McCanns give evidence to Leveson Inquiry/updated

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15860071#TWEET32807

McCanns give evidence to Leveson Inquiry
Kate and Gerry McCann arrive at the High Court in London to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards Mr McCann said there was a "tremendous amount of speculation" in the reporting
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The Leveson Inquiry



The parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann are giving evidence to the judge-led inquiry into media practices. Gerry and Kate McCann's daughter disappeared, aged three, in 2007.

Their lawyer has said the way the media treated them was a "national scandal".

Lord Justice Leveson is hearing from alleged victims of media intrusion at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Sheryl Gascoigne, wife of ex-footballer Paul, lawyer Mark Lewis and journalist Tom Rowland appeared earlier.

Asked why he and his wife had agreed to give evidence, Mr McCann said there was "one simple reason".

"We feel that a system has to be put in place to protect ordinary people from the damage that the media can cause by behaviour which falls far below what I would call acceptable," he said.

He said the couple had got the impression there was a "genuine want to help attitude from journalists" at the beginning and "a huge amount of empathy".

He also acknowledged that the media had been helpful on occasions, particularly when launching appeals - and thanked people who had come forward as a result of them.
'Supposition'

But when asked if it was helpful that the story was kept in the press for so long, he said he did not feel it was particularly helpful in 2007 and 2008.

Kate McCann: "We desperately wanted to shout out 'it's not true'"

"There was an incredible amount of confusion," he said.

"She was on the front page every day for a period.... When a story is so negative, it's not helpful," Mrs McCann added.

Mr McCann said the couple quickly realised there was a "tremendous amount of speculation" in the reporting and that he believed "elements" of the police inquiry were being leaked to the Portuguese press, who were running stories based on "snippets of information".

These were picked up by the British press who could not tell if these stories were true or not, he said.

"They didn't know the source, they didn't know whether it was accurate, it was exaggerated and often downright untruthful and often, I believe, on occasions, made up," he said.

Mr McCann said a Daily Mirror headline, which read "She's dead", was "one of the most distressing headlines that was presented as factual and it was just taken from a supposition".

Mr McCann went on to say that "more sinister elements" then started to creep in, the first of which was a Portuguese article which suggested a cover-up, "some sort of sinister agreement between us and our friends".
'Terrifying'

The inquiry also heard a flavour of the articles which led the couple to successfully pursue a libel action, including a Daily Star headline which read: "Maddy 'sold' by hard-up McCanns", which Mr McCann said "was nothing short of disgusting".

Mrs McCann said the same paper accused the family of storing her body in a freezer.

Mr McCann also described how on one occasion the News of the World's editor Colin Myler called them, "irate", because they had done an unpaid interview with Hello! magazine to promote a campaign for an alert system for missing children and "berated" them for not doing a NoW interview.

"He beat us into submission verbally and we agreed to do an interview the day after," Mr McCann said.

"This was an extremely stressful time. It was the run up to the a year... and to get a call like this, you almost feel guilty. 'We've helped you, we've got a reward,' it's almost like somebody won't help you unless you give something back," Mrs McCann added.

Kate McCann also told the inquiry that finding out her private diary - which the couple believe was taken for a time by the Portuguese police - had been published in the NoW had made her feel "totally violated".

"I'd written these words at the most difficult time of my life, most people don't have to go through something like that. It was my only way of communicating with Madeleine. It made me feel very vulnerable and small," she said.
'Terrifying experience'

Defending the appointment of Clarence Mitchell as a media adviser in Portugal, he said it was "a full time job".

"We had no prior experience of dealing with the media, but it gave us a little bit of protection. Obviously we were working behind the scenes and it gave us a little bit of time with our family as well," he said.

Mr McCann also talked about being constantly pursued by photographers, describing the journey to the airport to fly home to Britain as "one of the most terrifying experiences we've ever had... it was frankly dangerous".

Talking about the "tens of journalists" camped outside their house in Rothley, Mrs McCann said: "Often they would spring out from a hedge so they could get a startled look so they could attach 'frail' or 'fragile'."

Talking about a subsequent deal to serialise a book, Mr McCann said what swung the decision was that News International committed to back the campaign and search for Madeleine.

"We had been lobbying for two years behind the scenes to try and get a review of Madeleine's case. Ultimately the press have helped, galvanising the public, having them engaged. Intervention was successful," he said.

But he said he felt the couple "speak with experience about how powerful the media is and how much damage they can do".

"Information is being written and lives are being harmed by these stories and something has to change. A commercial imperative is not acceptable," he said.

He added that he believed journalists that break the rules should "lose their privilege of practising".

Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry is looking at the "culture, practices and ethics of the media" and whether the self-regulation of the press works.

A second phase of the inquiry will commence after the conclusion of a police investigation into NoW phone hacking and any resultant prosecutions. It will examine the extent of unlawful conduct by the press and look at the police's initial hacking investigation.

How can they say that sightings of Madeleine appeared without their knowing when their spokesman commented and repeated time and again that their PI were looking in to it.They must have had some prior knowledge of some of these sightings appearing in the press.

halfamo,
their lies will come back to haunt them,
to me this inquiry has started the ball rolling.

I sincerely hope that their protestations irritate the Media even more than they irritate me and that steps are taken to carry out some proper Investigative Journalism and demonstrate just how very little effort the McCanns put into "the search" (and why!).

When the truth of what really happened to their little daughter is revealed, and it will be one day, and if the McCann's have been involved, as much of the suppressed evidence indicates, then the press will with all the right in the world tear them apart. In my opinion no innocent parents would act in the way this very odd couple do. Until they answer the very simple questions that Mr Amaral put to them and the evidence provided by the dogs then I will see them as the major suspects. The question this inquiry should be asking is why the press have been muzzled by the McCanns!

The press wouldnt dare to persue this couple ever again, it will never happen sadly

Gerry says when being persued by press in the months after maddys disapearance "the twins were only two and a half years old". Yes mate we know, and you thought they were fair game to be left alone night after night. The arrogance of this man, he makes me feel quite violent

mulberry babe wrote:The press wouldnt dare to persue this couple ever again, it will never happen sadly

I take a more optimistic view - but nevertheless agree it won't happen until a smoking gun is found.

But once the door is open, all hell will break loose. Hopefully not to the detriment of Justice, though.

Is it just me or did anyone else notice the customary smirks from Gerry. When he wasn't smirking, he was laughing and when he wasn't laughing and smirking he had a smug expression on his face. In his eyes the inquiry, regarding them being harassed by the press, is going just the way he and his wife want it to go, but he is sorely mistaken.

The newspaper groups will have had their feathers ruffled, by the comments the McCanns made today. They will start digging and delving into the early press reports and media interviews that the McCanns made and they will discover the lies the McCanns told and their changes of stories. All for the purpose of saving their own skins.

I think one of the reasons the McCanns got themselves on to the Leveson inquiry, is to have a pop at the PJ. How did Kate McCann know that her diary had been translated from Portuguese to English and what makes her think the PJ were the ones who leaked the diary? I thought that Leicestershire police would not hand the diary over to the PJ. I haven't heard all of the McCanns speech, so I may be barking up the wrong tree regarding the diary.

It's no wonder the McCanns are full of their own importance, the guy who told them they could go for a break, said no one else could have a break.

Does anyone know if the McCanns will be in line for more compensation? I don't believe that they took part in this enquiry to help others who have a problem with press intrusion. The McCanns do nothing for free, everything they do has a price attached to it.

By the way, I've had a reply to the email I sent regarding the Leveson Inquiry. The email says:

Dear Mrs xxxx

Thank you for your email, the contents of which are noted. The inquiry is unable to comment on individual witnesses, however, you are able to watch the witnesses giving evideence each day at http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearings/

Kind regards
The Leveson Inquiry Team

www.levesoninquiry.org.uk

mulberry babe wrote:The press wouldnt dare to persue this couple ever again, it will never happen sadly

Very true. IMO I'ts over - they've got away with it and have come out smelling of roses.

They will never be questioned about the lies and discrepancies. It pains me to say it, but IMO they are home free. The Establishment is on their side. No UK journalist will now dare to question their version of events. I am very close to packing up and forgetting about this case - Madeleine will never get justice now, IMO.

There is absolutely no way the press will start digging due to what they heard today. Honestly they just wont be allowed to now. As far as the majority of the public are concerned and most if not all of the media (sky, bbc inparticular) the McCanns and the Dowlers are in the same box. They are now untouchable. I felt nauseous putting the dignified Dowlers in the same sentence as those two horrors.

I share your pessimism ShabbyTiger and mulberry babe. I personally believe the writing has been on the wall since Clarence Mitchell joined their sides 24/7, many moons ago. The Home Office helped them, LP helped them, CEOP helped them, Scotland Yard is now finishing the job... it's over!

Watching this farce today I noticed even the word 'disappeared' has disappeared, and the phantom abductor has been reborn. Hallelujah, it's a miracle.

ShabbyTiger wrote:

mulberry babe wrote:The press wouldnt dare to persue this couple ever again, it will never happen sadly

Very true. IMO I'ts over - they've got away with it and have come out smelling of roses.

They will never be questioned about the lies and discrepancies. It pains me to say it, but IMO they are home free. The Establishment is on their side. No UK journalist will now dare to question their version of events. I am very close to packing up and forgetting about this case - Madeleine will never get justice now, IMO.

Maybe so, but what will they do about the small matter which is peeping at this from Portugal?
I really don't think its over, a small chink in their armour and its game on!
The story is to big to be put to bed.

marxman wrote:

ShabbyTiger wrote:

mulberry babe wrote:The press wouldnt dare to persue this couple ever again, it will never happen sadly

Very true. IMO I'ts over - they've got away with it and have come out smelling of roses.

They will never be questioned about the lies and discrepancies. It pains me to say it, but IMO they are home free. The Establishment is on their side. No UK journalist will now dare to question their version of events. I am very close to packing up and forgetting about this case - Madeleine will never get justice now, IMO.

Maybe so, but what will they do about the small matter which is peeping at this from Portugal?
I really don't think its over, a small chink in their armour and its game on!
The story is to big to be put to bed.

I'm inclined to agree with you Marxman, the crime was committed in Portugal. I believe the newspaper group will start digging, but it doesn't matter if they don't. What matters is the outcome of the review which is lead by the PJ and assisted by Scotland Yard. Scotland Yard has got to abide by any decisions made by the PJ. For instance, if the PJ say there is a case to answer and the McCanns must be brought to justice, Scotland Yard can't overrule them.

Then there is the matter of the McCanns forthcoming libel case against Goncalo Amaral. I believe one of the reasons the McCanns took part in this inquiry, is to use the PJ as a battering ram, which in turn will help their libel case next February...or so they think. The McCanns have already lost 2 court cases regarding Goncalo Amaral's book and a malicious allegation they made against Dr Amaral, regarding legal aid payments, he was fraudulently claiming, was thrown out. The McCanns and their lawyer, Isabel Duarte, are already in contempt of court, for disobeying the Portuguese Supreme Court Judge, when he ordered them to return Dr Amaral's 7500 books.

I believe the McCanns are on a hiding to nothing. The UK spineless media and the British Government, may be too scared to speak out against the McCanns, but the PJ, Portuguese media and the Portuguese Government aren't. The McCanns did the tourist trade a lot of damage, when they neglected their 3 children and implied that Praia da Luz was not a safe place to take holidays.

When the McCanns said that they were the only ones searching for Madeleine, at 6am the morning after she disappeared, they insulted the Portuguese police as well as the locals and holidaymakers who all searched for Madeleine day and night.

I believe the days of the McCanns calling the shots in Portugal are well and truly over.

Excellent Post

When I got home from work tonight, they were showing McC arriving home at Rothley. That child was still asleep from the airport. That's a very long time for a child to sleep, from coming off the plane, doing an interview on live TV, getting in a car and a drive home (don't know how far that is) but I think he was sedated to give a close, loving father, taking care of his little boy. Very staged by the media.

There were so many discrepancies in what they said i will find it hard to believe a hack out there who is a doubter of their version is’nt right now reviewing all their past statements.i’m still wondering why they were there as they have admitted their phones were not hacked, when it comes to jumping on band wagons there is non better than the Mcs.

kathybelle wrote:

marxman wrote:

ShabbyTiger wrote:

mulberry babe wrote:The press wouldnt dare to persue this couple ever again, it will never happen sadly

Very true. IMO I'ts over - they've got away with it and have come out smelling of roses.

They will never be questioned about the lies and discrepancies. It pains me to say it, but IMO they are home free. The Establishment is on their side. No UK journalist will now dare to question their version of events. I am very close to packing up and forgetting about this case - Madeleine will never get justice now, IMO.

Maybe so, but what will they do about the small matter which is peeping at this from Portugal?
I really don't think its over, a small chink in their armour and its game on!
The story is to big to be put to bed.

I'm inclined to agree with you Marxman, the crime was committed in Portugal. I believe the newspaper group will start digging, but it doesn't matter if they don't. What matters is the outcome of the review which is lead by the PJ and assisted by Scotland Yard. Scotland Yard has got to abide by any decisions made by the PJ. For instance, if the PJ say there is a case to answer and the McCanns must be brought to justice, Scotland Yard can't overrule them.

Then there is the matter of the McCanns forthcoming libel case against Goncalo Amaral. I believe one of the reasons the McCanns took part in this inquiry, is to use the PJ as a battering ram, which in turn will help their libel case next February...or so they think. The McCanns have already lost 2 court cases regarding Goncalo Amaral's book and a malicious allegation they made against Dr Amaral, regarding legal aid payments, he was fraudulently claiming, was thrown out. The McCanns and their lawyer, Isabel Duarte, are already in contempt of court, for disobeying the Portuguese Supreme Court Judge, when he ordered them to return Dr Amaral's 7500 books.

I believe the McCanns are on a hiding to nothing. The UK spineless media and the British Government, may be too scared to speak out against the McCanns, but the PJ, Portuguese media and the Portuguese Government aren't. The McCanns did the tourist trade a lot of damage, when they neglected their 3 children and implied that Praia da Luz was not a safe place to take holidays.

When the McCanns said that they were the only ones searching for Madeleine, at 6am the morning after she disappeared, they insulted the Portuguese police as well as the locals and holidaymakers who all searched for Madeleine day and night.

I believe the days of the McCanns calling the shots in Portugal are well and truly over.

Good post kathybelle but if this is the case then why dont the PJ and the PT Government do something about the Mcs then instead of sitting back and licking their wounds

One little thing that niggles me.....will SY use mr amaral and blame him for a cockup by stating that he alone was to blame for a bodged missing child enquiry.



Something negative is going to come out off this and I can see SY using this to state that their is no case to answer as far as the mccanns are concerned .

If Scotland Yard are corruptible, then we're all in trouble.

I think that they are not corruptible and the only ones in trouble are those responsible for the dearth by misadventure of Madeleine McCann.

Lillyofthevalley wrote:

kathybelle wrote:

marxman wrote:

ShabbyTiger wrote:

mulberry babe wrote:The press wouldnt dare to persue this couple ever again, it will never happen sadly

Very true. IMO I'ts over - they've got away with it and have come out smelling of roses.

They will never be questioned about the lies and discrepancies. It pains me to say it, but IMO they are home free. The Establishment is on their side. No UK journalist will now dare to question their version of events. I am very close to packing up and forgetting about this case - Madeleine will never get justice now, IMO.

Maybe so, but what will they do about the small matter which is peeping at this from Portugal?
I really don't think its over, a small chink in their armour and its game on!
The story is to big to be put to bed.

I'm inclined to agree with you Marxman, the crime was committed in Portugal. I believe the newspaper group will start digging, but it doesn't matter if they don't. What matters is the outcome of the review which is lead by the PJ and assisted by Scotland Yard. Scotland Yard has got to abide by any decisions made by the PJ. For instance, if the PJ say there is a case to answer and the McCanns must be brought to justice, Scotland Yard can't overrule them.

Then there is the matter of the McCanns forthcoming libel case against Goncalo Amaral. I believe one of the reasons the McCanns took part in this inquiry, is to use the PJ as a battering ram, which in turn will help their libel case next February...or so they think. The McCanns have already lost 2 court cases regarding Goncalo Amaral's book and a malicious allegation they made against Dr Amaral, regarding legal aid payments, he was fraudulently claiming, was thrown out. The McCanns and their lawyer, Isabel Duarte, are already in contempt of court, for disobeying the Portuguese Supreme Court Judge, when he ordered them to return Dr Amaral's 7500 books.

I believe the McCanns are on a hiding to nothing. The UK spineless media and the British Government, may be too scared to speak out against the McCanns, but the PJ, Portuguese media and the Portuguese Government aren't. The McCanns did the tourist trade a lot of damage, when they neglected their 3 children and implied that Praia da Luz was not a safe place to take holidays.

When the McCanns said that they were the only ones searching for Madeleine, at 6am the morning after she disappeared, they insulted the Portuguese police as well as the locals and holidaymakers who all searched for Madeleine day and night.

I believe the days of the McCanns calling the shots in Portugal are well and truly over.

Good post kathybelle but if this is the case then why dont the PJ and the PT Government do something about the Mcs then instead of sitting back and licking their wounds

I don't know why the PJ and the Portuguese Government don't appear to be doing anything Marxman, I guess we will have to see what happens at the end of this review. I can't see how the PJ and Scotland Yard can reach a conclusion that the McCanns had nothing to do with Madeleine's disappearance. Given the fact that they admitted leaving their children unsupervised 5 out of 6 evenings.

The McCanns committed a crime each time they left their children and the crime was made more serious because Madeleine disappeared. So if the PJ and Scotland Yard do reach the conclusion that the McCanns are innocent, the people in Portugal who have been successfully prosecuted, for leaving their children for periods a lot less than the McCanns children were left, would I'm sure, be justified in bringing a case against the Portuguese Government who brought that law in.

Seeing as my letter from someone high up in the home office said it was about the "search" for Madeleine & I would need an FOI (would have to ask how they got the results) I don't have a lot of hope on this "review" being thorough & unbiased to be honest. Even so the government would surely not want to insult the Portuguese police openly by saying it was a cock up by them that the McCanns were made arguidos and they are innocent? Would they?

Sadly probably yes if they don't have to share how they came to that conclusion.

Just seen this on sky news's page about Chris Jeffires landlord giving evidence today:

Posted by: JuanKerr on November 28, 2011 11:59 AM

Puzzling why witnesses like the McCanns had their say without interruption, yet this man's contribution was shredded by advert breaks.
Obviously some witnesses are more important than others.
Chris Jefferies has no agenda to push, unlike others.