Maddy McCann

[joeSoap]

There are too many variables here to ever charge anyone with this beyond reasonable doubt. The blame here lies squarely with the Portuguese police, who have displayed ineptitude from day 1. I personally do not believe that the McCanns had anything at all to do with this. The Portuguese police and world media had people wanting to lynch Robert Murat some weeks ago when they thought he did it. Now there is no mention of him at all, as if nothing ever happened. How must he feel? This whole thing stinks.

[Lionel Ritchie]

There are too many variables here to ever charge anyone with this beyond reasonable doubt. The blame here lies squarely with the Portuguese police, who have displayed ineptitude from day 1. I personally do not believe that the McCanns had anything at all to do with this. The Portuguese police and world media had people wanting to lynch Robert Murat some weeks ago when they thought he did it. Now there is no mention of him at all, as if nothing ever happened. How must he feel? This whole thing stinks.

He feels fine Joe. He's currently trying to whore "his story" to whichever of the tabs will take it and seemingly tried to get Max Clifford to "represent" him (this was discussed on RTE Radio 1 yesterday morning). Clifford says he won't deal with him til he's proved innocent (how does one prove a negative?) and frankly -if the Max Cliffords of this world won't deal with you then you are truly the lowliest of the bottom feeders.

Incidently if I recall correctly it was those same tabs that, over the unmarked grave of a little girl let's not forget, he's trying to squeeze for cash now that started the "lynch Robert Murat" campaign as his interest and concern had a whiff of Soham about it.

[Macy]

I'm 99.9% sure Clifford was talking on his behalf on one of the news Channels (either sky or news 24) the other morning. Not sure which day or even what time - the joys of the feeding patterns of a 3 week old! Whether he won't sell the story is a different matter, but he's definitely handling his media.

I don't blame Murat at all tbh, as it appears he was totally innocent and only trying to help after all, and because of the media needing a development he has essentially had his character tarnished for life.

Tomorrows (Friday's) papers all leading with Maddy drugged with sleeping pills stories.

[DmanDmythDledge]

There are too many variables here to ever charge anyone with this beyond reasonable doubt. The blame here lies squarely with the Portuguese police, who have displayed ineptitude from day 1. I personally do not believe that the McCanns had anything at all to do with this. The Portuguese police and world media had people wanting to lynch Robert Murat some weeks ago when they thought he did it. Now there is no mention of him at all, as if nothing ever happened. How must he feel? This whole thing stinks.

It does indeed. First it was claimed that blood was found that 100% matched Madeleine McCann's DNA. Then it changed to 88% match of body fluids. If anything was found in the car it could have been from any members of the fanily or one of the child's belongings that they bring around with them. Also how do you hide a body for 25 days then sneak off with it when the world's media are watching your every move? Also was it checked out who rented the car before the McCanns?

The documents containing the evidence against the McCanns was sent to the judge to examine and claimed it would take weeks to go through it. In the end it took a few hours. I think the McCanns are being framed, similar to the case in Portugal a number of years ago (the same guy is in charge of leading the investigation).

[Risteard]

Can you dig that out there and provide a link?
I can't remember anything like that?

[Dodge]

The blame here lies squarely with the Portuguese police, who have displayed ineptitude from day 1... The Portuguese police and world media had people wanting to lynch Robert Murat some weeks ago when they thought he did it

The portuguese police never once made any statement on who they did or did not think was the killer. Every quote you ever read was from "an unnamed source". A lot of people's perceptions that it was handled badly has to do with their lack of understanding of the Portuguese legal system, and the way every minor detail was blown up by the media.

People seemed to think that if somebody was made an official witness, that automatically made them a suspect. It didn't. Just like when the McCanns were made official witnesses...

[drinkfeckarse]

I don't think there's much doubt though Dodge that the Portuguese police have shown a high level of incompetence though is there?

From what we are being told by the "papers" or "unnamed sources", the hire car is a big part of their case. Why then were they allowed to keep driving it?

It's now being suggested that they want Kate's diary and Gerry's lap top. Why almost 4 months later? The fact that British police and sniffer dogs had to come over to assist shows that they were very much out of their depth IMO. The police didn't turn up until about an hour after Maddie was reported missing.

I think it's possible that they are looking for a conviction because of how inept they have been made to look regardless of who has to take the fall.

[endabob1]

I don't think there's much doubt though Dodge that the Portuguese police have shown a high level of incompetence though is there?

From what we are being told by the "papers" or "unnamed sources", the hire car is a big part of their case. Why then were they allowed to keep driving it?

It's now being suggested that they want Kate's diary and Gerry's lap top. Why almost 4 months later? The fact that British police and sniffer dogs had to come over to assist shows that they were very much out of their depth IMO. The police didn't turn up until about an hour after Maddie was reported missing.

I think it's possible that they are looking for a conviction because of how inept they have been made to look regardless of who has to take the fall.

Therein lies the issue, the police will not reveal any actual details of the investiagtion so everything that is coming out in the papers is conjecture or being fed to them by the McCanns interpretation of what is happening.

[galwayhoop]

There is nothing to suggest that the cops are incompetent except if you believe what the chief suspects in the case tell you through the redtops.

i totally agree here.

perhaps the police are incompetent or maybe they are not. there has, until very recently, been very little statements or press releases diectly from the police.

most of the 'developments' and 'news' we got came directly from the McCann's press confrences. the whole 'find maddie' campaign has been driven by Gerry and Kate McCann.

now as I said perhaps the Portuguese police have been incompetent but maybe, just maybe they have actually kept their nose to the ground, stayed quiet and sussed out what actually happened instead of tearing around looking for a child who never was missing in the first place. it's just a thought.

like everything in this strange story it is probably best to wait on making conclusions until all of the facts are available.

[Hibs4Ever]

I don't think there's much doubt though Dodge that the Portuguese police have shown a high level of incompetence though is there?

From what we are being told by the "papers" or "unnamed sources", the hire car is a big part of their case. Why then were they allowed to keep driving it?

It's now being suggested that they want Kate's diary and Gerry's lap top. Why almost 4 months later? The fact that British police and sniffer dogs had to come over to assist shows that they were very much out of their depth IMO. The police didn't turn up until about an hour after Maddie was reported missing.

I think it's possible that they are looking for a conviction because of how inept they have been made to look regardless of who has to take the fall.

Maybe they just want answers to the FORTY question the mother is refusing to answer

[galwayhoop]

I think it's possible that they are looking for a conviction because of how inept they have been made to look regardless of who has to take the fall.

are they looking inept in Portugal or is it just in the British press that they look inept????

[drinkfeckarse]

Maybe they just want answers to the FORTY question the mother is refusing to answer

And where did you hear/read that.....in the papers by any chance??

[drinkfeckarse]

are they looking inept in Portugal or is it just in the British press that they look inept????

I haven't been in Portugal recently so can't answer that. All I can say is that from I've seen and heard reported , be it news or in the papers, the Portuguese investigation has as many holes in it as the case itself IMO.

[Hibs4Ever]

And where did you hear/read that.....in the papers by any chance??

Sky News

[galwayhoop]

I haven't been in Portugal recently so can't answer that. All I can say is that from I've seen and heard reported , be it news or in the papers, the Portuguese investigation has as many holes in it as the case itself IMO.

my point is that it is the British side to the story we are hearing. I include our Anglisised press in that too.

The bottom line is that it is a different country with different cultures. How the police operate in Britain and Ireland is different to Contenental Europe. They have different laws and procedures. The stories we hear are from the British press who from day one have critisised the Portuguese police and their handling of the case.

I personally will hold fire on the performance of the Portuguese police and their ineptitude (or opposite) until the dust settles and the case is finally solved.

if there is anything to be learned from this .... DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ IN THE PAPER

[drinkfeckarse]

I never do but based on what I see being reported and by the standards used by the Police over here then I have summised that they have looked totally out of their depth with the case.

We are all in the same boat, you either agree or don't agree on their performance by what you have read or seen reported.

[jebus]

Like the way people seem to believe that the Portugese police are inept because they don't keep Sky News or the Sun up to date with every little lead they have Being that I'm not involved in this case I won't say one way or the other whether they have handled this badly yet, we'll find out what evidence they have if they bring charges against the McCanns, and then if they are able to push through a conviction and then we'll know.

Also does anyone else think it's a bit rich the British papers banging on about dirty foreigners trying to bring false charges against Brits just so they can say they caught someone for the crime committed, and going on about how that would never happen in Britain? Birmingham 6 anyone? Or how about the Guildford 4?

[cheifo]

The British press got frustrated with the secrecy laws the Portugese police have to adhere to and went for the jugular(ie made up stuff).There has been leaks to the Portugese media but tbh thats going to happen.Its important to remember they have not faced such a insatiable appetite from World media for news on this scale before.A guy who is an editor of a Portugese newspaper was on Newsnight believes administrators will reasses their policy
on Police/media affairs as a result of this case.The whole thing is so strange,
it beggars belief.I just hope the truth comes out.

[galwayhoop]

Also does anyone else think it's a bit rich the British papers banging on about dirty foreigners trying to bring false charges against Brits just so they can say they caught someone for the crime committed, and going on about how that would never happen in Britain? Birmingham 6 anyone? Or how about the Gildford 4?

typical British attitude as usual. "Johnny Foreigner is wrong and we are right". "We are sooooo superior to those foreigners..." etc. Unfortunately we (Ireland) are so guided by our neighbours that we swallow all their sh1te.

Ever hear how much some Irish people (usually those who are 'Lifelong Fans' of British teams) hate the 'Dirty Turks'???

[drinkfeckarse]

To be fair I've noticed a distinct change in the Press's attitude and they seem to be more readily able to report on the case on a neutral basis than ever before. Not totally neutral but plenty of reporting on the change in public perception etc.