13 - JUN/JUI - report./conf. pr. Met

Reportage - Channel 5 News

28.06.2013

Polly Whitehouse : The disappearance of Madeleine McCann has baffled detectives for six years.

Now, as British detectives prepare to re-start the investigation, 5 News has been to the resort where Madeleine went missing. We've discovered that the police there have little appetite for keeping the search going.
But Robert Murat, a British man who was falsely accused at the time, has told us it's vital they find out what happened to Madeleine.

Leyla Hayes is in Praia da Luz. Leyla, what did he have to say to you?

LH : (live in Praia da Luz, to camera) Well, Robert Murat was cleared of having any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance many years ago but he told me that even today he still feels that he's living under a cloud and, like the McCanns, he wants a new investigation so that he can move forward.

(voice over) Praia da Luz, Portugal. Peaceful and popular with British tourists but six years ago the tranquility of this Algarve resort was shattered.

[Archive footage section]

Gerald MC : Words cannot describe the anguish and despair that we are feeling as the parents of our beautiful daughter Madeleine.

LH : (voice over) Madeleine McCann disappeared just days before her fourth birthday. The mystery of what happened to her has never been solved.

Thirteen days after Madeleine's disappearance, Robert Murat was named as a suspect. He was later completely cleared but has told 5 News he still feels the case is hanging over him.

[End of archive footage section]

Robert Murat : I've tried to move on and my family's tried to move on but it's always something that, errr... my... I... I'm linked to, errm... whenever there's anything that's new, my name gets mentioned and it... so, yes, I'd like to see it resolved.

LH : (voice over) It's believed the Home Office has now agreed to fund a new investigation into Madeleine's disappearance following a review of the case by the Metropolitan Police.

(to camera) Madeleine disappeared from Apartment 5A, here at the Ocean Club, in Praia da Luz. The Portuguese inquiry was closed in 2008 but the British police have now uncovered more than 20 new suspects including British tourists, people who worked here and known paedophiles who were in the Algarve at the time of Madeleine's disappearance.

(voice over) But this former chief inspector from the Portuguese police says without concrete evidence the authorities in Portugal will never re-open the case.

Carlos Anjos : The new evidence that the British police have presented is meaningless. It's not important to the criminal investigation here.

LH : (voice over) During the Portuguese inquiry both Kate and Gerry McCann were also named as suspects and later completely cleared. Sandra Felgueiras is a journalist who has covered the case from the start.

Sandra Felgueiras : Portuguese people will never forget the impact they've had in the first moment that the Portuguese police admitted the possibility of the McCanns being involved on Madeleine's disappearance. This was a very strong turning point and I don't know if it will be possible to the Portuguese people just forget it.

LH : (voice over) But Robert Murat believes a new inquiry could finally bring closure.

(to Robert Murat) What would it mean to you, if this case could be solved?

RM : Oh, everything, I think, errr... if it could be solved, I think that's... that... everything, yeah.

LH : Do you mean you could finally move on?

RM : Yeah, yeah.

LH : (voice over) Six years on, Madeleine McCann is still missing but it's hoped that with a new investigation the mystery of her disappearance can finally be solved.

Communiqué - Metropolitan Police

04.07.2013

Incident Date
03/05/2007
 

Incident Location
Praia da Luz , Portugal
Description
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service conducting the investigative review into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have now moved to an investigative stage of the inquiry.
Over the past two years the review, whilst not complete, has been in a unique position having drawn together material from the UK, Portugal and private investigators from seven different companies.

This process has been complex and issues such as translation of material have presented particular challenges. To date some 30,500 documents have entered into the process which has generated in excess of 3,800 actions. The actions that we have completed have generated new findings and new witness evidence.

Our review has sought to prioritise the material, ensuring we are doing everything possible to understand what happened to Madeleine. In the absence of any clear evidence to the contrary we maintain our belief that Madeleine may still be alive.

The MPS has conducted sixteen visits to Portugal and we have met and shared our findings with key members of both the Policia Judiciaria and Judicial Authorities. Our relationship is positive and we are grateful for the co-operation we have received thus far.

We are satisfied that our review has now progressed to a position where we have identified 38 persons of interest. These individuals are from a number of European countries and we are now at an advanced stage of dialogue with each country.

Over the coming months we will be conducting assertive enquiries, with the assistance of host countries to establish more information about the individuals concerned and any potential involvement.

Twelve of the persons of interest are UK Nationals who we believe were in Portugal at the time Madeleine went missing.

Officers, under Operation Grange, have formally requested the Crown Prosecution Service submit an International Letter of Request to the Portuguese Authorities seeking assistance in obtaining evidence relating to lines of enquiry they wish to pursue. This has been done with the full support of the UK Government.

 The MPS has requested, in accordance with accepted Mutual Assistance practice, that a small number of UK officers are present in Portugal whilst the enquiries are undertaken.

The MPS will be as open as our operational priorities allow but in the context of this complex operating environment we appeal for media restraint. There is a real risk that a lack of restraint could serve to seriously undermine our ability to progress.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, heading Operation Grange said today:

"We, and the Portuguese authorities, remain completely committed to finding out what happened to Madeleine, and everything we do is utterly focused on her best interests.

"We continue to believe that there is a possibility that Madeleine is alive.

"It is a positive step in our hunt for Madeleine that our understanding of the evidence has enabled us to shift from review to investigation.

Qui a lu les PJFiles (et préférablement dans le texte) aura tendance à penser, en fait d'élément probant, que ce qu'il y a à comprendre était qu'il n'y en avait pas.

"We have identified 38 persons of interest from a number of European countries. Twelve of those people are UK Nationals who we believe were in Portugal at the time Madeleine disappeared.
"Our working relationship with the Portuguese police is positive and now that we have moved to investigation we are requesting further specific assistance through normal judicial routes.

"We remain in close contact with Kate and Gerry McCann and they are updated on our current position.

Vue rétrospectivement, cette affirmation fait rire, car trois ans après ce beau discours, SY n'a pas avancé d'un pas (positif). Voilà qui donne la mesure des infos fournies aux MC pendant tout ce temps.

"We continue to appeal for information. If you were at the resort of Praia da Luz between 28 April and 3 May 2007, either on holiday or in residence in the resort during this period, particularly in the vicinity of the Ocean Club, and you have not been spoken to by police either here or in Portugal then please call us on 0800 0961011 if you are within the UK.

"The number for non-UK residents is +44 2071580 126. Alternatively if you do not want to speak to us directly you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Entretien Andy Redwood / journaliste ITV
après conférence de presse  Met
 04.07.2013

Transcrit par Nigel Moore

 Journalist : What has the Metropolitan Police decided to do in relation to the Madeleine McCann case?

Andy Redwood : Well, in relation to the two years work we've undertaken, we have decided to move from review to, errm... investigation.

J. : And why have you decided to do that?

AR : Well, we in consultation with our Portuguese colleagues are absolutely committed... absolutely committed to finding out what happened to Madeleine McCann and we've been in a unique position, over the last two years, in drawing together three strands: Portuguese, UK and private investigators material. From that, a vans... a vast quality [sic: quantity] of material is being analysed and we have identified 38 persons of interest, and, within that, 12 who are UK nationals, and it's from that position that we've been able to move from review to investigation.

J. : So what does this mean practically in terms of the search for Madeleine McCann, what happens now?

AR : Well, what it means practically is that we will be shortly serving to the Portuguese authorities, following a judicial route, errm... formal request for evidence to be gathered.

J. : What can you tell us about people that you have found who are of interest; the numbers, where they are from and what you intend to do?

AR : Yes, well those 38 people in total from... from a number of European countries and obviously the... the inquiries that we seek to undertake will be... will be to understand more about what role, if any, they played in Madeleine's disappearance. What I should say though - over the last two years - the review has told me, is that there is no clear, definitive proof that Madeleine McCann is dead and so on that basis I still genuinely believe that there is a possibility that she is alive, and so I would ask the public to continue to look for her. If you look on the Metropolitan Police website, you'll see the image that we presented last year to the public, and all the contact details, and if the public aren't happy to talk to police then they can call Crimestroppers [sic] on 0800 555 111.

Après intimation au public (sous peine de monstruosité) d'être les yeux des MC (mais pas les oreilles, seules quelques secondes de la voix de MMC ont été divulguées), voilà le public invité à être les yeux de SY. Copy cat.

J. : You are confident that you can try and find her alive?

AR : Well, everything we are doing is focused towards trying to finding Madeleine McCann, errm... and there are no guarantees of any outcome but I can assure you of our absolute determination to try and establish what has happened to her.

Confirmation qu'ils n'ont pas remis en question les dépositions et déclarations inconsistantes des MC. S'ils cherchent une petite fille vivante (ou qui l'a été au moins pendant un certain temps après sa disparition), c'est qu'ils ont écarté toute hypothèse autre que l'enlèvement, la seule qui autorise d'envisager l'enfant vivante.

J. : What about the McCann family they've been involved have they, in...?

AR : Madeleine McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have been in close collaboration with us from the beginning and I meet with them regularly and they are fully updated as to where we are in terms of our Review and now investigation.

J. : In terms of those suspects who are of interest, errm... some of them are abroad and some of them are in the UK. Can you just talk to... what… who those suspects are, what... where they are?

AR : Well, I... I wouldn't use the word 'suspects', they are persons of interest and they are a mixture of people from a number of places in Europe, and what I wouldn’t want to do today is to go into any great detail about that other tha... other than to assure you that we are working diligently to find out more about these individuals.

J. : What has changed, errm... Have you had new information, new evidence? What has changed to lead you to open this investigation?

AR : Well, as we have worked carefully over the last sort of two years, through that review process, we have now processed some 30,000 documents and some of those documents could have, say, one page, some have got hundreds of pages. From that, you will recall last year that I said we had 195 investigative opportunities. We have now generated over 3,800 actions and it is from a careful analysis of that work that we have been able to establish new thinking and we have spoken to witnesses that have provided new evidence for us.

J. : And the Portuguese police are being helpful in this investigation being led by the British police?

AR : Yes, we have visited Portugal on 16 occasions; the Portuguese have worked with us; we have always been welcome guests and we are working carefully and closely together now in order to progress this case.

J. : Some people... some people suggested, quite cruelly at the time, that the McCann parents might be in some way involved with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. What can you say about the involvement of Madeleine McCann's parents in anything to do with her disappearance?

AR : Neither her parents or any of the member of the group that were with her are either persons of interest or suspects.

Remarquer que AR se garde de reprendre le mot (probablement intentionnel) du/de la journaliste, "disparition". Stricto senso il est difficilement concevable que les parents puissent être impliqués dans la disparition, si ce mot n'est pas pris au sens de "décès".  Cette dernière ne fait en effet pas partie du cahier des charges qui parle clairement d'enlèvement. AR est donc à l'aise pour répondre que les TP9 (MC inclus) ne sont pas concernés par l'enquête.

J. : Because, obviously, there was some rumours at the time, but you are quite categorical in that?

AR : They are not persons of interest or suspects, they are parents who have lost their daughter and we are doing all that we can to bring resolution for them to find out what has happened to Madeleine.

Le porte-parole de la PJ ne tenait pas d'autre discours, alors que, grâce à "Madeleine", on sait qu'au même moment Luis Neves et Guilhermino Encarnação soupçonnaient les MC d'avoir fait disparaître le corps de leur fille.

J. : How... how big is the team that is involved in this and where do you go from here?

AR : My team consists of 37 staff; that's a mixture, predominantly of police officers but also police staff as well. The size of my team will stay largely the same, errm... and moving forward from here we will hopefully have a position where - whilst the legal inquiries are being conducted, errm... by the Portuguese - that we have the ability to be present while those inquiries are taking place. So I envisage a situation where a small number of officers will be present in Portugal.

J. : And obviously there has been many years since this case - are you still confident you can discover what happened to Madeleine?

AR : We have been in a unique position, in drawing those three key strands together. That has given us the ability to see this case with fresh eyes and through that bring out new... genuinely new lines of inquiry and I'm hopeful that when we pursue those lines of inquiry that we'll be able to bring some sort of resolution. Whether we'll be able to solve it is a different issue but I hope that we'll be able to make... have the ability to move the investigation on.

J. : And is this really the last chance for the investigation? Where would you see this fitting into the years that we've had so far?

AR : Well, I believe critically that this is an important moment for Madeleine. Errm... It is... it is the culmination, as I say, of that unique piece of work and it is, errr... and it is a great opportunity which we intend to exploit to the full.

Keith Wilkinson (ITV) interroge A. Redwood et D. Davies
04.07.2013
transcrit par Nigel Moore

KW : (voice over) For two years Scotland Yard have been looking into the mystery: 'Whatever happened to Madeleine McCann?' They haven't yet answered that question but they have reached one significant conclusion:

AR : There is no clear, definitive proof that Madeleine McCann is dead and so on that basis I still genuinely believe that there is a possibility that she is alive, and so I would ask the public to continue to look for her.

KW : (voice over) Aged three, Madeleine from Rothley, in Leicestershire, vanished from the apartment where she was staying with her parents on the Algarve.

The Metropolitan Police team are now investigating several people, although they are not describing them as suspects.
AR : We have identified 38 persons of interest, and, within that, 12 who are UK nationals, and it's from that position that we've been able to move from review to investigation.

KW : (voice over) The 38 are from a number of European countries and the police have made it clear they do not include Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.
AR : Neither her parents or any of the member of the group that were with her are either persons of interest or suspects.

KW : (voice over) The Met say the Portuguese police have been helpful and are committed to solving the case but one former senior officer at Scotland Yard has spoken of the lost opportunities in the early days.

Dai Davies : Well, the foundations as laid by the Portuguese left a huge amount to be desired. In... in essence it was a... a bosched [sic: botched] investigation from the outset. They simply failed to do what a competent police force should have done, in my opinion.

 Well, the lesson surely has to be that you involve professional police forces who have the experience and ability, in a global scenario, in terms of kidnap and ransing [sic: ransom]. Scotland Yard are arguably one of the best in the world - they should have been brought in from the outset, as I did call for.

Cette opinion a l'extrême faiblesse de ne reposer sur absolument rien. Ce serait comme dire que OG (45 personnes à plein temps quand même pendant 2 ans à cette date, soit deux fois plus de temps que l'enquête portugaise) n'ayant pas avancé d'un chouia, SY est une force de police incompétente. 

KW : (voice over) Robert Murat was originally named as a suspect but was completely cleared. He says he welcomes the new attempts to find the real culprits.

Robert Murat: I've tried to move on and my family's tried to move on but it's always something that, errr... my... I... I'm linked to. Errm... whenever there's anything that's new, my name gets mentioned and it... so yes, I'd like to see it resolved.

AR : I'm hopeful that when we pursue those lines of inquiry that we'll be able to bring some sort of resolution. Whether we'll be able to solve it is a different issue but I hope that we'll be able to make... have the ability to move the investigation on.

Qu'allait-il dire ? to make the difference ? En effet, quelle différence y-a-t-il, quand un enfant a disparu, entre ne pas savoir ce qui lui est arrivé et ne pas savoir qui l'a enlevée ?

Will editors show restraint in reporting new inquiry? 

Roy Greenslade (The Guardian) - 05.07.2013

 

"Scotland Yard asked for media restraint in the coming weeks and months as it began what is being seen as the last chance to learn what happened to Madeleine". Media restraint and Madeleine McCann? Given the sad history to this sad story, that is surely going to be a big ask.

Today's coverage of the announcement that British police are to open a new investigation into the girl's disappearance illustrated yet again the dilemma for her parents, Kate and Gerry. Naturally enough, they welcomed the news that a two-year review of the case by the Metropolitan police is to become a full-fledged inquiry. It offers them renewed hope. But they also have to suffer once again the anguish of newspaper headlines and, especially, the re-publication of those poignant pictures of three-year-old Madeleine, who vanished from their holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.

Voir sempiternellement à la une des photos de Madeleine comme elle n'était déjà plus lorsqu'elle disparut (donc de peu d'utilité pour les signalements), est-ce une souffrance ?

Her face featured on the front pages of five national titles this morning - the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Star and Metro. And most of the others gave the story big shows on inside pages.The headlines ranged from the wholly inaccurate "Maddie is still alive" (Star) through the highly speculative "Maddie: arrests in weeks" (Daily Mail) to the much more accurate, if blindingly obvious, "No proof she's dead" (Mirror).

Most of the coverage was measured, properly reflecting that police led by Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood were targeting 38 potential suspects (aka "persons of interest") from five countries, including 12 Britons. But will the restraint last? Have editors learned the lessons from their former behaviour? They will doubtless recall the libel actions that cost several publishers many thousands of pounds in damages and costs.

They also need to take on board that Kate and Gerry McCann, as leading members of the Hacked Off group, have become much more media-savvy in the last six years. They will not tolerate a re-run of the disgraceful reporting of the past.