Showing posts with label Tapas Nine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tapas Nine. Show all posts

Friday, 12 October 2012

Exposure The Other Side of Jimmy Savile






I felt sickened watching this video: Jimmy Savile, the man who 'fixed it,' for so many children to fulfill a dream had abused so many young women. 

As a teenager, I watched Jimmy Savile on Top Of The Pops and enjoyed watching his "Jim'll Fix It," shows. It was great seeing those children having something fixed for them and Savile was a good choice to host that show: he was already known for his charity work and his being presenter almost guaranteed a good viewing audience for the programme. 

I can hardly believe what I'm reading now and hearing about. As far back as the 1970s there were complaints about Jimmy Savile. An ex-police officer, on BBC Radio 4 the other evening, said he'd taken a report in the 1970s from a nurse who stated that Savile was abusing children at the hospital where he worked. The police officer passed this on to his superior officer, who did not believe what was said. End of the story on that one. No investigation. 

This week I've seen a woman from Leeds talking about how she walked into Savile's dressing room and found him with a girl on his lap who looked about 14 years old. Savile's hand was up the girl's skirt and his tongue down her throat. Yuk! 

There's more and more and more. Every day there are more revelations: Savile had keys to Broadmoor and could enter any of the bedrooms; Savile abused a brain-injured patient; Savile picked girls out from the audience at TOTP; nurses told children to pretend to be asleep when they knew Savile was coming;  Savile raped under-age girls in that traveling bed of his. 

The worst of this obscene story about an obscene life is that it seems that there were many people at the BBC who knew what Jimmy Savile was like and they did nothing. They made Jimmy Savile an icon and a champion for children when they knew he was abusing children. 

Savile was feasted and feted by the BBC, who continued to use him as front man for so many TV shows, even as they knew what he was doing under cover of his charity work and how he was using his popularity to groom under-age children. 

Next question? How many more are there like Savile? How many of his contemporaries not only knew what he was up to, not only colluded by staying silent, but were actually involved in the same kind of crime themselves? So far, according to ITV News, the number of names being put forward is five: five people who allegedly knew Jimmy Savile and were engaged in grooming and abusing children. 

Jimmy Savile hob-nobbed with the rich and famous, with politicians and royalty. He was given a Knighthood by the UK government and a strange kind of Knighthood by the Pope. Did none of those people have any idea? Now that the dam has burst and more and more victims are coming forward and more and more people are telling us they either had their suspicions or actually knew what he was up to, is it reasonable to ask if any of those people who lauded him also knew what Savile was like? Seems like the whispers were very loud, loud enough for nurses to be warning patients of Savile's impending arrival. 

Dear God how much more? How many more cover-ups? Hillsborough and Savile and who/what else? Should there be some kind of serious public enquiry now into the Madeleine McCann case? Is that subject to a cover-up too? No evidence of an abduction, cadaver odour detected only on property belonging to the McCanns and in the apartment and the car they rented, enough inconsistencies and holes in official statements for even me to drive a bus through - and believe me, when I park the car sometimes, I have to consider getting a taxi to the pavement! 

Martin Grime, who trained the two sniffer dogs who alerted to blood and cadaver odour in the McCann case, is presently giving evidence in a similar case in the USA, where a child disappeared and no body has been found. The evidence of the dog's alerting to cadaver odour is being allowed into court. 

Sniffer dogs Eddie and Keela had an unblemished record of over 200 cases before they worked the McCann case and yet Gerry McCann can state that sniffer dogs are unreliable.

There is so much about the McCann case that gives cause for concern, in my opinion, starting with the fact that three small children were left alone in an unlocked apartment in a foreign country, that I think it's reasonable to ask why the McCanns were not at least charged with neglect leading to serious harm. It's also reasonable, in my opinion, to ask if there is some kind of cover-up in this case. Remove Jane Tanner's story about the man who initially was carrying a bundle that could have been a child, that metamorphed into a spotty/clear-skinned/clean-shaven/bearded man of indeterminate height and build, and the case falls apart. As it should. As it will one day hopefully. 

When that particular dam bursts, how many more names will be added to those of the Tapas Nine? Now that one public icon has been knocked off his pedestal, isn't it time that a few others were too? Let it begin with justice for Madeleine McCann. 

Saturday, 20 March 2010

"The McCanns Are Lying," Daily Express, September 24th 2007

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By David Pilditch and Martin Evans in Praia da Luz

I am told that this article appeared briefly in the online edition of the Daily Express and was then whooshed! I can't find it by searching on the Express web site, but fortunately it was saved on several blogs and other web sites, including The McCann Files

A very interesting article, especially given that there are rumours, from fairly reliable sources I should add, that Robert Murat and Gonçalo Amaral are appearing as witnesses against Jane Tanner in a Portuguese court, the accusation being, "Calumny."

"Portuguese police believe Gerry and Kate McCann are using friends to hide their role in killing Madeleine. The Daily Express can reveal that their seven holiday friends may now be named as suspects as police believe they are hiding the truth about Madeleine’s death.

The dramatic move comes as it was reported that former chief suspect Robert Murat is to be told he will not face charges over the four-year-old’s disappearance. Ruling him out of the four-month investigation will leave Kate and Gerry McCann as the sole suspects.

Last night police sources said the decision could have a devastating impact on the McCanns’ defence. In an astonishing twist, British expat Murat could be used as a key prosecution witness against the McCanns. Almost the entire police case against Murat was built on evidence from the couple’s holiday friends.

Investigators believe the McCanns "cooked up a story" that Madeleine had been kidnapped to throw them off the trail and enlisted members of their party to provide them with an alibi. They also believe the group tried to turn the focus of the investigation towards Murat.

Yesterday it was revealed that police are questioning new witnesses who cast doubts over the evidence of members of the holiday group. The McCanns and their friends told how they took turns to check on their children every 30 minutes as they ate at a tapas restaurant on May 3, the night Madeleine vanished.

But one Portuguese newspaper reported that employees at the restaurant insisted that only Dr Russell O’Brien, 36, and hospital consultant Matthew Oldfield, 37, left the dinner table that evening. Another witness has come forward to refute the testimony of a third friend Jane Tanner, 36, who told police she saw a man carrying a child rushing from the Ocean Club complex at around 9.15pm on May 3.

Yesterday it was reported in Portugal that a new witness, an unnamed Irishman, told police he was in the same spot as Miss Tanner at the same time and saw no one. He is the second independent witness to dispute her story and police sources said they viewed Miss Tanner’s evidence as "unreliable" because of inconsistencies.

Officers are concerned that she apparently changed her version of the sighting. She originally claimed she saw the suspect rushing towards the Baptista supermarket in Praia da Luz. She told police the child was wrapped in a blanket.

A second independent witness reported seeing a similar man with a child in a blanket near the town’s church heading towards the beach. The route he took matches the alleged trail of death discovered by British sniffer dogs who detected the scent of a corpse.

But Miss Tanner has now told detectives that the man was heading in a different direction – towards Murat’s home. Police regard her account as one of a series given by the McCanns and their friends to convince them that Madeleine had been kidnapped.

Officers believe former hospital anaesthetist Kate, 39, killed her daughter by accidentally giving her an overdose of sleeping pills. They are working on the theory that consultant cardiologist Gerry, also 39, helped to dispose of Madeleine’s body.

Police are awaiting results of toxicology tests carried out on bodily fluids with an 88 per cent match to Madeleine’s DNA found in the boot of a hire car the couple rented 25 days after she went missing.

Dr O’Brien, along with Mr Oldfield’s wife Rachael, 36, and another friend Dr Fiona Payne, 34, said they saw Murat near the McCanns’ apartment on May 3 and their claim appeared to shatter Murat’s alibi.

Detectives interrogated the McCanns at police headquarters in Portimao 17 days ago over the discrepancies. The couple were told separately later that day they were being named as suspects or arguidos.

Last night another member of the McCanns’ holiday party was reported to have stepped into the mystery. The move came after it was revealed that police in Portugal were focusing their investigation on a "lost seven hours" on the day Madeleine disappeared.

Now Dr Payne’s husband – medical researcher David, 41 – has claimed he saw Madeleine being put to bed when he visited the McCann flat at 7pm. Before his new testimony, police sources admitted they could not confirm the whereabouts of Kate and Madeleine after 1.29pm that day.

Kate’s movements were said to be unaccounted for until she sat down to have dinner with Gerry and their friends at around 8.40pm.

But the McCanns believe Mr Payne’s testimony will be crucial in proving their innocence. That would leave just an hour and a half in which they were supposed to have killed their daughter and disposed of her body.

But last night a source in Portugal said police were viewing alibis provided by the McCanns’ friends with suspicion. They are convinced that some or all of them may have known what happened to Madeleine and may have helped to cover up her death.

The source said police had not ruled out the possibility of naming them all as suspects – and they could face being charged as accessories.

The source said: "It has long been considered a number of people may have been involved in this unfortunate case."

In Portugal yesterday it was revealed that detectives have seized a British police manual from the McCanns. Officers believe the book could be used as a key piece of evidence in building a case against them.

A Portuguese police source said: "It is certainly not the sort of reading material you would expect a couple to take on a relaxing family holiday".

Monday, 4 August 2008

SOS Madeleine McCann: Russell O'Brien was allowed to refer to Jane Tanner's statements before he was questioned.

SOS Madeleine McCann 4/08/08


6f168c35051d31493ffda487087aed5f.jpg

The Maddie investigation: O'Brien was questioned after having referred to Tanner's statements.

At the time of his interview, in April 2008, Russell James O'Brien was able to refer to the report of his partner Jane Tanner's statements in order to respond to questions from Andrew Gierc, a Leicestershire police officer, about the events that surrounded Madeleine McCann's disappearance.


The access of one witness to the statements of another, even when it is the same couple, is worrying and outside the norm, above all in the course of an investigation of the importance of the Madeleine McCann case. It is also judged by experts from several European police forces, consulted by SMM, as more than a simple professional error: "this can direct the witness or even worse, allow him to answer questions in a way that protects his position in the investigation," states an officer of the French gendarmerie, stressing, "that it is an error capable of compromising an entire investigation and that no professional worthy of that name would make it....The only explanation that remains is the possibility that the investigator wanted to confuse the witness for a specific reason."

"I was given the opportunity to refresh my memory about the report made by Jane Tanner (my wife) and I was allowed to see these documents. That was done in the presence of DC 1578 Gierc," O'Brien admits.

O'Brien was interviewed twice, on April 8th and 10th 2008, but strangely, his his first interview would not have been recorded on video, because, according to the British police, there was a, "technical fault." However, it now looks like the video, which was never sent to Portugal, exists but would not be attached to the report of the April 8th interview.

Russell O'Brien's second interview by police officer Andrew Gierc, was indeed recorded on video, to which we have had access.

All the other, "Tapas 7," were also interviewed: Payne was questioned for 259 minutes by police officer I. Messiah, Diane Webster for 151 minutes by police officer Fergusson, Fiona Payne for 277 minutes by police officer Messiah, Matthew Oldfield for 157 minutes and Rachael Mariamma Jean Mampilly, by police officer Andrew Gierc for 236 minutes.

Jane Tanner was interviewed for 279 minutes by police officer Fergusson, an interview with seven interruptions, the first also very hectic after only 18 minutes when the fire alarm went off.

196 witnesses and 3 arguidos.

At the time when the Portuguese Public Minister decided to place the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance on hold pending further evidence, there was a total of 196 witnesses, including the McCanns' seven friends, and three arguidos, registered in the process.

Several witnesses, who made themselves known to the British authorities, have remained unknown to the Portuguese investigators, for a reason yet to be determined. Brian Kennedy, the millionaire who would be financing Clarence Mitchell and the McCanns' team of lawyers, has even visited several of the investigation's witnesses, in particular those who were less favourable to the couple.

Robert James Queriol Eveleigh Murat, Kate Marie Healy, (also addressed as Kate McCann) and Gerald Patrick McCann were the three arguidos.

Amongst the witnesses, there are a few names already known to the general public. The, "nannies," Amy Ellen Tierney, Catriona Treasa Sisile Baker, Charlotte Elizabeth alice Pennington, Emma Louise Wilding, Jacqueline Mary Williams, Kirsty Louise Maryen, Lyndsay Jayne Johnson, Lynne Rhiannon Fretter, Sarah Elizabeth Williamson, Sinead Maria Vine, Stacey Portz, Susan Bernadette Owen and Pauline Frances McCann.

The tennis coaches, Daniel James Stuk and Georgina Louise Jackson.

George Robin Crosland (Ocean Club manager) George William James, Jennifer Anne Murat, Jeremy Wilkins, John Elliot Hill, Michaela Walazuch, Pamela Isobel Fenn, Robert James Queriol Eveleigh Murat, Sergey Malinka (Murat's friend) José Manuel Conceição Pacheco, Susan Hubard and Svetlana Malinka.

The “Tapas 9”: David Anthony Payne, Dianne Webster, Fiona Elaine Payne, Gerald Patrick McCann, Jane Michelle Tanner, Kate Marie Healy, Rachael Mariamma Jean Mampilly, Russel James O´Brien and Matthew Oldfield.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/


4/08/08


Friday, 9 May 2008

SOS Madeleine McCann: several witnesses ready to assist the PJ, but still not the McCanns.

09.05.2008

Plusieurs témoins prêts à aider la PJ mais pas encore les McCann

d59e5580b419afaeca18f69d7ab586f1.jpgPlusieurs témoins ont déjà manifesté leur disponibilité pour retourner à Praia da Luz, le village d’où Madeleine McCann à disparue, en réponse à la demande de la Police Judiciaire (PJ) qui souhaite effectuer une reconstitution plus complète des événements du 3 mai 2007.

Several witnesses have already shown their readiness to return to Praia da Luz, the village from which Madeleine McCann disappeared, in response to the request by the PJ who would like to carry out a more complete reconstruction of the events of May 3rd 2007.

L’information à été doublement confirmée aujourd’hui à Portimão (Portugal) et à Enderby (Royaume-Uni), même si les deux sources ont reconnu qu’il n’y a pas encore une date bien déterminé pour cette diligence.

The information was confirmed today at both Portimao (Portugal) and at Enderby (United Kingdom) although both sources acknowledged that there is still no date set for this activity.

"Nous avons encore l’espoir que les parents de Madeleine se décident à participer... logiquement, ils devraient être les premiers à s’y intéresser," affirme un officier de la police du Leicestershire.

"We are still hopeful that Madeleine's parents will decide to participate...;ogically, they should be the first to be interested," states an officer of the Leicestershire police.

Malgré les déclarations de ses avocats au Portugal, Kate et Gerry McCann ont fait savoir qu’ils n’avaient pas l’intention d’effectuer le voyage tant que les autorités ne ce décident pas à lever leur statut d’arguidos, ce que, dans la pratique, semble impossible, comme le couple doit le savoir.

In spite of the statements by their lawyers in Portugal, Kate and Gerry McCann have made it known that they have no intention of undertaking the journey as the authorities have not decided to lift their arguido status, which in practice, seems impossible, as the couple must know.

01fe1abec0ab31aeffc0050e1165ff63.jpgAprès que Kate et Gerry avaientété déclarées arguidos, en septembre dernier, les services diplomatiques du Royaume-Uni au Portugal avaient fait pression sur les autorités portugaises pour que le couple puisse repartir, donnant leur garantie que les parents de Madeleine seraient de retour aussi tôt que la police le demande.

After Kate and Gerry had been declared arguidos, last September, the UK diplomatic services in Portugal put pressure of the Portuguese authorities so that the couple could leave, giving their guarantee that Madeleine's parents would return immediately if the police requested it.

Huit mois après, les diplomates ne sont plus en poste et la promesse à été oublié, coté britannique.

Sans aucune aide de son gouvernement, l’autre arguido dans l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine, le britannique Robert Murat, est disponible à participer à une reconstitution même si son avocat, maître Francisco Pagarete, contacté par SOS Madeleine, affirme ne pas avoir reçu une demande officielle dans ce sens.

Eight months later, the diplomats are no longer is post and the promise has been forgotten by the British side.

Without any assistance from his government, the other arguido in the enquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, the British man Robert Murat, is ready to participate in a reconstruction although his lawyer, Me Francisco Pagarete, contacted by SOS Madeleine, confirms not having received an official request in this regard.

Le statut d’arguido peux être maintenu, sous certaines conditions, pendant vingt ans, et Murat voudrait bien que l’enquête soit accéléré de forme à reprendre une vie aussi normale que possible, même si pour le moment, le britannique essaie de comprendre pourquoi, comment et qui serait derrière les accusations qui ont été faites à sa rencontre.

Under certain conditions, arguido status can be maintained for twenty years, and Murat would like the enquiry to be speeded up for the sake of resuming as normal a life as possible, although for the moment, the British man is trying to understand why, how and who was behind the accusations which were made about meeting him.

Au Royaume-Uni, Robert Murat a déjà accusé de diffamation 13 journaux et une chaine de télévision. Le britannique demande aux médias la somme record de 2 millions de livres, plus de 2,5 millions d’euros, une des plus grandes indemnisations dans l'histoire du Royaume-Uni, ce qu’explique que certains médias ont pris la décision d’effacer sur internet plusieurs articles à propos des accusations faites par le passé.

In the United Kingdom, Robert Murat has already accused 13 journals and a television channel of defamation. The Britsh man is demanding from these media the record sum of 2 million pounds, more than 2.5 million Euros, one of the largest claims in UK history, which explains why certain media have taken the decision to delete several internet articles about the accusations made in the past.

Les indices sont contre les McCann

91ae90b0d728326cfcaea0d6c3efe68b.jpgParmi les témoins que la police compte voire revenir à Praia da Luz, il y a une touriste allemande qu’à affirmé aux enquêteurs avoir vu Kate McCann retourner à l’appartement pendant le diner, bien avant l’heure à laquelle la maman de Madeleine à donné l’alarme. Son témoignage est corroboré par un deuxième témoin, fonctionnaire de l’Océan Club.

The clues are against the McCanns.

Amongst the witnesses that the police count on seeing return to Praia da Luz, there is a German tourist who has told the investigators that she saw Kate McCann return to the apartment during the dinner, well before the time at which Madeleine's mother raised the alarm. Her witness statement is corroberated by a second witness, an official of the Ocean Club.

Ces témoignages peuvent aider à la reconstitution des mouvements de chaque élément du groupe d’amis, les neuf du Tapas Bar, mais, seules, n’expliquent pas les indices que l’équipe spéciale de la police britannique avait retrouvé avec les inspecteurs de la PJ.

These witness statements could assist in the reconstruction of the movements of each of the group of friends, the Tapas Bar Nine, but alone do not explain the clues which the special British police team had found with the PJ inspectors.

Dans l’appartement 5A de l’Océan Club, les chiens de la police britannique ont signalé l’odeur d’un cadavre derrière le sofa qui se trouve à proximité de la fenêtre arrière. Sur les rideaux de cette fenêtre la police à retrouvé des traces minuscules de sang, malgré le fait qu’ils avaient été nettoyés, tout comme le mur.

In apartment 5A of the Ocean Club, the British polcie dogs indicated a cadaver odour behind the sofa which is located near the rear window. On the curtains of that window the police found microscopic traces of blood, in spite of the fact that they had been cleaned, like the wall.

Les seules impressions digitales retrouvées sont celles de Kate, Gerry et des amis du couple.

a6b5ded12a910e15d8ef7b2751b40463.jpgPlus tard, dans la Renault Scénic loué le 27 mai par les McCann, l’équipe luso-britannique retrouve l’odeur à cadavre mais également des fluides humains et des cheveux. Les expertises effectués dans les laboratoires auxquelles la police à fait appel ont révélé une forte probabilité de qu’il s’agissait de Madeleine, les enquêteurs ne parlent pas de 100% car ce degré de fiabilité n’est jamais donné par les scientistes quand il s’agit d’ADN.

The only finger prints found were those of Kate, Gerry and the couple's friends.

Later, in the Renault Scenic, rented on May 27th by the McCanns, the Luso-British team found cadaver odour and also human fluids and hair. The evaluations carried out in the laboratories the police called upon revealed a strong possibility that they were Madeleine's. The investigators do not talk of 100% because that degree of reliability is never given by scientists where DNA is concerned.

Dans la maison où les McCann se sont installés après avoir quitté le complexe de la Mark Warner, Vivenda Vista Mar, les chiens britanniques ont une nouvelle fois signalé l’odeur de cadavre, cette fois-ci sur des vêtements appartenant à Kate McCann.

In the house the McCanns moved into after having left the Mark Warner complex, Vivenda Vista Mar, the British dogs once again indicated cadaver odour, this time on clothes belonging to Kate McCann.

"La PJ ne recule que pour mieux sauter"

Nouveau directeur de la PJ est rentré en fonctions

43f49c31e72a350097df5863292624b3.jpg"Mes amis, rappelez-vous que dans la lutte contre le crime la PJ ne recule jamais. Mais, si elle devrait le faire, ce ne serait que pour mieux sauter", à dit Almeida Rodrigues, le premier inspecteur de carrière à prendre fonctions comme directeur du Conseil national de la Police Judiciaire (PJ) portugaise. Le nouveau directeur parlait à l’ensemble des inspecteurs de la PJ au cours de sa cérémonie d’investiture, en présence du Premier ministre, José Sócrates, et du ministre de la Justice, Alberto Costa.

The new director takes up his post.

"The PJ only retreat to jump better."

"My friends, remember that in the fight against crime the PJ never retreat. But if we must do it, it is only to jump better," said Almeida Rodrigues, the first career inspector to take up the post of director of the National Council of the PJ. The new director was speaking to the assembly of PJ inspectors during his ceremony of investiture, in the presence of the Prime Minister, José Socrates, and the Minister of Justice, Alberto Costa.

Parmi les dossiers médiatiques hérités par le nouveau directeur ont retrouve l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine McCann, ou Almeida Rodrigues se veux rassurant. Selon le nouveau directeur, l’investigation va poursuivre "sans qu’aucune interférence au cours normal de la justice soit toléré "

Amongst the high profile media files inherited by the new director is the enquiry into Madeleine McCann's disappearance, where Almeida Rodrigues wishes to reassure. According to the new director, the investigation will continue, "without any interference to the normal course of justice being tolerated.

José Maria de Almeida Rodrigues, né le 10 août 1958 à Viseu, nord du Portugal, s’est licencié en Droit par l’Université de Coimbra avant de rentrer, il y a 26 ans, dans les cadres de la Police Judiciaire.

Sous-directeur national adjoint de la PJ au moment de la démission d’Alipio Ribeiro, il est connu pour son travail sans faille comme coordinateur d’investigation criminelle.

Parmi son curriculum vitae officiel ont retrouve plusieurs fonctions de direction au sein de la PJ mais également des missions à l’étranger, notamment auprès de l'Assemblée-General d'Interpol et de la police du Cap-Vert, ou il fut honoré par le gouvernement local pour son travail.

José Maria de Almeida Rodrigues, born on August 10th 1958, in the north of Portugal, is a law graduate of the University of Coimbra before entering the service of the PJ twenty-six years ago.

Deputy director of the PJ when Alipio Ribeiro resigned, he is known for his unstinting work as coordinator of criminal investigation.

His CV includes several management jobs for the PJ but also placements abroad, notably with the Interpol General Assembly and the Cap-Vert police, where he was honoured by the local government for his work.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

9/05/08






Sunday, 23 March 2008

Robert Murat's computers and other possessions returned. PJ arriving on April 7th and The Sunday Express apologises!

Today, Sunday March 23rd, many of the newspapers and online news media lead with the story that Robert Murat's computers and other possessions, which were seized by the PJ last year, have been returned. Mr Murat is now hoping that his status as arguido, official suspect, in the Madeleine McCann case is about to be lifted.

Something that has drawn my attention in all of the reports is the almost exact wording of what has been published.

The Independent On Sunday

"
Portuguese police have returned computers and other possessions they seized from Madeleine McCann "suspect" Robert Murat, he said yesterday.

He described the move as a "very positive sign" – but is still waiting to be officially cleared of involvement in the young girl's disappearance.

Mr Murat, 34, lives just yards from the holiday apartment in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished on 3 May last year."

Sky News Sunday March 23rd

"Portuguese police have returned computers and other possessions seized from Madeleine McCann suspect Robert Murat, he has said.

Murat in Portugal
Murat in Portugal

He described the move as a "very positive sign" - but is still waiting to be officially cleared of involvement in the British girl's disappearance.

Mr Murat, 34, lives just yards from the holiday apartment in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz, where Madeleine vanished on May 3 last year."

Daily Star On Sunday

"Portuguese police have returned computers and other possessions they seized from Madeleine McCann "suspect" Robert Murat, he hassaid.

He described the move as a "very positive sign" - but is still waiting to be officially cleared of involvement in the young girl's disappearance.

Mr Murat, 34, lives just yards from the holiday apartment in the Portuguese seaside resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished on May 3 last year."

Apart from the odd word here and there, the reports are identical. So, this reads like a press release to me, but a press release from whom? The Portuguese police? I doubt that very much? Since the news is very much focussed on the interests of Robert Murat, I am making a guess that the press release has come from a representative of Robert Murat, perhaps Max Clifford, who has been reported as acting for Murat.

The timing of the return of these items in interesting in the light of reports that the Portuguese police are due to arrive in the UK on April 7th to observe the questioning of members of the tapas group and others in line with the rogatory letters sent earlier by the PJ. The return of Murat's computers must mean that the PJ no longer consider them as important for evidence purposes.

The date on which the PJ inspectors are due to arrive must now be official as this is being reported by several newspapers, including the Mail On Sunday.

Mail On Sunday

"Portuguese police to quiz Tapas Nine in Britain in final bid to solve Madeleine mystery"

This is the headline from the Mail On Sunday, though we read that actually the questioning will be of the Tapas Seven, since the police have been refused permission to re-question Kate and Gerry by the Public Prosecutor.

"A source close to the case said: "The Policia Judiciaria had prepared various questions it wanted Kate and Gerry to face but they were crossed off the list of priorities on the advice of public prosecutors.

"They felt it was a waste of time because the McCanns would refuse to answer the questions, a right that Portuguese law grants official suspects."

If this is true, what happened to the previous claim by Clarence Mitchell that the McCanns, as well as their friends, were keen for the PJ to arrive and that they would co-operate fully in order to have their arguido status lifted?

The Mail On Sunday lists a few of the inconsistencies which may be of interest to the PJ.

"They are thought to be particularly keen to reinterview David Payne, Jane Tanner and her partner, Russell O'Brien."

"Dr Payne, 41, a cardiovascular researcher from Leicester, was the last person outside the McCann family to see Madeleine at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz on May 3. Gerry asked him to check on his wife and children while he was having a tennis lesson at about 6.30pm.

Dr O'Brien, 36, from Exeter, was away from the group for up to 45 minutes between 9.30pm and 10.15pm tending his own child who was being sick in his apartment.

He told police he had changed her bed linen, but staff at the Ocean Club deny any change of sheets was requested.

Attention has also focused on 36-year-old Miss Tanner's claim that she saw a man carrying a girl from the McCanns' apartment at about 9.15pm - when another witness says he was outside the flat at the same time but did not see her or the mystery man.

The trio have denied reports they intended changing their original police statements. The McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell says the friends are keen to help police and want the reinterviews to take place as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, the Sunday Express heads its front page with a reprint of the apology to the McCanns, "Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry." I haven't read the apology in today's Express, but I am sure it's the one printed earlier in the week in which the Express proclaimed the McCanns completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance. Strange that! I thought only a court of law could proclaim someone innocent as a result of a case being heard in court.

The Scotsman today: ""Dani Garavelli: End of the paper trial."

"Since we have no idea which particular articles were the subject of the libel action, the victory doesn't set out the limits of press freedom either. The Express's apology – "we accept Kate and Gerry are completely innocent" – is being read by some as an acceptance that any scrutiny of the couple's behaviour was beyond the pale, but that is clearly not so.

It was perfectly acceptable to question the wisdom of leaving three toddlers alone in a holiday apartment or to try to assess the strength of the evidence the Portuguese were acting on when they made Kate and Gerry arguidos. So at what precise point did the Express cross the line? Was it when it carried conflicting reports of the DNA evidence found in the McCanns' hire car, or when it drew an inference from the fact Maddie's "cuddle cat" had been washed? Because these issues were never aired in open court, we will never know."

The Portuguese police are hoping that the questioning of the Tapas Seven and others will help to shed light on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and, I am sure, bring this case to a conclusion. In my opinion, this case can only be satisfactorily resolved when Madeleine McCann is either found alive or her body is found and she is finally laid to rest.

I wish the Portuguese police good luck in their quest for justice for little Madeleine McCann and commend them in their persistence with this case.