MADELEINE’S FUND LOSES KEY MCCANN

by annabel 26.09.10 6:41

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/201788/Madeleine-s-Fund-loses-key-McCann-

UK NEWS
MADELEINE’S FUND LOSES KEY MCCANN

'NO STONE UNTURNED': New vigour in the hunt for Madeleine

Sunday September 26,2010
By James Murray and Tracey Kandohla

THE brother of Gerry McCann has quit the Madeleine Fund amid a drive to inject new dynamism into the search for the missing seven-year-old.

John McCann has been a dedicated director since the fund was launched more than three years ago and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to do everything he could to find the child.

However, latest company accounts show he left last month along with fellow director Douglas Skehan, a heart specialist and colleague of Gerry McCann who works with him at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital. Speaking at the launch of the fund two weeks after Madeleine vanished, John said: “This fund will be a vehicle to help our family get our darling, wee niece back.”

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In an update to their website, neither Kate nor Gerry McCann mentioned the names of the directors who have left.

Instead they focused on the renewed vigour behind the campaign to find their daughter. They believe Madeleine was abducted from their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on Portugal’s Algarve coast in May 2007.

The message states: “There will be some changes and development in terms of strategy and ideas as we endeavour to leave no stone unturned in our search.

“This will include some changes to the board of Madeleine’s Fund, simply to try to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of what we are doing. It has now been three years and four months since Madeleine was taken from us. None of us ever thought we’d still be in the position we are today.

“Inevitably there has to be change for a variety of reasons but importantly, this will also allow people to help and support us in different ways.

by Irish Eyes 26.09.10 7:49

I notice James and Tracey didn't credit Joanna Morais with the story that she brought to us from Portugal a couple of weeks ago.

by Irish Eyes 26.09.10 7:51

There's a bit more to the story:

“Regardless of change, everyone’s focus, commitment and desire continues to be that of finding Madeleine.”

New board members, as yet unnamed, have been appointed to the fund, which stands at £450,000 and relies on public donations to pay private investigators to carry on the search.

The unsigned blog continues: “Keeping Madeleine’s image out there greatly increases our chances of finding her.

“It is a reminder to people that she is still missing and to please keep looking for her. In addition, we know that somebody knows where Madeleine is.

“One more reminder of her may be all that it takes for them to finally come forward and let us know.”

The McCanns met Home Secretary Theresa May over the summer to ask for a review of all evidence in the case.

by annabel 26.09.10 7:59

Irish, I noticed that too late, thank you!

by **Jill Havern** 26.09.10 8:51

Irish Eyes wrote:I notice James and Tracey didn't credit Joanna Morais with the story that she brought to us from Portugal a couple of weeks ago.

Yes, it comes to something when we get better news from bloggers than journalists doesn't it?

But then journalists are busy trying to help break up the Beckham's marriage at the moment.

by maebee 26.09.10 9:45

They believe Madeleine was abducted from their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on Portugal’s Algarve coast in May 2007

.

Can we detect a note of cynicism here?

by pennylane 26.09.10 10:15

maebee wrote:
They believe Madeleine was abducted from their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on Portugal’s Algarve coast in May 2007
.

Can we detect a note of cynicism here?

I agree maebee.

"They believe M was abducted"..... in other words, there's not a shred of proof other than their dubious belief! .......it's a bit like that journalist in Lisbon saying to their faces... 'pffft abduction!' daft

by **Tony Bennett** 26.09.10 10:17

maebee wrote:
They believe Madeleine was abducted from their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on Portugal’s Algarve coast in May 2007
.

Can we detect a note of cynicism here?

That's quite a good quote. We might use that in our next leaflet.

Some people believe it.

Others don't.

by **Tony Bennett** 26.09.10 10:32

annabel wrote:http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/201788/Madeleine-s-Fund-loses-key-McCann-

UK NEWS
MADELEINE’S FUND LOSES KEY MCCANN

'NO STONE UNTURNED': New vigour in the hunt for Madeleine

Sunday September 26,2010
By James Murray and Tracey Kandohla

Back in December 2008 (as they say), it didn't take Tracey Kandohla too long to obtain a copy of:

"What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann? - 60 Reasons Which Suggest that she was not Abducted".

The first copies of this reached me from the printer on 7 December 2008.

She chatted me up on the 'phone a couple of days later and sweetly asked me if journalists like her could have a free copy. As we had said on our website that bona fide journalists would get a free copy, I obliged, of course. She told me that Clarence Mitchell was very interested in getting a copy and that he was coming up to hers [she said she lived in Rothley] to have tea with her in Rothley the following week - and would like to show a copy to him.

So I sent the book up.

Of course, eight months later I got a letter from Carter-Ruck telling me the book was libellous and that I faced a High Court libel action if all copies of it were not destroyed forthwith. Moreover, at a presentation to journalists in November 2009, Clarence Mitchell was delivering a powerpoint presentation which featured, inter alia, his notes about 'Defamation action against The Madeleine Foundation'.

After I sent Tracey the book she coveted so much, she sent me this charming note, just 10 days before Christmas. I reproduce it, as always, verbatim:

Flag this message[ No Subject ]Monday, 15 December, 2008 15:57
From: This sender is DomainKeys verified."Tracey Kandohla"
Add sender to Contacts
To: ajsbennett@btinternet.com

Tracey Kandohla

07775 833303

Hi Tony

Just to say many thanks for sending me your Maddie book. When I catch up with Clarence I will glady give him a copy too.

It only arrived at the weekend - post's very slow up here.

Happy Christmas!

Tracey

HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE:

The original propsoed title of the booklet was:

"What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann? - 60 Reasons Which Show that she was not Abducted".

On advice from a good friend who has supported us throughout, we changed it at the last minute to:

"What Really Happened to Madeleine McCann? - 60 Reasons Which Suggest that she was not Abducted".

by Guest 26.09.10 10:46

[quote]
New board members, as yet unnamed, have been appointed to the fund,

Okay, place your bets - who are the new directors. Shall we have a go and see if anyone can guess the names?

by aiyoyo 26.09.10 10:55

Could we attribute their skeptism to after having had the privilege of reading 60-reasons?

They didnt even bother to question how much longer do mccanns expect public to keep funding them.

Stating the fund will be used for search is only half true. As usual they didnt bother to investigate whether fund is use for other purposes - considering she knows CM, shouldnt be difficult to pry out that info.

And, placing a free bet smacked right in the middle takes the mickey.

by Cheshire Cat 26.09.10 11:29

[quote="candyfloss"]

New board members, as yet unnamed, have been appointed to the fund,

Okay, place your bets - who are the new directors. Shall we have a go and see if anyone can guess the names?

Lorraine Kelly?

by aiyoyo 26.09.10 11:47

The journalist who fingered RM?

Maybe even CM?

by baconbutty 26.09.10 12:00

David Miliband.

Well he's at a bit of a loose end at the moment.

by Guest 26.09.10 12:05

Gordon Brown
Richard Branson
Phillip Green
James Whale
Fiona Phillips
J.K Rowling
Richard and Judy
Cliff Richard

by aiyoyo 26.09.10 12:12

Cherry wrote:Gordon Brown
Richard Branson
Phillip Green
James Whale
Fiona Phillips
J.K Rowling
Richard and Judy
Cliff Richard

Fiona Phillips maybe. No way hosey for the rest!

by Guest 26.09.10 12:22

Lets hope the rest have suspected something a bit fishy by now thinking

- however imo J K Rowling may still be supporting them. Wink

by ufercoffy 26.09.10 13:03

Dr Katherina Gaspar and Dr David Payne. MADELEINE’S FUND LOSES KEY MCCANN 302873

by Guest 26.09.10 15:41

Tony!

by aiyoyo 26.09.10 16:35

ufercoffy wrote:Dr Katherina Gaspar and Dr David Payne.

Dr Katherina Gaspar?

BK's son.

by Guest 26.09.10 18:32

It may be one or two of the Tapas 7. After all didn't they donate all (or some) of the money they got from the libel case. Perhaps they want a say in how it is being spent!! The question is are the Directors paid, if so how much, and they most probably claim expenses.

I nominate;

Rachel Oldfield
David Payne

Mind you it wouldn't look good would it if the board was made up of family members and the Tapas friends. I was just musing. big grin

by aiyoyo 26.09.10 19:11

Cherry wrote:Lets hope the rest have suspected something a bit fishy by now - however imo J K Rowling may still be supporting them.

Those kind of people are always too busy.
Besides they are elitists beyond the league of mccanns, and wouldnt be seen dead on the board of a Fund monitoring spendings for the search for a child, or spendings for rising legal costs for that matter.

by aiyoyo 26.09.10 19:18

candyfloss wrote:It may be one or two of the Tapas 7. After all didn't they donate all (or some) of the money they got from the libel case. Perhaps they want a say in how it is being spent!! The question is are the Directors paid, if so how much, and they most probably claim expenses.

I nominate;

Rachel Oldfield
David Payne

Mind you it wouldn't look good would it if the board was made up of family members and the Tapas friends. I was just musing.

aiyoyo wrote

I fail to comprehend why they need to replace those resignations.
Not as if money is rolling in, or so much as it stands that so many directors are needed to decide on the rightful way it should be expended.

Unless directors are needed to explore way to increase the fund, then that's a different story.
Maybe they are hoping new directors have connections to open door for them.

by macy 26.09.10 20:46

Apparently the paper version of the Express has an additional line at the end :-

Former police detectives David Edgar and Arthur Cowley have made repeated visits to Portugal and have a new photo fit of a suspect which has not yet been released to the public.

Does anyone have the paper copy to confirm? Seems daft to have a pic but not release it ! Maybe waiting for the labour leadership news to die down a bit !

laughat

by Guest 26.09.10 20:52

macy wrote:Apparently the paper version of the Express has an additional line at the end :-

Former police detectives David Edgar and Arthur Cowley have made repeated visits to Portugal and have a new photo fit of a suspect which has not yet been released to the public.

Does anyone have the paper copy to confirm? Seems daft to have a pic but not release it ! Maybe waiting for the labour leadership news to die down a bit !

Ah we must be in for a press conference then wow