cup of coco and hot water bottle. Remember also a large proportion of folk in the UK have spent the last three and more reading accounts of what happened to Madeliene in the press. Typically folk are smart enough to realise that the UK media do not present a balanced view; thus, most will welcome a another viewpoint, even if they believe the McCanns account. Of course there is also the fact that the book was banned, we all know that banned materials gain in popularity stakes... "What's it all about then gov?"

I suspect that if the book hits the shelves in the UK demand will be incredibly high.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Madeleine-McCann-Death-Book-Ban-Is-Quashed-By-Portuguese-Court/Article/201010315761814?
lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Tease


Madeleine Death Book Ban Is Quashed

11:45pm UK, Tuesday October 19, 2010
Alex Watts, Sky News Online
Kate and Gerry McCann have suffered a legal blow after a Portuguese court overturned a ban on a book about their daughter Madeleine's disappearance.
Goncalo Amaral's book Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie claims she died in the family's holiday apartment in the Algarve and her parents covered up her death by faking her abduction.
Mr and Mrs McCann strongly deny the claims, and are pursuing a defamation case against the former detective, who led the initial investigation into the Madeleine case.
In February, a Portuguese judge upheld an injunction banning any further sale or publication of his book and DVD documentary.
But now a Portuguese court has overturned the ruling, saying the ban had broken "a constitutional and universal right: that of opinion and freedom of expression."
"The contents of the book do not breach the basic rights of the plaintiffs," the court said, according to the Jornal de Noticías newspaper.
Mr Amaral was delighted by the decision, telling Portugal's Lusa news agency: "The book is an exercise in freedom of speech.
"Portuguese democracy has won, as banning the book was unconstitutional."
A spokesman for the McCanns was unavailable for comment.
Their lawyer Isabel Duarte said: "We must return about 8,000 copies of the books to the editor, which will probably go on sale."
When the initial injunction was upheld, the McCanns vowed to continue looking for their daughter and appealed once again for help from the public.
They said Mr Amaral's "painful and personally damaging" allegations had caused "significant, ongoing damage" to the hunt for Madeleine.
Mr and Mrs McCann believe their daughter, who was three when she vanished in Praia da Luz on May 3 2007, was snatched and is still alive.
She disappeared while the couple dined with friends at a tapas bar some 90 yards from the apartment.

Also here:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/159065/Madeleine-McCann-book-ban-lifted/

MADELEINE MCCANN BOOK BAN LIFTED

20th October 2010
By Daily Star Reporter

A court has overturned a ban on a book by the detective who led the Madeleine McCann investigation.

The Truth Of The Lie by Goncalo Amaral will be allowed back on the shelves in Portugal following a ruling by Lisbon’s Court of Appeal.




In the book, the former police chief claims Madeleine died in an accident and accuses her parents Gerry and Kate of faking her abduction. The couple, both doctors, insist she was snatched and still plan to sue Amaral.


In September last year the McCanns, from Rothley, Leics, won an injunction banning the book from being sold in Portugal.


They said that Amaral’s claims meant people were no longer looking for their daughter. But yesterday the judge said the book did not breach the McCanns’ rights to privacy because they had done TV interviews in a bid to find their daughter.


Now a 50-minute DVD documentary to accompany the book will also be allowed to be sold.


The McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell said last night: “The legal action against Mr Amaral is very much continuing.


“Kate and Gerry’s lawyers are examining this latest court action and are considering an appeal.”

Interesting read:

http://textusa.blogspot.com/2010/10/book-is-coming-back-so-start-to-watch.html

Cherry

If not already posted - here is the Sky News report

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Madeleine-McCann-Death-Book-Ban-Is-Quashed-By-Portuguese-Court/Article/201010315761814?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2

Autumn wrote:
A spokesman for the McCanns was unavailable for comment.

That's gotta be a first

20 October 2010 | Posted by
makeprofilelink("Joana Morais");
Joana Morais Leave a Comment



Gonçalo Amaral, the former Judiciary Police Coordinator on the ban overturn to his book ‘Maddie - A Verdade da Mentira’.

by Paulo Marcelino

What did you feel upon learning about the decision taken by the Lisbon Appeals Court, which invalidated the interim injunction brought by the McCann couple against the book?

I had a sensation of freedom and the certainty that democracy had been strengthened.

What impact had on you the decision made at the first instance court, one year ago, that banned the sale of your book and forbade you from speaking publicly about the case?

It was very heavy for me and for my family. It had nefarious consequences and damages are still being assessed. It was extremely violent.

Will you speak about the case again?

I am considering to exercise the right of freedom that was returned to me.

Will the book be again be put up for sale?

The publisher will immediately recover the confiscated books in order to place them at the bookshops. And we will take other initiatives into consideration, including the publication in England.

What is the direct consequence of this decision [book ban] in the claim for damages [filed by the McCanns]?

It has a very strong impact because the arguments used by the applicants for requesting the main action are the same. We strongly believe that we are going to win this battle between truth and falsehood.

in Correio da Manhã 20.10.2010

http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2010/10/direct-speech-short-interview-with.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JoanaMorais+%28Joana+Morais%29

ufercoffy wrote:We strongly believe that we are going to win this battle between truth and falsehood.

I'm very glad he's feeling positive and has a network of supporters to help him see this through and find the truth about what happened to Maddie.

How bizarre that the case of a dead 'missing' child should be a libel trial.






The title of this picture created by 'Himself' from the McCann Gallery is "Don't give up on me big man".....

Greetings from Phuket!

I cant believe this good news happened just when I am in Phuket. But never mind, this is fantastic news.

I wont read thru all the 8 pages while on holiday, but enough to say I read there's news blackout where this is concerned in UK and Sky is not reporting it.
It makes not an iota of difference because the defeat for mccanns cannot be rewritten just because Sky chose to be biased and myopic.

The pros in denial are in tsunami flood of tears and that wont change the fact the tsunami has had another blast at the mccanns blackened reputation.

The pros were closed minded about the defamation trial, so by their logics, Amaral is on a sure-proof winning streak, and the mccanns had better save their fund money by withdrawing or they might have to sell their assets to pay Amaral's defence cost and compensations in the same manner they demanded his.

ufercoffy wrote:

Autumn wrote:
A spokesman for the McCanns was unavailable for comment.

That's gotta be a first

They're trying to think of how to comment without giving any publicity to the book!

aiyoyo wrote:Greetings from Phuket!

I cant believe this good news happened just when I am in Phuket. But never mind, this is fantastic news.

I wont read thru all the 8 pages while on holiday, but enough to say I read there's news blackout where this is concerned in UK and Sky is not reporting it.
It makes not an iota of difference because the defeat for mccanns cannot be rewritten just because Sky chose to be biased and myopic.

The pros in denial are in tsunami flood of tears and that wont change the fact the tsunami has had another blast at the mccanns blackened reputation.

The pros were closed minded about the defamation trial, so by their logics, Amaral is on a sure-proof winning streak, and the mccanns had better save their fund money by withdrawing or they might have to sell their assets to pay Amaral's defence cost and compensations in the same manner they demanded his.

Good morning or should I say good afternoon aiyoyo . My daughter and her partner arrive in Phuket today to begin a holiday. My son has been working in what he calls "The Land of Smiles" on and off for a few years. He is in Pattaya at the moment, but last year he was in Phuket. He has worked in other parts of Thailand.

Sky news and other British media outlets are now reporting the good news :yahoo: . I hope it won't be too long before the British media are reporting that the McCanns are to face justice for their part in Madeleine's disappearance.

kathyBelle wrote:

aiyoyo wrote:Greetings from Phuket!

I cant believe this good news happened just when I am in Phuket. But never mind, this is fantastic news.

I wont read thru all the 8 pages while on holiday, but enough to say I read there's news blackout where this is concerned in UK and Sky is not reporting it.
It makes not an iota of difference because the defeat for mccanns cannot be rewritten just because Sky chose to be biased and myopic.

The pros in denial are in tsunami flood of tears and that wont change the fact the tsunami has had another blast at the mccanns blackened reputation.

The pros were closed minded about the defamation trial, so by their logics, Amaral is on a sure-proof winning streak, and the mccanns had better save their fund money by withdrawing or they might have to sell their assets to pay Amaral's defence cost and compensations in the same manner they demanded his.

Good morning or should I say good afternoon aiyoyo . My daughter and her partner arrive in Phuket today to begin a holiday. My son has been working in what he calls "The Land of Smiles" on and off for a few years. He is in Pattaya at the moment, but last year he was in Phuket. He has worked in other parts of Thailand.

Sky news and other British media outlets are now reporting the good news :yahoo: . I hope it won't be too long before the British media are reporting that the McCanns are to face justice for their part in Madeleine's disappearance.

Yes, the McCanns must face justice for their many crimes.

I'm trying to track coverage of this very important story in the British press.

So far I've seen articles in The Guardian, the Daily Star, the Daily Mirror, and on SKY NEWS.

There's an article just gone online in 'The Bookseller':

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/131851-lisbon-court-overturns-mccann-book-ban.html

Has there been anything in, e.g.

The Times?
The Telegraph?
The Sun?
The Daily Mail?
The Daily Express?
The Independent?

Considering freelance photojournalist Mike 'entrapment using many false names' Gunnill has been closely following this case you'd think he would let the media know.

Tony Bennett wrote:I'm trying to track coverage of this very important story in the British press.

So far I've seen articles in The Guardian, the Daily Star, the Daily Mirror, and on SKY NEWS.

There's an article just gone online in 'The Bookseller':

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/131851-lisbon-court-overturns-mccann-book-ban.html

Has there been anything in, e.g.

The Times?
The Telegraph?
The Sun?
The Daily Mail?
The Daily Express?
The Independent?

Good morning Tony, I hope you are well and like the rest of us, buzzing with the news from Portugual. I hope it won't be too long before you receive good news, that the ban on your book is also lifted.

I am really pleased that some of the media outlets are reporting this story, I was beginning to think there was a news blackout.I have always had a low opinion of the "Sun" but on this occasion, my opinion of the newspaper has changed. I am really glad that they have printed the story.

The "Sun" has the most readers and it can only be good publicity for Dr Amaral. Also now the ban on "The Truth of the Lie" is lifted, maybe the "Sun" will serialise the contents and readers will know for sure just what happened in Praia da Luz. On that so called family holiday.

From Anorak good read!

Madeleine McCann: McCanns’ Legal Pitfalls As Amaral’s Book Goes Back On Sale – Anorak was Right

MADELEINE McCann: Lisbon’s Court of Appeal has overturned the ban on Goncalo Amaral’s book The Truth Of The Lie.

The law now says the ban breached “a constitutional and universal right: that of opinion and freedom of expression. The contents of the book do not breach the basic rights of the plaintiffs.”

Earlier this year, the McCanns won an injunction banning the book from sale in Portugal. (Read their statement here.) It was always a massive risk going to a foreign country and taking on an ex-copper.

As Anorak’s AGW wrote 8 MONTHS AGO:

You know when an accident is going to happen. They even have corporate speak phrases for it these days: “Risk Assessment” is one.

You know when a playing kitten is going to fall from the arm of the chair, you know when the child is going trip and fall, no matter how quick you are to try and get there.

Sometimes you see disasters being created and thundering, in silent-movie slowed down train-wreck style, toward you or others and there’s little you can do other than stand and watch horror-struck by the enormity of it all.

You know the accident’s about to happen and there is nothing you can do but perhaps wonder why you knew?

It has nothing to do with sixth senses, it is because the most powerful computer known to man, your brain, has gathered in all the previous experiences you have weighed in the balance and made a predictive analysis.

That is what is so strange about the current and past behaviour of the parents of the missing child Madeleine McCann.

They have started a court action defending their reputations in Lisbon because the former chief investigating officer Goncalo Amaral, above, is accusing them of being involved in Madeleine’s disappearance. They have also started an action seeking a money settlement for the Portuguese equivalent of libel and in addition are taking on a Lisbon-based documentary production unit for reporting on the detective’s objected to book and the case.

Lisbon was never going to be a perfect spot for the McCann’s to start legal sparring and this week they were dealt what can only be termed a body-blow when the detective’s lawyers produced evidence the UK’s top criminal profiler has said there were “contradictions” in their statements and both should be treated as possible “homicide” suspects.

No arguments, no amount of reshuffling or clarifications can change that and the facts can not be forced back into the can of worms which the McCann parents themselves have allowed to be opened.

Damage Limitation

The background PR work after the Lisbon shocker has been impressive. The McCann lawyers strode from the courtroom and counter-claimed there were tens, hundreds or more sightings of the missing girl. The UK’s Red Tops dutifully followed the thread and reported the lawyer’s statement. My experience and training gave the brain the predictive text that this looked like a smoke screen, a damage limitation. The missing fact was all these sightings came after the McCann’s themselves had been released from Arguido, suspect, status. The case was archived. It was a cold, leading nowhere, case in the eyes of the top legal and police professionals in Portugal…the responsible authorities have no clues and have suspended work on the case.

It has already been said in these columns, taking on the Portuguese legal system was going to be a minefield but there is one question:

Who is taking the responsibility for the Risk Assessment for this McCann course of action?

Whoever it was needs to be replaced or kept out of the limelight.

Mass public opinion is turning. The McCanns are slipping lower and lower down the celebs’ to be seen with list, certainly no-longer A list and slightly embarrassing to be around according to some whispers.The McCanns are innocent. No charges have been brought against anyone…except the Chief Investigating Police Officer, Goncalo Amaral.

Wake up!

A second question would have to be: Who on earth took the Risk Assessment decision Amaral was a buffoon an incompetent, bungling, Jacques Clouseau Pink Panther type of police officer?

Come on, wake up! Police officers do not rise through the ranks to positions of authority without being good thief-takers and being very good at spotting the wrongness of something.
Amaral is tougher than the baying section of Britain’s media has portrayed.The McCanns are becoming battered and worn by this. Just look at their recent photographs. The child is still missing, lost, gone. Arguments still rage over the rightness or wrongness of it all.

Something is judgementally wrong in the Risk Assessments taken here. This week has been hugely damaging to the McCann’s and their cause. The information given this week in the Lisbon court can no longer be ignored or forgotten. It will have a high cost and one of the costs are potential new helpers and donations to the campaign of finding the child. The parents WERE involved in Madeleine’s disappearance because they left her alone to her fate and that is a tragic inescapable fact. No legal action, nor anything else, can change it.The truly awful fact is this piece been written and illustrated without one mention of the first names, professions or use of photographs of the McCann parents but everyone of you knows the name, the job and carries the image for further risk assessment.
That is a risk position NOT to be in.

Pictures Of All The Madeleine McCann Suspects

You can now buy the book in Portugal, and read Amaral’s opinion that Our Maddie died in an accident at the McCanns’ holiday home in Praia da Luz in 2007. Amaral, who worked on the investigation, also alleges Gerry and Kate faked her abduction.

Maddie fans /ghouls /armchair detectives can also legally buy a 50-minute DVD documentary to get the full multi-media experience as they are entertained by the disappearance of an innocent young child.

The McCanns deny any wrongdoing. There is no proof that they did any wrong and that Amaral’s claims are valid. The McCanns are looking to sue Amaral for defamation.

The papers react.

The Star, which libelled the McCanns, reminds its readers that the parents are “both doctors”.

Why this facts needs repeating is unclear?

Says McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell:

“The legal action against Mr Amaral is very much continuing. Kate and Gerry’s lawyers are examining this latest court action and are considering an appeal.”

The Guardian recalls:

After Amaral lost an earlier appeal, the McCanns claimed his book had caused “significant, ongoing damage to the search for our beloved daughter Madeleine and to the rights of our family … there is no evidence that Madeleine has come to any harm.”

Hard to argue with that.

They added: “As painful and personally damaging as the slanderous claims of Mr Amaral and his supporters have been to us and our family, our primary focus has always been, and always will be, to find Madeleine through our own best investigative efforts.”

Madeleine McCann is missing. There are no suspects. There is no proof she is alive nor dead. There is no proof of a crime having befallen her. There is only one fact, a single-thread story spun for news, hope, personal gain and sensation.

http://www.anorak.co.uk/262888/madeleine-mccann/madeleine-mccann-mccanns-legal-pitfalls-as-amarals-book-goes-back-on-sale-anorak-was-right.html

It seems as if Mr Amaral is going to countersue the McCanns!! [sorry if already posted, not quite with it this morning!)

from Joana's site

[snipped]

We are going to court and file a claim for damages against the McCann couple, of that there are no doubts whatsoever”, stated yesterday to DN the former Judiciary Police Inspector Gonçalo Amaral after the Lisbon Court of Appeals ruling annulled the prohibition to market the book 'Maddie, The Truth of The Lie'.

“We haven't yet determined the losses”, added Gonçalo Amaral.

http://joana-morais.blogspot.com/2010/10/goncalo-amaral-to-countersue-mccanns.html

I hadn't realised that spudgun had his own blog, just seen a link on another site. This is a very good read..


Madeleine McCann the TRUTH of the Truth of the Lie...by SPUDGUN

I have absolutely no idea what the significance will be of the Portuguese Court of Appeal overturning the ban on Goncalo Amaral’s book, “The Truth of the Lie”, a ban successfully effected by court action brought by the ever litigious Kate and Gerry McCann.

Then again, I never understood how or why the Injunction was granted in the FIRST place. After all, Amaral’s book was effectively no more than a synopsis of some of the key investigation points carried out by the Portuguese Authorities, information which was, (and still is), already in the public domain.

In my own country, (here in the UK), there is currently NO news of the lifting of the ban. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the BRITISH media to report the matter, and then even more interesting to see which newspaper first chalks it up as a scandalous victory for the “disgraced former Maddie Cop”.


For herein lies the rub. Ostensibly, this little procedure in a Portuguese Court is fairly inconsequential in relation to the material that was the subject of the ban in the first place. For the book was, and still is, freely available online, in many languages.


But it is a HUGE victory, (not just for Amaral who was ALSO facing the consequences of losing his HOME to another action been brought by the McCanns), but for the Portuguese authorities, the Police, their press, and most of all, their PEOPLE.


Whatever happened to Madeleine McCann in May of 2007 may forever be a mystery. Whatever crimes took place may never be solved. But the crimes that have since been perpetrated against PORTUGAL, the country with whom the UK has held one of the longest alliances in the World, must not only be solved, but atoned for. Not least, the crimes perpetrated against it by its own Government, or at least factions of it.


Rumours of political skulduggery and interference have been circulating in Portugal pretty much since Madeleine was first reported missing. Key decisions, both in the case itself and on how it was conducted, can be traced back to direct interference from UK Government Ministers, including the then Premier, (and fellow former Glaswegian), Gordon Brown. Reports of spooks, British Intelligence, and senior Special Branch officer’s presence and involvement have been recorded in the Portuguese press since the early days of the enquiry.

Even Portuguese judges dealing with the investigation and court proceedings in the early stages would appear to have acted completely out of character and seemingly against the legal Statutes, procedures and practises that govern them, (especially where Kate and Gerry McCann were allowed to flee Portugal, 72 Hours after having asserted they would never leave Portugal without their daughter, and a mere 48 hours after being made Arguidos).




Such BRITISH influence and involvement can NOT have occurred without the complicity, (and DUPLICITY), of at least some senior Portuguese Office.



Whatever deal was struck, I hope the Office thinks it was worth it.



It would not be the first time, of course, that a Nation has been let down by its Government. However, such occasions generally benefit from a judicious, fearless, accurate and observant PRESS, bringing to the attention to the rest of the world the injustice and deceit that is ensuing. If the Portuguese had hoped that their oldest allies, the BRITISH, would use their Press to highlight their cause, then they were about to be disappointed.



I have recorded elsewhere the catalogue of journals, newspapers, television documentaries, news programmes, British Government Ministers, ‘B’ list Celebrities, Gossip Columnists and bulletins that have all not only perpetrated and propagated the ABDUCTION story, but have ridiculed, abused and vilified the Portuguese people in the process.


“Up Yours, Senor”, “Useless Porto Plod” and “keep your stupid, sardine munching mouth shut”, were just some of the more fragrant lines written by the UK’s finest scribes.


“Pigs” and “Filth”, were how one Tabloid luminary described the Portuguese Police.


“Bumpkins” was how he referred to the Portuguese people of the area where Madeleine went missing. Presumably he meant those who took time off from their work places and normal lives to search the ground, for HOURS, on their hands on knees, looking for clues as to the little girl’s whereabouts.


Just in case there was any doubts as to the integrity or calibre of the Portuguese people, Piers Merchant, assistant to Member of the European Parliament Roger Knapmann, clarified the situation regarding the British perspective on our oldest ally.

In November 2007, I wrote a letter to the former leader and Home Secretary of the UK Conservative Party, Michael Howard. In the letter, I explained that I was concerned that conflict and potentially irreparable damage was being caused between the two countries concerned, Britain and Portugal, much of which appears to have been caused by the Press and Government of this country. I further questioned the use of the British Government Media Monitoring Unit Director, Clarence Mitchell, as not only a spokesman but as an apparent MENTOR of sorts; resigning from his Government job and allying himself with the McCann's when they were made Arguidos. I suggested this to be somewhat an unprecedented and unusual state of affairs.

I also explained my concerns that Gordon Brown had not only personally intervened in the case by persuading the Portuguese authorities to permit the McCann's to make an appeal for information concerning the 'abductor', as 'witnessed' by Jane Tanner, (even though the Portuguese placed NO significance or, more likely, credibility in this sighting'), but that some factions of the credible Portuguese Press were suggesting that Government Pressure was being brought to bear on the case.



Certainly, I considered it inappropriate and unusual for Gordon Brown to have made the personal communications and offered the assistance that he did to the McCann's.


Clarence Mitchell himself had already confirmed that he, via the Prime Minister, had been instrumental in not only co-ordinating the visit to the Vatican, but also visits to other world leaders and dignitaries. My letter concluded that I felt it essential that the Prime Minister clarified his position and involvement with regards to the McCann's case.

The response I received was a standard, if not unexpected one, advising me that the letter would be forwarded to the Prime Minister for his comments, which would be communicated to me if and when he made them. (He never did).

I published my original letter on an Internet Forum, inviting any like minded individuals to either use it as a template or to modify it for their own purposes and forward it to their own local, Members of Parliament. A lady from Bristol did just that, and the response that it elicited made headline news, both here and in Portugal.



Piers Merchant wrote an astonishing and lengthy response that firstly warned the author to be 'careful' of what she writes, referring to the laws of Libel. It then went on to state, somewhat pompously, that


'‘One of the first duties of the British government is to support its citizens abroad. It is therefore entirely correct that the government should do this in the case of Kate and Gerry McCann".


He then sensationally declared,

'The Portuguese police and judicial system is known to be suspect. Elements of the police are corrupt and indeed in this case the senior detective involved has been charged with corruption? "

He continues;

''The Portuguese judicial system does not assume innocence before guilt in the way the British system does and operates an interrogatory process in which people are denounced as suspects without any proof?."


Merchant explains why this shocking state of affairs is so:

"It is important to realise that Portugal has no real history of citizen's rights and liberties or democracy. From the 1920s to the mid 1970's Portugal was ruled by a fascist dictatorship, first under Salazar and then Caetano. Political opposition was repressed and the police and judicial system was used to achieve this. A stable multi-party democracy only came into existence in the late 1970's and is still very young. Many of the police were trained under fascism and the institutions still bear the impact of this long period of dictatorship".

The letter concludes by stating,

''In all the circumstances it is entirely right that British citizens should be protected against an unreliable foreign system. In any event I think you can rest assured that the British police and intelligence services have long had a better grip on the facts of this case than the Portuguese police".

Merchant later tried to deny that he had written this, protesting that his letter had been ‘altered’. However, I STILL have the original source file, and can assert that it is entirely as it was created. Additionally, he refused an invitation to submit his WEB based email system to cursory examination.

Some three years after this particular response, I am still intrigued as to how much of that inexplicable retort was Merchant’s own work, and whether he genuinely wrote it of his own volition.


Piers Merchant died, in September 2009, taking the answers with him.

So today, Tuesday the 19th October, 2010, IS a victor for Portugal.

It is a victory for the Policia Judiciaria, who conducted themselves throughout with professionalism and determination, despite the horrendous, abusive labels and accusations of incompetence, (completely unfounded), which still plague them to this day. Their ‘crime’?. To assert that Madeleine McCann is dead and that her parents are at least complicit in her disappearance. Presumably for reasons of space, the same newspapers were unable to repeat and reserve the same criticisms for the BRITISH factions who shared that self-same opinion:-

a/The Leicestershire Police Constabulary who, (according to PJ files), were instrumental in proposing that Maddie had died at the apartment. Clearly they saw no point, either, in lambasting:

b/ the specialist South Yorkshire Police ‘enhanced victim recovery dogs’, Eddie & Keela, instrumental in solving DOZENS of cases across 17 Police Forces across the UK, who signalled the scent of Cadavarine and other body fluids, in the McCanns apartment and in a vehicle hired by the McCanns, as well as on other personal items belonging to the McCanns.

c/So too, the Birmingham Forensic Science Services, (who have built a “global reputation for excellence in forensic solutions”), who, according to many sources, including SKY NEWS, reported that DNA extracted from a sample taken from the McCanns Hire Car was a “100% MATCH” to Madeleine McCann.


For whatever reasons, these 3 facets of the investigation, the Leicestershire Police, The specialist dogs and the Birmingham FSS results all made obvious significant contributions to the Portuguese Authorities conclusions regarding the case, yet they have thus far avoided the same derogatory attention afforded to them.

BUT most of all, it is a VICTORY for the Portuguese PEOPLE. Those who gave their time, energy, money, resources and heartfelt support, love and wishes to a “nice” British couple in their quest to find their missing daughter. Those whose lives were blighted, (and some who still ARE), and turned upside down by a tidal wave of media vileness , together with a Government who abandoned them and stood by while this character assassination on a NATIONAL level unfolded.

It is for THEM, that this little bit of Court decision making will go a little way towards restoring their faith in the Democracy, spirit and traditional values of their homeland.


As for the McCanns themselves? Who knows? It may well be that they will manage to overturn, yet again this current state of affairs. No doubt they will embark on ANOTHER course of legal action, certainly against Amaral and possibly someone else as well as, no doubt, several Newspapers, Media Outlets or anyone else who repeats the Books' words.


Some might suggest that they will NEED to.



For they have spent MILLIONS of pounds in donations, pledges and personal backing, in convincing the world that Madeleine McCann was abducted; Either by one of several infamous characters as described by Jane Tanner, or by one of the MANY bizarre, colourful and ludicrous suspects that inhabit various corners of the globe as reported widely in the British Press, (courtesy of the McCanns own private police force, Metodo 3 and Clarence Mitchell).

Or by one of the many faceless, nameless and shameless paedophiles that apparently walk the streets of every Portuguese village, (courtesy of a seemingly innumerable number of High Ranking British ‘EX’ Police Officers/Experts, some of which have financially benefited quite nicely from the McCann Gravy Train) .


And that kind of "LOOKING FOR MADDIE" doesn’t come cheap.

But, as has always been the case in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, there are more QUESTIONS than answers. And as I have been wont to say on more than one occasion, unless those questions are firstly ASKED, they can never be answered.


And today, in a Court room in Lisbon, at least the asking has started again...................


God bless Madeleine Beth McCann, wherever you are.................
Posted by Spudgun at 10:11

http://spudgunsspoutings.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-have-absolutely-no-idea-what.html




I shall bookmark this site, always enjoyed spudguns's posts. His you tube video is still the best imo