"Digging" with a helicopter (continued from 'digging at resort')

whatliesbehindthesofa wrote:

ChippyM wrote:

 Oh ok, I feel reassured now   .

     Maybe they are planning and organising.

Or they could be going back to arrest some people while the Portuguese make an announcement.

This is totally WISHFUL THINKING on my part ;-)

I thought they were probably going home for the weekend, but your way of thinking is much better!

Cristobell wrote:

whatliesbehindthesofa wrote:

ChippyM wrote:

 Oh ok, I feel reassured now   .

     Maybe they are planning and organising.

Or they could be going back to arrest some people while the Portuguese make an announcement.

This is totally WISHFUL THINKING on my part ;-)

I thought they were probably going home for the weekend, but your way of thinking is much better!

I think your way of thinking is much more likely though :)

PeterMac wrote:"Digging" thread now at 100 pages, so starting another one - (if that is OK admin.)
Military helicopters are not just hired by the hour on the spur of the moment, like catamarans on the beach
ergo
this little jolly has been planned for a long time,
the PJ have had full knowledge of exactly what SY wanted to do - and by implication have approved it
The whole thing has been approved at VERY high level.
By which I mean Government - Ministry of Defence after consultation with the "Home Office" = Ministry of the Interior equivalent

ergo
Someone must have spelled out
Exactly WHAT they wanted to look for
Exactly WHERE they wanted to look
Exactly WHY
Exactly WHO
and so on.

And this must have been agreed as a viable and useful thing to do.
By the entire Chain of Command

They are clearly NOT looking for freshly turned soil, nor are they looking for a little girl in a pink hat
So what are they looking for that they could not see on a decent map or aerial photograph.

Suggestions ?

Totally agree.
Exactly my lines of thoughts too.
The costs of this expensive excavation - logistics and equipment (helicopter, radar, dogs etc) will be borne by the British authorities I'd imagine.
No matter the costs, be thankful they're not looking all over the world  - Leh, Australia, Morrocco etc -  for an illusive abductor, but bringing the focus back into PDL, which has great significance IMO.
This is 2007 deja vu again with the media printing from guess works, and the Mccanns are pissed by it as expressed on their FM website.
Only their official lines of tripe are allowed in prints.
When media filters through factual reports that drew negative attention onto them they're not pleased about it. I suspect they prefer the media not to report about the digs.

The sites reported in the media I would ignore.
Aerial viewing can cover a wider area in short space of time.
It's reported they are looking at beach areas.
Left-behind objects would have been swept away to sea unless they're looking for possible left behind objects on land too.

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

Kate looks very worried in this video (the worst I've ever seen her look ) and Gerry's lost his smirk !!!

jozi wrote:

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

Kate looks very worried in this video (the worst I've ever seen her look ) and Gerry's lost his smirk !!!

Think I caught sight of a slight smirk at the end…he just couldnt help himself.

So what are they looking for that they could not see on a decent map or aerial photograph.
Suggestions ?

I was hoping that you would tell us that, PeterMac!

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9 May 2014 | Posted by  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]



PJ about to discard English Police strongest lead that a predator of English girls has abducted Madeleine.
Scotland Yard has asked for aerial photos of places in Praia da Luz and wishes to question eight “persons of interest”

by Marisa Rodrigues

The Judiciary Police (PJ) is about to discard the lead that has resulted in the reopening of the process in Portugal and that is Scotland Yard's main line of investigation. So far, there isn't any evidence to support the hypothesis that Madeleine was abducted by a sexual predator who attacked English children in the Algarve.

This is the firmly held position of the team of inspectors from the North Directorate of the PJ who has reviewed the investigation process that was archived in 2008.

After naming as probable suspect the late Euclides Monteiro, a former Ocean Club employee, the Portuguese investigators now believe that the intruder, in the cases that were reported to the authorities, could be British and that he does not reside in Portugal, since there were no new reports and those that were disclosed [see [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]] only target children of that nationality. “A sex abuser is someone who acts compulsively. If he only acted in the summer and has never attacked again it's because he does not live here”, explained a source close to the process.

Yesterday, the day was marked by an aerial photo-reconnaissance in Praia da Luz of the areas where searches and excavations are planned using a helicopter of the Portuguese Air Force paid by the British authorities, and by a meeting between the police forces of the two countries the PJ headquarters in Faro.

One of the places where Scotland Yard wants to use the sniffer dogs and the georadar is on the 25 de Abril street, in the vicinity of the Ocean Club and by the church. The area, which the helicopter overflew three times, was undergoing construction works when Madeleine disappeared, seven years ago. If anything suspicious is detected, they will excavate.

Besides the searches, which were already allowed by the Public Prosecutor of Portimão, the letters rogatory also request for eight people to be questioned. Some used to work at the Ocean Club resort whilst are not linked in any way.

ongoing

in Jornal de Notícias, paper edition (page 13), May 9, 2014

Foreign Office 'confirms' British 'team' arrives in Nigeria to help find 'abducted' girls,

Foreign Office, Secretary of State, William Vague, would not confirm, or deny, that the 'team' was being led by the Met's DCI 'Goodluck' Redwood., who left Portugal earlier this morning.

"all i can tell you is that the 38 strong 'team' is being led by the UK's most 'experienced, 'abduction case' officer' he said.

"Given his tremendous success rate, in solving high profile 'abduction' cases, abroad, he is confident that he and his 'elite' team will bring about a swift conclusion and arrest the perpetrators of this 'abduction'

"he has already indentified 79,000 'suspects and persons of interest' and predicts arrests will be 'imminent', within 24 hours but possibly up to 3 years, IF the 'suspects' do not move from where they are, right now" he added.

A sauce added "this Nigerian operation will have access to 'unlimited' UK taxpayers 'funding' on a par with the single child 'abduction' case of Madeleine McCann, in Portugal"

A spokesman for the 'elite' team said "I cannot comment, because you haven't paid me, for operational reasons".

I'm catching up with this thread but noticed Canada12 mentioning satellite photographs. It was the first thought I had.

I hope I'm not duplicating anyone's posts, but I remember reading way back that American authorities (possibly CIA) were approached for satellite images of the area, but were refused on the grounds of national security (AFAIK). The US may well have provided this information now, thanks to inter-governmental agreement, plus some current images (given at the exact time of year) to form a comparitor. From this info the helicopter may be using advanced technology to detect certain ground changes; say of the light reflecting type from foliage that might indicate cadaver burial.

KellyLennon wrote:

jozi wrote:

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

Kate looks very worried in this video (the worst I've ever seen her look ) and Gerry's lost his smirk !!!

Think I caught sight of a slight smirk at the end…he just couldnt help himself.

Yes, I did too, where he said something like 'there are still things that haven't been investigated'....

Dutchgirl wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
9 May 2014 | Posted by  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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

PJ about to discard English Police strongest lead that a predator of English girls has abducted Madeleine.
Scotland Yard has asked for aerial photos of places in Praia da Luz and wishes to question eight “persons of interest”

by Marisa Rodrigues

The Judiciary Police (PJ) is about to discard the lead that has resulted in the reopening of the process in Portugal and that is Scotland Yard's main line of investigation. So far, there isn't any evidence to support the hypothesis that Madeleine was abducted by a sexual predator who attacked English children in the Algarve.

This is the firmly held position of the team of inspectors from the North Directorate of the PJ who has reviewed the investigation process that was archived in 2008.

After naming as probable suspect the late Euclides Monteiro, a former Ocean Club employee, the Portuguese investigators now believe that the intruder, in the cases that were reported to the authorities, could be British and that he does not reside in Portugal, since there were no new reports and those that were disclosed [see [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]] only target children of that nationality. “A sex abuser is someone who acts compulsively. If he only acted in the summer and has never attacked again it's because he does not live here”, explained a source close to the process.

Yesterday, the day was marked by an aerial photo-reconnaissance in Praia da Luz of the areas where searches and excavations are planned using a helicopter of the Portuguese Air Force paid by the British authorities, and by a meeting between the police forces of the two countries the PJ headquarters in Faro.

One of the places where Scotland Yard wants to use the sniffer dogs and the georadar is on the 25 de Abril street, in the vicinity of the Ocean Club and by the church. The area, which the helicopter overflew three times, was undergoing construction works when Madeleine disappeared, seven years ago. If anything suspicious is detected, they will excavate.

Besides the searches, which were already allowed by the Public Prosecutor of Portimão, the letters rogatory also request for eight people to be questioned. Some used to work at the Ocean Club resort whilst are not linked in any way.

ongoing

in Jornal de Notícias, paper edition (page 13), May 9, 2014

So the PJ are going to dismiss the hypothesis that Maddie was snatched by a sexual predator who attacked British White girls in the Algarve, but the planned excavations are going ahead.   hmmmm.   There was an article today by a former head cop who said that in all probability a body was being searched for.

No sex predator abduction, excavations going ahead possibly/probably for a body.    WOW???????  is all I can think.

"TAXI for Kate"?

"frustrating", "fuming", "furious", "working together is the key" "distressing", "slowness", "paralysed", "sadness", "disbelief", "unease", "frustration", "unneccessary delays and barriers", "pain" "knocked back" "don't understand" "given no reason" "resistance to joint investigation" "dosen't make sense"

Mrs McCann said  "As a parent, I find the slowness of action in Portugal really hard to take. I find it quite distressing," she said.

ALL 'words' uttered by KM during the last 8 days.

HOWEVER, she 'conveniently' forgets to mention, to her 'supporters', ANY of the following, on her FB page:

25 February 2010
GA – The child’s parents talk about pseudo leads, that are always related to the abduction theory. I remind you that they “demanded” the archiving of the process, in 2008, when they were arguidos, merely to defend their image. They are not interested in the reopening of the process or of the investigation, where all hypotheses remain open, from a voluntary disappearance up to homicide, like the Public Ministry mentions in the archiving dispatch. They are only interested in the defence of their image.

Saturday, 29 May 2010
Madeleine McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry, have never requested the re-opening of the investigation into their daughter's disappearance.

Neither the McCanns nor their lawyers have asked for the re-opening of the case, was confirmed by the office of the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic, putting an end to speculation.

Despite its being three years since the little British girl was reported missing, her parents have at no time taken the necessary steps for the Portuguese authorities - those who hold jurisdiction - to carry on with the case.

10 May 2011
"To ask for the process to be reopened, all it would take is a letter to the Prosecutor, as it has already happened in so many other cases. It costs them nothing, just the stamp on the letter."

(The case had been archived and they could have asked to have it kept open, but didn't!")

Kate McCann, mother of the missing child added:

"whether the case is re-opened, or NOT, it DOSEN'T matter"

Lisbon, 23rd September, 2009.

P317, bewk. 'madeleine'.

"It may sound odd, but in some ways we were GLAD the investigation had been closed."

KM. 'ambassador' for 'missing' people.
........................................................................

Well yes, very ODD indeed, that the parents of a missing child would be GLAD that the investigation into their child's 'disappearance' had been closed.

I wonder if the relatives of other 'missing' people are also 'glad' that investigations, into their lost family members, are closed, just like their 'ambassador' states.

Qustion 49 by PJ: (to KM)  "Are you aware that the fact of your not answering the questions put to you jeopardise the investigation that is aimed at finding out what happened to your daughter,?"

She (KM) answered:

"Yes, if the investigation thinks that."

Question 50 by PJ: (to KM)  "Do you have anything to add?"

She (KM) said: "No."

I must say that I don't understand the obsession with the cost of the investigation. That amount of money over a period of years is peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

Dutchgirl wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
9 May 2014 | Posted by  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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

PJ about to discard English Police strongest lead that a predator of English girls has abducted Madeleine.
Scotland Yard has asked for aerial photos of places in Praia da Luz and wishes to question eight “persons of interest”

by Marisa Rodrigues

The Judiciary Police (PJ) is about to discard the lead that has resulted in the reopening of the process in Portugal and that is Scotland Yard's main line of investigation. So far, there isn't any evidence to support the hypothesis that Madeleine was abducted by a sexual predator who attacked English children in the Algarve.

This is the firmly held position of the team of inspectors from the North Directorate of the PJ who has reviewed the investigation process that was archived in 2008.

After naming as probable suspect the late Euclides Monteiro, a former Ocean Club employee, the Portuguese investigators now believe that the intruder, in the cases that were reported to the authorities, could be British and that he does not reside in Portugal, since there were no new reports and those that were disclosed [see [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]] only target children of that nationality. “A sex abuser is someone who acts compulsively. If he only acted in the summer and has never attacked again it's because he does not live here”, explained a source close to the process.

Yesterday, the day was marked by an aerial photo-reconnaissance in Praia da Luz of the areas where searches and excavations are planned using a helicopter of the Portuguese Air Force paid by the British authorities, and by a meeting between the police forces of the two countries the PJ headquarters in Faro.

One of the places where Scotland Yard wants to use the sniffer dogs and the georadar is on the 25 de Abril street, in the vicinity of the Ocean Club and by the church. The area, which the helicopter overflew three times, was undergoing construction works when Madeleine disappeared, seven years ago. If anything suspicious is detected, they will excavate.

Besides the searches, which were already allowed by the Public Prosecutor of Portimão, the letters rogatory also request for eight people to be questioned. Some used to work at the Ocean Club resort whilst are not linked in any way.

ongoing

in Jornal de Notícias, paper edition (page 13), May 9, 2014

Rua 25 de Abril is where Smithman was heading towards.

I believe they should be made to put whatever is left of the fund towards the investigation.   I am fed up saying it, because it will never happen.

If the cost is peanuts why not spend as much on Ben Needham's disappearance?   

Peanuts or not the British public are entitled to know exactly how the money was spent - to the last penny.

whatliesbehindthesofa wrote:I must say that I don't understand the obsession with the cost of the investigation.  That amount of money over a period of years is peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

I agree, wlbts, it is peanuts in the grand scheme of things. However.........

A big issue in many people's minds (looking at newspaper comments) is whether this money is financing a bona fida investigation or a sham. CW, a plethora of bogey men, dead paedos and instantaneous clearance of the McCanns and their friends have fed the sense that our money is being sprayed up the wall.

Another issue, again as evidenced on comments boards, is that of parity. The most commonly cited comparitor being Kerry Needham.

£8 million is a reckonable amount of money when expressed in those terms, I feel.

Woofer wrote:

Dutchgirl wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
9 May 2014 | Posted by  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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

PJ about to discard English Police strongest lead that a predator of English girls has abducted Madeleine.
Scotland Yard has asked for aerial photos of places in Praia da Luz and wishes to question eight “persons of interest”

by Marisa Rodrigues

The Judiciary Police (PJ) is about to discard the lead that has resulted in the reopening of the process in Portugal and that is Scotland Yard's main line of investigation. So far, there isn't any evidence to support the hypothesis that Madeleine was abducted by a sexual predator who attacked English children in the Algarve.

This is the firmly held position of the team of inspectors from the North Directorate of the PJ who has reviewed the investigation process that was archived in 2008.

After naming as probable suspect the late Euclides Monteiro, a former Ocean Club employee, the Portuguese investigators now believe that the intruder, in the cases that were reported to the authorities, could be British and that he does not reside in Portugal, since there were no new reports and those that were disclosed [see [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]] only target children of that nationality. “A sex abuser is someone who acts compulsively. If he only acted in the summer and has never attacked again it's because he does not live here”, explained a source close to the process.

Yesterday, the day was marked by an aerial photo-reconnaissance in Praia da Luz of the areas where searches and excavations are planned using a helicopter of the Portuguese Air Force paid by the British authorities, and by a meeting between the police forces of the two countries the PJ headquarters in Faro.

One of the places where Scotland Yard wants to use the sniffer dogs and the georadar is on the 25 de Abril street, in the vicinity of the Ocean Club and by the church. The area, which the helicopter overflew three times, was undergoing construction works when Madeleine disappeared, seven years ago. If anything suspicious is detected, they will excavate.

Besides the searches, which were already allowed by the Public Prosecutor of Portimão, the letters rogatory also request for eight people to be questioned. Some used to work at the Ocean Club resort whilst are not linked in any way.

ongoing

in Jornal de Notícias, paper edition (page 13), May 9, 2014

Rua 25 de Abril is where Smithman was heading towards.

This could be interesting.  But I heard it was searched after she disappeared?

I very much doubt somebody could simply fall into some road construction and then get buried unnoticed by workers.

However if the body was concealed even just under a very shallow coating of soil/rubble it could well be possible.  Saying that though the person would be taking a huge risk the body wouldn't be found.  Especially if the thought a search would be under way.

whatliesbehindthesofa wrote:I must say that I don't understand the obsession with the cost of the investigation.  That amount of money over a period of years is peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

I agree - according to the article I've posted a link to, in 2012 murder was thought to have cost the UK economy 1.3 billion. A quick search of a different website revealed that apparently in 2012 there were 550 murders. Now the figure of 1.3 billion in the article I think refers to all aspects of the crime, not just the costs of police investigation, but even so this means well over 1 million per murder (I think, although my maths is terrible). So while I think Madeleine's case has cost more than the average murder/abduction/missing person investigation, I don't think it's significantly more. Perhaps most of the extra cost comes from jolly jaunts over to Portugal and press conferences?

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Mirage wrote:

whatliesbehindthesofa wrote:I must say that I don't understand the obsession with the cost of the investigation.  That amount of money over a period of years is peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

I agree, wlbts, it is peanuts in the grand scheme of things. However.........

A big issue in many people's minds (looking at newspaper comments) is whether this money is financing a bona fida investigation or a sham. CW, a plethora of bogey men, dead paedos and instantaneous clearance of the McCanns and their friends have fed the sense that our money is being sprayed up the wall.

Another issue, again as evidenced on comments boards, is that of parity. The most commonly cited comparitor being Kerry Needham.

£8 million is a reckonable amount of money when expressed in those terms, I feel.

Yes indeed Mirage, I agree with your points. The main issue is whether this investigation is a sham or not. If it is revealed to be a sham, then quite rightly questions should be asked about the cost, and how and why it was a sham. If it turns out not to be a sham, I'll consider it money well spent.

Pershing36 wrote:

Woofer wrote:

Dutchgirl wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
9 May 2014 | Posted by  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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

One of the places where Scotland Yard wants to use the sniffer dogs and the georadar is on the 25 de Abril street, in the vicinity of the Ocean Club and by the church. The area, which the helicopter overflew three times, was undergoing construction works when Madeleine disappeared, seven years ago. If anything suspicious is detected, they will excavate.

Besides the searches, which were already allowed by the Public Prosecutor of Portimão, the letters rogatory also request for eight people to be questioned. Some used to work at the Ocean Club resort whilst are not linked in any way.

ongoing

in Jornal de Notícias, paper edition (page 13), May 9, 2014

Rua 25 de Abril is where Smithman was heading towards.

This could be interesting.  But I heard it was searched after she disappeared?

I very much doubt somebody could simply fall into some road construction and then get buried unnoticed by workers.

However if the body was concealed even just under a very shallow coating of soil/rubble it could well be possible.  Saying that though the person would be taking a huge risk the body wouldn't be found.  Especially if the thought a search would be under way.

 
Rua 25 de Abril is also the street where Sergey Malinka lived.

25th April is also Paedophile Pride day.

These latest developments -- the digging in Portugal -- must be bad news for the McCanns because Kate McCann looked much more worried in her Today show appearance this week than she's ever looked; in fact, she looks the way I expected her to look -- although she didn't -- in the days after Madeleine disappeared! Gerry, too, seemed more somber than I've seen him. These two are spooked and are worried about what these digs will reveal, which must mean they have NOT be assured by their protectors that the fix is still in. And i don't buy that they're just worried they'll learn that their daughter is dead, because the content of what Kate talks about is still complaining about the failure of Brits and Portuguese to work together on the investigation. If it's just fear their daughter is dead -- as opposed to fear they tehmselves will become suspects again -- why didn't Kate talk about MADELEINE? About how much they miss her and about how they desperately hope she's still alive? And if they have finally resigned themselves that she is almoast certianly dead, why do they so believe that now, when they have been insisting almost up until this month that she was both abducted by a pedophile and is alive someplace?

Kate McCann on the Today show was no longer the peevish, sometimes relaxed, confident complainer she's been since Day One after Madeleine's disappearance. After seven long years, she FINALLY looks frantically worried. What took so long? And why is she worried now? And whom is she really worried about?

Interesting to see the BBC rushing in to make public the type of information which the PJ has asked to keep private.

The BBC cannot be unaware that this will get the PJ's backs up, if, indeed, we are to give credence to SY's recent statement.

Mirage

Yes I agree that whilst they are frittering away taxpayers money we should expect results and not a sham. But seriously they don't really need to investigate anything - they were in PdL at the beginning and they know who to investigate. It can only be as Tony has already put it better than I that they are deliberately trying to get the UK public to ask them to desist and stop wasting our money.

jozi wrote:

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

Kate looks very worried in this video (the worst I've ever seen her look ) and Gerry's lost his smirk !!!

It's dawned on me why she looked such a mess on the Rothley War Memorial picture last week. In the NBC article her hair has been straightened but it wasn't on the 7th anniversary pictures.

Now this is a question for the ladies on the forum. If you like me had curlyish frizzy hair would you be seen in public au natural? In my case, not in a million years. 

Think about it. Have you ever seen Mrs with anything other than poker straight hair before. The only occasions I don't do mine are when I'm ill and not going out, or if I'm pushed for time and there is no danger of visitors. And I am not vain, I rarely wear make up or dress up. I don't think Mrs falls into that category so let's consider possible reasons for this ..... 1) she had no intention of going to the ceremony or 2) was not physically or mentally up to doing her hair or 3) was going swimming on the way home so didn't bother. Hmmh ....... there is a reason for everything they do or has control slipped smartly out of their hands.

utahagen wrote:These latest developments -- the digging in Portugal -- must be bad news for the McCanns because Kate McCann looked much more worried in her Today show appearance this week than she's ever looked; in fact, she looks the way I expected her to look -- although she didn't -- in the days after Madeleine disappeared! Gerry, too, seemed more somber than I've seen him. These two are spooked and are worried about what these digs will reveal, which must mean they have NOT be assured by their protectors that the fix is still in. And i don't buy that they're just worried they'll learn that their daughter is dead, because the content of what Kate talks about is still complaining about the failure of Brits and Portuguese to work together on the investigation. If it's just fear their daughter is dead -- as opposed to fear they tehmselves will become suspects again -- why didn't Kate talk about MADELEINE? About how much they miss her and about how they desperately hope she's still alive? And if they have finally resigned themselves that she is almoast certianly dead, why do they so believe that now, when they have been insisting almost up until this month that she was both abducted by a pedophile and is alive someplace?

Kate McCann on the Today show was no longer the peevish, sometimes relaxed, confident complainer she's been since Day One after Madeleine's disappearance. After seven long years, she FINALLY looks frantically worried. What took so long? And why is she worried now? And whom is she really worried about?

Well said Utahagen and welcome to the forum!  

Yes, I think the McCanns are being brought crashingly back to reality.  They are lost for words as they were on the 'anniversary'.  Nothing kept Kerry Needham away from the digging in Greece, and it goes without saying that Winnie Johnson would have been digging with her own hands.  Once more, the abnormal behaviour of the parents is glaringly obvious.  The only other time there was a 'dig', Gerry sat swivelling on a chair in the police station, sucking a lollipop and talking about the football! Not odd at all Professor Leal.  

Given all the McCanns active campaigns to keep the focus away from PDL, this must be their worst nightmare.  Yet still, as far as I can see, no sign of confessions - as Kate said in 'KH1', both she and Gerry are finishers.  Clarence told us long ago, that if anything is ever found has nothing to do with the McCanns - unfortunately I can't remember the exact wording, but it was a pink gem.  

I suppose now, their guilt or innocence will very much depend on how much they have left in the kitty.  If there were any justice in the world, their assets, like Goncalo Amaral's should have been frozen pending the result of their scurrilous libel claim.  They have got through £4m, they are big, big spenders, and the Lisbon libel trial must come to over £1m.

Scotland Yard arrived on Wednesday
They flew around on Thursday
They left on Friday
It is clear that everything to do with this visit was planned long ago, with official sanctions at the highest possible level,
what is equally clear is that no one is leaking.
Brunt had no idea what was going on.

PeterMac wrote:"Digging" thread now at 100 pages, so starting another one - (if that is OK admin.)
Military helicopters are not just hired by the hour on the spur of the moment, like catamarans on the beach
ergo
this little jolly has been planned for a long time,
the PJ have had full knowledge of exactly what SY wanted to do - and by implication have approved it
The whole thing has been approved at VERY high level.
By which I mean Government - Ministry of Defence after consultation with the "Home Office" = Ministry of the Interior equivalent

ergo
Someone must have spelled out
Exactly WHAT they wanted to look for
Exactly WHERE they wanted to look
Exactly WHY
Exactly WHO
and so on.

And this must have been agreed as a viable and useful thing to do.
By the entire Chain of Command

They are clearly NOT looking for freshly turned soil, nor are they looking for a little girl in a pink hat
So what are they looking for that they could not see on a decent map or aerial photograph.

Suggestions ?

***
On page 9, I take the liberty to quote the original OP again.

Suggestions?
Yes, Peter. I suggest they ARE looking for a body. IMO Madeleine never left Portugal. IMO she's been temporarily buried and/or stored in PdL. IMO she been buried elsewhere, further away, but not too far away. And IMO with all the information - some of which we are not privy of - and old and new techniques to find burial sites, we should have an answer soon.

Snap Peter