SOS Madeleine McCann: Money leads the McCanns to Oprah Winfrey.

In the news this week, we hear that Kate and Gerry McCann have accepted an invitation to appear on the American Oprah Winfrey show. It seems that the coffers of the Madeleine fund are in need of a top-up and Oprah pays well!
That fund seems to have served the McCann family well, what with making a couple of payments on the McCanns' mortgage and providing John McCann with a full-time job. It may just be me, but I thought it quite odd that John McCann gave up his job so soon after Madeleine's disappearance to work for the campaign to find her. Bit of a risk, really, since an abducted child could turn up at any time, within days maybe, but John must have been thinking of this as a long-term job to give up his previous secure position. I do wonder what led him to think of this as a long-term prospect.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

Kate et Gerry McCann projettent leur participation dans le talk-show d’Oprah Winfrey, un des plus importants des États-Unis, en échange d’une substantielle contribution financière destinée, selon leur porte-parole, à alimenter le fonds Madeleine.

Déjà en janvier cette possibilité avait été prise en considération par les parents de Madeleine, mais leur porte-parole avait écarté leur participation aux shows d’Oprah Winfrey et Barbara Walters affirmant, à l’époque, que “Gerry et Kate ne vont pas donner d’entrevues tant qu’ils continueront à être suspects (arguidos).”

Kate and Gerry McCann are planning their participation in the Oprah Winfrey show, one of the most important in the United States, in exchange for a substantial financial contribution to augment the Madeleine Fund, according to their spokesman.

This possibility was already being considered in January by Madeleine's parents, but their spokesman had ruled out their participation in the Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters shows at the time, because, "Gerry and Kate are not going to give interviews while they are still suspects." (arguidos)

L’information est pourtant confirmée par un responsable du producteur de l’émission aux États-Unis qu’affirme que les McCann sont réceptifs à une offre d’Oprah, sans toutefois préciser le montant que serait versé aux parents de Madeleine.

Selon Clarence Mitchell, le fonds à encore en caisse la somme de 500,000 £, soit moins de la moitié de la somme originale donnée par le public, une somme jugé insuffisante pour continuer les recherches de Madeleine.

The information is confirmed by a senior producer of the show in the United States, who affirms that the McCanns are receptive to an offer from Oprah, without specifying the amount that would be paid to Madeleine's parents.

According to Clarence Mitchell, the fund still has the sum of £500,000 in the bank, which is less than half the amount donated by the public, a sum judged to be insufficient to continue the search for Madeleine.

Récemment, Kate et Gerry McCann ont montré leur inquiétude avec la diminution des dons du public. Le couple a d’ailleurs décidé de renouveler leur appel aux dons.

Selon les responsables du fonds Madeleine, la plupart des dépenses ont été effectuées avec les détectives privés (Metodo 3 et autres) et les campagnes d’affichage au Portugal et en Espagne. L’argent du fond destiné à la recherche de Madeleine a également été utilisé pour payer l’hypothèque de la maison des McCann à Rothley à plusieurs reprises (officiellement deux fois) et une part des frais de justice engagés dans la défense du couple.

Kate and Gerry McCann have recently shown their concern about the decline in public donations. The couple, therefore, decided to renew their appeal for donations.

According to the trustees of the Madeleine Fund, most of the expenses were incurred with private detectives (Metodo 3 and others) and the poster campaigns in Portugal and Spain. The money designated for the search for Madeleine was also used to pay the mortgage on the McCanns' house several times (offically twice) and part of the costs of the legal defence hired by the couple.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

11/07/08

Yeremi Vargas: parents concerned about the Madeleine case ending.

Yeremi Vargas disappeared 16 months ago from his home in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Ithaisa Suárez, la mère d’Yeremi, maintien sa confiance dans le travail des autorités espagnoles malgré les 16 mois passés depuis la disparition se son fils et appelle les autorités à ne pas baisser les bras après avoir entendu les informations en provenance du Portugal donnant conte de la fin des investigations de l’affaire Madeleine McCann.

Ithaisa Suárez, Yeremi's mother, still has confidence in the work of the Spanish authorities, in spite of 16 months having gone by since her son's disappearance, and calls on the authorities not to give up after hearing the information coming from Portugal giving notification of the ending of investigations in the Madeleine McCann case.

“Nous n’envisageons pas que les enquêteurs cessent de chercher, ni qu’ils archivent le cas parce qu'ils nous ont manifesté ces derniers jours qu’ils n'ont jamais abandonné personne et qui continueront à travailler pour le retrouver aussi bien dans la Péninsule comme ici”, affirmaient la mère Yeremi, d'Ithaisa Suárez, et sa tante Milagros en déclarations aux journalistes de “L’Opinión de Tenerife.”

"We don't envisage the investigators stopping the search, nor archiving the case, because they have shown recently that they have never abandoned anyone and they are continuing to work at finding him on the Peninsula as well as here." Yeremi's mother, Ithaisa Suárez, and his aunt Milagros, confirmed in statements to journalists of, "L'Opinion de Tenerife."

“S’ils cessaient de chercher Yeremi ou Sara Morales ce serait une grande désillusion pour tous. Je ne crois pas qu'il se passe ici la même chose qu'au Portugal, où ils disent qu'ils vont archiver le cas de Madeleine McCann, bien que sa famille dispose d'appuis pour continuer à faire des recherches avec des détectives privés ", a dit Milagros.

"If they stopped looking for Yeremi or Sara Morales, we would be very disillusioned. We don't believe the same thing will happen here as in Portugal, where they say they are going to archive the Madeleine McCann case, although her family have support to carry on the search with private detectives," Milagros said.

Contrairement à l’affaire Madeleine McCann, “La recherche d'Yeremi est compliquée, parce qu'il n'y a aucune piste fiable, parce que celui qui l'a fait est probablement une personne sans antécédent”, a déclaré la mère de l'enfant.

Unlike the Madeleine McCann case, "The search for Yeremi is complicated because there are no reliable leads, because the person who did it probably doesn't have a previous record," stated the child's mother.

Yeremi aura neuf ans le 18 juillet, ce sera son deuxième anniversaire loin de sa famille : “Ce sera un jour particulièrement triste, parce que Yeremi accomplira neuf ans et nous ne pouvons pas le tenir pour la seconde fois consécutive”.

Yeremi would be 9 years old on July 18th, which will be his second birthday away from his family: "That will be a particularly sad day, because Yeremi will reach nine years of age and for the second year in a row, we cannot hold him."

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

11/07/08

SOS Madeleine McCann: Judges have three weeks for conclusions

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

Duarte Levy & Paulo Reis

Le Procureur général de la République (PGR), Pinto Monteiro, vient de demander aux magistrats du Ministère Public de lui adresser un rapport final de l’affaire Madeleine McCann, le tout dans un délai de trois semaines.

Pinto Monteiro prétend déterminer quelle est la suite à donner aux investigations de la Police judiciaire après que les inspecteurs ont envoyé au MP un rapport à propos du travail d’investigation effectué depuis la disparition de Madeleine. Un rapport plus qu’accablant dans les faits, mais où les inspecteurs, volontairement, n’ont pas voulu dresser des conclusions ou accusations, laissant aux magistrats la responsabilité de décider de la suite.

The Attorney General of the Republic (PGR), Pinto Monteiro, has asked the magistrates of the Public Ministry to send him the final report of the Madeleine McCann case, the whole lot, within three weeks.

Pinto Monteiro aims to decide on the follow-up to the PJ's investigations after the inspectors have sent to the Public Ministry a report about the investigation work carried out since Madeleine's disappearance. A report more than damning in the facts, but in which the inspectors, voluntarily, have not wanted to draw conclusions or accusations, leaving to the magistrates the responsibility for deciding what follows.

Selon un haut responsable de la PJ dans la région d’Algarve, “l’absence de conclusions ou d’accusations dans le rapport envoyé au Ministère public doit être interprétée comme une responsabilisation du rôle des magistrats et du pouvoir politique dans cette affaire.”

“La PJ n’a eu la possibilité de conduire l’enquête d’une manière tranquille… il y a eu des ingérences et des pressions, en particulier des autorités britanniques et leurs représentants au Portugal,” accuse le même responsable, soulignant qu’au Royaume-Uni les officiers qui avaient fait le voyage au Portugal “ont reconnu avoir souffert les mêmes pressions”.

According to a senior PJ office in the Algarve region, "the absence of conclusions or accusations in the report sent to the Public Ministry should be interpreted as the magistrates being given the responsibility and political power in this case."

"The PJ have not had the possibilty of conducting the investigation in a calm way....there was interferance and pressure, in particular from the British authorities and their representatives in Portugal," the same officer accused, stressing that in the United Kingdom, the police officers who had gone to Portugal, "admitted having been under the same pressure."

Le Procureur Pinto Monteiro a analysé les dizaines de pages du rapport de la Police judiciaire et n’attend plus que la décision des magistrats : effectuer de nouvelles diligences, rester en attente de nouvelles preuves ou indices, sachant que l’enquête ne peut pas être pure et simplement archivée, contrairement à ce que certains médias ont prétendu.

“Maintenant, les magistrats doivent avoir le courage de lire, comprendre et analyser notre rapport. À eux de décider de la suite à donner et de savoir s’ils ont le courage de faire face aux Britanniques,” conclu le haut responsable de la Police Judiciaire.

The Attorney General Pinto Monteiro has analysed dozens of pages of the PJ's report and is only waiting for the magistrates' decision: carry out more work, wait for more evidence or clues, knowing that the investigation cannot purely and simply be archived, contrary to what certain media have claimed.

"Now, the magistrates must have the courage to read, understand and analyse our report. It is up to them to decide on what follows and to find out if they have the courage to face the British." the senior PJ officer concluded.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

10/07/08

Enfants Kidnappés: no agreement on a European alert

La mise en place d'un système européen commun d'alerte dans les cas d'enlèvement d'enfant suscite encore des difficultés. Réunis à Cannes, sous la présidence de Rachida Dati, les ministres de la justice des Vingt-Sept se sont engagés mardi 8 juillet à améliorer la coopération entre leurs Etats, mais n'ont pu se mettre d'accord sur le modèle du dispositif créé en France en février 2006, que Mme Dati souhaitait étendre à l'ensemble de l'Union européenne.

The setting up of a shared European alert system in cases of abducted children is still giving rise to difficulties. Meeting in Cannes on Wednesday, under the presidency of Rachida Dati, the Justice Ministers of the Twenty-Seven set themselves to improving co-operation between their States, but did not manage to reach agreement on the model of the system created in France in February 2006, which Mme Dati wanted to see extended throughout the European Union.

La ministre française a présenté à ses collègues, sur DVD, l'exercice "alerte enlèvement" organisé le 12 juin par la France, en collaboration avec la Belgique, le Luxembourg et les Pays-Bas. Selon le scénario retenu, une petite fille de 6 ans, luxembourgeoise, était enlevée vers 13 heures en gare de Tourcoing. La diffusion d'un message d'alerte et la collaboration des services de police permettaient l'interpellation du ravisseur à Dordrecht (Pays-Bas) en début de soirée.

The French Minister presented to her colleagues, on DVD, the, "abduction alert," which was organised on June 12th by France in collaboration with Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. According to the scenario played out, a little six year-old girl, from Luxembourg, was abducted at around 1pm in the Tourcoing station. The broadcasting of an alert message and the collaboration of police forces allowed the arrest of the kidnapper in Dordecht (Netherlands) by early evening.

En France, le plan "alerte enlèvement" a été mis en œuvre avec succès à six reprises. Il requiert notamment la participation des agences de presse et des sociétés de radio et de télévision. Il ne peut être déclenché que par le procureur de la République, en cas d'enlèvement avéré d'un enfant mineur dont la vie ou l'intégrité physique est en danger.

Les parents de la petite Anglaise Madeleine McCann, enlevée dans un complexe touristique au Portugal il y a un an, se sont faits les défenseurs d'une procédure européenne. Ils estiment qu'elle aurait pu aider les enquêteurs portugais, qui se préparent à clore une procédure qui a donné lieu à de multiples controverses.

In France, the, "abduction alert," plan has been successfully put into operation six times. It requires notably the involvement of news agencies and radio and television companies. It can only be launched by the prosecutor of the Republic, in the case of a proven abduction of a minor child whose life or physical safety is in danger.

The parents of the little English girl, Madeleine Mcann, abducted from a tourist complex in Portugal a year ago, have made themselves defenders of a European procedure. They consider that it would have helped the Portuguese investigators, who are preparing to close a case which has given rise to many controversies.

La généralisation du plan aux autres Etats de l'Union, soutenue officiellement par la Commission, s'est heurtée à l'opposition de l'Allemagne, au grand regret du commissaire français Jacques Barrot qui a repris le dossier. "Chez nous, on publie des photos d'enfants disparus, mais seulement quand c'est vraiment nécessaire", a déclaré la ministre allemande de la justice, la sociale-démocrate Brigitte Zypries, qui a ajouté : "Il ne faut pas lancer une alerte européenne quand un enfant a disparu depuis deux heures. La grande majorité d'entre eux rentrent à la maison au bout de deux ou trois jours." Prenant acte de ce refus, Mme Dati a souhaité que les pays, dont la plupart disposent d'un système de recherche, mettent en relation leurs systèmes d'alerte. "Nous allons essayer de rendre ces systèmes complémentaires", a-t-elle dit. (le Monde)

The implementing of the plan in the other States of the Union, officially supported by the Commission, met with opposition from Germany, to the great regret of the French Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, who has taken over the case. "In Germany, we publish photos of missing children, but only when it is really necessary," stated the German Justice Minister, the Social-Democrat Brigitte Zypries, who added: "A European alert should not be launched when a child has been missing for two hours." The great majority of them return home after two or three days." Taking note of this refusal, Mme Dati wished for the countries, most of which use a system for searching, to bring together their alert systems. "We are going try to make these systems complimentary," she said. (le Monde)

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

9/07/08

Enfants Kidnappés 9/07/08: Doubts and troubling details.

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

L'annexe 886 du rapport final reprend les auditions dactylographiées des amis du couple, réalisés par la police britannique, avant d'être interrogé formellement par la PJ portugaise, après la disparition de Madeleine. Pour les autorités portugaises, la façon "très minutieuse" dont les amis du couple ont "rappelé" le déroulement de la soirée du 03 mai ne comporte aucune émotion. Ainsi, par exemple, dans le groupe d'amis certains avaient des enfants endormis seuls dans leur chambre d'hôtel. Pourquoi n'ont-ils pas, d'instinct, été voir si leurs enfants allaient bien après que Kate ait signalé la disparition de Madeleine ? Ils ont accourus pour aider à chercher Maddie mais ils ne sont pas allés voir si leurs enfants n'avaient pas été aussi enlevés! Ce document est considéré comme important par les autorités.

The typed up hearings of the couple's friends, carried out by the British police, before they were interrogated by the PJ after Madeleine's disappearance, are collected in Appendix 886 of the final report. For the Portuguese authorities, the "very careful," way in which the couple's friends, "recalled," the unfolding of the evening of May 3rd holds no emotion. For example, in the group, some of the friends had children asleep alone in their hotel rooms. Why did they not, instinctively, go to see if their children were OK after Kate reported Madeleine's disappearance? They rushed to help look for Madeleine but they did not go to see if their children had also been abducted! This document is considered important by the authorities.

Il est fondamental pour les enquêteurs de savoir ce qui s'est passé dans les heures précédant sa disparition. Or une description des moments routiniers des parents et amis ainsi qu'une description complète des derniers moments où Maddie a été vue en vie, est fondamental pour la recherche afin d'éclaircir les doutes et d'expliquer d'évidentes incongruités. Gerry McCann affirme que ce jour là, et contrairement aux autres jours, il n'a pas accompagné ses amis. Gerry a assuré que ce jour là, ils ont été cherché les jumeaux à la crèche ainsi que Madeleine vers 17h00 et qu'ils ont directement regagné leur appartement. A 21h00, Gerry garantit être allé voir ses enfants. Il ne serait pas entré dans la chambre de Madeleine (où les jumeaux dormaient également) et ce n'est que plus tard qu'il accordera de l'importance au fait que la porte de la chambre était plus ouverte que ce qu'il avait laissé. L'alerte a été donnée à 22h000 et la GNR n'a été avisée qu'une heure plus tard. Les britanniques affirment n'avoir avisé la BBC que vers 02h00 du matin.

It is crucial for the investigators to know what happened in the hours preceding the disappearance. But details of the routines of the parents and their friends as well as a complete picture of the last moments when Madeleine was seen alive, are crucial for the research in order to clarify the doubts and obvious inconsistencies. Gerry McCann states that on that day, and contrary to other days, he did not accompany his friends. Gerry assured that on that day, they went to fetch the twins and Madeleine from the crèche at around 5pm and they went straight back to their apartment. At 9pm, Gerry guarantees having been to see his children. He would not have gone into Madeleine's bedroom (where the twins were also sleeping) and it was only later that he would realise the importance of the fact that the bedroom door was more open than it had been left. The alert was raised at 10pm and the GNR were not advised until an hour later. The British people state that they did not advise the BBC until around two in the morning.

D'autres hypothèses

Outre la thèse de l'enlèvement, la théorie du crime passionnel a également été étudiée. La PJ s'est penchée sur la possibilité d'une éventuelle vengeance contre les parents. Rien de concret n'en est sorti, aucun indice, ou début d'indice n'a pu être décelé. La PJ a analysé à la loupe la vie des parents et de leurs amis anglais sans que rien de suspect n'apparaisse. Nous pouvons également vous dire, et c'est une exclusivité, que l'hypothèse que les parents, avec ou sans le groupe d'amis, aient organisé ou participé à une soirée "spéciale" (NDLR: Soirée pédophile) qui aurait mal tourné, a été envisagé au même titre que n'importe quelles autres pistes... mais fut très vite abandonné.

Other hypotheses.

Other than the abduction theory, the theory of a crime of passion was also studied. the PJ focused on the possibility of possible revenge against the parents. Nothing concrete came of this, no clues, or hints of clues could be detected. The PJ put the lives of the parents and their English friends under the microscope with nothing suspicious cropping up. We can also tell you, and this is an exclusive, that the hypothesis that the parents, with or without the group of friends, had organised or participated in a, "special," evening (NDLR: paedophile evening) which turned out wrong, was considered in the same way as any other track...but was very quickly abandonned.

De questions restées sans réponses.

Le rapport final fait états de questions laissées sans réponses. Ces réponses auraient du trouver réponses dans la reconstitution de la soirée. La première de ces questions est de savoir où se trouvait Jane Tanner, Gerry McCann et Jeremy Wilkins (un témoin qui a parlé avec Gerry vers 21h00) et ce qu'ils faisaient exactement. Selon le rapport, il semble anormal que dans l'espace exigu où ils se trouvaient, Gerry et Jeremy n'aient pas vu le ravisseur potentiel décrit par Jane. Deuxièmement, la vérification de la façon dont les enfants étaient contrôlés était importante. A être aux endroits rapporté par les témoins rend impossible à un ravisseur d'enlever Madeleine et cela aurait du être vérifié via la reconstitution. Enfin, les enquêteurs voulaient savoir ce qui est exactement arrivé entre 17h30 et 22h00 soit entre l'heure où Maddie a été vue pour la dernière fois et l'heure où l'alerte fut donnée.

Unanswered questions.

The final report puts forward questions left unanswered. Answers to these questions would have been found in the reconstruction of the evening. The first of these questions is to find out where Jane Tanner, Gerry McCann and Jeremy wilkins were (a witness who spoke with Gerry around 9pm) and what they were doing exactly. According to the report, it seems strange that in the cramped space where they were, Gerry and Jeremy had not seen the potential abductor described by Jane. Secondly, verification of the way the children were supervised was important. Being in the places reported by the witnesses renders it impossible for a kidnapper to abduct Madeleine and that would have been checked out via the reconstruction. Finally, the investigators would like to know exactly what happened between 5.30 and 10pm, the time when Maddie was seen for the last time and the time when the alert was raised.

Que faut-il en conclure ?

Rien. Pas de précipitations hâtives. Le rapport final, dont un petit extrait a été révélé par la presse et repris ici, ne fait état que de doutes et d'incohérences. Il n'accuse pas. Nous ne sommes pas partisans d'un camp ou d'un autre mais s'il doit y en avoir un, alors se sera celui des "modérés". Nous sommes contre les extrémistes en tous genres que ce soit ceux qui refusent, à tous prix, d'envisager la possibilité que les parents soient coupables en étant prêt à inventer les excuses les plus farfelues les unes que les autres; ou que ce soit ceux qui veulent que les parents soient des "assassins" en puissance ayant "sacrifié" Madeleine. Le bon père de famille sera entre ces deux positions, il sera plus modéré. Mais il faut être honnête avec soi-même et reconnaître que les éléments soulevés lors de ces trois derniers articles sont très troublant et ne vont pas dans le sens de l'innocence des parents, sans toutefois les accuser formellement non plus. Il ne faut pas tomber dans les spéculations mais il parait clair qu'une ou plusieurs personnes parmi le T9 ment! C'est évident. Tout comme est évident le manque de coopération de certains d'entres eux. Mais dans quel but ? La seule conclusion acceptable pour le moment c'est qu'à cause de leurs mensonges, on ne sait toujours pas où est Madeleine ou son corps. Le corps de Madeleine retrouvé permettrait aux parents (s'ils sont innocents) de faire leur deuil !

What can be concluded?

Nothing. No hasty decisions. The final report, of which a small extract has been revealed by the press and reported here, only puts forward doubts and inconsistencies. It does not accuse. We are not members of one camp or another but if we must be in one, then it would be that of the, "moderates." We are against the extremists of all kinds, those who refuse, at all costs, to envisage the possibility that the parents were guilty, ready to invent the most foolish excuses, some more than others; or those who want the parents to be, "killers," with power, having, "sacrificed," Madeleine. The good father of a family will be between these two positions, he will be more moderate. But we must be honest with ourselves and recognise that the elements raised in these three latest articles are very troubling and do not go with the parents innocence, without at the same time formally accusing them either. We must not fall into speculations but it seems clear that one or several amongst the T9 is lying! The only acceptable conclusion for the moment is that because of their lies, it is still not known where is Madeleine or her body. Madeleine's body being found would allow the parents (if they are innocent) to grieve.

SOS Madeleine McCann: European Ministers have rejected, "The Madeleine Alert."

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

La mise en place d'un système d'alerte Amber européen a été rejetée, hier, par les ministres de la Justice de l'Union Européene (UE), au cours d'une réunion informelle, à Cannes, France. “Nous ne devrions pas lancer une alerte européenne quand un enfant a juste disparu pendant quelques heures,” a dit la ministre de la Justice allemande aux médias. “La grande majorité d'enfants retournent à la maison après deux ou trois jours.” Cependant, les ministres de justice de l'UE ont convenu sur la nécessité d'une coopération plus étroite entre les forces de police et les systèmes d'alerte déjà utilisés dans des pays de l'UE.

The setting up of a European Amber alert system was rejected yesterday by the Justice Ministers of the European Union (EU) in the course of an informal meeting in Cannes, France. "We should not launch a European alert when a child has just been missing for a few hours," the German Justice Minister told the media. "The great majority of children return home after two or three days." However, the EU's Justice Ministers agreed on the need for closer co-operation between police forces and the alert systems already being used in some EU countries.

Selon le “MailOnline”, au cours de cette réunion, “Bruxelles rejette l’appel des McCann pour un système d'alerte européen pour les enfants disparues”. L'annonce “a été bien accueillie” par Kate et Gerry, qui ont fait campagne pour un système d'alerte de l'UE à adopter par chacun des 27 pays : “Cette annonce est très encouragent, car il souligne le fait qu'il y a un désir au niveau européen pour que les choses s'améliorent,” a dit Clarence Mitchell, le porte-parole de la famille McCann, au MailOnline.

According to the, "MailOnline," in the course of this meeting, "Brussels rejects the McCanns' appeal for an European alert system for missing children." The announcement, "was well received," by Kate and Gerry, who campaigned for an EU alert system to be adopted by each of the 27 countries: "This announcement is very encouraging, because it stresses the fact that there is a desire at European level for things to improve," Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCann family, told the MailOnline.

La ministre française de la Justice, Rachida Dati, a invité ses homologues à adopter le système utilisé par Paris, car, selon elle, il a fonctionnait à six reprises sur six. “Quand il s’agit de protéger les enfants en Europe, aucune ressource ne devrait être épargnée,” a-t-elle dit. “Nous devons absolument rassembler tout ce que nous avons.”

Au Parlement européen, une “déclaration écrite,” signée par un groupe d’eurodéputés et soutenue par les McCann est parvenue à rassembler, jusqu'à aujourd'hui — le dernier jour — 351 signatures. Pour être prise en compte, la déclaration écrite aurait dû recueillir 393 signatures, soit la majorité des membres du Parlement européen, après quoi elle aurait été transmise au Président, afin d’être citée en procès-verbal et archivée.

The French Justice Minister, Rachida Dati, invited her counterparts to adopt the system used by Paris, because, according to her, it worked six times out of six. "When it comes to protecting Europe's children, no resource should be spared," she said. "We must absolutely gather together everything we have."

In the European Parliament, a, "written declaration," signed by a group of Euro-deputies and supported by the McCanns gathered 351 signatures up to today - the last day. To be considered, the written declaration would have to have collected 393 signatures, being the majority of the members of the European Parliament, after which it would have been forwarded to the President, to be quoted in the minutes and archived.

SOS Madeleine McCann: Association created to demand the prosecution of the McCanns

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

8/07/08

Association crée pour exiger la poursuite en justice des McCann.

Le controversé Tony Bennett, un avocat britannique à la retraite, à une nouvelle fois réussie à mettre Kate et Gerry McCann en colère après la révélation de qu’il aurait mis en place une association dénommée “The Madeleine Foundation” qui vise la poursuite du couple en justice pour négligence d'enfants.

Contrairement aux attentes, Kate et Gerry McCann n’ont pas manifesté la moindre inquiétude à propos de l’objectif de la fondation. Selon Clarence Mitchell, porte-parole des McCann, le couple craint que le public puisse, par distraction, verser de l'argent à cette nouvelle fondation et non à leur propre fondation, Fonds Madeleine.

An association created to demand the prosecution of the McCanns

Tony Bennett, the controversial retired British lawyer, has once again succeeded in angering Kate and Gerry McCann after it was revealed that he would set up an association called, "The Madeleine Foundation," whose aim is the prosecution of the couple for child neglect.

Contrary to expectations, Kate and Gerry McCann have not shown the least concern about the objective of the foundation. According to their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, the couple believe that the public could be misled into pouring money into this new foundation and not into their own foundation, the Madeleine Fund.

Tony Bennet avait déjà entamé une action en justice à l’encontre de Kate et Gerry McCann, accusant le couple de négligence pour avoir laissé ses trois enfants — Madeleine, Sean et Amelie – sans aucune surveillance pendant que le couple et ses amis dinaient dans un restaurant proche. La Cour n’a pas donné suite aux accusations estimant qu’elle n’avait aucune juridiction dans l’affaire, car Madeleine avait disparu au Portugal.

Selon le fondateur, Tony Bennet, une partie de l'argent sera employée pour payer l’avis d’un avocat à propos de la meilleure manière d’entamer une action en justice contre les McCann : “Nous sommes un groupe de personnes, qu’augmente rapidement, qui veulent obtenir la vérité de ce qui est arrivé à Madeleine”.

Tony Bennett had already launched a legal action against Kate and Gerry McCann, accusing the couple of negligence for having left their three children - Madeleine, Sean and Amelie - without supervision while the couple and their friends were dining at a nearby restaurant. The court did not follow up on the accusations, considering that it had no jurisdiction in the case, because Madeleine had disappeared in Portugal.

According to the founder, Tony Bennett, a part of the money would be used to pay for the advice of a barrister about the best way to launch a legal action against the McCanns: "We are a group of people, growing rapidly, who want to find out the truth about what happened to Madeleine."

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

Addendum: I will give details of this foundation as soon as they are available.

Enfants Kidnappés: an Irish witness saw Gerry carrying Maddie.

Martin Smith, from Ireland, was on holiday in Praia da Luz at the same time as the McCanns. This week it has been reported in the Portuguese press that Mr Smith saw a man carrying a child, whom he thought was Madeleine, and that only when he returned to Ireland and saw Gerry's image on TV, did he think that the man he had seen was Gerry.

Enfants Kidnappés, dated 7/07/08

http://www.kidnapping.be/affairemaddie07j/index.html

07 juillet 2008

An Irish witness saw Gerry carrying Maddie

Irishman Martin Smith told the PJ that he had seen a man carrying a child under his arm. To him, that child seemed to be Maddie. The events would have taken place round about dinner time on the evening of May 3rd. The hearing of the witness was recorded early on in the research. A few days after returning to his country of origin, Martin Smith went to the police. Following the media coverage of the case, he guaranteed that he had no doubts when he saw Gerry's face on television for the first time, as he was leaving a plane. The man who was carrying the child on the day that Maddie disappeared was her father!

The information was sent to the Portuguese authorities at a time when the PJ were still concentrating on the abduction theory. And, according to the final report, the lead would not have been followed because at the time when Martin stated having seen Gerry carrying Maddie under his arm, the latter was having dinner with friends of the couple at the Tapas Bar. It was only later that the PJ realised that no one amongst the T9 could say at exactly what time each member of the group was to be found at the restaurant. The PJ then requested additional investigation of this witness via the rogatory letters. The additional tasks concerning this witness were finally not carried out and without other details could not be examined more thoroughly.

The British police hand over certain details of the investigation to the McCanns.

On Monday, the British police agreed to hand over to Madeleine McCann's parents, certain details of their file on the little girl's disappearance in the south of Portugal in May 2007, to enable private investigators whom they had engaged to assess them. In return, Kate and Gerry McCann withdrew from a legal procedure designed to force the police of Leicestershire, the central England county where they live, to let them have that information. "Kate and Gerry are satisfied with this compromise reached with the police," Clarence Mitchell, their spokesman, stated. "If we had not gone to court, we would not have obtained these 81 pieces (of information) The whole file would contain nearly 11,000 documents. They are now going to our private investigators who will work with them as a priority."

It remains difficult to believe that these documents will be useful to Metodo 3 in the sole objective of finding Madeleine. It seems difficult that this company, with a doubtful reputation and dubious legal methods, could do better than the PJ who have placed more than 300 men on the case. It remains to know if these 81 documents and hearings also contain the witness statements of the two crucial witnesses of whom the hearings have still not been sent to the Portuguese authorities? If such is the case, this looks more like a manoeuvre for preparing a defence than searching for a missing little girl.

Metodo 3 called into question by the PJ.

The final report criticises the, "research," done by the private detective agency hired by the couple. It was because of them that the PJ lost enormous amounts of time, money and energy in following, checking, assessing, analysing every, "false," lead put forward by Metodo 3, all over the place. There was Gail Cooper's witness statement, heard for the first time by the British authorities. She spoke of a beggar, whom she had only seen once and who could have taken the child. Later at the agency of the private detectives hired by the couple, she stated that she had seen the same beggar three times. And that on one of these three times, he had surprised her by looking at the group of children that Madeleine was part of, in a, "strange," way.

Then it was the turn of Jane Tanner who had not succeeded, initially, in describing the face of the man whom she asserted she had seen carrying Maddie in his arms, to go back on her statements. She stated that the man seen by Gail Cooper resembled the one she saw. The photo-fit went round the world and forced the PJ to check hundreds of leads which turned out to be false. Without taking into account that the PJ have had to take themselves to the farthest flung places on the planet. On the same day, at the same time, Maddie happened to be seen at places more than 4,000 kilometers apart! The report leaves to be implied that if someone had wanted to slow down the investigation, to prevent its being successful, this was as good a way as any.

The British modified the results of the tests.

This was the strangest about-turn of the investigation. The first analyses of the biological samples, carried out in the UK, on residues collected under the spare wheel, in the boot of the car rented by the parents, were compatible with Madeleine's genetic profile. Later, after the parents were designated as, "arguidos," or suspected of having concealed Madeleine's body, the laboratory announced the correction of their initial analyses. Afterward, the biological traces found in the Renault Scenic rented by the parents were not conclusive. In addition, even the quality of the samples was suddenly placed in doubt. This scientific reversal, not yet completely clarified, risks taking the investigation to a dead end. In effect the doubt always benefits the accused.

If one of the most important testing laboratories suddenly places samples themselves in doubt, that will be wholly beneficial for the defence. Note, however, that the use of dogs for detecting cadaver odours and traces of blood, is quite valid in the Portuguese legal system and the laboratory would have to scientifically corroberate the indications of the dogs. The PJ's decision to send the analyses to the UK, when they could have been done in Portugal, was initially a question of credibility.The inspectors did not want the results to be called into question in the UK.

SOS Madeleine McCann: the British release confidential documents to the McCanns without the agreement of the investigators.

At a sitting of the Family Division of the High Court in London yesterday, Judge Hogg ratified the agreement reached between the McCanns and Leicestershire police for the handing over of 81 pieces of information, gathered within the context of the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance in May 2007, in Praia da Luz. Thanks to a contributor on the 3 Arguidos forum, who was present at the open hearing, we have a transcript of Judge Hogg's judgment. (See Addendum part 1.) I refer now to the report on the decision by SOS Madeleine McCann.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

07.07.2008

Britanniques délivrent documents confidentiels aux McCann sans l’accord des enquêteurs

Selon une source officielle au Portugal, la Police judiciaire (PJ) n’a pas eu un contact préalable avec les autorités anglaises donnant leur accord pour que le couple McCann puisse avoir accès à des documents relatifs à l’enquête à la disparition de leur fille, Madeleine. L’information a d’ailleurs été confirmée par la Direction nationale de la PJ que garant n’avoir jamais eu le moindre contact à ce sujet avec la police britannique et que, par cette même raison, ne connait pas quels sont les 81 documents que seront remis à la famille McCann.

British release confidential documents to the McCanns without the agreement of the investigators.

According to an official in Portugal, the PJ did not have prior contact with the English authorities giving their agreement for the McCann couple to have access to documents relating to the investigation into their daughter Madeleine's disappearance. Meantime, the information was confirmed by the National Directorate of the PJ who guarantee never having had the least contact on this matter with the British police and who, for that same reason, do not know what the 81 documents are which will be handed over to the McCann family.

“Si effectivement la Police du Leicestershire à accepté de donner aux deux arguidos, Kate et Gerry McCann, des documents concernant l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine, nous sommes devant un acte très grave et que remet en cause, à mes yeux, la collaboration entre les forces de police des deux pays,” accuse un haut responsable de la Police judiciaire en déclarations à SMM.

"If effectively the Leicestershire police have agreed to give the two arguidos, Kate and Gerry McCann, documents concerning the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, we are looking at a very serious act and which calls into question, in my eyes, the collaboration between the police forces of the two countries," was the accusation of a senior PJ officer in statements to SMM.

L’avocat Tim Scott, représentant Kate et Gerry McCann, est comparu ce matin devant la Cour Suprême de Londres, section Famille, ou la Juge Hogg aurait dû statuer à propos de la demande des McCann qui voulaient avoir accès aux documents concernant le dossier d’enquête de la PJ à la disparition de Madeleine. Documents en possession de la police du Leicestershire, couverts par le secret de justice et par les règles de coopération internationale entre les deux pays.

Tim Scott, the lawyer representing Kate and Gerry McCann, appeared this morning before the Family Division of High Court in London, where Judeg Hogg would have had to rule on the request from the McCanns, who wanted to have access to documents concerning the PJ case file on Madeleine's disappearance. Documents in the possession of the Leicestershire police, covered by secrecy of justice and by the rules of international co-operation between the two countries.

Un accord aurait été retrouvé entre les avocats du couple et la police britannique : les McCann ont accepté de retirer leur demande en échange de 81 documents d’information contenant, selon l’accord, des détails de plusieurs témoins qui ont pris contact avec la police et un résumé des informations qu'ils ont fournies à la police.

Agreement would have been found between the couple's lawyers and the British police: the McCanns agree to withdraw their request in exchange for 81 documents containing, according to the agreement, details of several witnesses who made contact with the police and a summary of the information they provided to the police.

L’objectif initial de la démarche des McCann auprès de la Cour Suprême était, du moins officiellement, de forcer la police de Leicestershire à révéler 11.000 informations et documents appartenant à l’enquête concernant la disparition de Madeleine, en partie transmis par les autorités portugaises ou en provenance du public.

The initial objective of the McCanns' taking action in the High Court was, at aleast officially, to force the Leicestershire police to disclose 11,000 pieces of information and documents, appertaining to the investigation concerning Madeleine's disappearance, sent by the Portuguese authorities or coming from the public.

Selon Clarence Mitchell, porte-parole et responsable en communication du couple, les documents en question concernent des témoignages apparus les jours qui ont suivi la disparition de Madeleine et seront maintenant exploités par les différents détectives privés au service de Kate et Gerry McCann.

According to Clarence Mitchell, the couple's spokesman and PR representative, the documents in question concern witnesses who came forward in the days following Madeleine's disappearance and will now be used to advantage by the various private detectives engaged by Kate and Gerry McCann.

Pendant que le Ministère public “apprécie” le rapport de la Police judiciaire, visant à déterminer si d’autres diligences sont nécessaires ou possibles, le Procureur général de la République (PGR) doit encore se prononcer à propos de l’accord retrouvé entre la police du Leicestershire et les McCann.

While the Public Minister, "assesses," the PJ's report, looking to determine if other work is necessary or possible, the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) has yet to give his opinion on the agreement made between the Leicestershire police and the McCanns.

Une Juge rendue à la cause des McCann

Loin de l’habituelle froideur et impartialité typique des magistrats britanniques, la Juge Hogg a confirmé avoir excusé les McCann d'assister à l'audition, car, selon elle, “ils ont souffert assez et j'ai souhaité soulager leur fardeau”.

La Juge, assez proche des milieux politiques, a également envoyé un message au responsable pour la disparition de Madeleine : “Je supplie cette personne, qui quelle est, pour qu’elle montre miséricorde et compassion et qui apparaisse maintenant et nous dise où ont peut retrouver Madeleine. J'attends qu'elle soit trouvée brièvement, vivent et sain ”, a déclaré.

A judge given over to the McCanns' cause.

Far from the usual coldness and impartiality typical of British magistrates, Judge Hogg confirmed having excused the mcCanns from attending the hearing, because, according to her, "they have suffered enoug and I wanted to relieve their burden."

The Judge, who is close to political circles, also sent a message to those responsible for Madeleine's disappearance: "I entreat that person, whoever they may be, to show mercy and compassion and come forward now and tell us where we can find Madeleine. I hope that she will soon be found, safe and well," she stated. (Addendum part 2)

Plusieurs officiers britanniques, contactés sur place par SMM, ont reconnu être surpris avec l’accord retrouvé et plus encore avec le comportement “anormalment different” de la Juge Hogg : “Elle ne doit pas ignorer que, jusqu’à aujourd’hui, les parents sont officiellement suspects au Portugal et qu’ils n’ont pas fait le moindre effort pour aider à la progression de l’enquête,” affirme un responsable de la police à Enderby.

Several British police officers, contacted on the spot by SMM, admitted to being surprised by the agreement reached and still more by the behaviour, "unusually different," of Judge Hogg: "She should not ignore that, even today, the parents are officially suspects in Portugal and that they have not made the slightest effort to help the progress of the investigation," an official from the Enderby police stated.

Dame Mary Claire Hogg, de 52 ans, est originaire d’une dynastie célèbre dans la magistrature et la politique ; elle est la fille de l'ancien "Lord Chancellor" Lord Hailsham et soeur de l'ancien ministre de l’Agriculture Douglas Hogg.

Dame Mary Claire Hogg, aged 52, comes from a dynasty, famous in the judiciary and politics; she is the daughter of the former, "Lord Chancellor," Lord Hailsham and sister of the former Agriculture Minister Douglas Hogg.

Addendum part 1

Judgment of Justice Hogg:Madeleine went missing on 3/5/07 a few days before her 4th birthday while on holiday in the Algarve. On 17/5, Madeleine parents invoked the jurisdiction of this Court under the Children and Custody Act and the Hague Convention.

They sought various Orders and Directions to assist in ascertaining her whereabouts. Madeleine became a ward of court. It is not known if she is alive, but there is no evidence to the contrary. She is a British citizen and habitually resident in the UK. The Court made an order on 2/4 against the Chief Constable to assist in providing information. Such is the complexity of the issues in relation to other investigations, that other parties were invited and joined. The parents reached an accommodation.

The Chief Constable will provide contact details for people who contacted the parents’ solicitors. The parents do not wish to pursue other applications and withdraw their application. I have no criticism of the parents who have behaved responsibly and reasonably.

The parents should be allowed to withdraw their application. An Order is made by Consent. The terms of Orders made on 2/5/07** shall not apply to the Chief Constable nor any other agency. All evidence submitted to the court shall remain confidential, save the Chief Constable may at his discretion release the Case Summary and Skeleton Argument. Any other document is not to be disclosed or published save in accordance with other Orders.

** I think this date should be 22/5/07

It may be noted neither parent is present. I agreed last week with this provided their legal teams were fully instructed. My belief is that they have suffered enough and I wish to ease their burden. I know that agencies here in Portugal will continue to strive to find Madeleine. I urge anyone with any information to come forward. There is at least one person who knows what happened. I ponder whether that person has a heart and to consider what it is like for Madeline to be secreted from her siblings. Whether than person has a conscience, remorse or cares about hurt caused to an innocent child; whether he has faith and what justification he will give to his God. I entreat that person to show mercy and compassion and to tell us where Madeleine is. I hope she will be found very soon alive and well. I confirm the wardship will continue. " (Statement about and to the person responsible for Madeleine's disappearance)

Addendum part 2: from the Press Association - what the judge said about, and to, the person responsible for Madeleine's disappearance.

Mrs Justice Hogg (From the Press Association)

"There is, of course, one person who knows what has happened to Madeleine and where she may be found," the judge said.

"I ponder about that person - whether that person has a heart and might understand what it must be like for Madeleine to have been taken and secreted from her parents and siblings and those she loved and felt secure with.

"I ponder whether that person has a conscience or any feeling of guilt or remorse or even cares about the hurt that has been caused to an innocent little girl, and whether that person has a faith or belief and what explanation or justification they might give to God.

"I entreat that person, whoever they may be, to show mercy and compassion and come forward now and tell us where Madeleine is to be found. I hope she will be found soon, alive and well."