Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus *UPDATE* CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

by bristow 15.06.13 2:06

Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese police after they fail to make a breakthrough in six years

Home Secretary Theresa May has agreed to fund full-scale Met inquiry
Review identified 20 potential suspects and dozens of new leads
Portuguese authorities have refused to reopen the investigation

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by Nereid 15.06.13 3:13

Thanks Bristow.

Very interesting.

"British police do not have jurisdiction in Portugal but they have the right to investigate and prosecute any British suspects who might be linked to Madeleine’s disappearance."

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by Woofer 15.06.13 6:00

Usual rubbish about `shambolic Portuguese investigation` and the McCanns being `falsely accused`. So, they know for sure, do they, that the McCanns were falsely accused !!!! ???? Idiots.

by **PeterMac** 15.06.13 6:14

Nereid wrote:Very interesting.
"British police do not have jurisdiction in Portugal but they have the right to investigate and prosecute any British suspects who might be linked to Madeleine’s disappearance."

That is what I thought. Is this code for "We are now going to interview them again - on their own - properly."

by **tigger** 15.06.13 6:29

So was the publicity storm with the multitude of sightings a lead-in to soften up the British tax-payers for the next twenty years? (See! We already found several creepies, couple of soothers and an entirely new dead paedo who's encored in todays DM).

Or is it to prevent the rest of the files ever to come into the public domain as the previous 60% or so did?

The tabloids must love it, it's going to recoup their losses on the pay-out to the McCanns in spades. Every now and then we'll get another suspect and flurry of interviews, SY on This Morning and why not on Woman's Hour?

It's hardly news that SY can investigate this case - it was the British police who developed evidence against the McCanns initially anyway.

On the positive side, not a lot of motivation for the strapped British public to hit the DONATE! button. The good people of Britain have been generous enough and imo it's highly unlikely that SY is even going to investigate the Ltd. Co. which has given the McCanns such support, although quite how much has yet to be established, failing the promised transparent accounts which were promised. Personally, on record, by the McCanns themselves.

coffee

by **PeterMac** 15.06.13 7:02

20 Potential suspects
Tapas 9
Directors (not including above) 4
Retired Directors 5
Spokesperson 1
Alibi 1

by **PeterMac** 15.06.13 7:55

Only pro comments being allowed at the moment.

by Guest 15.06.13 8:18

Snipped from Mail:

He had been lobbied by Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann – who were falsely accused by Portuguese police of being behind her disappearance

This is the only reference to KM and GM no fawning over, no interesting comment's from them, is the Mail tring to say something without being sued

by Seek truth 15.06.13 8:25

Always mentioning shambolic but never saying what exactly the Portuguese police did wrong, they don't seem to know!

The case was the easiest because the WHOLE world got involved, which also means the portuguese had a tougher time receiving information from EVERYWHERE! The Algarve are full of Brits.

So if in those months the case was shambolic? What about the 2 years THEY THEMSELVES are taking?
I think they're trying to explain why £5m has been spent, lets blame the Portuguese!

RIDICULOUS

Makes you laugh.

by plebgate 15.06.13 8:34

Not sure what to think about this really.

How long and how much more is this going to cost the British taxpayer?

We are so used to white washes and things being kept secret it is hard to know how this will be handled.

If Maddie is still a ward of court, I doubt very much there will be much info. given about the investigation to the public and I don't think the papers will be given too much info. to report.

by Guest 15.06.13 8:41

PeterMac wrote:
Nereid wrote:Very interesting.
"British police do not have jurisdiction in Portugal but they have the right to investigate and prosecute any British suspects who might be linked to Madeleine’s disappearance."
That is what I thought. Is this code for "We are now going to interview them again - on their own - properly."

***
That's how I read it too.

by Cristobell 15.06.13 9:16

Ah well, at least extradition lawyers will not be able to prevent the mccanns and the tapas bunch being re-interviewed if it is done on home soil.

by rainbow-fairy 15.06.13 9:39

Cristobell wrote:
Ah well, at least extradition lawyers will not be able to prevent the mccanns and the tapas bunch being re-interviewed if it is done on home soil.

Well put Cristobell!
My heart sank when I first read this, thinking 'whitewash' - but it would seem any prosecutions would be anticipated to be British or else what is the point?

I'm undecided atm whether this 'could be it' (justice) or 'could be it' (end and whitewash).

IF it were good news, wouldn't Mr+Mrs be gushing how pleased they are, suggests its not.
When there was the flurry of articles (ie USA 'sighting') - it was asked is something going on?
Was this it??? thinking

Oh well..... prisoner

we can hope! At long last???

by **PeterMac** 15.06.13 9:43

Cristobell wrote:Ah well, at least extradition lawyers will not be able to prevent the mccanns and the tapas bunch being re-interviewed if it is done on home soil.

I am sure they will all be desperate to help in any way they can.
And will willingly answer not only all the questions put to them, fully and truthfully, but will volunteer any other information the police may not have focussed on, even if they are interviewed under caution I cannot imagine they would reserve their right to silence in such an important matter as recovering their eldest and best loved daughter . .
Can you ?

by **Tony Bennett** 15.06.13 9:50

Daily Mail:

But Met detectives insist their leads could, if properly investigated, result in new evidence and perhaps the case being solved.

Wow! What an absolutely sensational breakthrough! This most definitely means that another £5 million, or many times more than that, should be spent by the ~~Metropolitan Police~~ taxpayer.

by Google.Gaspar.Statements 15.06.13 9:53

It's about time Amaral said something. He's been quiet for too long.

by suzyjohnson 15.06.13 10:05

Logically it just isn't possible that the SY could have reviewed the case without noticing all the inconsistencies in the statements.

So they must have reported back to the government that there is a possibility the Tapas group know more than they are saying?

At this stage, having spent millions on a review (and with the McCann's collecting donations) I expect the government would want to know exactly what was going on.

It's really about time the police solved the case isn't it?

by rainbow-fairy 15.06.13 10:08

Tony Bennett wrote:Daily Mail:

But Met detectives insist their leads could, if properly investigated, result in new evidence and perhaps the case being solved.

Wow! What an absolutely sensational breakthrough! This most definitely means that another £5 million, or many times more than that, should be spent by the ~~Metropolitan Police~~ taxpayer.

Quite right Tony, I could win Euromillions if bought tickets, doesn't mean its likely though thumbup

by **Tony Bennett** 15.06.13 10:23

rainbow-fairy wrote:
Tony Bennett wrote:Daily Mail:

But Met detectives insist their leads could, if properly investigated, result in new evidence and perhaps the case being solved.

Wow! What an absolutely sensational breakthrough! This most definitely means that another £5 million, or many times more than that, should be spent by the ~~Metropolitan Police~~ taxpayer.
Quite right Tony, I could win Euromillions if bought tickets, doesn't mean its likely though

REPLY: But...perhaps...you might? Is it worth a try?

by stumo 15.06.13 10:35

Is this yet another way in which the UK government will be able to easily influence the outcome (towards a total whitwash)????

by Guest 15.06.13 10:41

Is this why they didn't return for a re construction and a ploy they have used for years?

'Tapas Seven demanded private jet and 5-star hotels to return to Portugal for Maddie reconstruction,' Portuguese police claim
Last updated at 22:27 11 April 2008

A planned reconstruction of the night Madeleine McCann vanished has been hampered by extravagant demands by the McCanns' friends, police are said to have claimed yesterday.
Portuguese officers have asked Kate and Gerry McCann and the so-called Tapas Seven to return to the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz for a re-enactment of the events of May 3 last year

The couple are considering the request, but police allegedly said their friends demanded private jet travel and five-star hotel accommodation.
A source is said to have told the Portuguese tabloid newspaper 24 Horas: 'The demands they make to return are impossible to entertain.
'One of the couples demanded a private jet to travel with their children to the Algarve. Another demanded they be put up in a five-star hotel.
'The demands they all made demonstrate a clear strategy by lawyers. The only thing missing from the list was a request that we send them to the Moon on skates

The McCanns, their seven friends, their spokesman Clarence Mitchell, his predecessor and two other holiday friends were all asked to return for the reconstruction, the newspaper reported

The Tapas Seven are university friends Matthew Oldfield, Russell O'Brien, David and Fiona Payne, plus Mr Oldfield's wife Rachael, Mr O'Brien's partner Jane Tanner and Mrs Payne's mother Dianne Webster.
All have been re-interviewed by British police this week - at the request of their Portuguese counterparts - about their accounts of the night of May 3.
Portuguese police were said to be suspicious about a series of alleged contradictions and inconsistencies in their witness statements.
Senior police chief Guilhermino Encarnacao confirmed that some of the witnesses - who also included a man who played tennis against Mr McCann and TV producer Jeremy Wilkins, who saw Mr McCann on the might of May 3 - had imposed certain conditions on their return to Portugal.
But he told 24 Horas: 'The reconstruction is important but it's not crucial to the investigations.

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by **PeterMac** 15.06.13 10:44

Tony Bennett wrote:Daily Mail:

But Met detectives insist their leads could, if properly investigated, result in new evidence and perhaps the case being solved.

Wow! What an absolutely sensational breakthrough! This most definitely means that another £5 million, or many times more than that, should be spent by the ~~Metropolitan Police~~ taxpayer.

But look again at the wording.
SOLVED - NOT Madeleine being recovered, unharmed, and returned to her loving parents.
Case SOLVED- That means a conviction, in police terminology. You don't "solve" a missing child - you find it.

by cass7 15.06.13 10:58

so to rubbish portugal police - they are infact rubbishing - their own too - wasnt it the uk that said look at gerry kate and the tapas crew - wasnt it the uk that brought in south yorkshires finest - eddie and keela and mr grimes ? - ok they want to take over - well they could start with looking at the last possible sighting of madeline being alive - and by whom - its was him it was her - i looked - no i only looked and listerned - ans what about the neglect issues ? i mean mr swathy manages to enter the appartment and nobody saw him - not one child woke up - including madeleine - and all in the space of a few mins between checks - hews fast aint he -- and no dna found - not one finger print - and as for the jemmied shutters i rest my case me lord - yep start at the very begging every one hauled in together answer questions put to them about their movements during all the holiday - nothing less is a whitewash

by loopzdaloop 15.06.13 11:21

I'm a bit sick of seeing people complain about the cost of this investigation.
How much do people think it should cost? It's cost a similar amount for the police to stand watch outside the embassy that Julian Assange is holed up in, so therefore as they have been doing something active it is actually good value for money.

Either way you look at this, this is one of the biggest crimes to of happened in this country.
It is certainly the most high profile crime. You should consider 'taxpayers' money an insurance policy, in that should anything happen to any of you of a similar magnitude, you should expect the police to throw all their resources at it.

I'm particularly surprised at Mr Tony Bennett commenting upon the cost considering part of his defence previously was about the 'inequality of arms'. Thankfully in this country, it does not matter how much money, power or connections you have, the police will be supported to carry out investigations in the manner that they see fit.

I agree with Petermac and see this a positive development. Everyone here should stop being distracted by the way things are worded and need to start reading between the lines at what this actually means.

What are the police actually saying by this, what powers does this give the police and what are the differences in how they can act than they could not previously?

People getting distracted by words such as 'shambolic' written by a 'journalist' of dubious repute (as evidenced by writing in the mail) is a complete and utter red herring. Are we not all 'citizen journalists' now anyway?

by Guest 15.06.13 11:29

BBC have it as breaking news........

15 June 2013 Last updated at 11:18

Met police to take on McCann probe

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Investigation into disappearance of Madeleine McCann to be taken on by UK police, after funding deal agreed

More to follow.

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by Nereid 15.06.13 11:31

Call me naïve, but couldn't Scotland Yard just close the review and say it was inconclusive if they wanted a whitewash? In my opinion they have already wasted way too much money on this case when there are other missing people / crimes to be solved. Still don't know how they can justify it for one missing child. Unless of course they really want to find the real culprits. Will we get a break-down of SY costs?

I am so hopeful that the reason for an inquiry is because there won't be a whitewash. I just can't imagine them wasting millions more on a whitewash. But I guess I'm just living in cloud cuckoo land.

by cass7 15.06.13 11:39

and gerry and kate are being kept informed - to the uk public that says were not looking at them -- as if sy would be letting them know all their moves - 1st time they should know anything is when they knock on rothley towers to interview them again them and their buddies

by **Tony Bennett** 15.06.13 11:41

Loopzdaloop commented:

"I'm a bit sick of seeing people complain about the cost of this investigation. How much do people think it should cost? It's cost a similar amount for the police to stand watch outside the embassy that Julian Assange is holed up in, so therefore as they have been doing something active it is actually good value for money.

I'm particularly surprised at Mr Tony Bennett commenting upon the cost considering part of his defence previously was about the 'inequality of arms'. Thankfully in this country, it does not matter how much money, power or connections you have, the police will be supported to carry out investigations in the manner that they see fit.

Everyone here…needs to start reading between the lines at what this actually means.

What are the police actually saying by this?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Reply: We are all trying to read between the lines, but these lines are so impenetrable and vague that it’s hard for anyone to read between them, and it’s hardly surprising if people disagree.

I go not so much by what is said about the Scotland Yard Review Team, but by their own words and actions.

You ask: “What are the police actually saying by this?” Have you observed, loopzdaloop, that this is not a formal announcement by Scotland Yard, but yet another apparently significant announcement carefully and selectively leaked just to one mainstream media editor – a pattern we have seen repeated so often in this case for 6 years.

You also referred to the police ‘being supported to carry out investigations in the manner that they see fit’.

But that’s not what’s happened here, is it? The Metropolitan Police had no intention of carrying out a review of this case, until Rupert Murdoch’s CEO Rebekah Brooks (who was running a serialisation of the book ‘madeliene’ in one of their newspapers) threatened/persuaded the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with ‘a week of bad headlines about Theresa May, the Home Secretary, if he did not order the Met to carry out a review as demanded by the McCanns (and up to now Theresa May had refused, to the evidence frustration of the McCanns).

The £4.9 million or so that’s already been spent on this review had to be diverted (quite probably against the wishes of the police) from other parts of the police/Home Office budget.

Two years ago, I raised the issue of whether Scotland Yard was a suitable force to carry out this review, even if any review was ever likely to get anywhere:

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[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] on Sun Jul 17, 2011 4:57 pm

Considerations:

1. The Met failed to investigate 'phone hacking

2. Stephenson, and Assistant Commissioners Heyman and Yates accepted hospitality, dinners etc. from the Murdoch executives, at a time when they were investigating crimes by the NOTW

3. Hayman went on, after retiring, to receive large sums for writing in Murdoch papers

4. Stephenson appointed arrested NOTW executive Niall Wallis and paid him £1,000 a day for 'advice' and speech-writing - and didn't tell the Met Police Authority

5. The Met failed to investigate payments by NOTW to police for informtation after Rebekah Brooks admitted them to a Commons Select Committee

6. Stephenson accepted free care at Champneys, whose marketing company was owned by Niall Wallis [NOTW Executive]

7. Stephenson accepted directions from David Cameron and Theresa May to spend £3.5 million in a Madeleine McCann Review whose awowed intention was 'to support the family'

8. The announcement of the Scotland Yard Review was made by David Cameron in the Sun, who simultaneously published Dr Gerald McCann's letter asking for a Review

9. The Sun serialised Dr Kate McCann's book: 'madeleine'

by cass7 15.06.13 11:43

until we see someone from sy standing along side someone from portugal making a joint press statement - id think it was bull shit - nothing more - wonder what portugal make of this bbc - bull news ?

by sallypelt 15.06.13 11:50

The Blacksmith Bureau

Saturday, 15 June 2013

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"Under the plan, Yard detectives will seek the assistance of the Portuguese to carry out some inquiries on their behalf. British police do not have jurisdiction in Portugal but they have the right to investigate and prosecute any British suspects who might be linked to Madeleine’s disappearance."
As Goncalo Amaral has said repeatedly, the original investigation was "incomplete". The Attorney-General's department in the archiving summary detailed the ways in which it was incomplete. The common factor was that the British persons of interest were beyond reach. If the review, which we remind readers is a joint review, had led to the re-opening of the case in Portugal then the authorities there would be faced with exactly the same problem that they had then: no way of forcing those people back and insufficient evidence to seek European arrest warrants. That will not be the case if the Yard take over the inquiry. The only "persons of interest" to the investigation are the holiday group: the others are now dead.
Forget the forthcoming rumours that the Portuguese will be upset by the decision – that is a Scotland Yard steer and untrue. The fact is that the two countries have finally found a way to cut the Gordian knot. Everyone who wants the truth to come out, such as the parents of the child and their supporters, will welcome the news. Hooray!

Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

What was shambolic?

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Amelie McCann (aged 2): "Maddie's jammies!".

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

Re: Scotland Yard takes over the inquiry into Maddie's disappearance from Portuguese plus UPDATE CPS lawyers fly to Portugal

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