January 2008

January 2008
3/1
Gerry returns to work
Gerry McCann returns to full-time work today
The McCanns hire a new detective
It emerged today the McCanns have hired a detective who investigated a 7/7 suicide bomber. Noel Hogan is conducting a "cold case" review.

Irish family's Maddie quiz The Sun
PRIVATE detectives hunting for Madeleine McCann are to quiz an Irish family who may have been the last to see her alive.
 
7/1
Claims that blood traces were definitely Madeleine's
It is claimed that blood traces discovered in Kate and Gerry McCann's hire car were from Madeleine. A Portuguese newspaper alleges that tests conducted at the FSS in Birmingham show conclusively that the blood is that of the four-year-old.
O'Brien and Tanner named as two who wanted to change story
Dr Russell O'Brien and his partner Jane Tanner are named as the two friends reported last year to have told police they wanted to change their account of that evening.Police were said to believe Dr O'Brien, 36, wanted to change his statement to claim he also saw the man.

8/1Madeleine: The Movie
It is reported that Kate and Gerry McCann are in talks to turn the story of their missing daughter Madeleine into a movie. They are negotiating with one of the world’s largest talent and entertainment agencies, IMG.

9/1Madeleine's Fund running out of money?
It is reported that the search by Gerry and Kate McCann for their missing daughter may be grinding to a halt by the first anniversary of her disappearance because the Find Madeleine fund is running out of money. 10/1Vanity Fair interview published
 
The McCanns' interview with Vanity Fair magazine is published.

12/1Portuguese lawyer makes claims on Maddie's disappearance
Madeleine McCann was raped, murdered and her body dumped in a remote reservoir within 48 hours of her disappearance, a Portuguese lawyer has claimed.

17/1Concern mounts over delay by British authorities
Concern is mounting in Portugal over the time British authorities are taking to respond to official requests ----Secretary of State for the Interior, Jacqui Smith, had decided not to grant them an immediate response.

26/1
McCanns in talks for £1million chat show deal.
The parents of Madeleine McCann are in talks to strike a £1million deal with two of America's biggest chat show stars.It is reported that Kate and Gerry McCann are holding talks with broadcasters about a second TV documentary on their daughter's disappearance, a spokesman for the couple said on Saturday. The couple would request a ''donation'' to the Find Madeleine appeal fund in exchange for their involvement.

27/1
McCanns say Murat not kidnapper.

28/1
Madeleine McCann: Oprah 'Bidding War' Is Played Down Sky News.

Kate and Gerry McCann have been approached to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show and for an interview with American network ABC.
The couple's spokesman confirmed that they had been approached by US TV executives.
 
29/1
Police say McCanns hindering investigation
Police in Portugal claim Kate and Gerry McCann are hindering the probe into missing Madeleine by releasing sketches of the possible kidnapper.

30/1
McCanns warn over libel action
 Madeleine McCann's parents have not ruled out suing newspapers and websites that they believe have libelled them.

31/1
McCanns 'not suspects in UK' according to Clarence Mitchell
British police do not consider Madeleine McCann's parents suspects in her disappearance, according to the couple's spokesman.

Card from Madeleine at McCann twins party Telegraph 
Gerry and Kate McCann will throw a birthday party for their twins tomorrow - complete with a card from their missing four-year-old daughter, Sean and Amelie McCann will open a special present from their big sister.'

The newly designed web site for the Help to Find Madeleine Campaign has been launched today.

Just found an updated version of the news item of the 8th (and 26th.) Re the film contract. Still interesting.
With thanks to MM 2010.

Kate and Gerry 'plan £2m film deal' as Madeleine Fund dwindles Daily Mail
By VANESSA ALLEN
Last updated at 09:06 09 January 2008

Extract (Third re-write of this article and the current online version):

Mr Mitchell said a book deal was also being considered "at some point down the line". He confirmed reports that one of the directors of the fund, former GMTV presenter Esther McVey, had resigned from the board, but denied it was because of any rift with the McCanns.

He said she wanted to concentrate on her role as a Conservative parliamentary candidate and was also about to start studying for a demanding MBA qualification.

(The first version of this article, which appeared on 08 January 2008, was very brief and simply said:
The film project will be discussed at a meeting of the fund's directors, including Gerry, tomorrow night at the McCanns' home in Rothley, Leicestershire...)

The meeting tomorrow follows the resignation of key board members, including the fund's spokeswoman Esther McVey.

The second version, later that day of 08 January 2008, contained more information and a quote from Clarence Mitchell. This was later removed and rewritten into the article that now appears online, as above. But why were this section and Mr Mitchell's quote removed?:

Clarence Mitchell later confirmed the reports that Esther McVey had resigned from the board but denied it was because of any rift with the McCanns. He said she wanted to concentrate on her role as a Conservative parliamentary candidate and was also about to start studying for a demanding MBA qualification.

"She has a lot of commitments and realised she could not devote the time she wanted to the fund," he said. "She felt the New Year would be a good time for the change, and spoke to Kate about her decision. Kate and Gerry were disappointed but they both understood her reasons. She is an old friend of Kate's and continues to support the fund."

Mr Mitchell said other directors might also want to "rotate" their position on the board, as it had created a lot more work than was originally anticipated in May.

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

snipped from Tigger's post:

"
7/1
Claims that blood traces were definitely Madeleine's
It
is claimed that blood traces discovered in Kate and Gerry McCann's hire
car were from Madeleine. A Portuguese newspaper alleges that tests
conducted at the FSS in Birmingham show conclusively that the blood is
that of the four-year-old.
O'Brien and Tanner named as two who wanted to change story
Dr
Russell O'Brien and his partner Jane Tanner are named as the two
friends reported last year to have told police they wanted to change
their account of that evening.Police were said to believe Dr O'Brien, 36, wanted to change his statement to claim he also saw the man."

I do not recall ever reading that before. 8 months later the police believed he wanted to change his statment to claim he also saw the man. eh?
------
Admin note: I have deleted two 'off topic' posts on this thread.

I was thinking about this sentence again
".Police were said to believe Dr O'Brien, 36, wanted to change his statement to claim he also saw the man."

Another Eh from me because I really do find it hard to believe that 8 months on someone would think to do it.

plebgate wrote:I was thinking about this sentence again
".Police were said to believe Dr O'Brien, 36, wanted to change his statement to claim he also saw the man."

Another Eh from me because I really do find it hard to believe that 8 months on someone would think to do it.

A number of things changed after Rothley. The rogatories were coming up - they had no idea exactly when. Then there's this snippet from the press on about the 14th May 2007:

The McCanns were among around ten British people who have been re-interviewed by police in recent days to clarify their statements.
(I thought it was just Gerry on the 10th May - when he changed a number of things in his statement. But why no statement from Kate?).

This week some of the witnesses are expected to appear in court behind closed doors to record their evidence before they go back to the UK.
The McCanns themselves are not expected to be asked to take part.
The procedure, known as "memory for the future", means taped statements can be shown during a future trial so the witnesses do not have to return to appear in court.
unquote

I take it that the constantly changing storyline had to be shored up by a few more witnesses whose memory had improved over the course of time.
However, there's the 'memory for the future' which cannot be changed and is admissible in court. So a sudden recollection would be better than contradicting statements?

Yes thanks for that Tigger. I think you are right there in your thinking. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]