Too hot to handle

Sunday, 16 September 2012
Too hot to handle

"Nothing ever appears in the media except for a reason. And the reason isn't usually the stated one" – The Blacksmith Bureau, often.



With the libel trial out of the way for now we can turn our attention for a moment to the other subterranean drama taking place, the Scotland Yard review, and indulge in a little worthless speculation. The four months since the Scotland Yard Holy Memorial Day media blitz have provided time for some re-appraisal of its actions and motives, maybe even time for re-appraising Andy Redwood. But these are very murky waters indeed and inevitably much remains hidden.

Scotland Yard’s PR show in Panorama and elsewhere contained almost nothing revelatory. The new facts revealed were that the team apparently had 195 leads derived from the Portuguese material (i.e. not resulting from post-archiving investigation); that Redwood meets the (female) head of the Portuguese review team at least monthly and that, lastly, there is apparently some sort of potential problem amid the otherwise close collaboration with the Portuguese.

What this problem may actually be about is not revealed. What is certain is that the Yard, in attempting to cue the media, was led into ever more nonsensical and self-contradictory language, suggesting either that Redwood was a buffoon or that things were not what they seemed.

Collaboration is excellent, said a Yard spokesman, sounding suspiciously like Redwood himself, but “there are significant differences in our legal systems. We recognise the law does not allow them to investigate as the case is currently closed. We do still believe, however, that there are matters which need to be considered, and therefore we are currently seeking a more formal way of addressing this.”

That quote makes no sense and the acknowledgment that Portuguese law prevents any re-opening without new evidence means they can't be pressing for re-opening in the way the media suggested: policemen don't get foreign laws changed and the only "new evidence" put forward is the "195 leads" tale, which is a re-interpretation by the British of old Portuguese evidence. And think about it – if they really were trying to get the case re-opened now then diplomacy would be required, not sudden, half-prepared and contradictory media leaks, otherwise Portuguese backs would be put up, wouldn’t they? And that is exactly what happened after the anti-Portuguese headlines appeared, although it is noteworthy that the Oporto police backs remained obstinately down. No, underneath all the flags and bunting, the age progression photos, Panorama and the stumblings and lurchings of Mr Redwood there's something not quite kosher about the whole Yard PR show.

We certainly don't know exactly what but we have some clues. As we said the Yard weren’t revealing anything new about Oporto and the Portuguese review squad – that had already come out over a month before. Where? Mainly in a huge media blitz aimed at the UK but launched by the McCanns’ PR company in Portugal. It was exported to the UK on the 9-12 March in response to some Portuguese press reports a day or two earlier. The McCanns’ criminal lawyer was part of the package and Mitchell had already agreed a statement “in response to the news” before it was simultaneously released –as usual with Team McCann – to all the major papers and broadcasters here. The best example, which contains all the required elements, is here Madeleine McCann: Portuguese cops launch new review - Mirror Online and it contained some pretty huge fibs, including the lawyer’s complete – and crucial – invention that the Oporto team review was “sparked by a fresh specific lead in the hunt”.

Now the Yard knew that was fiction and they knew that the McCanns were spinning it all just from reading the press, a risk to the couple that the Bureau had publicly warned might catch them out once the review began, but one that they were prepared to take. Mitchell made a limp attempt to cover tracks by adding that he "wouldn’t be commenting on the review any more". Too late, chum.

Why did the McCanns take such a risk? It looks like it was for the same reason that the Yard launched their blitz: damage limitation.

The McCanns had got the information, as we said, from the Portuguese press and then they acted with extreme rapidity. And where had the Portuguese press got the information from, what was the original source? An old friend of ours.And what he had to say on March 1 2012 was absolute dynamite.

“The decision of that Prime Minister has been twisted. The McCann couple has spoken of a re-examination of the child's "sightings". When, in fact, what is known is that Scotland Yard, who were appointed to re-evaluate the whole investigation, has set aside the pseudo-sightings, focusing instead on the investigation process that remains archived. Elements from Scotland Yard have been working with an investigative [Judiciary Police] team from Oporto (Oporto because Algarve and Lisbon has already been involved), and what is known is that the "affair" is not going well for the McCanns.” Goncalo Amaral in an interview with O Crime.

Goncalo Amaral’s statement is the only known source for the information that the McCanns and the Yard both peddled in their different ways, strictly secret until March 1. And they both peddled it in direct response to his statement, which many of us had read when he made it but had put aside as a mystery, incapable of confirmation.

The Portuguese authorities tumbled over themselves to confirm chunks of it before Amaral had a chance to say anymore. The head of the PJ gave a statement about it. Details, such as the name of the head of the squad and the length of time it had been in existence, were given officially. All of which strengthens the veracity of Amaral's bombshell – except for the bits that everybody in the PJ, as well as the UK, left out. The Portuguese, like the McCanns, like the Yard, had simply no idea how to counter, even how to go near, the claim that the Yard had already set aside the “pseudo sightings”, that the PJ knew it and that “the affair [the joint review] is not going well for the McCanns.” That claim, which if released prematurely could sink the entire review, was just too hot to handle. So they said nothing.

That is presumably why the McCanns had their – possibly fatal – media blitz, to pre-empt and drown the revelations with alternative spin. As for the Yard blitz, you can take your choice. Either Redwood and the Yard were being open and Panorama and the accompanying newsfeeds are just what they and the media claimed they are. Or, like the Bureau, you can believe it was a form of damage limitation in response to Amaral’s claims; that Redwood knew he wasn’t telling the truth, which is why it came out in such a garbled manner; that the “reopening disagreement” is almost certainly a red herring; and that the extremely helpful things he said about the McCanns were to demonstrate publicly to that couple that they should not believe Amaral.

Whether Amaral's leak was a spontaneous comment or a planned initiative we don't know. We don't know whether the authorities have contacted him about it. And he himself doesn't talk about it anymore.

http://blacksmithbureau.blogspot.co.uk/

Hmm, my hubby and I have both read this, he beleaves that SY are playing games with this review even Redwood last year speaking on daybreak is giving false hope to the McCanns......me I just dont kno what to think, that if the mccanns are safe and well supported why are they still in the headlines, shouldn't they be happily getting on with their lives......it just doesn't add up.

Thanks Matthew for this!! I do hope blacksmith is right

"Nothing ever appears in the media except for a reason. And the reason isn't usually the stated one"

Lillyofthevalley wrote:Hmm, my hubby and I have both read this, he beleaves that SY are playing games with this review even Redwood last year speaking on daybreak is giving false hope to the McCanns......me I just dont kno what to think, that if the mccanns are safe and well supported why are they still in the headlines, shouldn't they be happily getting on with their lives......it just doesn't add up.

Thanks Matthew for this!! I do hope blacksmith is right

"Nothing ever appears in the media except for a reason. And the reason isn't usually the stated one"

Your welcome Lilly,i remember Gerry saying how relaxed they were feeling since SY took on the review...hmmmm & also remember as soon as Amaral stated that this thing isnt going well for the McCanns...there seemed to be an almost immediate change in Amaral & other commentators in this case,almost like they were told...dont give the game away...maybe my glass half full hat on

Lillyofthevalley wrote:Hmm, my hubby and I have both read this, he beleaves that SY are playing games with this review even Redwood last year speaking on daybreak is giving false hope to the McCanns......me I just dont kno what to think, that if the mccanns are safe and well supported why are they still in the headlines, shouldn't they be happily getting on with their lives......it just doesn't add up.

Thanks Matthew for this!! I do hope blacksmith is right

"Nothing ever appears in the media except for a reason. And the reason isn't usually the stated one"

I think the intention of it was indeed to get the Mccann's feeling comfortable.

Softly Softly catch a monkey.

That was a really interesting article and a really good one by the Blacksmith. If he ever reads this can I say thank you for continuing to provide such great commentary to us which we are unable to get from the dinosaur media.

I adore Blacksmith.
* Be still, my beating heart*
Fabulous.
I'm thrilled.
I knew Gerald had suddenly begun to look quite spooked. Recently.
I shall retire to my bed happy now.

the slave wrote:
I knew Gerald had suddenly begun to look quite spooked. Recently.

But how do we know, has anybody actually seen Mister Gerry recently? It's all been Ambassador Kate, Kate doing the interviews, Kate in the papers, Kate this and Kate that. No sign of Mister Gerry at all. Now why would that be? (Or maybe he is just too busy with his new burrrd...)

Gerry is busy saving lives, as per usual.

But it may well be Kate and Kate again, but a very lacklustre Kate, not the one who explained so enthusiastically to the interviewer how the door whoosed!, how she thought this and did that, really getting into the spirit of the thing. Those flapping arms, those lifted hands as if in prayer, the pretty clothes, the ponytail. All gone.
Now she's even having to simulate enthusiasm for finding spotty runaway teenagers. No photo opportunities there.


(I would love to find that hilarious clip of Gerry 'treating' a patient. )

tigger wrote:Gerry is busy saving lives, as per usual.

But it may well be Kate and Kate again, but a very lacklustre Kate, not the one who explained so enthusiastically to the interviewer how the door whoosed!, how she thought this and did that, really getting into the spirit of the thing. Those flapping arms, those lifted hands as if in prayer, the pretty clothes, the ponytail. All gone.
Now she's even having to simulate enthusiasm for finding spotty runaway teenagers. No photo opportunities there.


(I would love to find that hilarious clip of Gerry 'treating' a patient. )

Tigger,I think that clip is from the movie Madeleine was Here, or whatever they called it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhACS6ck-Dw

There's a bit at around 4.45 where Gerry is playing doctors and nurses.

I think that he is more believable than Kate trying to be convincing as a mother with the twins but that's not saying much!

having read what blcksmith has to say -- i do feel a bit more possative

Thankyou for bringing Blacksmith's post here,

and to Tigger for making me laugh....

Iris wrote:

the slave wrote:
I knew Gerald had suddenly begun to look quite spooked. Recently.

But how do we know, has anybody actually seen Mister Gerry recently? It's all been Ambassador Kate, Kate doing the interviews, Kate in the papers, Kate this and Kate that. No sign of Mister Gerry at all. Now why would that be? (Or maybe he is just too busy with his new burrrd...)

Wonder if its Pamala Gurney, the McCanns No1 supporter

matthew wrote:

Lillyofthevalley wrote:Hmm, my hubby and I have both read this, he beleaves that SY are playing games with this review even Redwood last year speaking on daybreak is giving false hope to the McCanns......me I just dont kno what to think, that if the mccanns are safe and well supported why are they still in the headlines, shouldn't they be happily getting on with their lives......it just doesn't add up.

Thanks Matthew for this!! I do hope blacksmith is right

"Nothing ever appears in the media except for a reason. And the reason isn't usually the stated one"

Your welcome Lilly,i remember Gerry saying how relaxed they were feeling since SY took on the review...hmmmm & also remember as soon as Amaral stated that this thing isnt going well for the McCanns...there seemed to be an almost immediate change in Amaral & other commentators in this case,almost like they were told...dont give the game away...maybe my glass half full hat on

I change my hat on a daily bases!!

Lillyofthevalley wrote:

Iris wrote:

the slave wrote:
I knew Gerald had suddenly begun to look quite spooked. Recently.

But how do we know, has anybody actually seen Mister Gerry recently? It's all been Ambassador Kate, Kate doing the interviews, Kate in the papers, Kate this and Kate that. No sign of Mister Gerry at all. Now why would that be? (Or maybe he is just too busy with his new burrrd...)

Wonder if its Pamala Gurney, the McCanns No1 supporter

omsl lilly -- spat coffee all over