Madeleine McCann

[gazzae]

If some of the money was used to pay for wrist bands and posters then why are they charging for these on their website?

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by gazzae

If some of the money was used to pay for wrist bands and posters then why are they charging for these on their website?

Because they aren't a charity! Besides charities presumably make similar stuff from donations and then sell to supporters, perhaps they should have given them away but presumably the people running it know what they are doing

Originally Posted by gazzae

If some of the money was used to pay for wrist bands and posters then why are they charging for these on their website?

I presume the proceeds are then put back into the fund.

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I agree. The language being used in the Sun today for example paints a picture that they are innocent, having gone through enough already, and basically the Portuguese are out of order to name them as suspects.

Trying to discredit the Portuguese police by revealing accounts of plea bargains, as well as slating the decision to make them suspects, assuming they are totally innocent of any wrong doing, is, in my opinion a dangerous approach to take.

It's also unfair to the police, who are unable to do defend their actions due to the privacy laws! Something we should have in this country, properly why the media is so keen to vilify them. Yet the press/family members continue to make comments to the media to try and spin what is going on in their favor. Trying to portray the incidents as the police trying to cover up their own failures, and 'wasting time' on 'setting-up' the McCanns instead of looking for Madeleine.

None of us can be sure if that is true or not. The police will not say. But the idea that we should take a side and that they have gone though enough is stupid. If they are suspects, then they should be treated as suspects and the police should do their jobs. If they are innocent then that will be shown, if they are not, they'll go to jail. None of this can be changed by a media campaign.

Comments from Family members, untrusted information from newspapers, and sympathy for the parents do not make them innocent (or guilty for that matter)

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Damien

It's also unfair to the police, who are unable to do defend their actions due to the privacy laws!

Where do you think the Portuguese press are getting all their information from?

[etccarmageddon]

I always thought that 'fund' was to help out the family - essentials like food, accomodation, pay the mortgage while they are on compassionate leave, expenses like hire car costs while they are in portugal. basically 'support' while they are not earning from their jobs so they can pay for the cost of looking for their daughter.

everyone who donated would have expected it to be financial assistance to a family who'd had their child abducted - not a fund to provide financial assistance to defend parents accused of killing their child.

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

From maddies fund faqs...

Madeleine’s fund is a non-charitable not-for-profit company, which has been established to help find Madeleine McCann, to support her family, and to bring her abductors to justice.
.
.
To procure that Madeleine’s abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to justice

If the funds are used in fees for any defence lawyer if they do appear in court as suspects, then some could argue the fund is also being used to stop those who played a part in the abduction to avoid jail.

While there is a finger of suspicion pointed at them it will be totally wrong to use the funds to pay for a legal defence. If they are innocent then they will get their costs back anyway, besides they are not short of a few bob or not (although that could be questioned based on their reluctance to pay for child care on holiday).

Assuming they are not charged, but intead social servies take them to court for neglect. Would it be okay to use the fund then? No it wouldnt. So why should it be ok to use it for this defence action (if it goes that far)

Originally Posted by Damien

It's also unfair to the police, who are unable to do defend their actions due to the privacy laws! Something we should have in this country, properly why the media is so keen to vilify them. Yet the press/family members continue to make comments to the media to try and spin what is going on in their favor. Trying to portray the incidents as the police trying to cover up their own failures, and 'wasting time' on 'setting-up' the McCanns instead of looking for Madeleine.

None of us can be sure if that is true or not. The police will not say. But the idea that we should take a side and that they have gone though enough is stupid. If they are suspects, then they should be treated as suspects and the police should do their jobs. If they are innocent then that will be shown, if they are not, they'll go to jail. None of this can be changed by a media campaign.

Comments from Family members, untrusted information from newspapers, and sympathy for the parents do not make them innocent (or guilty for that matter)

... and the Portuguese legal status of 'Arguido' doesn't make them guilty either.

I'm staggered that after so long, so many people on this side of the Channel seem unwilling or unable to take on board the simple fact that the Portuguese have a judicial, inquisitorial system that is different to ours, with different checks and balances built in.

Far too many column inches (and forum posts) have been made out of this.

Originally Posted by Chris T

... and the Portuguese legal status of 'Arguido' doesn't make them guilty either.

I'm staggered that after so long, so many people on this side of the Channel seem unwilling or unable to take on board the simple fact that the Portuguese have a judicial, inquisitorial system that is different to ours, with different checks and balances built in.

Far too many column inches (and forum posts) have been made out of this.

They do seem to be following though with the case against the McCanns though.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...283359,00.html

Papers outlining the evidence against Gerry and Kate McCann are expected to be passed to the Public Prosecutor later today.


He will then consider any charges against the couple over Madeleine's disappearance on May 3, Portuguese police spokesman Olegario Sousa added.

Not sure if the information is accurate.

[ikthius]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

From maddies fund faqs...

Madeleine’s fund is a non-charitable not-for-profit company, which has been established to help find Madeleine McCann, to support her family, and to bring her abductors to justice.
.
.
To procure that Madeleine’s abduction is thoroughly investigated and that her abductors, as well as those who played or play any part in assisting them, are identified and brought to justice

so if it is found that they done it, does that mean their fund will pay bringing them to justice?

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by Chris T

... and the Portuguese legal status of 'Arguido' doesn't make them guilty either.

I'm staggered that after so long, so many people on this side of the Channel seem unwilling or unable to take on board the simple fact that the Portuguese have a judicial, inquisitorial system that is different to ours, with different checks and balances built in.

Far too many column inches (and forum posts) have been made out of this.

A four year old girl is missing, potentially dead. multiple large searches have as of yet failed to turn up the child either alive or dead. The finger of suspicion points towards the parents. The McCanns have used the media at every available oppurtunity in their search for their missing child. I'm not suprised at the amount of either column inches or posts on the subject at hand in the slightest.

I'd also bet that the majority of the column inches have been driven by the McCanns themselves

Interesting (imho) final paragraph in the Times Online article.

"Portuguese police refuse to say why the couple have been made official suspects. Under Portuguese law police can not question someone as if they had committed a crime unless they are a “suspect”. It could simply be that police wanted to ask the couple about the evidence they had collected, and that the seriousness of the process has been misunderstood and exaggerated by cultural and language differences. The McCanns believed that they were about to be charged with Madeleine’s death, but it does not appear police disclosed any crucial evidence to them. "

[mrmistoffelees]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Interesting (imho) final paragraph in the Times Online article.

"Portuguese police refuse to say why the couple have been made official suspects. Under Portuguese law police can not question someone as if they had committed a crime unless they are a “suspect�. It could simply be that police wanted to ask the couple about the evidence they had collected, and that the seriousness of the process has been misunderstood and exaggerated by cultural and language differences. The McCanns believed that they were about to be charged with Madeleine’s death, but it does not appear police disclosed any crucial evidence to them. "

Hmmmmmm so....


1) Why the claims of 'They offered me a deal if i confessed' ?
2) 'They are trying to frame Kate'

[ikthius]

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

Hmmmmmm so....


1) Why the claims of 'They offered me a deal if i confessed' ?
2) 'They are trying to frame Kate'

media hype, that probably they want you to hear, to make you all believe they are innocent by using their family and friends to push these stories out....

remember they lied from the start

[slug]

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

Hmmmmmm so....


1) Why the claims of 'They offered me a deal if i confessed' ?
2) 'They are trying to frame Kate'

If I were G+K McCann I would be telling their family and friends to "shut the **** up". With friends like these who needs enemies.