Day 1023:19/02/2010 Friday Madeleine Beth McCann; Verdict on Goncalo Amarals book and DVD

FEBRUARY 2010

 

Day 1023:19/02/2010 Friday Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Verdict on Goncalo Amarals book and DVD

 

We are very pleased and relieved with the judge's decision today. By upholding the injunction against Goncalo Amaral's book and DVD, the judge has rightly agreed that there has been significant, ongoing damage to the search for our beloved daughter Madeleine and to the rights of our family. We are grateful to the judge for accepting that this injustice must not continue.

The court case has demonstrated, once again, that there is no evidence that Madeleine has come to any harm. It has also clearly shown that no police force is actively looking for Madeleine, even when they are, shockingly, presented with new information and leads. The motives of those who have tried to convince the world that Madeleine is dead, and who've disgracefully and falsely tried to implicate us in her disappearance, need to be seriously questioned.

As painful and personally damaging as the slanderous claims of Mr Amaral and his supporters have been to us and our family, our primary focus has always been, and always will be, to find Madeleine through our own best investigative efforts. It is still incumbent upon the British and Portuguese authorities to ensure that every credible lead has been investigated and that a meaningful search for our innocent and vulnerable little girl is properly carried out.

 

We must and will keep looking for Madeleine and those responsible for her abduction. We implore the public, especially the Portuguese people, to help us look for Madeleine, to remain vigilant and to give us any information that could help us find our daughter. Please do not give up onMadeleine. Please call 800 814 028 (In Portugal) or 0845 838 4699.

 

Thank you

 

Kate and Gerry McCann

 

Day 988: 15/01/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann: Court Case (Injunction) in Lisbon 14th January 2010

JANUARY 2010

 

Day 988: 15/01/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann 

 Court Case (Injunction) in Lisbon 14th January 2010

 

We are currently in Lisbon for the trial to determine whether the injunction against Mr Amaral's book and DVD should remain in place. This trial is about whether the book is a true reflection of the official judicial process in to Madeleine's disappearance and whether its contents damage the ongoing search for Madeleine, her siblings and our reputations.

 

Mr Amaral's book and DVD contains some information from the PJ files but there is a lot in the files which is not in Mr Amaral's book. Hence it is highly selective and therefore biased. Mr Amaral's book contains his opinions rather than fact. His opinions differ from the findings in the PJ file. The conclusions of the latter are: 1.there is no evidence that Madeleine is dead and 2. there is no evidence that Gerry or I are involved in Madeleine's disappearance. This is very different to the theories and conclusions of Mr Amaral. It is logical and common sense that spreading these theories as Mr Amaral did (and continues todo) damages the search to find our little girl. If the general public (and the Portuguese people in particular) are bombarded day in and day out with such theories, this will eventually 'colour' their understanding and judgement -lies and inaccuracies become fact. If people subsequently believe that Madeleineis dead and that we are involved in her disappearance then they will not look for Madeleine, will not consider any suspicions about others which they may have and will not come forward with information. We consider this highly detrimental to the search for Madeleine.

 

There are few points which have been raised in the last few days which I would like to address specifically:

 

 

Abduction theory: For us, there is only the abduction theory possible because we were not involved in Madeleine's disappearance and we know Madeleine did not wander off by herself. It is obvious and right that the police should consider other theories initially.

 

 

The window: I described to the police officers exactly what I found that night, as it was and is highly relevant and I knew that every little detail could be helpful in finding my daughter which is our only aim. The window which is a ground floor window was completely open and is large enough for a person to easily climb through it. Whether it had been opened for this purpose remains unknown. It could of course have been opened by the perpetrator when inside the apartment as a potential escape route or left open as a 'red herring'

 

 

The dogs: We realise that the behaviour of the dogs was the turning point in the investigation for the PJ. The use of dogs has proved to be problematic and unreliable in previous cases

 

 

(please refer to the Jersey ?Haut de La Garenne' case and other research published about their use and reliability). It is vital to note that alerts by such dogs are classified as intelligence rather than evidence, as police officers familiar with their use will verify. These alerts must be supported by forensics in order to be used as evidence. The results of the forensic examinations did not identify any blood or Madeleine's DNA. To suggestor use the dogs? reactions as evidence is simply wrong and abusive. 

 

The proposed reconstruction: The suggestion of a reconstruction of our movements and other key witnesses at the crime scene and/or surrounding area in the early days following Madeleine's abduction was declined by the PJ as 'not usual' for Portugal. When the PJ finally requested a reconstruction to take place in 2008, Gerry and I were still arguidos and as such would have attended for a reconstruction. Some key witnesses (including some of our friends)declined to attend the planned reconstruction as they were not convinced of the aims and usefulness of it. In particular, as the reconstruction was not to be shown to the media (and hence the general public), they did not feel it would help to find Madeleine. Had the intention been to show it to the general public, it may have 'jogged' memories and encouraged people to come forward with information. It should be added that other key witnesses were not invited to attend. 

 

Our team is confident that the injunction will remain in place because none of thewitnesses thus far have been able to prove in court that Mr. Amaral's right to express his opinion is superior to the rights of our family to peace, respect and protection of reputation, and above all, the right to continue the searchfor our daughter Madeleine effectively and without hindrance. As has been made clear this week, Mr Amaral's ‘thesis' is not supported by any evidence. The search for Madeleine must go on until we find her and bring her abductor(s) to justice. 

 

Kate McCann

 

 

 

 

Day 954: 12/12/2009 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 954: 12/12/2009 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann 

 

Update: Saturday 12th December 2009:   

Yesterday morning Gerry and I attended the Civil Court in Lisbon for the planned trial relating to the injunction against Goncalo Amaral's book and DVD. The trial was postponed until January as Mr Amaral's Lawyer was unable to attend. As the injunction remains in place (following the Judge's decision in September), we have no reason to be dissapointed. For us it was important to be there, especially for Madeleine. 

 

We travelled to Praia da Luz yesterday afternoon. I have longed to come back here for two years for personal and emotional reasons. Early this morning we went to the lovely little church of Nossa Senhora da Luz. It was so quiet and peaceful - a real sanctuary. Although our pain feels much rawer here, it is comforting at the same time since we feel closer to Madeleine. We then walked down to the rocks on the beach, with its crashing waves and sense of vastness and freedom -another place where I've always felt able to reach out to Madeleine and find a little solace. For the rest of today we are planning to catch up with some very good friends. We hope that the media will respect our privacy and needs, as requested, as well as those of the local community.

Day 872: 21/09/2009 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 872: 21/09/2009 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann  

[Date Kate used September 13th 2009] 

At the start of August this year, our investigators appealed to the general public for more information following a credible account by a witness. This related to a lady acting suspiciously in Barcelona on the 7th May 2007 in the early hours of the morning. Our investigators received approximately 1000 emails and phone calls following this appeal and have been busy working through this information. Thank you to everybody who passed information on to our team.We would like to encourage anyone who may still have potentially relevant information to come forward. It is important to note that although the witness thought that the woman in question may have had an Australian accent, it ispossible that this may not be the case.

 

At the end of August, we learnt of the discovery of JayceeLee Dugard, 28 years after she was abducted at the age of 11. There was nothing new here for Gerry and me, as we have been told of many cases of missing children who have been found years after they were taken from their families. It is important though, as it emphasises yet again how vital it is to never give up on missing children and how criminal and unjust to assume they are no longer alive. A missing child cannot be expected to find their way home, we need to find them. It is tragic and heartbreaking to think of the life which has been stolen from Jaycee and her family. We hope and pray that they will be able now to find the happiness and peace that they all deserve.

 

Last week, a judge in Portugal decided to pass an injunction against Goncalo Amaral's book and documentary in which he insists that Madeleine is dead and implies that Gerry and I were somehow involved in her disappearance. Nothing can be more soul-destroying for a parent than for somebody to 'write off' your missing child (for whatever reason) without any evidence to support such a theory. The anguish and torment that we have suffered as a result of Mr. Amaral's unfounded claims and actions has been immense, compounding the pain and sadness we feel every day without Madeleine in our lives. Madeleine deserves so much more than treatment like this. She is still missing and we will never give upon her.

 

It is important to remember that the good people far outweigh the bad, even though those with cruel intentions can bring you down. Every day we still receive a small bundle of supportive letters to our home and kind messages via the website, as well as positive words from passers-by. After a ‘not so good' day, it is this kindness and solidarity that lifts us up and keeps us going. To those people, we are so grateful and we will never forget the great benefit of simple human kindness.Thank you from all our family.

Day 860: 09/09/2009 Wednesday. Mr Amaral's Book & dvd banned by court order

Day 860: 09/09/2009 Wednesday. Madeleine Beth McCann   

Mr Amaral's Book & dvd banned by court order

 

" We are pleased with the Judge's decision today preventing further distribution and sale of Mr Amaral's book and dvd -'The Truth of the Lie'. 

 

Mr. Amaral's central thesis has no evidence whatsoever to support it. To claim as he did, that Madeleine is dead,  and that we, her parents, were in some way involved with her disappearance, has caused our family incredible distress and it continues to do so.  

 

Without doubt, Madeleine will have suffered as a result of the negative effect this book and dvd will have had on the search for her. Sean and Amelie need protection too from such awful claims.  

 

Hopefully this injunction today will go a long way towards reducing further unnecessary and unjust distress to us all and allow people to concentrate completely on what is important - finding Madeleine. "

Day 744: 16/05/2009 Saturday. Kate and Gerry McCann and their children to sue Goncalo Amaral

Day 744: 16/05/2009 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann 

 

16 May 2009: Kate and Gerry McCann and their children to sue Goncalo Amaral

Kate and Gerry McCann - together with their three children - are to sue the former Portuguese police officer Goncalo Amaral over his continuing, grossly defamatory claims that Madeleine is dead and that her parents were somehow involved in concealing their own daughter's body.

In a statement, Kate and Gerry McCann said: "We - together with our three children Madeleine, Sean and Amelie - are taking this legal action against Goncalo Amaral over his entirely unfounded and grossly defamatory claims - made in all types of media, both within Portugal and beyond - that Madeleine is not only dead, but that we, her parents, were somehow involved in concealing her body.

"This decision has been taken to prevent any further publication of Goncalo Amaral's deeply offensive book "The Truth Of The Lie", his so-called television 'documentary' and any repetition of his disgraceful thesis that we are somehow involved in the disappearance of our much loved daughter, Madeleine.

 

"The primary reason for our legal action is simple: to stop any negative effect that these absurd and deeply hurtful claims may be having on the ongoing search for Madeleine. We can no longer stand back and watch as Mr Amaral tries to convince the entire world that Madeleine is dead. Nor can we allow this blatant injustice to Madeleine, with its obvious risk of hindering our attempts to find her, to continue.

 

"Mr. Amaral's entirely unjustified claims have not only brought indescribable devastation and suffering to our lives, they have hugely compounded the already immense pain and anxiety we have endured since Madeleine's abduction.

 

"Our three children are joint complainants in this action because of the detrimental effect Mr Amaral's continued assertions will undoubtedly have on their future lives. Sean and Amelie require protection as they prepare to start school this autumn. Madeleine requires protection from those who are obstructing the possibility of her being found."