MISSING CHEF'S DAD CALLS FOR NEW LAW

by ROSA Sun 17 Jul 2011, 1:38 am

MISSING CHEF'S DAD CALLS FOR NEW LAW

Sunday July 17,2011
By James Murray and Tracey Kandohla

THE father of chef Claudia Lawrence is hoping the Government will this week back his call to give the families of missing people greater support.

Solicitor Peter Lawrence will help present the findings of a Parliamentary inquiry at Downing Street tomorrow into the problems faced by the families of people who disappear.
Among those who gave evidence was Kate McCann, whose daughter Madeleine vanished in Portugal four years ago.

Mr Lawrence, 64, said it had been an “absolute nightmare” dealing with the disappearance of Claudia, 35, who vanished from York in March 2009.

As well as trying to find her, he also endured the heartbreaking task of sorting out her mortgage and other domestic matters.

Now he hopes the inquiry will result in a new law allowing families to appoint a trustee to deal with the affairs of missing people 90 days after they disappear.

Mr Lawrence told the Sunday Express: “There is a system in Australia which enables people to make an application to court when somebody has been missing for 90 days to act, in effect, as a trustee of that person’s assets so you can deal with them. In this country now banks and building societies quite rightly say they have no right to deal with the families of missing people.

“This is a nightmare situation which affects thousands of people every year in this country.”

The trustees would act only to preserve and manage assets and would not have the power to take money from the accounts of missing people. “I am hopeful there will be new law after the recess,” added Mr Lawrence.
In her evidence,

Kate McCann told the inquiry: “If your house is burgled you are offered victim support with emotional, practical and legal assistance.

“If your child goes missing, you may get nothing. This inquiry has the potential to change that.”
Scotland Yard detectives told to review Madeleine’s case by Prime Minister David Cameron have met her parents.

Doctors Kate and Gerry, both 43, are convinced that it is only a matter of time before they get a breakthrough. Their private investigators, headed by former Detective Inspector David Edgar, have also met the team.

A source close to the family said yesterday: “Kate and Gerry have had several meetings with police reviewing their daughter’s case over the past month. They are relieved that something is finally happening.”
MISSING CHEF'S DAD CALLS FOR NEW LAW 259333_1

MISSING CHEF'S DAD CALLS FOR NEW LAW 259333_1

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/259333/Missing-chef-s-dad-calls-for-new-law

by Guest Sun 17 Jul 2011, 9:07 am

Was that an article for the benefit of Claudia Lawrence, or the McCann's ?

by pennylane Sun 17 Jul 2011, 9:35 am

Hopefully it IS only a matter of time for Kate and Gerry McCann!!! MISSING CHEF'S DAD CALLS FOR NEW LAW 0197

by Miraflores Sun 17 Jul 2011, 9:36 am

How does the case of a missing three year old compare to that of a missing young adult? Claudia Lawrence was an adult who went missing and foul play is
suspected. Madeleine McCann was a three year old whose parents seem
quite happy to admit to neglecting her, while pretending that it wasn't neglect and that we all do it.

How many three year olds have financial affairs to sort out - e.g. mortgages, bank accounts? Well, possibly a few film stars do or did. How many of these are deemed sufficiently mature to look after those affairs themselves? Easy answer this time - none.

Claudia Lawrence's father is making a valid point - adults have committments which need attending to. Why has Kate McCann jumped in - in what way was Madeleine's situation the same?

by Guest Sun 17 Jul 2011, 10:04 am

Do they share the same PR pimp ?

by Guest Sun 17 Jul 2011, 10:48 am

[quote]

A source close to the family said yesterday: “Kate and Gerry have had several meetings with police reviewing their daughter’s case over the past month. They are relieved that something is finally happening."

Interesting.

by ROSA Mon 18 Jul 2011, 12:01 am

pennylane wrote:Hopefully it IS only a matter of time for Kate and Gerry McCann!!!

by Guest Mon 18 Jul 2011, 10:16 am

Doesn't look like Kate McCann is attending.......................

Claudia Lawrence's father at Downing Street

18 July 2011 Last updated at 06:03

The father of Claudia Lawrence is to help present the findings of an inquiry into the rights of families of missing people at Downing Street later.

Solicitor Peter Lawrence's 35-year-old daughter was last seen in York on 18 March 2009. Her disappearance is being treated by police as murder.

Mr Lawrence gave evidence at the parliamentary inquiry in June.

He and Rachel Elias, sister of missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards, will hand in the findings.

They will be joined by Nicki Durbin, the mother of missing 19-year-old Luke Durbin, who was last seen in Ipswich in May 2006 after a night out with friends.

New law

Supporters of the charity Missing People and the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, Ann Coffey MP, will also be at Downing Street on Monday.

The event also coincides with an expected announcement that the Justice Select Committee is to launch an official inquiry into Presumption of Death legislation - the focus of one of the four sessions of last month's Parliamentary Inquiry.

Mr Lawrence hopes the inquiry will result in a new law allowing families to appoint a trustee to deal with the affairs of missing people 90 days after they disappear.

He said: "I am pleased that the prime minister is taking an interest in the 'missing rights' issue and hope that this will ensure something will soon be done to help those families who find themselves in difficulties."

Ms Coffey said: "The needs of this group of victims must be met and the government must listen to the voices of the families and professionals reflected in the recommendations within this report.

"None are particularly costly and yet, if implemented, would make all the difference in the world to the families."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-14178733

by Miraflores Mon 18 Jul 2011, 11:15 am

Presumption of Death legislation

Is this why Kate McCann appears to be distancing herself from this, after being so prominent a few weeks ago? Presumption of death = fund to 'search' for Madeleine would no longer have any purpose and would need to be wound up.