Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

by **sharonl** Thu 5 Sep - 4:13

THE QUESTION

The Home Secretary Theresa May has sent an official request to Lisbon for permission for Scotland Yard to begin a new investigation in Portugal into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

It follows the disclosure that the Met has identified 38 potential suspects - including 12 Britons - who are “of interest” because of their presence in Portugal when Madeleine vanished".

In relation to the above, please provide the following information:

1. The date the letter to the Portuguese was sent

2. To whom (name of department and person) the letter was sent (the article merely says it was sent 'to Lisbon'), and

3. The full text of the letter.”

THE ANSWER

The Home Secretary did not send the Letter of Request to Portugal.

The letter was sent by the Crown Prosecution Service.

However, the Home Office can confirm in answer to your questions that;

1) The letter was sent on 17 July 2013.

2) The letter was addressed to Magistrat Du Parquet, Procuradoria General de la Republica.

3) The letter itself is exempt from disclosure under sections 27(1)(a), 31(1)(a), and 31(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act.

The reasons why we have taken this decision are:

Section 27(1)(a) - International Relations

Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and any other State. It would be a breach of trust to publicly disclose details of ongoing negotiations between two countries.

Section 31(1)(a) – Law Enforcement

Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.

Section 31(1)(b) – Law Enforcement

Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders. This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting a complaint within two months to the address below:

Information Access Team
Home Office Ground Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
e-mail: info.access@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Matthew Maggs

by aiyoyo Thu 5 Sep - 4:25

Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

exalt

:

This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.

This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ? exalt

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 4:30

Hmmm, not even persons of interest, but SUSPECTS.......interesting. Thanks for posting sharonl thumbsup

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 4:31

aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?

Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts.

by Buildersbum Thu 5 Sep - 4:48

This is fantastic news...could we really believe that this really could be the start of justice for Madeleine Beth McCann

by aiyoyo Thu 5 Sep - 4:51

candyfloss wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?
Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts.

The conclusion of the libel trial in Portugal is a foregone one, I am almost 100% certain of it.
Press coverage of Amaral on the steps of Court with his victorious speech will be debris compared to the asteroid news of arrest of the several suspects !

by davel Thu 5 Sep - 5:05

aiyoyo wrote:
candyfloss wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?
Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts.
The conclusion of the libel trial in Portugal is a foregone one, I am almost 100% certain of it.
Press coverage of Amaral on the steps of Court with his victorious speech will be debris compared to the asteroid news of arrest of the several suspects !

Did you have the same feeling re the Tony bennet trial...I imagine you did

by Liz Eagles Thu 5 Sep - 5:29

davel wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:
candyfloss wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?
Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts.
The conclusion of the libel trial in Portugal is a foregone one, I am almost 100% certain of it.
Press coverage of Amaral on the steps of Court with his victorious speech will be debris compared to the asteroid news of arrest of the several suspects !

Did you have the same feeling re the Tony bennet trial...I imagine you did

What are your views on this information davel?

by aiyoyo Thu 5 Sep - 5:52

davel wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:
candyfloss wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?
Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts.
The conclusion of the libel trial in Portugal is a foregone one, I am almost 100% certain of it.
Press coverage of Amaral on the steps of Court with his victorious speech will be debris compared to the asteroid news of arrest of the several suspects !

Did you have the same feeling re the Tony bennet trial...I imagine you did

Hello Kevin.......! Did you not notice a dishonest lawyer stood in the way of Justice in that case?

In this case, did you also conveniently forget Isabel Duarte had to back down on the books she held onto tightly for dear life and look what happened ! It's a pretty damn good indication.

by davel Thu 5 Sep - 6:01

aiyoyo wrote:
davel wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:
candyfloss wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?
Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts.
The conclusion of the libel trial in Portugal is a foregone one, I am almost 100% certain of it.
Press coverage of Amaral on the steps of Court with his victorious speech will be debris compared to the asteroid news of arrest of the several suspects !

Did you have the same feeling re the Tony bennet trial...I imagine you did
Hello Kevin.......! Did you not notice a dishonest lawyer stood in the way of Justice in that case?

In this case, did you also conveniently forget Isabel Duarte had to back down on the books she held onto tightly for dear life and look what happened ! It's a pretty damn good indication.

I wonder why Amaral didn't ask for his assets to be released at the same time as the books. Probably because the question of libel had not been addressed. I think Amaral looks like a broken man who knows he is beaten.

by aiyoyo Thu 5 Sep - 6:11

Err...which two so and so were spotted with tears running down their tensed faces in the public recently ?
Broken in spirit maybe because he's victimised, but not quite the same as that odious pair scare shitless of the Police coming for them.....
Who's going to laugh at the steps of Court ? Not the absent pair, that is for SURE.

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 6:45

What if the real and only point of the investigation in Portugal is to take away attention from the lawsuit against Amaral. One strategic arrest on the day of the trial, and maybe another one if he wins on the day of the verdict?

A release of the suspect afterwards, but then the press will have forgotten the trial.

by Buildersbum Thu 5 Sep - 7:22

davel wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:
davel wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:
candyfloss wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?
Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts.
The conclusion of the libel trial in Portugal is a foregone one, I am almost 100% certain of it.
Press coverage of Amaral on the steps of Court with his victorious speech will be debris compared to the asteroid news of arrest of the several suspects !

Did you have the same feeling re the Tony bennet trial...I imagine you did
Hello Kevin.......! Did you not notice a dishonest lawyer stood in the way of Justice in that case?

In this case, did you also conveniently forget Isabel Duarte had to back down on the books she held onto tightly for dear life and look what happened ! It's a pretty damn good indication.
I wonder why Amaral didn't ask for his assets to be released at the same time as the books. Probably because the question of libel had not been addressed. I think Amaral looks like a broken man who knows he is beaten.

Yes wouldn't you and your friends love to believe that, if only it were true laughat

by Woofer Thu 5 Sep - 7:32

Davel - Goncalo isn`t beaten - he`s been ill - didn`t you realise?

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 7:37

I think that most people would not look their best if a pair of vicious hate-filled individuals, together with their influential friends, forced them out of their job and then tried to bankrupt them when they tried to put their side of the story over.

DaveL, could you at least make an effort to spell "Bennett" correctly?

by MissesWillYa Thu 5 Sep - 7:43

Woofer wrote:Davel - Goncalo isn`t beaten - he`s been ill - didn`t you realise?

I've seen a few posters reference Amaral's illness; can someone tell me what's wrong with him? I also saw a mention of his weight loss, is that related to illness? I'm sorry to hear he's been ill, poor guy.

Edited for punctuation.

by marconi Thu 5 Sep - 7:44

candyfloss wrote:
aiyoyo wrote:Thanks Sharonl for posting that.

:
This is an ongoing police investigation with several suspects at large.
This is music to the ears.....SEVERAL ?

Err...where is every body ? So quiet - No reaction at this news ? HELLO! !!!!!! Anyone home ?
Think it is the calm before the storm aiyoyo, the trial is looming, it will sure be busy when that starts. POLICIA JUDICIARIA AND SCOTLAND YARD!

by marconi Thu 5 Sep - 8:05

was I right or was I right?

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 8:09

Apologies - it may be too late in the day for me and all the flickering emoticons in your previous post have done my head in - but what is it you're asking if you're right about?

by marconi Thu 5 Sep - 8:13

I was right about the honesty of the Yard in the review and now in the investigation.

I Always believed it could not be a whitewash.

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 8:14

Time will tell.

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 8:48

A propos Dr. Gonçalo Amaral: little birds have whispered in my ear that he's doing just fine.

by MissesWillYa Thu 5 Sep - 9:06

Châtelaine wrote:A propos Dr. Gonçalo Amaral: little birds have whispered in my ear that he's doing just fine.

Good to know. roses

by lj Thu 5 Sep - 10:33

marconi wrote:I was right about the honesty of the Yard in the review and now in the investigation.

I Always believed it could not be a whitewash.

What make you think it is NOT a whitewash? The fact that an idiot at the home-office abusively uses the words suspects??

by Seek truth Thu 5 Sep - 15:48

lj wrote:
marconi wrote:I was right about the honesty of the Yard in the review and now in the investigation.

I Always believed it could not be a whitewash.
What make you think it is NOT a whitewash? The fact that an idiot at the home-office abusively uses the words suspects??

Oh Yes,
but a whitewash can not last forever, could end now. pray

by celtclogs Thu 5 Sep - 16:06

MissesWillYa wrote:
Châtelaine wrote:A propos Dr. Gonçalo Amaral: little birds have whispered in my ear that he's doing just fine.
Good to know.

I will second that:roses: thumbsup

by AndyB Thu 5 Sep - 17:17

Juulcy wrote:What if the real and only point of the investigation in Portugal is to take away attention from the lawsuit against Amaral. One strategic arrest on the day of the trial, and maybe another one if he wins on the day of the verdict?

A release of the suspect afterwards, but then the press will have forgotten the trial.

I doubt the press will cover the trial at all unless the McCanns win but as far as arrests are concerned; the met can't arrest anyone in Portugal, they can only ask the Portuguese to do it (via an extradition request ) and the impression I get is that the Portuguese aren't enthusiastic about the British investigation. As all the "persons of interest" are abroad Im not expecting the met to be making any arrests any time soon

by plebgate Thu 5 Sep - 17:22

I firmly believe that Rocky Amaral will win.

As for the advice not to turn up because of a possible media frenzy - NOTHING would stop me from going and looking the World in the eye, stand on the court steps and face a man who I believe had possibly damaged the search for my daugher. NOTHING would stop me, in a big media frenzy, from looking down the lens of the camera and pleading for the safe return of my daughter, especially as it has recently been reported that the police are looking for paedophiles.

As has been said before, we are all different, but that is what I would do, knowing that my daughter had suffered a terrifying ordeal.

For Maddie:roses: roses

by Guest Thu 5 Sep - 17:33

plebgate wrote:I firmly believe that Rocky Amaral will win.

As for the advice not to turn up because of a possible media frenzy - NOTHING would stop me from going and looking the World in the eye, stand on the court steps and face a man who I believe had possibly damaged the search for my daugher. NOTHING would stop me, in a big media frenzy, from looking down the lens of the camera and pleading for the safe return of my daughter, especially as it has recently been reported that the police are looking for paedophiles.

As has been said before, we are all different, but that is what I would do, knowing that my daughter had suffered a terrifying ordeal.

For Maddie:roses:

'Rocky' Amaral Mrs

Rocky getting strong...........

by Google.Gaspar.Statements Thu 5 Sep - 18:02

plebgate wrote:I firmly believe that Rocky Amaral will win.

As for the advice not to turn up because of a possible media frenzy - NOTHING would stop me from going and looking the World in the eye, stand on the court steps and face a man who I believe had possibly damaged the search for my daugher. NOTHING would stop me, in a big media frenzy, from looking down the lens of the camera and pleading for the safe return of my daughter, especially as it has recently been reported that the police are looking for paedophiles.

As has been said before, we are all different, but that is what I would do, knowing that my daughter had suffered a terrifying ordeal.

For Maddie:roses:

Quite.
But as we know, Maddie's parents do the exact opposite, time after time after time...

Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

Re: Home Office replies to a Freedom of Information Act request about the 'Letter to Portugal'

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