The Andrew Marr Show
BBC1 - 17.02.2013
Transcription de A. Miller
Eddie Mair : [to camera] In May 2007, a trip to the sun turned an anonymous British family into people who were nationally and internationally known. Kate and Gerry McCann's eldest daughter Madeleine went missing in Portugal. Initial media support turned into suspicion. The McCanns privacy was treated with contempt by sections of the press who stopped at nothing to write something, anything, about the couple. When they attended the Leveson Inquiry, the McCanns were clear on why they had decided to take part.
Transcription de A. Miller
Eddie Mair : [to camera] In May 2007, a trip to the sun turned an anonymous British family into people who were nationally and internationally known. Kate and Gerry McCann's eldest daughter Madeleine went missing in Portugal. Initial media support turned into suspicion. The McCanns privacy was treated with contempt by sections of the press who stopped at nothing to write something, anything, about the couple. When they attended the Leveson Inquiry, the McCanns were clear on why they had decided to take part.
[Clips from Leveson Inquiry]
Gerry MC : A system has to be put in place to protect ordinary people from the damage that the media can cause.
Kate MC : When it's your voice against a powerful media, you know, it... it just doesn't hold weight and you know we are desperately shouting out internally – 'please stop what you are doing' You know we are trying to find our daughter, and you are stopping our chances of finding her.
Among the worst offenders were the Express Group, the McCanns were shown some of their stories.
GMC : That is nothing short of disgusting.
Among the worst offenders were the Express Group, the McCanns were shown some of their stories.
GMC : That is nothing short of disgusting.
KMC : I think this same journalist, if memory serves right, also said we stored her body in a freezer.
The News of the World also got hold of a copy of Kate McCanns private diary, and published it without telling her.
The News of the World also got hold of a copy of Kate McCanns private diary, and published it without telling her.
GMC : It was my only way of communicating with Madeleine and for me, you know, there was absolutely no respect shown for me as a grieving mother or as a human being.
By taking part in Leveson the McCanns hoped that their testimony would bring about a change a change in the Law, a new press regulator with legal backing.
By taking part in Leveson the McCanns hoped that their testimony would bring about a change a change in the Law, a new press regulator with legal backing.
EM : Kate and Gerry McCann, you heard John Witherow, errr... just now, editor of the Times, former editor of the Sunday Times, saying that from all his private discussions it seems like, errr... the political parties are coalescing around this Royal Charter idea. If that's what we end up with, was going to Leveson a waste of your time?
GMC : I think it certainly won't be what we were hoping to achieve and very much disagree with John that, errr... that this is... what Leveson is tough. I think Leveson has actually been quite generous to the press, and, errm... more than their behaviour, or certain sections of the media deserve really. Errm... They're getting a last chance at self-regulation, errr... which for me was actually a step too far.
EM : Could you explain from your point of view what's the practical difference between what Leveson wanted and what is now, what seems to be the compromise, what difference does that make?
EM : Could you explain from your point of view what's the practical difference between what Leveson wanted and what is now, what seems to be the compromise, what difference does that make?
GMC : I've got three concerns at the minute, the first is the transparency. The inquiry was open you could see what was going on. Leveson's reviewed all the evidence, errr... and what's happened in the last two and a half months is exactly what you've talked about, where we're having a number of private meetings; the minutes are not published; the discussions are not published, and then that leads to serious concerns about independence of what is being proposed, because a major part of Leveson was acknowledging that the press had got too close to politicians. And the third concern for us, in what is being proposed, is that we're going to end up with, errr... sub-Leveson recommendations really, errm... particularly around independence, errr... both of the... the Board who are going to oversee it, and the fact that there should be complete independence of the appointments of that Board.
EM : I am struck by something, errr... you are quoted as saying, errr... Gerry – The Leveson package, including legal underpinning is the mimimum acceptable compromise for us.
I just wonder, if it was up to you, if they gave you the power to draft something on the future of the press, what would you do?
EM : I am struck by something, errr... you are quoted as saying, errr... Gerry – The Leveson package, including legal underpinning is the mimimum acceptable compromise for us.
I just wonder, if it was up to you, if they gave you the power to draft something on the future of the press, what would you do?
GMC : To be honest, I've already said this to you that, errr... I feel that the... the press has lost its entitlement to self-regulation over many, many years and I would have liked to have seen actually statutory regulation and not self-regulation.
EM : But I get the impression if it was up to you, you would go much further…
GMC : Oh, absolutely...
EM : People might not blame you, what would you do?
GMC : Well no, I would make it very much that they weren't... that it wasn't self-regulated, it would be independent regulation.
GMC : I think when we saw, errr... the Leveson recommendations we probably thought for us it was probably a 7 out of 10. And obviously it's been a pain staking process and I think Lord Leveson has come up with something that’s very balanced and he's trying to be as fair as possible to every party involved. But actually I think what the Government are proposing with this Charter, which I have to say, a Charter body is overseen by Ministers for a start, which again takes away the independence. Errm... It's basically a compromise of a compromise...
EM : Yeah.
GMC : And why... why do the press, why do the Government what... not want to be accountable responsable like everybody else? I mean the press are the first to hold people in authority to account.
EM : Have you noticed any improvement in the press since Leveson?
EM : Have you noticed any improvement in the press since Leveson?
GMC : It's very difficult to say that because you only know, errr... about your own individual circumstances..
EM : But even there. I mean, have things been better?
GMC : Obviously the situation for us, we still have, errr... episodes where things are published which we would much prefer weren't published, errm... there's been a recent headline front page of a Sunday newspaper about a potential lead in Madeleine's case and it hadn't been fully explored, and it's something that we raised at Leveson that Madeleine and her safety is often treated with complete contempt. (1) And we have no re-dress currently, and I would have concerns that if the editors get what they want, which is how complaints are dealt with, it would only be certain complaints and they could decide which ones would come. And one of the things we are very, very concerned with... and is about accuracy and standards and consideration for the public. We want the regulator to be able to protect the interests of the public.
EM : And the recent story about Madeleine that you were unhappy with did you... did you try and speak to the... to the paper concerned.
GMC : Yeah, I... I wrote to the editor of the newspaper and explained my concerns and I have to say I got a reply back which made my blood boil. It was basically telling me that he... they knew what was best for Madeleine; that they knew best what was for missing children. So despite what we as parents thought, despite what the Metropolitan police thought, they knew what was best, and that is really concerning, post-Leveson Inquiry, that this is the kind of response we're getting. I believe if the Royal Charter goes through we'll be no better off and this is one opportunity now which might not come again, and I think the general public deserve to know what's happening, because as Gerry said, there's been a total lack of transparency, and what the Government is proposing is not what Leveson has proposed.
EM : Do you have much hope that the change you want will come in?
EM : Do you have much hope that the change you want will come in?
GMC : I... I've not given up hope. I think the first thing is to... I think the vast majority of MP's actually are fully supportive of Leveson, and I've mentioned this before, but if, errr... our Parliamentarians want to redeem themselves in the public light, they know that the right thing is to implement Leveson in full. Not a compromise, not a sop to the editors.
(1) C'est une préoccupation tardive, aux antipodes de la pratique maccanienne, malgré la mises en garde de la PJ. L'interview à Vanity Fair est très explicite sur ce point.
Kate McCann Interview
ITV - 18.04.2013
Lorraine Kelly : Now, my next guest has faced an unimaginable nightmare for any parent, since her daughter Madeleine disappeared almost six years ago now while on a family holiday in Portugal. Since then Kate McCann has tirelessly campaigned for her daughter's safe return. One of the ways she does that is through fundraising and on Sunday she's going to be running the London Marathon and joins me now. It's really good to see you and then, I know you've suffered terrible injuries, errm... trying to do this marathon on Sunday. How are you?
Kate MC : I'm okay, I hope, errm.... I would say everything was going pretty well until about five weeks ago. The main problem is... is my feet really. I've had operations on my feet and they've done me well for the last twenty-nine years but I think it's been quite a lot; the marathon training.
LK : Mmm... It is hard, it is hard, you know, it really is, but you're a... you're a good runner. I mean, you've done, you know, fundraising runs...
KMC : [cuts in on Lorraine] From here or from...?
LK : [laughs] ... but you have done them before and done incredibly well and is it something... I guess it's.. it's a way of keeping Madeleine in the public eye as well as perhaps you doing something for her.
KMC : It is. I mean, obviously I'm running the marathon on Sunday for the charity Missing People. So it's not just about Madeleine. Obviously Madeleine is always on my mind but I'm doing this really to help lots of people who are missing; children and vulnerable adults and obviously the families as well, similar to ours.
LK : Of course. I think it's remarkable that you... that you're doing that because it's a real... it's a tough one to do, especially with injuries...
KMC : Yeah.
LK : ...errm... and especially in light of what's happened in... in Boston. I mean, there must have been a little part of you that maybe thought 'Mmm... I'm not sure'. It's actually taking the family to the finishing line.
KMC : Yeah, a little bit. I mean, these... these events always make you stop and think about things but, you know, we can't live in fear, we can't live waiting for somebody who behaves in an incomprehensible way to do something like that. I mean, there's so many people that have suffered in Boston already and like everybody else, our wishes are with them but more people will suffer if we don't turn up on Sunday.
LK : No, that's true. I've got a feeling that more people than ever will turn up. I think that the streets will be absolutely lined and it's the crowd that really help you. I mean, you will be fine...
KMC : [cuts in on Lorraine] I hope so.
LK : ...You're the kind of woman, you will do it. If you have to crawl over that finishing line, you...
KMC : [cuts in on Lorraine] I'm quite determined.
LK : You are very determined and you absolutely will do it, I'm... I'm sure... I'm sure that you will. Errm... and as you said, Madeleine is with you all the time...
KMC : Yeah.
LK : ...Of course, she's part of the family in the sense that you obviously talk about her all the time. The twins are very aware of their big sister, aren't they?
KMC : No, I mean, everyday Madeleine will come up in conversation, errm... whenever we talk about the family, Madeleine's always included in that...
LK : Yeah.
KMC : ...and they've... they've grown up obviously with their big sister missing but she's very much part of their life and they're always incredibly positive about Madeleine and what she means to our family.
LK : And the fact is I... inevitably you're going to be much more concerned about them, in the sense of wrapping them up in cotton wool and just, you know, being more vigilant. Of course... of course you will but, errm... it's getting a little bit easier. You were able, I think, the other day, to actually get petrol and leave them in the car rather than taking them with you.
KMC : Yeah, well that's...
LK : You could still see them all the time.
KMC : I was about six feet away from them.
LK : Yeah.
KMC : But I was very conscious that 'I am doing this and I haven't done this in the last...', you know, however many years and, errr... the car was locked and I could see them...
LK : Of course.
KMC : ...but I did acknowledge it as, errm... a change and I guess it's progress, in a way, because obviously that is safe [laughs], errm... and when they get a little bit older they are gonna have to have a little bit of freedom, you know.
LK : It... it's hard for anyone, you know, any parent to... to actually give their... their child that freedom; for you, doubly hard and that is going to be really difficult because, of course, you can't keep them... they've got to be allowed to fly.
KMC : You can't... they've got... they've gotta live, they've gotta develop and I know that and... but at the same time I know that it's gonna be a big challenge for me really and I'm gonna have to deal with it when the time comes.
LK : Completely understandable. As far as the search for Madeleine goes, that's absolutely ongoing, isn't it?
KMC : It is, yeah, no. The Metropolitan Police now have been doing the review for almost two years, errm... they're working really hard and we're really... well, we're really impressed with everything that they've done and... and what they've found actually and we're really grateful that they're so motivated and committed and...
LK : And we can see this image here of what we think she might look like but we... we... obviously we don't know but that gives people an indication and you've had so many over the years. You've had so many false hopes but actually it... it's better to have those than absolutely nothing, isn't it?
KMC : I mean, the most important thing to remember is people are still looking and, you know, we've... as you say, we've had thousands and thousands of sightings and I... I don't get really excited about them now, and then too ! you know, unless there's some big credibility attached to it but I'm just really grateful that people are still looking and they haven't forgotten. And even when the news goes quiet, you know, people are still looking...(1)
LK : Yeah.
KMC : So...
LK : And you can live a relatively normal life; relatively.
KMC : Yeah.
LK : But the search goes on. I mean, I know, because I know you and I know you will never... never give up.
KMC : No, we won't. We'll never stop and I don't think, you know, any parent could, to be honest, but we do... we do live fairly normally in between, errm... certain times and I think the fact that the Metropolitan Police are working helps as well because we don't feel like we're having to carry the burden and work every minute of every day, as well. (2)
LK : Absolutely. I wish you all the best for Sunday
KMC : Thank you.
LK : I know what it's like, errm... having done it before...
KMC : I know.
LK : ...you will be absolutely fine. You're... you're so strong...
KMC : [cuts in on Lorraine] Can I... can I just thank everybody Lorraine who's... who's sponsored the charity, so... we're grateful.
LK : Yes, of course, and if people do want to sponsor you they can go to the website, do all of that, they still can sponsor you...
KMC : Yeah.
LK : ...for a very, very good cause.
KMC : Yeah.
LK : Almost six years - it's unbelievable to think - have passed since Madeleine McCann was abducted while on holiday in Portugal.
John Stapleton : Today her mother Kate is preparing for Sunday's London Marathon and she joins us now, as you can see. Good to see you. How's it going? You've been training really hard, haven't you?
KMC : Yeah, no, it's been quite a slog and I think anybody who attempts a marathon knows there's a lot of training involved. And it's... it's gone well, really until the last five weeks.
JS : What happened then?
KMC : Errm... I've got a couple of problems. I've had recurrent achilles tendon problems, errm... to my right achilles - kicked off five weeks ago - and I've also, errm... got a problem with the joint in my... my left foot.
LK : Now, anybody else would have probably thought 'this isn't a good idea to do this Marathon'. Did you think about pulling out?
KMC : Well, I think at that stage, I think when you're so far down the line, it... it's really hard to pull out and for all the reasons, you know, I've... I've said I'll do it for. It was just so hard, so...
LK : Because you're doing it for a charity that is so close to your heart, aren't you?
KMC : Yeah, I mean, I'm doing it for Missing People and I think they need the support and if I can help in any way then I want to.
JS : Unbelievably, you've had abuse.
KMC : Yeah, I mean we've obviously had a lot of abuse over the last six years, so in some ways it... it's nothing new. I think we tend to get a little bit blasé, which is wrong because you shouldn't do because it... it... it's bad, you know, and, errm...
JS : This is internet abuse, is it?
KMC : It is internet abuse and we both feel very strongly that more should be done about internet abuse. (3)
LK : It's shameful, absolutely shameful, it really is.
KMC : It is. I mean, people wouldn't get away with behaving like that on the street, and yet they feel that they can hide behind a computer at home.
LK : It's totally cowardly, it really is, but you always... you always rise above it. You have to, I guess.
KMC : Well, we do, you know, but we do have children and, you know, even sometimes when I just think they're cowards and, you know, I'm not even going to go there, then I think about my children and I think it's not right that they should come across stuff like that as well.
JS : How are they, by the way?
KMC : Smashing, brilliant, really good, yeah. They're eight now, so, errm...
LK : It's extraordinary that that amount of time has... has gone... has gone by. It is six years now, almost, isn't it?
KMC : I know, I mean, sometimes it's hard for me. I think 'where have those six years gone?', I mean they've been really busy but at the same time it's just hard to get your head round the fact that...
LK : [cuts off Kate's sentence] But you do keep Madeleine's memory... you keep her spirit alive all the time, you talk about her all the time, don't you? The twins talk about her all the time as well.
KMC : Oh yeah, I mean, she's very much part of our life every day, errm... she's part of our family and she's included in everything that we... we talk about and plan.
JS : Are you still, understandably, very protective of... of your twins?
KMC : Well, yeah, I mean, I think I was a bit before anyway, errm... to be honest, errm... I am aware though that as they get a little bit older and it becomes natural that they should have a bit more freedom that that is going to be a tough time for me.
LK : It is hard anyway but doubly hard for you I would think.
KMC : Yeah, it's going to be a challenge.
LK : Definitely. Are they going to be there on Sunday, are they going to watching you?
KMC : Yeah, the family are coming and friends and...
LK : As we know, with what happened in Boston, which was absolutely horrendous, was there any thought in your mind thinking 'well, I'll do it but I don't want them at the finishing line', or are you just not thinking like that?
KMC : There was a little bit, I have to be honest. I mean, you know, it does stop and make you think and, you know, they hear the news themselves now, so they asked me about it, and I tell them what happened, errm... but then I talk them through it. I mean, they're fine. I suppose kids are different really, they don't always see the potential danger in things but, you know, I think the sensible thing is to go. We know security is gonna be good. I mean, as I said, errm... the other day, we can't live in fear and there's so much good that comes out of events like this, it's just wrong that more people should have to suffer, so...
LK : Absolutely.
KMC : ...we'll be there.
LK : Well said.
JS : We wish you well.
LK : We really do wish you well, and I'll be talking to you after half past eight. Its lovely to see you.
KMC : Can I just say, as well, 'thank you' to everybody who has sponsored me and helped the charity, we really appreciate it.
LK : Of course, and they can still do that can't they?
KMC : They can, they can.
JS : Even if you have to walk it.
KMC : Yeah. Thank yo
LK : You will do it, you will definitely do it.
KMC : Yeah. I'll do it.
KMC : Yeah, I mean we've obviously had a lot of abuse over the last six years, so in some ways it... it's nothing new. I think we tend to get a little bit blasé, which is wrong because you shouldn't do because it... it... it's bad, you know, and, errm...
JS : This is internet abuse, is it?
KMC : It is internet abuse and we both feel very strongly that more should be done about internet abuse. (3)
LK : It's shameful, absolutely shameful, it really is.
KMC : It is. I mean, people wouldn't get away with behaving like that on the street, and yet they feel that they can hide behind a computer at home.
LK : It's totally cowardly, it really is, but you always... you always rise above it. You have to, I guess.
KMC : Well, we do, you know, but we do have children and, you know, even sometimes when I just think they're cowards and, you know, I'm not even going to go there, then I think about my children and I think it's not right that they should come across stuff like that as well.
JS : How are they, by the way?
KMC : Smashing, brilliant, really good, yeah. They're eight now, so, errm...
LK : It's extraordinary that that amount of time has... has gone... has gone by. It is six years now, almost, isn't it?
KMC : I know, I mean, sometimes it's hard for me. I think 'where have those six years gone?', I mean they've been really busy but at the same time it's just hard to get your head round the fact that...
LK : [cuts off Kate's sentence] But you do keep Madeleine's memory... you keep her spirit alive all the time, you talk about her all the time, don't you? The twins talk about her all the time as well.
KMC : Oh yeah, I mean, she's very much part of our life every day, errm... she's part of our family and she's included in everything that we... we talk about and plan.
JS : Are you still, understandably, very protective of... of your twins?
KMC : Well, yeah, I mean, I think I was a bit before anyway, errm... to be honest, errm... I am aware though that as they get a little bit older and it becomes natural that they should have a bit more freedom that that is going to be a tough time for me.
LK : It is hard anyway but doubly hard for you I would think.
KMC : Yeah, it's going to be a challenge.
LK : Definitely. Are they going to be there on Sunday, are they going to watching you?
KMC : Yeah, the family are coming and friends and...
LK : As we know, with what happened in Boston, which was absolutely horrendous, was there any thought in your mind thinking 'well, I'll do it but I don't want them at the finishing line', or are you just not thinking like that?
KMC : There was a little bit, I have to be honest. I mean, you know, it does stop and make you think and, you know, they hear the news themselves now, so they asked me about it, and I tell them what happened, errm... but then I talk them through it. I mean, they're fine. I suppose kids are different really, they don't always see the potential danger in things but, you know, I think the sensible thing is to go. We know security is gonna be good. I mean, as I said, errm... the other day, we can't live in fear and there's so much good that comes out of events like this, it's just wrong that more people should have to suffer, so...
LK : Absolutely.
KMC : ...we'll be there.
LK : Well said.
JS : We wish you well.
LK : We really do wish you well, and I'll be talking to you after half past eight. Its lovely to see you.
KMC : Can I just say, as well, 'thank you' to everybody who has sponsored me and helped the charity, we really appreciate it.
LK : Of course, and they can still do that can't they?
KMC : They can, they can.
JS : Even if you have to walk it.
KMC : Yeah. Thank yo
LK : You will do it, you will definitely do it.
KMC : Yeah. I'll do it.
(1) C'est ce qui donne une vie à Madeleine. On la cherche, donc elle existe.
(3)
On comprend l'inquiétude des MC par rapport à la Toile et à ce qui s'y
dit sur l'affaire, car ils ne pourront pas empêcher leurs enfants d'y
accéder.
Maddie Case
CMTV - 19.11.2013
Traduction de Astro
Anchor : After CMTV screened a
reconstruction about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, there
were many reactions, that multiplied themselves, mainly because of
the various contradictions in the witnesses' statements.
Narrateur : The case dates back to the
3rd of May of 2007. Six years later, several inconsistencies and
contradictions are counted, which contribute to the mystery
surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine. After the screening of
CMTV's reconstruction relating to the little girl's disappearance,
there were many reactions that multiplied themselves, mainly about
the various contradictions that were raised.
One of the inconsistencies has to do
with the time of the visit that was done by a friend to the McCann
couple. David Payne would have met Gerry at 6.30 p.m., and only
afterwards went to see Kate. Until today, it is not known how long
the visit took: According to Gerry, Payne was at the location for
over half an hour; according to Kate, the visit lasted little over 30
seconds.
Gonçalo Amaral : This is a figure
[person] that, I used to say, that is enigmatic, and who was not well
investigated. Not a lot is known about this person.
Narr. : A mysterious man with a
profile that is linked to indications of inadequate behaviours
towards children. He even used to bathe the daughters of the friends
that he spent holidays with. To CMTV, Gonçalo Amaral and Francisco
Moita Flores, former Judiciary Police inspectors, state that this is
one of the gaps in the process.
Francisco Moita Flores : It is strange, in a group
of friends, that one friend bathes the other friends' children. And
that all of this is natural, and nobody questions this from the
investigation's point of view.
GA : What weight did it
have in the disappearance, if it had any weight at all, and what was
going on there with that individual. One, is this one; the 30 minutes
or the 30 seconds, what he went there to do. The other one, is the
fact that he always cared to bathe the other people's daughters.
Narr. : There is even a concrete
episode, which took place on the island of Mallorca, in 2005. David
Payne, in the company of Gerry McCann, would have been seen making
obscene gestures, while referring to Maddie.
GA : Then there is the
other moment, that of the obscene gestures he made, in Spain, in
Mallorca, where there is a denunciation in May 2007, ten days after
the disappearance, by another doctor, who was also on holidays, who
knows him and tells the English police about said obscene gestures
in the presence of the father.
Narr. : For Eduardo Dâmaso, joint
editor at Correio da Manhã, these indications should have been
explored.
Eduardo Dâmaso : All of those
indications are much stronger to explore, that enigma that is
installed within that group, than the thesis of the abductor. The
feeling that I have is...
Narr. : Some statements by Gerry
McCann are also contradictory. To the police, Maddie's father told
different versions about the way that he entered the Ocean Club
apartment at 9 p.m. In a first statement, Gerry said he had entered
through the front door; later, he changed the statement and said he
had entered through the back window. Despite everything, the key was
inside the apartment.For the former Judiciary Police
inspector Carlos Anjos, the change in the depositions is an attempt
by Gerry to adjust to the facts.
Carlos Anjos : I think he has no
certainty whatsoever. That is the big problem. And hence the
difficulty, the contradictions they had, all of the contradictions
they had, which were verbalized when they gave statements, even the
changing of depositions... We at the police used to say that when the
depositions start to be changed, it's an attempt by the witness to
adjust the deposition to the fact.
Narr. : Another inconsistency has to
do with the visit of another friend of the couple to the Ocean Club
apartment. Matthew Oldfield entered the room, looked to where Maddie
and her siblings were. Later on, he said he wasn't sure whether or
not the little girl was in the apartment.
ED : We return to another
aspect which, from my point of view, proves that all the indications
that exist, which point towards an enigma that is installed within
that group, is much stronger than what exists about the possibility
of an abduction.
Narr. : Another question that
remains unanswered is the place where Gerry was at 10 p.m. Two Tapas
Bar employees said that Gerry was not at the restaurant. According to
Gonçalo Amaral, there are only three moments that the authorities
are able to locate in time. This is not one of them.
GA : As far as accurate
times are concerned, there are only three: The time at which they
pick up Maddie from the crèche, which is at 5.30 p.m., the time of
the payment at the restaurant by the Irish family, which is at 9.22
or 9.27 p.m., and the time of the phone call to GNR, which is at
10.47 p.m. From there on, nothing is certain.
Narr. : Contributing to the mystery
of Gerry's location at 10 p.m., a statement by a family of Irish
tourists, four adults and five children, appears. According to the
Smiths, that evening, the family left Kelly's Bar and headed home at
around 10 p.m. Five minutes later, Kate raises the alarm to the
disappearance. At the same time, the family crosses ways with a man
that carried a blonde child, aged approximately four, wearing pink
pyjamas.Martin Smith, one of the group's
members, gives the police a detailed description. Four months later,
already in the United Kingdom, the Smith family sees images of Gerry
McCann carrying one of his children. When he sees the image on
television, Martin remembers the same man that he had seen in Praia
da Luz.
The denunciation was made to the
Judiciary Police and the PJ decides to bring him to Portugal. At that
time, Gonçalo Amaral, the coordinator, is removed from the
investigation, and the new coordinator, Paulo Rebelo, considers that
the trip of the Irishman to Portugal is useless.
Six years later, Gonçalo Amaral
remains certain that it is important to listen to the witnesses'
statement.
GA : It makes all kind of
sense to even bring him, and the family, it's 3 or 4 people more, to
Portugal, even to understand how long they took after leaving the
Dolphins restaurant, how long they remained in Kelly's bar, because
there is no payment, the payment was not made with a card, we found
out the exact time of the payment, not the exit from the restaurant,
through the payment, because the payment was made with a bank card.
At the bar, it was made in cash, so we don't know. We don't know how
long they took having their drinks. We don't know at what time the
sighting takes place. It would have been around ten, a bit earlier, a
bit later, at around that time, we don't know exactly at what time it
was.
Narr. : For the former Judiciary
Police inspector, the question of the e-fit that appeared at the time
ended up taking importance away from the deposition.
GA : This family, which is
not only one person, says that the person that they saw that night is
a certain person. They say it is. Then they say it's 80%. And then
the e-fit – someone appears that looks like a certain person. While
they never said it was a person that looked like Gerald McCann. The
e-fit has that effect, the effect of devaluating the statement
itself.
Narr. : These are contradictions and
inconsistencies that remain unanswered to this day. And adding to all
of these questions, a new issue appears: That of the crime of
exposure or abandonment [child endangerment], that would have been
committed by Kate and Gerry McCann when they left Maddie alone during
the night.
FMF : You can be absolutely
certain that if this couple was Portuguese, the Public Ministry would
have immediately triggered the child protection measures against
them. Have no doubts about that. Because in our culture, this is not
reasonable nor explainable. And I don't know if it can even be
explained under the light of the Anglo-Saxon culture.
Rui Pereira : At the beginning, the
McCanns were obviously suspected of a crime of exposure of
abandonment. Obviously. It is evident that it was not easy to make
them arguidos right away. Why? Because investigators are also human.
And the most immediate sentiment that was experienced was that of a
certain compassion towards the parents.
FMF : I understand, with some
effort, but I understand that it's a cultural trait that is different
from ours, to leave children far away from the place where we are,
and to enjoy ourselves until midnight, from 8.30, 9 p.m. until
midnight. I find this hard to believe, for our Latin culture, in
which the children are very directly controlled, I find this very
difficult.
Narr. : For Carlos Anjos, all the
participants in the case tried to find a way not to be implicated in
this crime.
CA : They all knew that they
were at stake because of exposure and abandonment, and all of them
somehow tried to find a story that would not harm them much, that
would not mistreat them much in that situation.
Narr. : These are reactions that are
raised after the exhibition of CMTV's reconstruction about the
disappearance of Maddie. A job that was never done by the Portuguese
police.
GA : The reconstruction was
never done because one awaited the best moment. At the time when
everything happened, one thought about the reconstruction, which is
normal in such a situation. There were many journalists in Praia da
Luz, it was not convenient to do it at that time, due to the
apparatus and the spectacle that would be given, it was almost as
someone said, necessary to close the air space to make a
reconstruction.
FMF : This was decisive. And I
don't know how the police could do it, I understand the difficulties
of this media circus that was built there, but it would have been
necessary and decisive. Because as can be seen from this
reconstruction, and one understands that it follows the statements
from the participants in the process, one realises that it is full of
contradictions.
Narr. : For Francisco Moita Flores,
the reconstruction by CMTV is more accurate than the one that was
shown by the English Crimewatch programme.
FMF : What CMTV just did, I saw
the reconstruction that was made by Crimewatch and this one, and one
understands that it is like day and night, in terms of accuracy.
GA : One has more red wine
and the other one shows empty glasses.
FMF : This one has the wine, it
has the party, it has the disposition of the people, it has the
relationship with the physical space, which is important.
Narr. : These are reactions that
appear after the exhibition of the reconstruction of the moments
before and after the disappearance of Madeleine, a case that still
prompts much discussion.
CA : This is the most verified
case that I can recall in the history of criminal investigation.
Countless CDs were made, they were distributed to all of the
newspapers, to all of the detective agencies, to all of the
policemen. And one thing is objective at this moment in time, just
like Gonçalo said: Today we are exactly the same as when the case
was closed. That is to say that we are, today, just like we were in
2007. The entire investigative community, that read the process from
beginning to end, possibly all of us read it already, there was
nobody who said – some have said that this or that could be done,
but those are diligences that could hardly have any other result than
the one that is there [in the case files].
Narr. : The doubts remain. The
uncertainties about what really happened to Madeleine McCann remain.
