Carole Malone Article - New Clue Madness

THE PEOPLE - Paper Edition, with thanks to Jon at MCF forum.

29 APRIL 2012

NEW CLUE MADNESS

by CAROLE MALONE

I HOPE, with all my heart, that Madeleine McCann is alive
And I can see that last weeks claims that she might be by officers reviewing the evidence must be a huge comfort to Kate and Gerry McCann who have never give uo hope of finding her.

However, despite being told there really IS fresh hope I’m still at a loss to understand why the cops heading up review body, Operation Grange believe that to be the case.

I don’t expect them to give us specific details of what they’ve found. But every time he’s asked why he thinks Madeleine might still be alive, the man in charge, DCI Andy Redwood, dodges the question and comes out with stuff like: “We are currently developing material we believe represents genuinely new information.”

That isn’t just vague, it means absolutely nothing. As does his revelation that cops are looking at 195 new “investigative opportunities” .

If police do have 195 leads that surely means they’re a million miles away from knowing where Maddie is or even if she’s alive. In fact, that number of leads suggests there’s as much muddle and confusion around this case as there ever was and it could take years and many more millions of pounds to work through them.

And still, the result might be that Madeleine is never found.

There are 25 coppers working on Operation Grange, as many as there are chasing paedophiles in London and they’ve been reviewing evidence for 12 months and have travelled to Portugal seven times. But still, there’s nothing concrete. All we have is a photo-fit of how Madeleine might look now and quotes like: “The timeline of events suggests she was snatched by a criminal gang or a stranger.”

As opposed to what? Aliens?

I’m sorry but after 12 months, £2million and 28 officers working flat out we surely should know more than that?

We’re told there is “significant information” Madeleine is still alive and if that really is true the police must at least THINK they have something.

Because you can’t say you believe someone is alive without good reason or evidence to back it up. And if you have neither - you’re just guessing.

I just hope the officers on Operation Grange haven’t sanctioned this latest raft of “Madeleine” stories in order to justify their existence and the vast amount of taxpayers’ money that’s been spent. Or because, not having come up with any answers, they know questions will inevitably be asked.

Not least by Portugal’s Attorney General Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro who last week refused to re open the case: “unless there are credible new facts and not just hypotheses or speculation”. Yes five years ago Portuguese police spectacularly cocked up the hunt for Madeleine in the vital hours after her disappearance.

But even DCI Redwood admits there is now a “committed and dedicated” review team in Portugal working with them.

Yes I can see this review offers great solace to Kate and Gerry McCann, but I’m wondering how all the other parents of abducted children must feel knowing that their missing children aren’t important enough to warrant intervention from the PM or a 28-strong team of crack detectives working around the clock five years after their child’s disappearance. How devastated, how disappointed must they feel.

And just how long will this review go on? Of course Kate and Gerry want it to be indefinitely. But that’s not realistic nor is it fair to all those other parents of abducted children whose lives are every bit as tortured as the McCanns, yet who have no one looking for their lost babies.

There’s not a living soul who wouldn’t want to see Madeleine brought home safely but surely, there must come a time when we have to be realistic about the chances of finding her."

Jesus, that is by the far the most down to earth and realistic reporting - no bullock about it - she's dead!

Quite a shock to see that in a national newspaper, even if it is The People! Definitely suggests that the tide is slowly turning.

It has been a bad week but a bit of common sense at last.

Does anyone have a twitter account or email address for her please?

That is the best article I've seen. She desn't seem part of "the emporer's new clothes" group. How refreshing to read this by someone who hasn't been taken in by all the spin. Well said Carole Malone

Agreed - the most sensible thing we have seen written for a long time.

[quote Carole Malone]

Because you can’t say you believe someone is alive without good reason or evidence to back it up. And if you have neither - you’re just guessing

If you are looking at this whole exercise from a logical or investigative perspective, of course it doesn't make sense. However, if you see this for what it is - a media management exercise - then it makes absolute sense.

Ross wrote:If you are looking at this whole exercise from a logical or investigative perspective, of course it doesn't make sense. However, if you see this for what it is - a media management exercise - then it makes absolute sense.

Couldn't agree more.

At least she questioned stuff though. Although I did laugh, she questions the police as to what evidence they have M is alive, why they aren't providing more info after a year, why Redwood is evasive and in the next breath states the Portuguese police cocked the investigation up. And where does she get that idea I wonder!! Chuckle.

One of the very few grounded and fair-minded ever printed in a British paper on the subject of Madeleine McCann.



It is true that the tabloids can surprise you sometimes, with their quality journalism.

monkey mind wrote:

Ross wrote:If you are looking at this whole exercise from a logical or investigative perspective, of course it doesn't make sense. However, if you see this for what it is - a media management exercise - then it makes absolute sense.

Couldn't agree more.

At least she questioned stuff though. Although I did laugh, she questions the police as to what evidence they have M is alive, why they aren't providing more info after a year, why Redwood is evasive and in the next breath states the Portuguese police cocked the investigation up. And where does she get that idea I wonder!! Chuckle.

Even tabloid journalists may be getting annoyed being told what to write. Perhaps here and there, they are slipping a few items in to see how they are received. Most people read the headlines and look at the pictures.

tigger wrote:Even tabloid journalists may be getting annoyed being told what to write. Perhaps here and there, they are slipping a few items in to see how they are received. Most people read the headlines and look at the pictures.

That's what I do. Then I read the comments and if the comments are good then I might read the article, but you can generally get a good idea what the article was about without having to read the journalists drivel, which is what it is most of the time these days.

In one sense the PJ did cock up the enquiry - when they did not take second statements from the T7 and then, crucially, when they let the McCs go home before interviewing them again, under caution, and separately, with no chance to compare notes in between.
That was not good. If one of my DI s had done that I would not have been pleased.
I suspect this is what Sr Amaral is now beating himself up about.
A golden opportunity, lost.
As my old DI used to say, "Fetch him in. And fetch his grandmother in"

Wouldve been the perfect article had it not been for the 'monumental Portuguese cock-up'. Yes, they made mistakes and I'm sure Amaral would be the first to admit that. Their biggest mistake was to give the McCanns grace they did not deserve - after all, stats prove the most likely culprit is close family/friend.
The T9 should've been separated immediately and questioned hard. I really believe the case wouldve been solved very quickly then, IMO.

But overall, closer to the mark - well done, Carole - hopefully more journo's will now follow her lead and 'grow a pair' as they say.. IMO

Can anyone tell me please why Kate Mc and David P were not interviewed a second time in May 07?

russiandoll wrote: Can anyone tell me please why Kate Mc and David P were not interviewed a second time in May 07?

Neither Fiona or David Payne were reinterviewed, It's anyone's guess why not.

IIRC Kate Mccann wasn't reinterviewed in May as it was felt she was too fragile at the time, I think this was in Mr Amaral's book, but don't quote me.

Some of the second interviews done bring up all sorts of anomalies, e.g. Matt Oldfield saw Madeleine, the twins and Kate watching the mens' tennis that lateThursday afternoon, whereas we are told elsewhere they were in flat 5a after leaving their high tea at 5.30pm. It goes on and on.

friedtomatoes wrote:

THE PEOPLE - Paper Edition, with thanks to Jon at MCF forum.

29 APRIL 2012

NEW CLUE MADNESS

by CAROLE MALONE
snipped

Not least by Portugal’s Attorney General Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro who last week refused to re open the case: “unless there are credible new facts and not just hypotheses or speculation”. Yes five years ago Portuguese police spectacularly cocked up the hunt for Madeleine in the vital hours after her disappearance.

snipped

Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro is reported to have said on Thursday that they had received no official request (from the SY) to reopen the case. He then went on to say that there were no facts that would justify reopening of the case. Only when there are new and credible facts emerge they would be able to resume the process. Hypotheses are not enough.

The majority of the British media appear to have ignored the first part of his statement.

Interesting this a thread I started some time ago............


[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]



13-Processos Volume XIII, Pages 3909-3915
Document missing from DVD: Processo Volume XIII, Page 3909.

In a memorandum dated 24 October 2007 (Processo Volume XIII, Page 3909) reference is made to a document written by Dr David Payne which document had been read carefully by British Detective Constable Mike Marshall, the author of the memorandum.
The document written by Dr Payne is not in the DVD.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Ribisl wrote:

friedtomatoes wrote:

THE PEOPLE - Paper Edition, with thanks to Jon at MCF forum.

29 APRIL 2012

NEW CLUE MADNESS

by CAROLE MALONE
snipped

Not least by Portugal’s Attorney General Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro who last week refused to re open the case: “unless there are credible new facts and not just hypotheses or speculation”. Yes five years ago Portuguese police spectacularly cocked up the hunt for Madeleine in the vital hours after her disappearance.

snipped

Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro is reported to have said on Thursday that they had received no official request (from the SY) to reopen the case. He then went on to say that there were no facts that would justify reopening of the case. Only when there are new and credible facts emerge they would be able to resume the process. Hypotheses are not enough.

The majority of the British media appear to have ignored the first part of his statement.

It does make you wonder then how Mr Redwood is reconciling the 195 fresh investigative opportunities with the wish/goal to have the case reopened. There is a missing link here.

I am an eternal optimist, but even optimists can get cynical. It is down to who holds the power here. Still, one can hope this case WILL be solved. If Madeleine is with some rich family being kept out of the world or if she is lying at the bottom of the ocean, someone surely has the cahones to do something about it.

This all ties in with the notion that SY are doing a whitewash. Think about it. The PJ need new information to re-open the case - and it IS their case. SY claim to have 195 leads - how you interpret that is of course dependent on said leads BUT if they are seriously promoting the fact that they have confidence that these leads are worth following (and that is a fair extrapolation since SY were the ones that mentioned 195 leads and why mention them unless they felt they would lead somewehre...) then surely these leads, even though they stem from the files, could be interpreted as suitable new information to allow the PJ to reopen the case (and let's overlook that the McCanns asking for it to be reopened and committing to a reconstruction would be the easiest way to get it reopened) so why isn't there that collaboration? Because...SY HAVE to control the review. As soon as the PJ reopen the case then they call the shots. At the moment the ball is in SY's court, they have the ear of the media in the UK and therefore can dictate the focus of the general public.

Add all this together and, in my opinion, SY are there to create a plausible scenario using what is in the files to create a whitewash. The PJ know this to some extent (hence Amaral's comments that the PJ refused to cooperate if the abduction theory was to be the sole focus) and won't go along with it. SY know they can't get the PJ to reopen as that blows the lid off everything. And at a year to only have dealt with 25% of the paperwork by the time SY are finished the public will probably have lost all interest in the case and it will disappear quietly with a loose theory to tick most boxes.

What I find a bit surprising is SY have only managed to go through 25% of the files in 1 year with 30 odd officers.

The PJ mostly worked on the case for ~7 months and later did the rogatory interviews. Does anyone know how many officers worked on the case in Portugal?

Sorry Nina, that has gone right over my head! What do you mean?

This is an interesting development not just because of the article itself but because all the People's 'people' including lawyers etc will have had to support its publication in the face of all super injunctions and other pressure.

TheTruthWillOut wrote:What I find a bit surprising is SY have only managed to go through 25% of the files in 1 year with 30 odd officers.

The PJ mostly worked on the case for ~7 months and later did the rogatory interviews. Does anyone know how many officers worked on the case in Portugal?

I thought they shelved the case in July/August 2008. Around 15 months later, and released the files.

PeterMac wrote:In one sense the PJ did cock up the enquiry - when they did not take second statements from the T7 and then, crucially, when they let the McCs go home before interviewing them again, under caution, and separately, with no chance to compare notes in between.
That was not good. If one of my DI s had done that I would not have been pleased.
I suspect this is what Sr Amaral is now beating himself up about.
A golden opportunity, lost.
As my old DI used to say, "Fetch him in. And fetch his grandmother in"

In only one sense PeterMac? You must know it was worse than that.

PJ keeping the parents informed of operations, until enlightened by LP.

Given warning to appear for interview the previous night instead of a swoop to two separate police stations.

Allowed phones and texting out of the police station. .... I'm sure there are many more.

Had it been handled as here in the UK, we would all be talking about something else by now.

Amaral had at that time, his mind on many other things. He's changed and has become a sober citizen no doubt, but he feels bitter that he missed out. He is unlikely to get a second bite of the cherry, but although the Mc's are still a thorn in his side, I think he's become a better man for it, and thank God he's removed the ridiculous earring.

Spaniel wrote:

PeterMac wrote:In one sense the PJ did cock up the enquiry - when they did not take second statements from the T7 and then, crucially, when they let the McCs go home before interviewing them again, under caution, and separately, with no chance to compare notes in between.
That was not good. If one of my DI s had done that I would not have been pleased.
I suspect this is what Sr Amaral is now beating himself up about.
A golden opportunity, lost.
As my old DI used to say, "Fetch him in. And fetch his grandmother in"

In only one sense PeterMac? You must know it was worse than that.

PJ keeping the parents informed of operations, until enlightened by LP.

Given warning to appear for interview the previous night instead of a swoop to two separate police stations.

Allowed phones and texting out of the police station. .... I'm sure there are many more.

Had it been handled as here in the UK, we would all be talking about something else by now.

Amaral had at that time, his mind on many other things. He's changed and has become a sober citizen no doubt, but he feels bitter that he missed out. He is unlikely to get a second bite of the cherry, but although the Mc's are still a thorn in his side, I think he's become a better man for it, and thank God he's removed the ridiculous earring.

Spaniel, I don't think people who go for interviews voluntarily are stripped of their belongings ie phones etc. I don't think they would be as arguidos either, which they weren't till the day after. The texting came the day before I think when KM wasn't an arguida, and was answering questions. I don't they do that in this country either, it is only when you are formally arrested and charged with something to go into a cell that you get stripped of your posessions. I think.

candyfloss wrote:

TheTruthWillOut wrote:What I find a bit surprising is SY have only managed to go through 25% of the files in 1 year with 30 odd officers.

The PJ mostly worked on the case for ~7 months and later did the rogatory interviews. Does anyone know how many officers worked on the case in Portugal?

I thought they shelved the case in July/August 2008. Around 15 months later, and released the files.

Yes Candyfloss I'm sure that's right, but am assuming (I know I shouldn't!) that preparing the files for publication would take a good amount of time in itself. I'm probably wrong but I wouldn't have thought the detectives would be the ones to compile all the paperwork to be released?


What I am suggesting, I guess, is after the McCanns left Portugal the amount of PJ officers working the case would have been reduced considerably and when the files were ready and the case shelved, any remaining would be reassigned?

Anyway I guess it doesn't really matter because I suspect the 25% figure was most likely pulled out of thin air.