anotheroneforjustice
Madeleine McCann - The Truth of the Lie - Goncalo Amarals documentary (6 of 6)
updated
Transcript available here http://headlines-today.co.uk/2011/01/06/philomena-mccann-lobbies-mps-in-london-may-16th-2007
http://headlines-today.co.uk/2011/01/06/newsnight-report-on-relationship-between-media-and-police-05-jan-2011
LINDSEY PROSSER For Madeleine's family, the wait is unbearable. Her grandfather flew to the resort as soon as he knew she'd gone missing. Now back in Liverpool he told Radio Merseyside's Roger Philips that he's very upset by the the criticism of his daughter and son-in-law.
BRIAN HEALY I was hurt to be honest because you couldn't hope to meet a more caring set of parents. I'm proud of my daughter and I'm proud of her choice of husband. They really care for their kids and they would never do anything that would jeopardise them.
LINDSEY PROSSER There have been questions about how the Portuguese police are handling the case but Brian Healy says he believes they are doing all they can.
BRIAN HEALY They're doing their best. You know, maybe there was a little bit of delay at the beginning but, you know, its how those countries operate. We've got to go along with them.
LINDSEY PROSSER Brian Healy says he still can't comprehend what has happened. Lindsey Prosser, Northwest Today, Liverpool.
GERRY MCCANN We would like to make another short statement relating to Madeleine's disappearance.. First of all, we would like to thank everyone here in Portugal, the UK and elsewhere for all your support during this extremely, extremely difficult time for our family. We are pleased that the family liaison officers from Leicestershire are now working closely with the Portuguese Police and are keeping us informed. We have no further information regarding the information but appreciate the significant efforts everyone is making on our behalf. We would again like to appeal for any information, however small, that may lead to the safe return of Madeleine. Finally, we would like to thank the media for respecting our privacy, especially that of Madeleine's little brother and sister.
KRISHNAN GURU MURTHY ...on them before she vanished. Her parents were having dinner at a nearby restaurant. They say she's been abducted. Police have spent the day searching around the Praia da Luz resort in the Algarve. Madeleine has now been missing for almost 24 hours. As Katy Razzall reports.
KATY RAZZALL Three year old Madeleine McCann, a little girl from Leicester on her first ever foreign holiday. As the hours pass, the agony grows. This, a major investigation into what the Portuguese police are still referring to as a missing persons enquiry. Abduction the word being used by Madeleine's family. Last night this was just a holiday resort. Today, the McCann's apartment in Mark Warner's Praia da Luz is sealed off. Madeleine's parents had been eating at a Tapas bar within sight of here but at ten last night Madeleine's mother found her little girl gone. The younger twin brother and sister still asleep in cots either side of Madeleine's bed. Her distraught father rang his sister.
TRISHA CAMERON (Madeleine's Aunt) He said that Madeleine had been abducted. She's not the type of wee girl to wander off and Kate went back to check her half an hour after Gerry had checked and Madeleine was missing. The window was open. The shutters were up. None of that had been left like that and they'd been interfered with, the windows.
KATIE RAZZALL Those shutters being checked for fingerprints today as the search continued. Maps of the area and photographs of Madeleine given out to ensure every corner of the resort is checked in the hope the little girl will be found. Many local residents and holidaymakers stayed up all night.
JOHN HILL (Resort Manager) When I arrived here err, gue... more guests, more local residents were getting involved in the search and we tried to do a strategic search from the right hand side of the village across through to the left. We sent people down to the beach and came up through the alley ways.
KATIE RAZZALL The police talking to anyone who may have noticed anything unusual. The hope that Madeleine woke up and went in search of her parents fading perhaps. If this is an abduction the police will need to know who may have entered or left the resort, to identify why Madeleine's room was targeted, whether this was an opportunistic kidnap or something planned? Such a crime so here rare its new territory for the Portuguese authorities.
PAUL LUCKMAN (Publisher, Portugal News) I cannot recall a child abduction on the foreign community. Its virtually unheard of in this country. This is taken very, very seriously. Now we know that they had the borders closed in very, very short time. The airport security is very high on children which are not travelling with their parents. So I would think they've done very, very well.
KATIE RAZZALL Gerry and Kate McCann are described as totally devoted to their children. The horror of it all too imaginable. The pain and shock etched on their faces today. A close-knit family shattered.
EILEEN MCCANN (Madeleine's grandmother) She's a doctor. He's a cardiologist consultant, saves people's lives and this, this is how he gets repaid. (??? short unintelligible phrase and sobbing.)
KATIE RAZZALL Madeleine's parents chose this resort for its family-friendly atmosphere. This afternoon, they said they believed their daughter, who'll be four next week, is still alive.
GERRY MCCANN Words cannot describe the anguish and despair that we are feeling as the parents of our beautiful daughter, Madeleine. We request that anyone who may have any information related to Madeleine's disappearance, no matter how trivial, contact the Portuguese police and help us get her back safely.
Please, if you have Madeleine, let her come home to her Mummy, Daddy, brother and sister. As everyone can understand how distressing the current situation is, we ask that our privacy is respected to allow us to continue assisting the police in their investigation.
Thank you.
REPORTER Her face already incredibly familiar. Madeleine McCann, three years old, apparently the victim of the unthinkable. A random kidnapping. And almost five days on the police inquiry is coming under scrutiny..Experienced detectives say the first few hours within an abduction investigation are vital. Within 24 hours the Portuguese police were searching Praia da Luz with dogs. Forensics teams were also on site that day but was it all too late to catch the kidnapper at his most vulnerable?
HAMISH BROWN (Former Detective Inspector) The first few hours of any investigation are important. In this country its called the golden hour. Basically it deals with two issues. One is tracing witnesses and two is securing forensic evidence. Both are terribly important in any investigation.
REPORTER Over the years British police forces have learnt to use the media in these cases. Their Portuguese colleagues work in a system with laws designed to protect the investigation and any suspect and these prevent them releasing much information.
ANTONIO SANTANA CARLOS (Portuguese Ambassador) We have to follow the principle of the secrecy of justice. That leads us, the authorities, the judicial authorities, that they cannot disclose the investigations, the way they are proceeding.
US TV PRESENTER Our story this evening, the search for two abducted children...
REPORTER The Americans pioneered a system, called 'Amber Alert', which uses local media to help in the vital few hours after a child abduction. Its now been adopted here. The British system is called 'Child Rescue Alert'. Its triggered when a child is believed to have been abducted and is thought to be at risk of harm. Then, so long as there's adequate information, the local TV and radio stations are asked to broadcast alerts every fifteen minutes.
RADIO PRESENTER Sussex police have...
REPORTER It was first used in Sussex three years ago. That case ended happily. Madeleine McCann's family are praying that hers does too. Daniel Sandford, BBC news.
REPORTER In the heat of the Portuguese countryside the search for Maddie goes on. These are fields three miles away from the seaside resort where the three year old was snatched. And helping to lead the search is bar worker Matt King from Leicester.
MATT KING The police will give us an area. The maps that they've got, they've coordinated into squares (???? 2 or three garbled words) each day. At the end of the day we then have to go back, mark off the area that we've done. Then the next day we'll go back to the area that we've been given and we'll go back out to that area with as many volunteers that have volunteered in the day.
REPORTER A dozen people have volunteered for this search party. Some are ex-pats. Some are tourists. One family has given up part of their holiday to look for Maddie. Its six days now since the disappearance of the little girl from Rothley in Leicestershire.
WOMAN SEARCHER 1 We were here on holiday and just so close to where its all happened and you just can't really come without doing something to help.
WOMAN SEARCHER 2 When we heard about Maddie. It was just, oh, it was just horrible so we just didn't feel like we could be here on holiday knowing that she was missing.
REPORTER Its tough going for these search parties in the fields near the resort. They're looking through long grasses, in orchards, irrigation ditches and outhouses for any sign of Maddie. Madeleine's story is front page news in the ex-pat newspapers out here. How will the Portuguese be reacting to all this?
SHEENA RAWCLIFFE (from The Resident newspaper) They are finding this very, very difficult and to be quite open and honest, they are hoping it is a British person or somebody who is not Portuguese that has taken Maddie away because they will be devastated if its a Portuguese person that has done this.
REPORTER Secrecy laws here in Portugal mean the police can't reveal too many details about their investigations but the police have now bowed to pressure from the British media. They say they've questioned a hundred people, they say they are following up 350 leads and they've searched 500 apartments as they hunt for missing Madeleine.
REPORTER This is just one of the ramshackle outbuildings that dot the hillsides. Dozens of them have been checked over the last few days. The number of people on the search parties has dwindled. But Matt King says he'll continue to help for as long as it takes.
REPORTER On Saturday its Madeleine McCann's birthday. She'll be four. She's been missing for six days now. In Portugal her parents, Gerry and Kate, who's originally from Liverpool, today thanked everyone involved in the search for their daughter. In Liverpool her grandparents defended her parents against suggestions that they shouldn't have left the toddler in the apartment while they ate at a restaurant yards away.
SUSAN HEALY Why would you think something like this would happen? You make a decision. You think its OK. And this time it wasn't and Kate and Gerry have to live with that which is dreadful. They don't need pressure from people saying that they made a mistake. They know this was a mistake but it wasn't child neglect, it wasn't not caring for your children. Kate and Gerry's children are the most important thing in their lives.
BRIAN HEALY I'm proud of my daughter and I am proud of her choice of husband. (??They're) excellent. A really good, caring father. He plays with their kids. He looks after them, takes his turn. You couldn't get any more protective family than them.
REPORTER The family also revealed how important media coverage of the case is to them.
SUSAN HEALY The media coverage is really the only tool we have at the moment and our hope for finding out where Madeleine is or for keeping Madeleine in the public eye because I think it is the public that we're going to rely on to get information.
BRIAN HEALY (speaks behind Susan Healy but unintelligible).
REPORTER Prayers for Madeleine and her family have been said at Kate McCann's old school at Everton in Liverpool.
ANDY GILL As Madeleine's family here in Liverpool wait for news, Portuguese police have widened their enquiry by launching an internet appeal in Portuguese, English and Spanish. And two psychological profiling experts from the British Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre have flown to the Algarve to help local officers there. Andy Gill, Northwest Tonight, Liverpool.
TRANSCRIPT
TRANSCRIPT
EDDIE JARIS (hospital priest)* God of love, ever caring, ever strong, watch over Madeleine, look after her and protect her with your care.
PRIYA KAUR-JONES Madeleine and her parents were in the prayers and the thoughts of the hundreds of people who turned up at the Glenfield hospital this lunchtime.
MAGGIE SHARPE (hospital chaplain) Kate and Gerry have dedicated their whole lives to caring, to bringing healing to people and now its our turn to show them our love and our solidarity.
UNAMED WOMAN There's so little you can do to show support isn't there. You know our thoughts are with Kate all the time. I just wanted to be here with other people who felt the same way.
DR JOHN HARVEY (colleague of Kate McCann) I think its important that Kate and Gerry know, err, know that they're in our thoughts and that we've come here today in quite good numbers I think, to show our solidarity and support for them.
DR DOUG SKEHAN (colleague of Kate McCann)** The hospital has virtually emptied out of the front door apart from those who had to stay looking after the patients. This is a caring culture
PRIYA KAUR-JONES At the end of the vigil rainbow ribbons were tied around the posts at the entrance to the hospital. A symbol of hope. Hope that Madeleine will be found safe, soon. Priya Kaur-Jones, East Midlands today in Leicestershire.
* Apparently a spelling error in the onscreen caption. Fr. Edward Jarosz is an RC Chaplain to the hospital.
** Dr Skehan is actually a colleague of Gerry McCann
TRANSCRIPT
PRIYA KAUR-JONES The McCann family home is just behind me here in Rothley. There've been people inside here all day and the police came at about eleven o'clock, went inside to talk to relative. They came out later on and said that the family don't want to speak to members of the media. Well the McCanns have only lived in this close for about a year or so. Prior to that they lived up the road in Queniborough, in the grounds of Queniborough Hall. And everyone who knows them around here says they are a lovely family and that they're very protective of their children.
TRACEY HORSEFIELD (neighbour) They don't let the children out. I must stress that. As far as I'm concerned they're always with their mum or their dad.
VALERIE ARMSTRONG (family friend) I can't believe that something would happen to such a lovely family unit. Its just devastating.
PRIYA KAUR-JONES Well, Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, are both doctors. Gerry's a consultant cardiologist in Glenfield Hospital in Leicester and today they've issued a statement saying that Gerry's a very popular and hard-working colleague and that the mood in the hospital is one of great concern. And that really sums up the feelings of everyone that we've spoken to today about Madeleine who say they are very worried about her and hope that she's found soon. Priya Kaur-Jones, East Midlands Today, Rothley.
TRANSCRIPT
REPORTER The book called simply "Madeleine" will go on sale next year. It will coincide with the fourth anniversary of their daughter's disappearance from the family's holiday apartment in Portugal. Kate McCann spoke recently on Cenral Tonight to explain why they feel the search for Madeleine has to be kept alive.
KATE MCCANN We believe that by looking at all the information and you have to bear in mind that there's in lots of different departments, on lots of different desks, on lots of different databases and it all needs to be brought together and only by doing that will we identify areas that need further investigation.
REPORTER At its height the Find Madeleine Fund had reached two million pounds but its running out fast. That's why the couple from Rothley felt they had no choice but to go into print with their story but the publicist, Max Clifford, questions the decision to write a book.
MAX CLIFFORD I just think that people are getting to the stage now where they think, "Well we've heard all this so many times". And whilst they have nothing but sympathy for the McCanns, I wonder if this book will be the success that obviously they're hoping it will be and the publishers, if they're paying them millions of pounds which is what we're reading, erm that the book will achieve. Its a story that is so well known, so well documented and we've all heard so many times, erm, that, you know, personally I've got my doubts as to, you know, just the impact and the success that it will have.
REPORTER Mixed opinion today in the Midlands.
FIRST LOCAL WOMAN I wouldn't buy the book. I think it would sort of fictionalize the story and make it less real.
SECOND LOCAL WOMAN Yes, I would buy it actually because I think they shouldn't give up until they find what happened to their daughter.
THIRD LOCAL WOMAN Well, I wouldn't buy it, though its probably a good idea for them, but I wouldn't buy it.
REPORTER The McCanns say their only priority is the search for their daughter. Alison McKinsay for Central Tonight.
TRANSCRIPT
KATHY ROCHFORD Here in Rothley the sea of yellow ribbons, the mountain of soft toys behind me grows ever larger. Now as you say it's been two weeks tonight that Madeleine was taken from her parent's apartment and yet, still, people come here today, streaming through reading the messages of support, some of them reduced to tears by the notes left by children. Now among the visitors today was Madeleine's Scottish grandmother and I spoke to her just before she flew back to Scotland and she told me that she had just spoken to her son, Gerry, in Portugal. This is what she said about him.
EILEEN MCCANN Feeling a lot brighter and better in his voice. And I think us being here with the family and the fund starting, that's uplifted him. And his doctors from the hospital especially Doug Skehan who's his immediate boss. He's been just wonderful. Good uplifting news so that's probably made his voice a bit brighter, not as anguished and that's what I found in him today.
KATHY ROCHFORD Well that's how events here are buoying up the family in Portugal but I'm joined now by Madeleine's great uncle, Brian Kennedy, and he's going to tell us about the fighting fund. What's been the public's response to it, Brian?
BRIAN KENNEDY Well, its been very good so far but a lot of people have said they're not quite sure how they can give money. So may I tell them?
KATHY ROCHFORD Yes, very briefly.
BRIAN KENNEDY Right, well very briefly, you can go into any branch of the Nat West or the Royal Bank of Scotland and just say that you would like to make a contribution to the Madeleine Fund.
KATHY ROCHFORD But tell me, Brian, about all the people that have been coming up to you today, just literally stuffing money in your hand.
BRIAN KENNEDY Yes, they have. Its very touching, very touching. I would just say. This is not an appeal. The family haven't made an appeal. We've just set up a mechanism for people who said they wanted to do something and contribute so that the money can be used for all sorts of reasons but probably mainly for legal expenditure.
KATHY ROCHFORD And, of course, there is the video and you want that to have saturation coverage, don't you?
BRIAN KENNEDY We do. Its gone out and its very widespread already. We're particularly concerned that it should reach as many countries as possible.
KATHY ROCHFORD OK, Brian, thank you very much indeed for talking to us. As I said you can here see all the yellow ribbons. That is a testament of what people feel like. They really want to pay tribute to Madeleine, want to see her back home safe and well.
Lester Holt This morning a surprising new development in the case of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Three years after the British girl vanished in Portugal police say they are ready to re-open the investigation. Lets get the latest from Keir Simmons in London. Keir, Good morning.
Keir Simmons Well, good morning, Lester. Its now more than three years since three year old Madeleine McCann vanished and Portugal's police just desperately need to solve this crime. This morning it is reported that detectives are committed to resolving the case and would work on a review and pursue any new line of enquiry. You remember Kate and Gerry McCann's young daughter went missing from their holiday apartment in idyllic resort in Portugal's Algarve. Some witnesses saw a male abductor carrying her away but incredibly the parents themselves were then accused of her involvement. Those allegations have been dismissed now but this week Madeleine's parents claim that both the British and Portuguese governments have forgotten their daughter.
Kate McCann Thoughts and words are not good enough, particularly when they are in a position that they can actually do something about it.
Gerry McCann If Madeleine was found it would almost be by chance and it should't be right that this crime is solved by another child being abducted.
Keir Simmons Well this morning its reported that Portuguese detectives will look at the case again but Madeleine's parents have waited too long to get their hopes up and are awaiting official confirmation. Lester...
Lester Holt Keir, we haven't seen the McCanns for quite some time. How are generally are they coping right now?
Keir Simmons Well you know, Lester, I've covered the disappearance of little Madeleine McCann from the beginning. I arrived in Portugal the day after she went missing and to me her parents now seem as shell-shocked and devastated as they did in those early days. They say Madeleine's twin brother and sister often talk about if Madeleine comes home, er, not about if Madeleine comes home but about when she comes home. How they will share their bedrooms and spend time together. Without those two little ones the parents say life would have simply been unbearable.
Lester Holt Alright. Keir Simmons in London this morning, thank you.
Keir Simmons (ITV) working for weekend version of NBC Today News
Mark Dennison hosts music, news and phone-in show which includes discussion about the McCann Petition and call for more donations (November 4th 2010)
Mark Dennison hosts music, news and phone-in show which includes discussion about the McCann Petition and call for more donations (November 4th 2010)
Mark Dennison hosts music, news and phone-in show which includes discussion about the McCann Petition and call for more donations (November 4th 2010)
Part Two Transcript
Mark Dennison ...Nottingham, Four Tops, I Can't Help Myself. Afternoon, this is Mark Dennison. - So Madeleine McCann back in the headlines this week. Her parents have launched an online petition to help force a UK and Portuguese joint review of all evidence in the case of their missing daughter. They hope, I mean, you can't imagine what's, what they're going through as parents can you? They hope that it can lead to a new police investigation into Madeleine's disappearance from the family's rented holiday apartment in Portugal three and a half years ago. Kate and Gerry McCann have also accused Home Secretary, Theresa May, of offering words but no action to help the search for their daughter. Interested to hear from you this lunchtime on this notion of a petition for one thing. Don't you think sometimes, I mean, do petitions work? Are you aware of a situation where, be it an online petition or an old-style bit of paper and lots of signatures? Do those petitions generally have the desired effect? And more to the point, as well, Gerry and Kate McCann are not only looking for signatures on a petition, they are looking for more cash. Their own funds are beginning to run dry. Would you go online or in some other way donate money to their fund? There are a lot of causes after your cash at the moment. We all know how tight times are. Would you consider giving money to the McCann appeal, the Madeleine McCann appeal to try and find this little girl? When you call Nottingham 9343434.
Male pre-recorded 2 - I think I would because I've got children of my own and if one of them was missing, I'd never give up. until you find a body you should never give up because there's always hope.
Female pre-recorded 3 - Too long.. I think its gone on too long now.
Female pre-recorded 4 - No. Because I think that they've probably done everything that they can and I think that she's gone. I think she's probably dead, you know. I think it probably happened really shortly after she disappeared and I think they're just sort of, its false hope isn't it? And there's better things to give your money to if you did.
Mark Dennison - Quite a few views on this already.
Martin's saying, "No. I wouldn't give them any money. I'm strongly against giving cash to the McCann fund. I still want to know why they haven't been done for neglect." Thank you, Martin, for the comments.
Joan from Arnold, says "No. Because the only person I feel sorry for is the child who was supposedly left all alone. The government shouldn't pay another penny." according to Joan.
The only thing is, though, surely that money, be it government money or from the McCann appeal, that is helping that child because its helping the child be reunited with the parents isn't it? Want to hear from you on this. Would you, or maybe you have already been on and you've given some money to the McCann appeal? Is this something you feel strongly about three and a half years on from Madeleine's disappearance, of course? When you call Nottingham 9343434. When you text its 81333. Start your message with the word NOTTS. If you prefer to email mark.dennison@bbc.co.uk.
Part One Transcript
Mark Dennison - ...half past twelve. So the search continues, as you know, for Madeleine McCann. Three and a half years ago she disappeared and her parents have been saying just this week that they don't believe that enough is being done in this country and in Portugal to try and find their daughter. They've launched a petition, which just in the last couple of days has attracted 9,000 signatures. The McCanns are also asking for more money to try and help their daughter as funds begin to run out. We all know cash is tight. We all know there are lots of causes asking for your money. Would you? Have you given money to the McCanns to try and find their daughter?
Female 1 pre-recorded - No, because they shouldn't have left her in the first place. Me and my husband go abroad with our little son. We never leave him so I wouldn't help them. I know its horrible what's happened but I wouldn't give them any money.
Male pre-recorded - If they believe the child was dead then that's quite a lot to live up to. Its very difficult to live with that I think. I mean I wouldn't be able to live with the loss of one of my children. And I would keep going and going and going and going tilI I find them.
Female 2 pre-recorded - Well (While?) its going on too long but I think other people should be, you know, they should be helped in different ways other than by the normal people.
Mark Dennison - Maybe you've already been online and you've signed this petition which is going to be handed into Theresa May, the Home Secretary, of course? And maybe you believe that more should be being done in this country and Portugal as well to try and find Madeleine. She disappeared three and a half years ago and as you can imagine, you know, as any parent would want to do, Kate and Gerry McCann want that search to continue. That's their daughter who has gone missing. They are desperate to find their daughter. They still believe that she can be found alive. They need that help from both governments in Portugal and in the UK to try and find their daughter. So have you signed, would you sign the petition and would you give money to the McCanns to try and find their daughter as well? When you call Nottingham 9343434 thats the number to call, when you text its 81333, start your message with the word NOTT and if you'd like to email mark.dennison@bbc.co.uk.