Maddie: Investigation continues and gains new momentum

SOS Madeleine McCann today:

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

04.07.2008

Maddie : Enquête continue et gagne nouvel élan

Malgré toutes les informations avancées dans les médias, en particulier au Royaume-Uni, la Police judiciaire a nié que l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine McCann soit abandonnée ou archivée, ce qu’est confirmée par une source de la l’Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) qu’avance l’existence de deux témoignages décisifs qui n’ont pas encore été communiqués aux autorités portugaises.

À suivre

In spite of all the information put forward in the media, in the United Kingdom in particular, the PJ have denied that the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance is to be abandoned or archived. This is confirmed by a source from the Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) who put forward the existence of two crucial witness statements, which have not yet been communicated to the Portuguese authorities.

Pour rappel, l’Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) et la police du Leicestershire, ont collaboré dans l’enquête des autorités portugaises, comme l’a confirmée Patricia Scotland, Ministre d'Etat et Attorney General pour l'Angleterre et le Pays de Galles.

As a reminder, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Leicestershire police, have collaborated in the investigations by the Portuguese authorities, as Patricia Scotalnd, Minister of State and Attorney General for England and Wales has confirmed.

To be continued.

Enfants Kidnappés: Madeleine McCann. The case will be classified as homicide.(Updated 3/07/08)

According to Enfants Kidnappés, the Madeleine McCann file is about to be archived, classified as, "homicide."

Procédure classée comme homicide

02 juillet 2008

La procédure sera classée comme homicide !!La procédure sur la disparition de Madeleine McCann sera reprise dans les archives du tribunal de Portimao par décision du Ministère Public. Le procureur titulaire du dossier, Magalhães e Menezes,émarge le dossier (c-à-d qu'il qualifie le dossier ou l'accusation) comme: "HOMICIDE QUALIFIE ET OCCULTATION DE CADAVRE"

Case classified as homicide.

The file will be classified as homicide!! The file on Madeleine McCann's disappearance will be added to the archives of the Portimao court by decision of the Public Minister. The prosecutor holding the file, Magalhães e Menezes, signs off the case (That is, he describes the case or the accusation) as: "CLASSIFIED AS HOMICIDE AND CONCEALMENT OF A BODY"

La PJ a livré son rapport final concernant toutes les recherches faites depuis mai 2007. La presse s'est empressée de dire que le document finale (rappelons qu'il s'agit d'un dossier de plusieurs volumes) ne contenait pas de preuves suffisantes et que l'affaire serait classée. Notons, pour être complet, que de très nombreux journaux basent l'ensemble de leurs articles principalement sur les dépêches d'agence. Ainsi, dans notre article précédent, nous avons fait un article basé UNIQUEMENT sur les dépêches d'agence que nous recevons comme n'importe quel autre média. Les plus observateurs d'entres vous se seront rendu compte que cet article ressemblait comme deux gouttes d'eau à ceux publiés par d'autres médias et pour cause puisqu'il venait des mêmes agences. L'article de base de l'agence de presse ne stipulait pas que l'affaire classée sans suite mais laissait planer le doute. Aussi, en fonction de l'interprétation des uns et des autres, divers journaux en ont conclu que l'affaire était, non seulement close mais également classée sans suite. Or, la réalité est plus subtile que cela.

The PJ have delivered their final report concerning all the research done since May 2007. The press were quick to say that the final document (let's remember that it is a dossier of several volumes) did not contain sufficient evidence and that the case would be closed. We note, for the sake of completeness, that a great many of the newspapers base their whole article mainly on news agencies' despatches. Thus, in our previous article, we had produced an article based SOLELY on the news agencies' despatches which we receive like other media. The most observant amongst you will have noticed that this article was like two drops in the ocean of those published by other media and for the reason that it came from the same agencies. The basic article from the press agency did not stipulate that the case was classed as discontinued but left a hanging doubt. Also, according to the interpretation of most of them, various journalists concluded that the case was, not just closed but also classed as discontinued. But the reality is more subtle than that.

C'est le Ministère Public qui décide !

Au moment d'écrire ces lignes, le Ministère Public (MP) étudie la nécessitée ou non de demander de nouveaux devoirs d'enquête complémentaire. L'archivage du dossier Madeleine McCann, disparue le 03 mai 2007, n'est absolument pas une certitude !!! Au contraire, il est plus que probable que de nouveaux devoirs d'enquête soient demandés à la PJ par le MP. Il n'est pas à exclure que les amis des McCann soient invités à revenir au Portugal. La PJ a envoyé un rapport final contenant toutes les "diligences" et enquêtes faites au long de ces mois et les moyens utilisés. Ce rapport est maintenant entre les mains du MP et fera l'objet "d'une appréciation et d'une pondération soignée" comme a garanti une source proche du procureur générale de la République dans un communiqué envoyé à toutes les rédactions.

It is the Public Minister who decides!

At the time of writing these lines, the Public Minister (MP) is studying whether or not there is need for additional work on the investigation. The archiving of the file for Madeleine McCann, who disappeared on May 3rd 2007, is not an absolute certainty!!! On the contrary, it is more than likely that new work on the investigation is requested of the PJ by the Public Minister. It is not to be ruled out that the McCanns' friends are invited to return to Portugal. The PJ have handed overa final report containing all the, "requests," and investigations made throughout these months and the methods used. This report is now in the hands of the Public Minister and will be the object, "of careful thought and evaluation," as was guaranteed by a source close to the Attorney General of the Republic in a press release sent to all editors.

Vers une nouvelle reconstitution ?

Les nouveaux devoirs d'enquête possibles peuvent passer par une nouvelle reconstitution de la nuit de la disparition de Maddie. Ce qui implique que les amis du couple McCann ainsi que les McCann eux mêmes, soient invités pour les uns et notifiés pour les autres à venir au Portugal. Nous n'avons aucune illusion en la matière, nous ne sommes pas utopiste, nous savons que cette reconstitution n'aura pas lieu mais nous sommes curieux de savoir ce que les amis des McCann vont donner comme excuses, cette fois, pour ne pas y participer ?! Le rapport a rappelé les incohérences entre les diverses déclarations des amis du couple concernant les évènements de la nuit de la disparition.

Towards a new reconstruction?

The possible new work on the investigation could take the form of a new reconstruction of the night of Maddie's disappearance. This involves the friends of the McCann couple, as well as the McCanns themselves, some being invited and others being notified to come to Portugal. We have no illusions on the subject, we are not idealists, we know that this reconstruction would not take place but we are curious to know what the McCanns' friends are going to give as excuses, this time, for not participating in it?! The report has pointed out the inconsistencies between the various statements of the couple's friends concerning the events of the night of the disappearance.

Le MP pourrait vouloir enlever tous les doutes. Dans ce même communiqué envoyé aux rédactions, le PGR garanti également que la fin du secret de justice sera pour le 14 août !! Il reste peu de temps avant que le dossier ne soit à la porté de tous. Le rapport qui compte 19 volumes et des milliers de documents n'indique pas si le dossier doit être archivé (classé) ou s'il faut lancer une procédure d'accusation. La raison en est simple: C'est au MP qu'appartient de décider si l'affaire doit être classée ou s'il faut lancer une accusation formelle. La PJ se "limite" à faire une enquête, des recherches, à exécuter de devoirs d'enquêtes sur le terrain et à présenter les éléments rassemblés, sans plus. Les policiers ne sont pas des juges ! Ils présentent des faits, tels quels, à l'état brut et c'est au MP de décider de leurs usages!!!

The Public Minister may wish to raise all doubts. In this same press release sent to the editors, the PGR guarantees also that the end of the secrecy of justice will be August 14th!! There remains very little time before the file will be open to all. The report which runs to 19 volumes and thousands of documents does not indicate whether the case should be archived (discontinued) or if a process of charging should be launched. The reason is simple: It is up to the Public Minister to decided if the case must be discontinued or if a formal charge should be made. The PJ, "limit," themselves to conducting an investigation, to carrying out the work of the investigation on the ground and to presenting the gathered details, no more. The police officers are not the judges! They present the facts, as a rough draft and it is up to the Public Minister to decided on their use!!!

Vers une accusation ?

Les échos selon lesquels le dossier ne contiendrait pas d'éléments suffisants pour mener vers une accusation n'est, de l'aveu même de la source proche de l'enquête ayant lancé cette rumeurs, qu'une "simple intuition et ne garantit pas qu'il n'y aura pas d'accusation". La suite la plus probable de la procédure est que Kate et Gerry soient accusés d'imprudence. Un avis également partagé par divers inspecteurs de la PJ: "Ils ont été dîné en laissant leurs enfants seuls, ce n'est pas une accusation futile, nous savons ce qui est arrivé ensuite!!!" Différentes incertitudes continuent à planer. L'hypothèse de ce qui s'est passé cette nuit là est l'homicide par accident et l'occultation de cadavre par ailleurs émargé par le Procureur comme Homicide qualifié et occultation de cadavre.

Towards a charge?

The leaks according to which the file would not contain sufficient evidence to lead to a charge, is only, "simple intuition and does not guarantee that there will be no charges," is the admission of the source close to the enquiry, who put forward that rumour. The most likely follow-up of the procedure is that Kate and Gerry are charged with negligence. An opinion also shared by various PJ inspectors: "They were dining leaving their children alone, that is not a frivolous accusation, we know what happened then!!!" Various uncertainties still hover. The theory that what happened that night was accidental homicide and concealment of a corpse otherwise endorsed by the Prosecutor as manslaughter and concealment of a corpse.

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html

Updated 3/07/08

Madeleine McCann: end of the investigation. Enfants Kidnappés report 1/07/08

News agencies world-wide are reporting the conclusion of the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance, and mostly the news is that with insufficient evidence to resolve the enquiry, the case will be archived.

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html

Fin de l'enquête 01 juillet 2008

La police portugaise clôt son enquête.

La police portugaise a conclu son enquête sur la disparition de la petite Britannique Madeleine McCann, il y a 14 mois dans le sud du Portugal, et remis son rapport au Ministère public qui doit décider de poursuivre ou de clore l'investigation, a-t-on appris mardi de source judiciaire. Le rapport final élaboré par la police judiciaire (PJ) a été joint à la procédure de la dénommée ''affaire Maddie", a indiqué un communiqué du cabinet du procureur général de la République. Pour autant, l'enquête sur la mystérieuse disparition le 3 mai 2007 de la petite Maddie, alors âgée de trois ans, d'un complexe touristique du sud du Portugal, n'est pas terminée. "La Police judiciaire continue, à la disposition du Ministère public" jusqu'à ce qu'il décide de clore l'enquête, a rappelé à la presse le directeur national adjoint de la PJ, Pedro Carmo.

End of the investigation July 1st 2008

The Portuguese police are closing their investigation.

The Portuguese police have concluded their investigation into the disappearance of the little British girl Madeleine McCann, 14 months ago in the south of Portugal, and handed their report to the Public Minister who must decide to continue or close the investigation, as we learned on Tuesday from a judicial source. The final report prepared by the PJ has been attached to the so-called, "Maddie case," a press release from the office of the Attorney General of the Republic stated. However, the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of little Maddie, then aged three, on May 3rd 2007, from a holiday resort in the south of Portugal, has not ended. "The PJ continue to be at the disposal of the Public Minister," until he decides to close the enquiry, Pedro Carmo, national deputy director of the PJ reminded the press.

Par ailleurs, le secret de l'instruction, prolongé en mai dernier en raison de la "complexité" de l'affaire, "se maintient jusqu'à la mi-août", a précisé le ministère public, qui doit à présent analyser le rapport d'enquête de la PJ et va procéder à l'analyse et à l'évaluation globale de l'ensemble de la procédure (qui comporte des dizaines de volumes) pour "déterminer si d'autres démarches sont encore requises ou bien si les conditions suffisantes et nécessaires sont réunies pour clore l'enquête". L'annonce du cabinet du procureur intervient après la publication mardi dans la presse d'informations indiquant que les autorités portugaises s'apprêtaient à clore l'enquête et à classer l'affaire, estimant ne pas avoir recueilli de preuves suffisantes pour une mise en accusation formelle.

Also, the secrecy of the investigation, extended in May because of the, "complexity," of the case, "continues until mid-August," was made clear by the public minister, who now must analyse the report of the PJ's investigation and is going to proceed with the analysis and overall evaluation of the whole case (which comprises dozens of volumes) to, "determine if other steps are still required or if necessary and satisfactory conditions have been met to close the enquiry." The announcement from the prosecutor's office intervened on Tuesday after the publication of information in the press, indicating that the Portuguese authorities were ready to close the investigation and to archive the case, suggesting that not enough evidence had been gathered for a formal charge to be made.

Réaction du porte-parole.

Trois personnes sont toujours mises en examen. Outre le Britannique, Robert Murat, les parents de la fillette, Kate et Gerry McCann, soupçonnés d'avoir fait disparaître le corps de l'enfant après une mort accidentelle, ont été mis en examen le 7 septembre dernier. Le couple, qui n'a cessé de clamer son innocence, a organisé une campagne internationale sans précédent pour retrouver la petite Maddie. Depuis la Grande-Bretagne, le porte-parole des époux McCann, Clarence Mitchell, n'a pas tardé à réagir aux informations publiées dans les médias portugais. Il a estimé que la mise en examen du couple devait être levée "immédiatement" s'il était confirmé que la police allait clore l'enquête et a réclamé l'accès au dossier. Les informations contenues dans le dossier "ne peuvent pas rester sur des étagères à prendre la poussière", a-t-il affirmé. Lors d'une série d'interviews en Grande-Bretagne, le porte-parole a aussi suggéré que si l'enquête était officiellement close, les dossiers devaient être transférés aux enquêteurs privés recrutés par les McCann dans l'espoir de retrouver «Maddie». La petite fille avait disparu le 3 mai 2007 quelques jours avant son quatrième anniversaire, alors qu'elle séjournait en famille dans un complexe touristique du sud du Portugal.

The Spokesman's reaction.

Three people are still under investigation. Other than the British man, Robert Murat, the little girl's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, suspected of having of having disposed of the child's body after an accidental death, were placed under investigation on September 7th last year. The couple, who have never stopped protesting their innocence, organised an unprecedented international campaign to find little Maddie. From Great Britain, the McCann couple's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, has not been slow to react to information published in the Portuguese media. He suggested that the investigation of the couple should be lifted, "immediately," if it were confirmed that the police were going to close the enquiry and demanded access to the file. The information contained in the file, "cannot sit on shelves gathering dust," he stated. During a series of interviews in Great Britain, the spokesman also suggested that if the investigation were officially closed, the files should be transferred to the private investigators hired by the McCanns in the hope of finding, "Maddie". The little girl had disappeared on May 3rd 2007 a few days before her fourth birthday, while she was on holiday with her family at a toursit complex in the south of Portugal.

Ses parents avaient été déclarés suspects après l'annonce de la découverte de l'ADN de Madeleine dans une voiture louée par ses parents, plus de trois semaines après sa disparition. Mais le chef de la police portugaise, Alipio Ribeiro, a ensuite déclaré que les analyses pratiquées sur ces traces n'étaient pas concluantes. Les McCann ont toujours affirmé qu'ils n'avaient rien à voir avec la disparition de leur fille. Selon la loi portugaise, le satut d'«arguido» (suspect) est un statut intermédiaire qui ne signifie pas une inculpation, mais qui est utilisé quand la police croit avoir des preuves contre quelqu'un. La personne considéré comme «suspecte» dispose d'une «liberté de mouvement totale», à condition d'informer préalablement les autorités judiciaires. De son côté, l'avocat portugais du couple Rogério Alves, a affirmé que l'essentiel pour le couple McCann était que les "recherches de leur fille se poursuivent".

Her parents had been declared suspects after the announcement of the discovery of Madeleine's DNA in a car rented by her parents, more than three weeks after her disappearance. But Portugal's chief of police, Alipio Ribeiro, later stated that the analyses carried out on the samples had not been conclusive. The McCanns have always stated that they had nothing to do witht the disappearance of their daughter. According to Portuguese law, the status of, "arguido," (suspect) is an interim status which does not mean an indictment, but which is used when the police believe they have evidence against someone. The person considered as, "suspect," has, "total freedom of movement," on condition that they inform the judicial authorities in advance. For his part, the couple's Portuguese lawyer, Rogério Alves, stated that the priority for the couple was that the, "search for their daughter continues."

Ni enlèvement, ni décès accidentel.

L'enquête, qui a connu un tournant l'été dernier lorsque les enquêteurs se sont mis à privilégier l'hypothèse de la mort de l'enfant s'appuyant sur des indices prélevés dans l'appartement et le véhicule des McCann, était depuis tombée dans une impasse. Selon la presse mardi, le rapport d'enquête de la police ne permet d'étayer ni la thèse de l'elèvement, défendu par les parents, ni celle de la mort accidentelle. Travaillant sous une forte pression, notamment de la part de la presse britannique, les enquêteurs portugais ont accumulé les revers.

L'ancien chef de l'équipe d'enquêteurs, Gonçalo Amaral, s'était vu retirer, en octobre dernier, l'affaire pour avoir ouvertement critiqué ses collègues britanniques de partialité. M. Amaral a pris sa retraite lundi pour, dit-il, retrouver sa "liberté d'expression" et pouvoir "se défendre" dans un livre qu'il s'apprête publier.

Neither abduction nor accidental death.

The investigation, which reached a turning point last summer when the investigators began to focus on the idea of the child's death based on traces lifted from the apartment and the McCanns' vehicle, has since come to a standstill. According to the press on Tuesday, the police report of the investigation does not support either the abduction theory held by the parents, or that of accidental death. Working under heavy pressure, notably from the British press, the Portuguese investigators have encountered setbacks.

The former head of the investigating team, Gonçalo Amaral, saw himself dismissed from the case in October last year, for openly criticising his British colleagues of bias. M. Amaral took his retirement on Monday to, as he said, regain his, "freedom of expression," and to be able to, "defend himself," in a book which he is getting ready to publish.

They took my 97 quid and all I got was this! (Part One)

Let me start at the very beginning!


A few months ago, my son and his partner travelled on Eurostar to Belgium. I just happened to mention that I would quite fancy trying out Eurostar and my son told me that he had a special offer on tickets and why didn't we all (son + partner + me) go to Paris sometime before the offer expired? Great idea. I love Paris!

So, that was how it all started and I shall tell you how I ended up paying £97 for the above receipt, which would shame a, "Pound shop," for its lack of professional quality, losing three days' wages and not getting to Paris! Oh, and being treated in a manner, which can only be described as, "shabby," by the London Identity and Passport Service.

Ok, so we have a plan! We are all going to Paris! My son booked the seats on Eurostar and gave me time and date. All I needed then was a passport. My old one, which I had not used since 1999, and which expired in April 2007, was somewhere around the house, but a search of the obvious and not-so-obvious places did not result in finding it. No matter: it would have been useful to have the old one in applying for a new one, but a new application would have to be made anyway. I hadn't seen that passport for a number of years and had no idea in what, "safe place," I might have put it!

So, I collect a passport application form from the Post Office and discover that I need a UK passport holder to countersign. No problem! I ask a friend who has known me for around 10 years, but unfortunately, he can't find his passport. Time is getting on and I have around three weeks to get my passport after several weeks of his not finding his passport and not finding his passport!

So, I ask someone who has known me for around 17 years, but who does not live in my town. I meet up with this person on a shared holiday. He signs the form, but has forgotten to bring his passport. He will phone me with the passport number. It is now just over two weeks before the planned date of departure for my Eurostar experience.

The friend phones with the passport number and the following day I go to the Post Office to make use of their, "Check and send," (or words to that effect!) service. I complete form LSO1, lost passport form, and the woman at the PO counter checks my application form. There are problems! My photograph is not full-face and the woman notes that the passport number has obviously not been written in by the person countersigning.

Right! It's now just under two weeks to the planned trip! I need to get another person, who has known me for more than 2 years, to countersign another form. I ask the licensee at my local shop. He, being a very kind person, helps in my time of need. I go back to the Post Office to have the form checked! Everything is OK apart from the fact that my signature is a fraction of a millimetre onto the brown border!

So, I go back to my friendly local shopkeeper and he signs another form for me. There is now 10 days to go until Eurostar leaves St Pancras at 11am on Friday 13th June. I phone the national passport service helpline. I am told that if I want my passport for the day before the trip, which is, of course necessary, given the time the train leaves, I will have to have an interview at a passport office before 12 noon on Thursday 5th June, that being the latest time for the guaranteed delivery of my passport by Thursday 12th June. An appointment is made for 11.45 on Thursday 5th June at the London office of the Passport and Identity Service.

I could do without all this because I work for an agency, which means I don't go to work, I don't get paid and this means a day off. However, my very kind son has booked a treat for his mother and I really don't want to let him down. My son really is a very kind person.

Anyway, I have my appointment, I am told to arrive at least 10 minutes early, and I find a Google map for the address and postcode given: 89 Eccleston Square, SW1V 1PN.


View Larger Map

I will refer to this map a little later.

I set off really early on the morning of Thursday June 5th, allowing time for late-running trains, crossing London on the tube, and finding Eccleston Square. I arrive at Victoria at just after 11.05, with what looks like a short walk from the station to Eccleston Square. (Please now refer to map. Eccleston Square is a, "U," shape with a blue marker on the right-hand arm of the, "U." )

11.10, I start at the nearest point on Eccleston Square, the left-hand arm of the, "U," and finding low numbers, assume that number 89 must be near the other end! However, at the other end of the, "U," is number 70-something! I turn right into Belgrave Road to see if the numbers continue, but they do only for one or two buildings. I turn left, back into Eccleston Square, thinking there must be some logic to this, somewhere! The blue marker on the right-hand arm of the, "U," denotes where I then spotted a police van! Great! They should know!

There are two uniformed officers in the van, and I approach the passenger side, which is nearest to the kerb. The officer in the passenger seat looks at me and does nothing! I signal for him to lower the window. He does. "Can you tell me where the passport office is, please?" The officer points in the direction towards the base of the, "U," in the opposite direction to Belgrave Road. "It's on the corner round there," he says.

So, off I go. It's now 11.20 and I reassure myself that I will, indeed, arrive 10 minutes early. I walk right round Eccleston Square, and I don't find number 89 or the passport office, and I walk up the left-hand side of the, "U," towards Belgrave Road, where I spot a workman outside one of the houses. "Can you tell me where the passport office is, please?" He points towards Belgrave Road and tells me to cross the road and it's on the corner. (Please refer once again to the map. The passport office is located by the blue marker on what is denoted as Belgrave Road.)

I arrive at the passport office at 11.25, with certain expectations of what constitutes an, "interview." Hah! That's as sensible as my thinking that 89 Eccleston Square would be in the road indicated by that name on the map!

Through the heavy glass doors I go, and come face-to-face with a group of security guards, who point me towards a glass booth on my left. I go over there and tell the person behind the glass that I have an appointment. I am told to see the security guards. I do and they show me the way to the metal detector, which I pass through, having placed my bag on a conveyor belt, and my bunch of keys in a plastic basket. I am then directed to another reception desk, a very high one that, at 5' 0", I can hardly see over. I give my reference number and I get a numbered ticket, just like the cheese counter at Sainsbury's! "Go to the second floor. Lift over there." says the person allocating the numbers. I do!

On the second floor there are rows of seats, with a few people sitting there. There are two large screens, one with a list of numbers, denoting who is waiting. This is more like Argos than Sainsbury's cheese counter! A bot voice is calling out numbers one after the other and telling the holders which cubicle to go to. My number comes up and I go to the cubicle as directed.

As I said, I had certain expectations of what constitutes an, "interview." The cubicle I arrived at was more like a public phone booth, with glass panels on either side, and a woman sitting behind a counter, in an elevated position. So, there I am, again, 5' 0" having to raise my arms to place my forms on the counter. I wait for some kind of introductory greeting from this person who is supposed to be interviewing me, something like, "Hello," maybe. She puts on an impatient face and says, "Got your form?"

"Got your form?" Well, I would expect a more courteous standard of communication at the cheese counter at Sainsbury's! I pass the form over. "Your old passport is lost?" This woman is looking more and more irritated! "I've completed an LSO1. Would you like it?" Curl of the mouth and, "Has it been checked?" "Yes," I say, "It was checked at the psot office." The woman extends a hand and I place the form in it.

While I stand there thinking, "What on earth have I come to?" the woman taps away on her keyboard and compares what is on my form to what she is reading on her monitor. I ask if she is managing to access my old passport details. After a few seconds, she says, "Yes." I ask is everything ok then? She says, "Yes."

"Have you got proof of ID and address?" Yes, I have brought my birth certificate, my marriage certificate, my driver's licence, and a bank statement. I ask which the woman would like to see and she asks for the bank statement. I locate the envelope and hold it out.

The woman looks at me as though I am passing something contaminated and says. "Take it out of the enveolpe." Now, I may be old-fashioned, but I would have expected something like, "Would you mind taking it out of the envelope, please?", even if you never know who might be trying to spread dreadful diseases like anthrax, even a 5' 0" grandma of one! And if I were a terrorist, cunningly disguised as 5' 0" grandma of one, would such a command, issued in a seemingly disgusted tone of voice, put me off spreading anthrax?

Anyway, bank statement gets taken out of the envelope and passed over. I ask if my birth certificate is needed. "No." Then, after a few key strokes, I am handed a flimsy piece of paper and told to pay at one of the cubicles opposite. The person at this other cubicle takes my £97 in cash, and hands me, in return, the receipt copied at the top of this post. I am told that my passport will arrive on Thursday 12th June, sometime between 8am and 6pm. I look at the flimsy receipt and it occurs to me that a receipt from a, "Pound shop," would have more detail and look more professional. This is what I get to show that I have travelled here and been through an, "interview," with the, "Got your form?" woman? Having arrived at 11.25, for an 11.45 interview, my 3"x5" piece of paper bears the time, 11.32.

I leave the passport office, feeling somewhat peeved at the lack of courtesy shown, but glad that it's over, and my passport will arrive the day before my trip.

So, gentle reader, if you have read thus far, I thank you and I will create a little break and carry on in part 2!

They took my 97 quid and all I got was this! (Part 2)

(Here it is, again! What I got for my 97 quid!)

"Terrorist," granny in funny hat found with nail scissors in her toilet bag! OMG!!!

(That hat had a flower on it! Obviously suspect!)

So, we come to Wednesday June 11th. On that day, I decided that I'd better get my Euros and my travel insurance, since I had no idea when, between 8am and 6pm the following day, my passport would arrive. I return home with my holiday spending money and a travel insurance pack, at around 6pm. I check my messages on 1571 and I have a strange one, of which this is an accurate transcript! (Identifying details crossed out. Lots of, "ers," and, "ums," not included!)

"Hello Miss, eh, Mrs xxxxxx. This is London Identity and Passport Service. I have to give you a call regarding your forename. In your previous passport, the one that was lost, we managed to get the file and it has got your forename is xxxxxxx, your surname is (as?) xxxxxx. I am unable to add xxx....xx....xx, xxxx, Weed (sic!) because it is not in your previous passport and you have not stated in your application form on Section 8 that you wanted forenames to be added as a forename. You only wrote your old passport was lost at home somewhere. That was it. We have got to do according to the procedure for you..er..for us to implement the same name, xxxxxxx xxxxxx.

If you are not happy, well you have to send me* a letter, otherwise you will not receive your passport in time. We have got to go according to the old passport, which is xxxxxxx xxxxxx.

OK. Bye bye now."

*Me? Who?

Telephone number recorded on caller ID as, "Number withheld."

Now, I had big trouble trying to understand the message this person had been trying to convey, in heavily accented English, but after listening to it quite a few times, I finally decided that from the underlined section I could extrapolate that if I was happy and I didn't send, "me," a letter, that I would get my passport on time.

OK, so now we have arrived at Thursday June 12th, the day that my £97 is supposed to guarantee delivery, by courier, of my passport! Another day off work, which I lose another day's pay for, but I really don't want to disappoint my very kind son, who has booked the trip as a treat, knowing how much I love Paris!

I am up early on the morning of Thursday June 12th, ready to receive my passport at any time from 8am onwards. Well, time grinds onwards; I have lunch and still no passport, but I'm not getting worried yet. I spend the afternoon at my PC, not concerned until around 4.30pm, I decide that I will just check to reassure myself that the passport is coming.

I phone the national number given on the Passport and Identity Service web site. I am told that my passport was printed on Wednesday, but it has not gone to the courier. This worries me somewhat, but the person on the helpline tells me to wait until 6pm, since passports are sent to the courier at regular intervals throughout the day.

At 6pm, no passport! I call the national helpline and I am told that they have no way of knowing where my passport is, only that it has not gone to the courier, and I cannot contact the London office as their phone line closes at 5pm. All I can do is call the London office after 9am on the Friday morning. This causes some upset and I ask the person how I can travel to London for a 10.30 check-in at St Pancras if I cannot even talk to anyone before 9am? I am told that this is all that can be suggested. I take up the offer to make a complaint and ask for the response in writing.

Now, if I had not found the, "Fast track," service, guaranteeing a 7 day service for £97, I would have reluctantly told my son that I was very sorry, but I did not have a passport, couldn't go, and wished him and his partner a happy trip. I would have been disappointed, but life is full of disappointments. However, having found the, "Fast track," service, I thought I was going to be able to travel with my son and make sure his kindness was appreciated!

So, I have to make a decision. I have already spent £97, lost two days' wages and spent some considerable time on this. I decide that the only hope of getting my passport is to travel to London on the Thursday evening and be at the passport office by 9am, where hopefully my passport will be waiting, since at 6pm it had not gone to the courier.

This is what I did. My son met me, I stayed overnight, and my son accompanied me to the passport office, arriving there before 9am, my son carrying my heavy bag. Ever hopeful! Get the passport, straight on to St Pancras! Yes, I was wearing my funny hat, with the flower on! Travelling on Eurostar for the first time was a best hat occasion!

Through the glass doors, past the security guards to the glassed reception, tell the person I want to find out where my passport is, get sent back to the security guards, directed to metal detector. I have to go to the second floor. My son suggests that I go ahead and he follows me, carrying my bag. I go to the next reception desk and get my, "cheese counter," ticket. As I turn back, I realise that there is some kind of altercation over at the metal detector. I hear my son say, "It's my mother's bag. She's just over there." I don't hear what the security person, who has a grip on my bag, is saying, but I then hear my son say, "Why are you talking to me like that?" He sounds very offended.

So, over I go, to try to find out what is happening. My son has a hand on my bag and the security person is holding the bag tightly. I ask what is the problem and I am told that there is a pair of scissors in the bag, showing up on the metal detector. Right! I am told that I must remove the scissors! I can't recall there being a pair of scissors in my bag, but Mr Security is not going to let go of my bag until I remove those scissors! Even my funny hat does not convince this man that I am really a harmless granny, not about to stab someone with the scissors I claim not to know about!

With Mr Security still determined not to let go of my bag, I rummage through my underwear, having decided that the only thing likely to contain scissors is my toilet bag and sure enough, there's a small pair of nail scissors at the bottom of it. I remove the scissors and place them in the polythene bag being held open by another security guard. I then have to wait while a receipt is written for my nail scissors.I rearrange my underwear....the items in the bag!

So, finally up to the second floor, where I wait for my number to come up, and I walk to the cubicle indicated by the bot voice. Once again, it's the cubicle that looks like a public pay phone. I describe the problem to the man behind the elevated desk and he goes off to see if he can find out where my passport is. He comes back twice to give me an update, each time telling me that he has not yet found any information. I go to let my son know what is happening. He is sitting out in the rows of seats, under the two large screens with the lists of numbers. I go back to my cubicle and wait. The man finally returns, after about 10 minutes, and tells me that the passport is on its way to my home address...around two and a half hours of travel from where I am in Victoria, and therefore ruling out my getting to St Pancras for a 10.30am check-in!

At this point what I feel is that I have let my son down. This is what upsets me. He has gone to some considerable trouble to organise a treat for me and I can't go because I have no passport. I feel like an idiot for all the assumptions I have made about interviews and guarantees! We have a cup of tea, my son and I, he goes on to St Pancras to meet up with his partner, and I make my way home, lugging my heavy bag and my handbag in which is my travel insurance document and my Euros. I still have those Euros. They are symbolic, not of my missed holiday, but of my shabby treatment by the Passport and Identity Service and I can't even bear to look at them.

When I arrive home, I write a letter of complaint. Two weeks later, I receive an acknowledgement and the information that my complaint will be dealt with, within two weeks.

Yesterday, I received a letter. Here are a few details:

"Please be assured that we set high standards of Customer Service including the care of applications and supporting documents and the response to enquiries and complaints. All our staff are trained and encouraged to meet these standards and I am sorry that you did not share this experience. However, given the volume of passport applications dealt with on a daily basis, unfortunately some human error does occur."

Now, would that person call my interviewer's rudeness, "human error."?

"Our system shows that you submitted your application on 05th June, 2008, and your passport was printed on 11th June, and then delivered on the 13th which was, indeed, the day after the passport was due."

The gentleman signing the letter then goes on to say that he is very pleased to say that he is sending me, under separate cover, a refund of £25! After all that! A refund of 25 quid! TWENTY-FIVE QUID! That's more of an insult than no refund at all! Three days of lost wages; one for my travel to the so-called, "interview,"; one for sitting here like an idiot waiting for the delivery that didn't come; one for going to London trying to take possession of my passport. Add to that thoroughly discourteous service, for which the staff are said to be trained (!!!) and I am offered TWENTY-FIVE QUID! It's not even better than a slap in the face with a wet fish!

I suppose there is always my 3"x5" flimsy, would-shame-a-pound-shop receipt! My passport was waiting when I arrived home, about two hours after my train would have left St Pancras. It remains unopened. And I am offered twenty-five quid! Well, the man who dictated that letter may be pleased, but I am certainly not! I am not so upset about the missed holiday as I am about the losses incidental to a contracted service not being delivered. It was that guarantee which led to the application and the journeys to London. So, losses are incidental to that guarantee.

That was my, "Fast track," to Victoria and home! Zut alors! And the passport office is pleased to offer me a refund of £25!!!!

My son had a brilliant time on his first trip to Paris. I had been hoping to show him my favourite places, but hey! My twenty-five quid should be on its way soon. What more could I want?

This from a government office! Part of the Home office? I do get better service from the cheese counter at Sainsbury's! And I always end up with something more than a flimsy receipt to show for my hard-earned cash that I hand over. At least I get some good quality cheese to enjoy!

And Mr Sainsbury's staff always say, "..please," and, "..thank you," and, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Maybe Mr Sainsbury could do some training for the London Passport and Identity Service, starting with, "The customers are paying your wages. They are entitled to some courtesy for the money they pay for the service. Repeat after me. 'Can I have your form, please?'

If only the passport service was run like the cheese counter at Sainsbury's! If Mr Sainsbury's staff behaved like those at the passport office, I am sure that they would be on their way out the door in double-quick time! But then, Mr Sainsbury knows that Customer Service is a very important part of any business. The passport service calls me a, "customer," but I sure didn't end up feeling like one!

Fourniret and Olivier: preliminary hearings on murders of Joanna Parrish and Marie-Angèle Domece

Preliminary hearings are taking place in Liège to establish if Michel Fourniret and Monique Olivier should stand trail for two more murders, those of Joanna Parrish and Marie-Angèle Domece.

























30 juin 2008

Monique Olivier nie être impliquée dans le meurtre et la disparition de deux jeunes femmes.

Monique Olivier a nié devant les juges d'instruction de Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes) être impliquée dans le meurtre et la disparition de deux jeunes femmes en 1988 et 1990 dans l'Yonne, a-t-on appris auprès des avocats des familles de Joanna Parrish et Marie-Angèle Domece. Réfutant ses aveux de 2005, où elle indiquait avoir participé à leur enlèvement avec son mari, l'épouse de Michel Fourniret devrait être confrontée dans les prochaines semaines aux policiers qui, selon elle, l'auraient violentée et poussée à ces déclarations.

Monique Olivier denies being involved in the murder and disappearance of two young women.

We have learned from the lawyers for the families of Joanna Parrish and Marie-Angèle Domece that Monique Olivier, before the Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes) magistrates, denied being involved in the murder and disappearance of two young women in 1988 and 1990 in Yonne. Refuting her confessions of 2005, in which she indicated having participated in their abduction with her husband, Michel Fourniret's wife will be challenged in the coming weeks by police officers who, according to her, had sexually assaulted her and pushed her into those statements.

"Elle dit maintenant qu'il ne s'est rien passé au sujet de Joanna Parrish", affirme Me Didier Seban, l'avocat des parents de cette Britannique de 20 ans, retrouvée violée et étranglée le 17 mai 1990 à Monéteau (Yonne). Pourtant le 14 février 2005, Monique Olivier, condamnée récemment à la réclusion criminelle à perpétuité avec une peine de sûreté de 28 ans pour sa complicité dans cinq meurtres, avait avoué aux policiers belges et français comment elle avait enlevé avec son mari une jeune femme pouvant correspondre au signalement de Joanna. Elle avait aussi accusé son mari du kidnapping et du meurtre de Marie-Angèle Domece, disparue le 8 juillet 1988 alors qu'elle se rendait à pied la gare d'Auxerre.

"She now says that nothing took place on the subject of Joanna Parrish," states Me Didier Seban, lawyer for the parents of the 20 year-old British girl, found raped and strangled on May 17th 1990 in Monéteau (Yonne). However, on February 14th 2005, Monique Olivier, recently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years for complicity in five murders, had confessed to the Belgian and French police how she had abducted, with her husband, a young woman corresponding to Joanna Parrish's description. She had also accused her husband of the kidnapping and murder Marie-Angèle Domece, who disappeared on July 8th 1988, while she was on her way on foot to the station at Auxerre.

"Elle assure qu'elle a dit n'importe quoi sous la pression des enquêteurs", a ajouté Me Pierre Gonzalez de Gaspard, l'avocat de la famille Domece. En revanche, elle insinue que son mari aurait repéré cette jeune fille à Saint-Cyr-les-Colons, un village proche d'Auxerre où le couple a habité à la sortie de prison de l'Ardennais. Mais elle ne sait pas ce qu'il est ensuite advenu d'elle. "Il est clair que Monique Olivier a très mal vécu son procès et n'en veut pas un nouveau", explique Me Seban qui reconnait être "déçu" par cette audition de trois heures qui s'est déroulée au tribunal de grande instance de Charleville-Mézières. Michel Fourniret devrait être lui interrogé le 3 juillet au sujet de ces deux affaires. Condamné à la réclusion criminelle à perpétuité incompressible pout sept meurtres avoués, l'ancien ouvrier a toujours nié être impliqué dans ces deux autres affaires criminelles.

A l'issue de ces auditions, les deux juges d'instruction pourraient rapidement mettre un terme à cette information judiciaire et décider du renvoi éventuel des deux mis en examen devant une nouvelle cour d'assises.

"She says that she said nothing at all under pressure from the investigators," added Me Pierre Gonzalez de Gaspard, lawyer for the Domece family. On the other hand, she implies that her husband had picked out this young girl in Saint-Cyr-les-Colons, a town close to Auxerre where the couple lived when the Ardennes man came out of prison. But she does not know what subsequently became of her. "It is clear that Monique Olivier lived through her trial very badly and does not want another," explains Me Seban, who admitted being, "disappointed," by the three hour hearing which took place at the Charleville-Mézières High Court. Michel Fourniret should be questioned on July 3rd about these two cases. Sentenced to life in prison without parole for seven confessed murders, the former workman has always denied being involved in these two other criminal cases.

Following these hearings, the two magistrates could quickly bring this criminal investigation to an end and decide to possibly send the two under investigation before a new assizes court.

http://www.kidnapping.be/fourniret/index.html

30/06/08

Enfants Kidnappés: Gonçalo Amaral leaves the police to defend himself.

30 juin 2008

L'ancien chef des enquêteurs quitte la police "pour se défendre".

L'ancien chef des policiers portugais chargés d'enquêter sur la disparition de la petite Britannique Madeleine McCann dans le sud du Portugal en mai 2007, a pris sa retraite pour retrouver sa "liberté d'expression" et pouvoir "se défendre", a-t-il indiqué lundi à l'agence Lusa.

The former chief investigator leaves the police to defend himself.

The former chief of the Portuguese police, lead investigator into the disappearance of the little British girl, Madeleine McCann, in South Portugal in May 2007, has taken retirement to regain his, "freedom of expression," and to be able to, "defend himself," he indicated on Monday at the Lusa agency.

"Je pars car j'estime que la seule façon de retrouver entièrement ma liberté d'expression est de sortir de la police", a déclaré Gonzalo Amaral, 48 ans, lors de son dernier jour en tant qu'inspecteur de la Police judiciaire portugaise (PJ). "Car maintenant, pour pouvoir me défendre, je dois retrouver ma liberté d'expression", a ajouté le policier. A l'origine de la mise en examen des parents de Madeleine McCann, l'ancien patron du service d'enquête criminelle de la Police judiciaire de Portimao (sud) avait été limogé en octobre dernier pour avoir ouvertement critiqué ses collègues britanniques. Dès le début de l'affaire, l'inspecteur Amaral avait lui-même été critiqué par la presse britannique pour ses méthodes et son manque de communication. Gonçalo Amaral commencera à exercer sa "liberté d'expression" avec un livre sur l'affaire Maddie, qui doit être publié dès que le secret de l'enquête sera levé, ce qui pourrait arriver dès cet été. Le livre devrait s'appeler "La vérité du mensonge" et proposera "le récit de quelqu'un qui a vécu une enquête de l'intérieur, mais aussi de tous les faits qui l'entourent", avait annoncé en avril dernier l'avocat de M. Amaral.

"I am leaving because I feel that the only way to completely regain my freedom of express is to leave the police." Gonçalo Amaral, aged 48, stated, on his last day as a PJ inspector for the Portuguese police. "Because now, to be able to defend myself, I have to regain my freedom of expression," the police officer added. There at the time Madeleine McCann's parents started to be investigated, the former head of the Portimao PJ criminal investigation service (south) had been dismissed for openly criticising his British colleagues. From the opening of the case, inspector Amaral had been criticised by the British press for his methods and his lack of communication. Gonçalo Amaral will start to use his, "freedom of expression," with a book about the Maddie case, which may be published as soon as the secrecy of the investigation is lifted, which could happen as early as this summer. The book may be called, "The truth of the lie," and will put forward, "the account of someone who lived an investigation on the inside, but also all the events that surrounded it," M. Amaral's lawyer announced in April this year.

Le secret est l'âme de l'affaire.

Gonçalo Amaral affirme que le "secret est l'âme de l'affaire". Lors de son interview pour l'agence Lusa, l'enquêteur déclare qu'il aimerait réaliser un stage dans un bureau juridique en Algarve: "Ma vie est a Algarve. Je suis algarvien d'adoption. Je vit en Algarve depuis 1986. J'ai commencé à travailler à 14 ans et à l'école de police, plus tard, j'ai expliqué à mes futures collègues que je serais retraité avant eux, soit à l'age de 46 ans selon mes calculs de l'époque. Les règles ont été modifiées et finalement je n'ai pas été retraité à 46 ans !" La veille de son dernier jour dans la police, Amaral a participé à une opération, à Faro qui a débouché sur la saisie de 2.500 kilos d'hachish. Six hommes ont été interpellés et deux bateaux de sport saisis après une opération qui a duré trois mois.

Secrecy is the soul of the case.

Gonçalo Amaral states that, "secrecy is the soul of the case." During his interview for the Lusa agency, the investigator stated that he would love to take up an internship in an Algarve legal office: "My life is in the Algarve. I am Algarvian by adoption. I have lived in the Algarve since 1986. I started working at age 14 and at the police college, later, I explained to my future colleagues that I was going to retire before them, at the age of 46, according to my calculations at the time. The regulations were modified and finally I did not retire at 46!" The day before his last day with the police, Amaral took part in an operation in Faro, which led to the seizing of 2,500 kilos of cannabis. Six men were arrested and two speedboats seized after an operation lasting three months.

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html


30/06/08

SOS Madeleine McCann: fifth British diplomat leaves office since Madeleine McCann's disappearance.

Celia Edwards, British consul in Portimao has announced that she will leave her post. I have read elsewhere that Ms Edwards was leaving to pursue her career in law, but SOS Madeleine McCann cites, "family reasons." The two are not mutually exclusive: I just thought I'd mention the different quotes.

27.06.2008

Cinquième diplomate britannique à quitter fonctions après la disparition de Madeleine.

Celia Edwards, la consule britannique à Portimão, connue pour avoir accompagné Kate et Gerry McCann pendant leurs interrogatoires en septembre 2007, vient d’annoncer officiellement sa démission du poste qui occupait depuis moins d’un an au Portugal. Elle devient le cinquième fonctionnaire du Foreign Office à quitter ses fonctions après être intervenu dans l’affaire McCann.

Fifth British diplomat leaves post after Madeleine's disappearance.

Celia Edwards, British consul in Portimao, known for having accompanied Kate and Gerry McCann during their interrogations in September 2007, has just officially announced her resignation from the post she has held for less than a year in Portugal. She becomes the fifth Foreign Office officlal to leave their post after having intervened in the McCann case.

L’information a déjà été confirmée par le Foreign Office à Londres qui avance des raisons d’ordre familiales pour justifier le départ de la consule.

Avant elle, John Buck, ambassadeur, et Bill Henderson, consul, avaient également quitté leurs fonctions démissionnant. Le premier aout 2007, Celia Edwards remplace Bill Henderson, après que celui-ci avait créé la surprise annonçant sa démission.

The information has already been confirmed by the Foreign Office in London, who cite family reasons to explain the consul's departure.

Before her, John Buck, ambassador, and Bill Henderson, consul, had also left their posts through resignation. On August 1st 2007, Celia Edwards replaced Bill Henderson, after he had surprisingly announce his resignation.

Bill Henderson a quitté toute fonction auprès du Foreign Office et a pris sa retraite après avoir accompagné tous les rencontres entre les McCann et les inspecteurs de la Police judiciaire.

Plus tard, c’est l’ambassadeur britannique à Lisbonne, John Buck, qui met fin à sa carrière, le 10 septembre 2007, le lendemain de la fuite de Kate et Gerry McCann vers le Royaume-Uni après avoir été désigné comme arguidos (suspects).

Bill Henderson left all employment with the Foreign Office and took his retirement after having accompanied all meetings between the McCanns and the PJ inspectors.

Later, it was the British ambassador in Lisbon, John Buck, who put an end to his career, on September 10th 2007, the day after Kate and Gerry McCann fled to the United Kingdom after having been designated as arguidos. (suspects).

John Buck a été remplacé par Alexander Wykeham Ellis, Conseiller du président de la Commission Européene.

Deux envoyés du Foreign Office à Praia da Luz ont également quitté leurs fonctions : Sheree Dodd et Clarence Mitchell.

Sheree Dodd, ancienne journaliste – tout comme Clarence Mitchell – est devenu responsable en communication de Michael Martin, porte-parole de la Chambre des Communs.

Clarence Mitchell, ancien responsable de l’unité de Surveillance des Médias dans le gouvernement de Blair, à fini par être engagé par le multimillionnaire Brian Kenedy ayant comme mission unique de devenir le porte-parole de Kate et Gerry McCann.

John Buck was replaced by Alexander Wykeham Ellis, Advisor to the president of the European Commission.

Two Foreign Office envoys to Praia da Luz also left their posts: Sheree Dodd and Clarence Mitchell.

Sheree Dodd, former journalist - like Clarence Mitchell - became head of communications for Michael Martin, speaker of the House of Commons.

Clarence Mitchell, former head of the Media Monitoring Unit in Blair's government, ended by being engaged by the multi-millionaire Brian Kennedy, his unique mission to become the spokesperson for Kate and Gerry McCann.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

27/06/08

Juan José Corté, father of Mari Luz, leads anti-paedophile march in Madrid.

On Sunday 22nd June, around 1,000 people took part in an anti-paedophile march in Madrid. Juan José Cortés, father of Mari Luz, who was abducted and believed to have been murdered by a paedophile in January this year, led the march.


Typically Spanish 23/06/08

" Juan José Cortés was among those to lead the march in demand for more serious sentences against paedophiles.
Around 1000 people took part in the so-called ‘March Blanca’ on Saturday which took over the Puerta del Sol in Madrid on Saturday in demand for harsher penalties for paedophiles in Spain.

Organised by the ‘Protégeles – protect them’ group it was lead by Juan José Cortés, the father of Mari Luz Cortés, the Huelva five year old who is believed to have died at the hands of paedophile earlier this year.

The main banner read ‘Against sexual abuse, we ask for more serious measures and sentences’.

The children defender, Arturo Canalda, also took part in the protest which also so representation from many institutions such as the Madrid regional government and the Madrid Institute for the Family and Child."

Cédrika Provencher: nearly a year since her disappearance.

Cédrika Provencher disappeared in Trois-Rivières, a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada. Inform