Daily Mirror - Tony Bennett

Retired solicitor guilty over false claims against Madeleine McCann's parents

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-campaigner-tony-bennett-1723519

Retired solicitor guilty over false claims against Madeleine McCann's parents
21 Feb 2013 22:00

His Madeleine Foundation handed out 1,500 leaflets titled “10 key reasons which suggest she wasn’t abducted” in the family’s village.






Court case: Kate and Gerry McCann
Ian Vogler


A retired solicitor who published claims that Madeleine McCann's parents caused her death received a suspended jail sentence today.

Mr Justice Tugendhat said 65-year-old Tony Bennett deliberately flouted legal undertakings, given in November 2009, not to repeat allegations about the couple.

He said his conduct was so serious that nothing less than a custodial sentence of three months suspended for one year would reflect the harm he had done.

Finding Bennett guilty of contempt of court, the judge added: "I am sure that he intended to allege that the claimants are to be suspected of causing the death of their daughter, and did in fact dispose of her body, lie about what happened and covered up what they had done."

The judge, at London's High Court, said he was satisfied that Bennett, of Harlow, Essex, was in breach of the undertakings in each of the 13 representative instances before the court - out of 153 publications complained of.

He was not asked to make findings in relation to the other alleged breaches.

He commented: "It is essential for the rule of law that injunctions and court orders be obeyed.

"It can't be an answer that the person who is giving an undertaking or subject to an injunction can ignore it with impunity while it is in force."

Bennett, who was ordered to pay the costs of the litigation, apologised to the court.

He added: "I recognise the distress I have caused on a number of occasions to the claimants. I would like to apologise to them for that distress."

The judge said that Gerry and Kate McCann, who have not attended court, had suffered injury to their reputations and feelings and resorted to legal action not to punish Mr Bennett - but to put a stop to his repeated conduct.

He agreed with lawyers for the McCanns that Bennett had played "cat and mouse" with them by complying with the undertakings some of the time.

"He was testing them with false or disingenuous assurances and demands for explanations to which, as a member of the public with no responsibility for law enforcement, he was not entitled."

Later, Clarence Mitchell, the McCann family spokesman, said: "Kate and Gerry McCann brought these committal proceedings very much as a last resort.

"Mr Bennett has pursued an incessant campaign against them, repeatedly making false accusations against them, and ignoring the fact that the Portuguese authorities confirmed there was simply no evidence to implicate them in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine.

"In 2009 Mr Bennett gave solemn undertakings to the High Court not to continue this campaign, but he has gone on to breach these undertakings on well over 100 occasions.

"Concerned for the effect that Mr Bennett's campaign may have on the ongoing search for their daughter and the likelihood of new leads coming forward, the McCanns concluded they had little choice but to seek the Court's intervention.

"Contrary to press reports, Kate and Gerry McCann did not bring the action to punish Mr Bennett or to send him to prison, but simply to get him to stop."

He added: "Kate and Gerry McCann are pleased with the Court's decision today and hope that it finally marks an end to Mr Bennett's campaign against them.

"The McCanns continue to focus their efforts on the ongoing search for their daughter

Karen wrote:
The judge said that Gerry and Kate McCann, who have not attended court, had suffered injury to their reputations and feelings and resorted to legal action not to punish Mr Bennett - but to put a stop to his repeated conduct.

Did the judge really say that? No one has 'injured' the reputations of the Mccanns as much as the mcCanns have themselves!

ETA. And l would have respected the mirror more had they mentioned metodo 3 as an aside!

for me the McCanns themselves injured their reputations by allegedly leaving 3 children alone in an apartment in a foreign country whilst they went on the lash with friends, allowing Madeleine to vanish. jimo.

This article is misleading. Tony was not guiltly of false claims but merely of violating a court order. The court did nothing to look into whether or not Tony's claims were true or false, as it was not part of this proceeding. Such terrible journalism.

jinvta wrote:This article is misleading. Tony was not guiltly of false claims but merely of violating a court order. The court did nothing to look into whether or not Tony's claims were true or false, as it was not part of this proceeding. Such terrible journalism.

Agree nowhere were the claims proved false! Send an email to complain

He has never claimed that the McCanns caused the death of their daughter.

The article is still an improvement on the "vile troll caged" headlines that would have been inevitable at one time.

Not Born Yesterday wrote:He has never claimed that the McCanns caused the death of their daughter.

The article is still an improvement on the "vile troll caged" headlines that would have been inevitable at one time.

Did you notice what they they titled the news Link ?


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-campaigner-tony-bennett-

madeleine-mccann-campaigner-tony-bennett

Definitely not 'troll' in their eyes! He is a "campaigner"

Express article....





Maddie 'died' in apartment, court hears

MADELEINE McCann died in her family’s holiday apartment as the result of a tragic accident and her parents concealed her body, a police chief told a court in Portugal yesterday.

By: Nick Fagge in Lisbon Published: Wed, January 13, 2010
0Comments

Madeleine’s accidental death was concealed by her parents, Portuguese police claim
Kate and Gerry McCann neglected their children and lied to detectives investigating Madeleine’s disappearance, a senior government lawyer also claimed.

And detectives intercepted text messages between the couple in the days after the youngster vanished from the Algarve resort and looked into ways of preventing them from leaving the country.

One officer even claimed that Portuguese police changed their inquiry from a missing person search to a murder investigation after Kate told him she had a nightmare and had seen Madeleine’s body lying on a hillside. The allegations – which have all been vehemently denied by the McCanns – were outlined during the dramatic opening of a case brought by Goncalo Amaral, the former detective who headed the initial investigation.

He wants to overturn a ban on his controversial book on the case.

In a separate legal action, the McCanns are seeking £1million compensation and a final ruling preventing Mr Amaral from repeating the claims he made about them, which they say are untrue and based on a deeply flawed investigation. The couple have said any money would be used to help try to find Madeleine.

The McCanns have never been charged with any offence and were cleared by the Portuguese authorities after they admitted there was no evidence to prosecute the couple.

After a tense opening, their spokeswoman confirmed that the couple found listening to the allegations very painful. She said: “I think it is hurting them. They can feel hurt by these things being repeated again and again and again. However, they know what really happened so they are confident. They just want to find their daughter.”

Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida told the court that he believed the couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were directly involved in Madeleine’s disappearance – a theory he said was shared by Portuguese and British officers working on the case.

He said: “The conclusion that was arrived at was that Madeleine McCann died at the apartment and the McCann couple simulated the abduction to hide the fact that they had not taken care of their children.

“There was a tragic accident in the apartment that night and they neglected the care of their children. It was the conclusion of both Portuguese and British police. We have always spoken of a tragic accidental death. There was no homicide.”

Asked if he thought Madeleine was dead, Mr de Almeida replied: “Yes. She is dead. It was not only the police who believed this but the public prosecutor. The McCanns did not kill her but they concealed the body.” Mr de Almeida was giving evidence on behalf of his former colleague Goncalo Amaral who is seeking to overturn a ban on the book he wrote about the Madeleine case entitled Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie.

The detective described the book as a “true history of the facts”. He said: “Goncalo Amaral was very careful to come to this conclusion with the facts.”

Luis Neves, the head of Portugal’s anti-terrorism unit, told the court they had employed a British profiler who gave him the impression that the McCanns were guilty of involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.

Mr de Almeida said their suspicions about the couple appeared to be confirmed when sniffer dogs found traces of blood and the smell of death at the McCanns’ holiday apartment.

One of the dogs was in a nervous, excitable state and wanted to get into the room, said Mr de Almeida.

He said: “Inside the apartment there were two places where the dogs gave a sign. One was in the bedroom, the other was in the dining room.

“It was also found in the McCanns’ new apartment on a piece of clothing and in the rental car.”

Asked if it was the dog’s reaction that led police to make the McCanns formal suspects in the investigation, he said: “No, they were already suspected of simulating a kidnapping and concealing the body.”

The McCanns’ lawyer, Isabel Duarte, challenged this claim, arguing that the sniffer dog results did not constitute proof and were not allowed as evidence in the case.

Mr de Almeida said the investigation was hampered by the British authorities who provided only one sheet of paper of information when asked to look into the background of Kate and Gerry and their friends.

Earlier, District Attorney Jose Magalhaes e Menezes told the court how text messages sent by Kate and Gerry were intercepted by police who were suspicious about their role in their daughter’s disappearance.

He said: “The phone taps were set up in order to clear or implicate the McCanns.” But the texts were not considered as part of the investigation because a judge would not allow it.

Giving evidence via videolink, Mr Menezes claimed that the couple lied to police about how long they had left Madeleine alone.

He said: “The truth is that the McCanns did not seem concerned about the safety of their children. They neglected to take care of them.

“They told police that checks on the children had been made every half an hour that evening – then how could there be an opportunity for her to go missing? So it was therefore a longer interval – maybe 45 to 50 minutes.”

Under fierce questioning from Amaral’s lawyer, Mr Menezes was asked again and again if he thought Madeleine was dead.

He refused to give an answer until he was again asked by Judge Gabriela Rodrigues for his opinion on whether she was dead or alive.

He replied: “Fifty-fifty”. He added his team looked into ways of preventing Kate and Gerry returning the UK.

However, under cross-examination, he conceded that the McCanns had always made themselves available to detectives for questioning during the investigation.

Yesterday, the McCanns sat just feet away from Mr Amaral in the cold, stone floored courtroom in Portugal Palace of Justice.

Dressed in a pretty floral dress, tights and boots Kate and husband Gerry whispered to each other as the legal proceeding took place in front of a packed public gallery.

Their lawyer told the court that the couple were prepared to give evidence but only after Mr Amaral had done so.

The McCanns’ legal team also intend to call a new witness which could result in the case lasting longer than the expected three days.

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007 while her parents dined with friends nearby.

Later, another witness told the court that the investigation changed from a missing person’s inquiry into a murder hunt after Kate had a nightmare and told police where to look for the body.

Police liaison officer Ricardo Paiva said: “The turning point of the investigation came after I received a phone call from Kate McCann.

“She said she had had a nightmare and saw Madeleine’s body lying on a hillside.” Police carried out a thorough search of the land overlooking the beach at Praia da Luz but found nothing.

Asked if he had ever got the impression from the McCanns that they thought Madeleine could be dead, he said: “Yes.”

However, he added that he did not think that claims that she was dead had hampered the police investigation as officers continued to get regular sightings of the missing youngster.

He said: “In this week I have received a dozen sightings of Madeleine.”

Mr Paiva, who was removed from the inquiry at the request of the McCanns, said he received the call at the end of July when Gerry was away and Kate was in Praia da Luz on her own.

At this point the Portuguese police were told about British search dogs that could find dead bodies.

He added: “At the end of July Kate phoned me. She was alone as Gerry was in the UK and she was crying, saying she’d dreamt Madeleine was up in the hills and we should do searches there. She gave the impression that she thought Madeleine was dead.”

Mr Paiva said detectives became suspicious of the McCanns the moment they disobeyed police advice to keep quiet while they investigated. Instead the couple turned the case into a media circus.

He said they claimed they had to do everything. “From the minute they shunned our advice we suspected them,” he said.

However, under cross examination he accepted claims that the couple contacted the media before the police were not true. Judge Rodrigues asked him why he could not accept that Madeleine could have been kidnapped and then killed. Mr Paiva did not answer.

Mr Paiva said if Madeleine was alive and being held captive publicity would be more likely to hasten her death. Mr de Almeida told the court that well-wishers who gave cash donations to the Madeleine Fund had been conned as the girl was dead and the money was being wasted.

He said Portuguese police investigated whether they could launch a fraud inquiry to protect the £2million in the fund.

But they abandoned the idea after it became apparent they had no jurisdiction – as the fund was held in the UK.

He said: “There was a discussion with the British police about the fund because we couldn’t understand its purpose. We were concerned that there was a fraud being carried out. We asked our British colleagues about it and were told it would be very complicated.

“But Portugal had no jurisdiction over the Madeleine Fund because it is based in the UK.”

He said the British authorities refused to carry out any investigation into the McCanns or their friends.

He told the court: “All they sent us was one A4 piece of paper. We were told the British would not accept an investigation of the McCanns.” Portuguese police found the “merchandising” of the Madeleine Fund – the sale of wristbands – very strange.

The McCanns’ status as suspects was lifted when the investigation was shelved in July 2008. The same month, Mr Amaral published the book.

Arriving in Lisbon, Mr McCann said: “No one can be allowed to say that our daughter can’t be found without very good evidence. That’s what this court case is about.”

Mrs McCann said: “We’re looking for justice.”

Loopdaloop wrote:

Not Born Yesterday wrote:He has never claimed that the McCanns caused the death of their daughter.

The article is still an improvement on the "vile troll caged" headlines that would have been inevitable at one time.

Did you notice what they they titled the news Link ?


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-campaigner-tony-bennett-

madeleine-mccann-campaigner-tony-bennett

Definitely not 'troll' in their eyes! He is a "campaigner"

Interesting very interesting......watch out G&K the vultures are flying low at the moment imo

Hope Tony does something about this Kitti.
Tony needs all the financial help he can get right now

Then there was this on the Sky News site -

Madeleine McCann: Man Jailed Over Claims Sky News

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/madeleine-mccann-man-jailed-over-claims-135107307.html#4ea91FJ

It is still there. I think that Sky were anticipating - or possibly even hoping - that Tony would be jailed. They have written that headline in advance and not gone back and changed it.

I can't get that link to work, even excluding the bit after html.

I think it is technically correct to say that he was jailed, albeit that the sentence was suspended for a year.

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marigold • 1 hour 29 minutes agoReport Abuse
The Mccanns don't like people having opinions that don't agree with their endlessly changing version of events and they appear to have all the right connections to ensure that they are never challenged about their constantly changing stories. Fund, actually a private limited company, set up very... More
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Amelia Coffen • 2 hours 7 minutes agoReport Abuse
Good luck Tony! Does anybody know whether Tony will get refunded the costs, a full written apology & compensation if the McCanns are eventually found guilty? Very interesting and informative FB Group to look at called the 'Madeleine Mccann Controversy'. It is not censored like the UK press... More
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coffee addict • 11 hours agoReport Abuse
It's not what is there, it is what is not there.
If someone died in the flat and you wanted to get rid of the evidence what would you do?
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Radical • 11 hours agoReport Abuse
Something definitely not right with this case from day one. Perhaps linking this case to the likes of Savile and the British establishment could prove useful.
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anne10 hours agoReport Abuse
You're not suggesting certain MPs or Lords were in the area at the time are you?

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charles p • 12 hours agoReport Abuse
Steven.. You really are a prawn. Read the true account.
They were at a tapas bar, down the road on the complex, with friends.
Leaving their CHILDREN, alone.!! They were well out of sight.
Maybe your mother did have a quarter of a mile kitchen.?? I doubt it.
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coffee addict • 12 hours agoReport Abuse
Maybe one of you could tell me; if Bennett was so confident of their guilt why didn't he bring a private prosecution in Portugal rather than try in England where he knew he wouldn't be able to go further?
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Janet • 12 hours agoReport Abuse
Still pitchforking? Don't you lot ever get bored with being wrong?
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CalarcoE • 12 hours agoReport Abuse
British justice at its best, the guilty walks and the truthful innocent is sentenced.
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ian • 14 hours agoReport Abuse
they dont like it when somebody tells the truth.
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marie • 14 hours agoReport Abuse
Because, unfortunatley, no one has any proof, The other two children were asleep at the time and would have been to young to realise what was happening.
It's a shame the solicitor was jailed for saying what a lot of people are thinking.
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Report This • 14 hours agoReport Abuse
I'd love to see the judges face if the solicitor turned out to be right
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BEVERLEY K • 14 hours agoReport Abuse
This is what they do with the money people gave them to find their daughter, the daughter they should not have left alone.
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Jinny • 15 hours agoReport Abuse
I hope the McCanns haven't used money from the Madeleine fund to finance their endless court cases. Surely they're not allowed to spend the money on their reputations?
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spudge • 15 hours agoReport Abuse
A retired solicitor who published claims that Madeleine McCann's parents caused her death has been given a suspended jail sentence.

No proof either way that Madeleine is alive or dead... most her parents are guilty of is leaving her unattended .resulting in her going missing .
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Karin • 15 hours agoReport Abuse
What I really do not understand and never will is the fact (according to the rogatory interviews to be found on the Internet) that a little baby (daughter from the Oldfields) suffering from diarrhoea was left alone and the little daughter of Tanner/O'Brien was left alone suffering from vomit. It... More
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P • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
i seid it before,i will state again,the coppers of senior rank,many years ago,would when a
dear,dear child went missing,or was found dead ,they would in the police control room,
draw on a black board,a circle,of a ten mile radius,they would then state,the culprit or culprits,... More
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Jinny • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
Amazed by the judge's decision.The internet buzzes with discussion by millions of people worldwide who simply don't believe the McCann stories. Are they all to be threatened with jail if they don't toe the official line? Let the McCanns prove they are innocent of wrongdoing first.
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nigel • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
The McCanns were guilty of three counts of child neglect, that is a fact. Why were criminal proceedings not brought against them. Well there is a law for one and a law for another. As for the other allegations, that is down for each individual to form their own opinions on.
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Karin • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
Ghost expenses... More
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LINDA • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
another one silenced by the mccanns......
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Dave • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
typically stupid comments from the majority of posters here again. The man in question has a court order against him preventing him from continuing his campaign of baseless slurs against this family. He has repeatedly broken the terms of the court order. He should be locked up. This is nothing... More
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stephen • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
Bennett is an irrelevance, and he did not stop any 'search' for Madeleine.

Refer to the CFO, 'type of crime unknown'. FACT.
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coffee addict • 16 hours agoReport Abuse
So posters want to convict a couple for a crime they may or may not have committed in the absence of proof, but want to dismiss a man's criminal activity when there is an abundance of proof.
Totally perverse and rather hypocritical.
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stephen • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
The bottom line is simple.

The McCanns wined and dined several nights in a row. They have admitted that.... More
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Christine • 17 hours agoRemove
Dear Sky - I suggest you change your headline on the right. There is NO "Man jailed over claims". If you mean Tony Bennett, he received a suspended sentence, although I do realise that this may come as a bitter disappointment to you.
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dannybohy • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
erm!! so Skynews, yahoo and all these other news sites can publish the non-abduction thesis based on the police investigation! but this guy gets sentenced for it!!. Wow! coz that makes sense!!
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Janet • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
Just the usual bunch of pitchforking idiots from the hate sites pretending to be the general public. Yawn.

Why not have a collection for Bennett - you might raise at least a tenner between you from your giros.
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moose • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
It should be the McCanns who should be in jail for neglect why has no charges ever been brought
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Paul • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
Social services should of stepped in regarding the welfare of the other children in fairness.It's neglect .That poor child is more than likely deceased but there is always hope because no body has ever been found .Time and time again this happens and parents still let their kids play outside etc... More
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Glyn • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
Why dont they just take a polygraph test and stop all this suspicion once and for all?.
Ok we all know its not admissable in a court of law but if they passed, it would have the effect of getting more people on their side,and all those sites that suspect their involvement would close.Plus... More
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kevin • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
The McCanns have stooped lower than ever since they assumed the right to encroach on another family`s young girl and take a sample of her DNA as part of their bogus campaign. If you want to know where your daughter is dont abandon her and go out drinking. You have no right to extract any sample... More
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Christine • 17 hours agoRemove
"I am sure that he intended to allege that the claimants are to be suspected of causing the death of their daughter, and did in fact dispose of her body, lie about what happened and covered up what they had done."

How nice of the judge to publically voice these alleged allegations, now... More
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jasmine • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
well done to the Mccanns, you must feel very proud that you are able to suppress truth and justice.
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Tempy • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
What the hell.. They did leave the kid ALONE while they partied.. if they did that in the UK and something happened, it would be Neglect. Just cause they were only next door doesn't mean the bloody thing, they say that's when it's most common because they just don't think..

Nothing... More
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kevin • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
How about a custodial sentence for child neglect? Bennett tried to bring a private prosecution against the mcCanns and i think the overwhelming majority of british citizens would regret that he wasnt granted jurisdiction to. The MCanns are suspected by millions including portugese police of... More
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susan • 17 hours agoReport Abuse
Simple really you can not be charged for what you think and i think there guilty
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Allan • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
the wrong person was charged here the mcanns should be on trial for child neglect,administering sedatives to a child, murder and perverting the course of justice
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Polly • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
Anyway one day the truth will out. One of the Mccanns or their friends will fall out, get dementia, get divorced or confess on their death bed and will start to spill the beans as to what exactly DID happen
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Polly • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
I wouldn't say they are outrageous allegations at all. All ANY of us wants is the truth and to find Madeleine Mccann dead or alive. Being thwarted by the parents in getting the truth is disgusting and shameful. They neither answer the questions put to them by the Police, they won't do a... More
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James • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
hahaha, defamation... what a complete waste of public funds to start with. 3 months, suspended for 1 year!! ? ! ?? He'll be serving that then, won't he? Laughable

Have the McCann's refuted him then? If not, why is that?
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Thanks, Iris: It really is striking, the sea-change in the weight of opinion.

Let's hope SY and Lisbon continue to keep their powder dry and that we will all be pleasantly surprised in the not too distant future. The silence is deafening - albeit there are rumours of a "state of the nation" statement by SY anticipated fin the next few weeks (It was Posted here a few days ago, but slipped past unnoticed, in the main!).

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Peter • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
Injunctions protect those with enough money from having facts about them made known. Mere mortals don't have such protections. I am sure that this man's apology to the court was through gritted teeth. A PRISON sentence for this ( suspended of not )....the country has gone mad. No wonder the UK... More
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STEPHEN • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
Why suspended, this idiots false accusations have wasted police time and diverted resources away from the truth and the search for Madeleine.
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Steve • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
Gordon will be thrilled.
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RICHARD • 18 hours agoReport Abuse
the McCanns have been aided and abetted by a complicit media who have no interest in the truth..
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Arlen • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
Perhaps CarterRuck and K&G Mccann have the power & financial clout to silence TB but it would be a gargantuan job to silence all Madeleine VOICELESS Mccann supporters. For me, going to jail for this cause would be a silent victory in the quest for justice.
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Arlen • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
One must be very careful not sign any undertaking. In criminal defamation, it's better to fight it in court, if the evidence is as factual as the Madeleine Mccann case
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Effing ell • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
( Madeleine McCann: Man Sentenced Over Claims ) What happened to free speech, This man is entitled to his views, or do the McCanns think they can silence everybody who think they are the murderer's of their own, because the majority of the UK think they are.
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peechie • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
There goes freedom of speech... Kate and Gerry Mccann have fund money to sue all who mentions their daughter may be dead.
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FrankG • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
And we all trust the media to tell us the truth and not what the Judicial System would prefer us to believe? This isn't just a sad case, A CHILD DIED or at least went missing, plenty of people have been sent to prison for a lot less............ many for nothing except what the Police and accusers... More
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Arlen • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
Waiting for the libel trial in Portugal. I find it luckless that a good man is sentenced, yet no one has been charged with gross child neglect of Madeleine Mccann. I thought it was a crime?
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Adrian • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
Leaving the children alone was a big mistake its apparent to all . They could have easily afforded a babysitter. Thats what they have got to live with, thats worse than any speculation on who abducted the poor young girl. Leave them in peace to get on with their lives
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Nu • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
"I am sure that he intended to allege that the claimants are to be suspected of causing the death of their daughter, and did in fact dispose of her body, lie about what happened and covered up what they had done."

... More
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Prof • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
So the McCanns have incontrovertable evidence their daughter is alive?
3 Replies .

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Sad Tony • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
He has only ever quoted from the official Portuguese police files on the shelved case. The McCanns are threatening freedom of sppech in Britain....it has to stop.
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ORIFLAME • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
Madelaines case is circular in light of the lack of "habeas corpus". The parents story of events on the night she disappeared, carry as much weight as any conspiracy arguments on what was to be her eventual fate. In reality it would be as justifiable to put the McCanns in court, in the same way as... More
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JET • 19 hours agoReport Abuse
Think the McCanns should go to an English court go on trial re; their missing daughter, cause who knows the retired solicitor could be right - courts don't always get things right - its like the time the boy accused Michael Jackson of molesting him as the boy was only sticking to the same story to... More
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Robert • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
What a world we live in. Someone in the know had knowledge that should not be repeated because of rules breaches them and is in fear of going to pison........ Someone repeatedly thought to have committed a murder (confirmed by flouting the legal privledge rules) does not even see the inside of a... More
2 Replies .

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FREDERICK • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
Should it be proved that the parents did cause their daughters death will he receive an apology and appropriate compensation?
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CalarcoE • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
Comments are being removed by the dozen.
3 Replies .

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CalarcoE • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
I hope he sues them down to their last pair of socks when they are finally found guilty.
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STEVE • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
Well... I've thought from pretty much day one that the parents did it... quick!!! Come prosecute me too!!!
2 Replies .

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Another Paul • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
Maybe he should of just wrote a book about it, changed a few names and published it for us all to speculate over....
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KION • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
omg so if one shares this view will they be dragged to court for expressing it if i accidentally overdosed my child to go out to dinner had another two which would go into foster care and both my husband and i would lose their medical licence i would cover up too but i would never drug my child let... More
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E • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
what happened to freedom of speech
3 Replies .

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K. D. • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
How come the McCanns have never been charged and convicted of child neglect?
8 Replies .

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Janet • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
N . There is a big difference between expressing your opinions and making things up so that they cause harm. There is so evidence showing the McCann's were involved,
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JOHN • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
That beautiful little girl especially on holiday would never have been out of my sight.
14 Replies .

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MYRA • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
Totally bizarre behaviour, on the part of the McCanns, particularly leaving the children alone, led to suspicion that they were trying to divert attention from reality.
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N • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
Gone are the days of free speech. My children are educated and from an early age taught to have their opinions and be heard. This case makes a mockery of this and lets face it, people are allowed to form an opinion of the McCanns either way. What i do object to is, being hushed up as to what the... More
14 Replies .

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BRUCE • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
One way or another he is right. If the McCanns had not leftMadeleine alone just so they could go out for a drink, etc than she would be alive today. Bad parenting led to her death.
1 Reply

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kelli • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
Miscarriage of justice.
1 Reply .

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Muff Diver • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
he is saying what loads have been thinking for years, the whole thing is very bizarre, specially leaving Madeleine alone while they where out
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carl • 20 hours agoReport Abuse
If I was Mr. Bennett,I would quite simply ask.............prove me wrong.
3 Replies .

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28 SausagePies • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
Why don't they convict half the country....it's exactly what most people think!
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Ard 'one • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
he was only speaking the truth
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The Chair! • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
He was only guilty of contempt of court, not telling lies!
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DARRELL • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
Gaspar statements read the Gaspar statements all online and all one the police files; be prepared to be shocked at what you read in the Gaspar Statements relating to this case......... !!!!!!!
3 Replies .

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GB • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
I read his argument to court. It seemed absolutely reasonable to me. The biggest surprise to me was that he had been issued with injunctions in the first place. The McCanns disturb me, not because I KNOW they are guilty - because obviously I don't - nor simply because of the dreadful... More
4 Replies .

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Lookout • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
Good.About time this odious character got his just desserts. This guy caused a lot of heartache for the McCanns, including his continuing accusations of murder,,,,,and for inciting trouble online.
12 Replies
Comment hidden due to low rating. Show Comment
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Dog's Todger • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
Murdering filth!!!!!!!!
11 Replies

teddy • 21 hours agoReport Abuse
Give this story a rest--------------------they've made enough dosh!
Reply

I logged in on another computer, and the comments had all gone. It said that "no comments have been posted yet." I think they might be in the process of whoosh clunking them. So I took the liberty of copying them all and posting them here.

How splendid!

Well done, Iris

Looks like Team McCann have cottoned on to this wave of negative public opinion.
It'll be interesting, from now on, to see how many other comment lists get whooshed - or even allowed.

Thank you Iris, so good to see all those messages, that rather deflates Kate's statement that the majority of the public are on their side. I think even people who may still believe she was abducted are getting sick of them and their bullying tactics now. They are doing themselves no favours but they can't seem to see that because they truly believe they are some sort of deity.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/madeleine-mccann-man-jailed-over-claims-135107307.html#6vbBBv9

don't miss these comments, they're all still up over 80 of them and in the first 40 was one 'sort of' anti Bennett.
If you want me to copy them all, I will.

I can't see the comments I'm afraid.

kitti wrote:I can't see the comments I'm afraid.

This is just some of them!


80 comments
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35users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down1users disliked this commentKION • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
omg so if one shares this view will they be dragged to court for expressing it if i accidentally overdosed my child to go out to dinner had another two which would go into foster care and both my husband and i would lose their medical licence i would cover up too but i would never drug my child let... More
4 Replies

2users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down0users disliked this commentSheila 23 hours ago Report Abuse
An injunction was taken out against him to stop him making allegations, he breached the injunction. Its not a case that anyone making allegations could be prosecuted.
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75users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down10users disliked this commentK. D. • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
How come the McCanns have never been charged and convicted of child neglect?
8 Replies

51users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down6users disliked this commentN • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
Gone are the days of free speech. My children are educated and from an early age taught to have their opinions and be heard. This case makes a mockery of this and lets face it, people are allowed to form an opinion of the McCanns either way. What i do object to is, being hushed up as to what the... More
14 Replies

57users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down6users disliked this commentGB • 1 day 0 hours ago Report Abuse
I read his argument to court. It seemed absolutely reasonable to me. The biggest surprise to me was that he had been issued with injunctions in the first place. The McCanns disturb me, not because I KNOW they are guilty - because obviously I don't - nor simply because of the dreadful... More
4 Replies

66users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down8users disliked this commentThe Chair! • 1 day 0 hours ago Report Abuse
He was only guilty of contempt of court, not telling lies!
Reply

62users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down9users disliked this commentCarl • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
If I was Mr. Bennett,I would quite simply ask.............prove me wrong.
3 Replies

18users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down2users disliked this commentNu • 22 hours ago Report Abuse
"I am sure that he intended to allege that the claimants are to be suspected of causing the death of their daughter, and did in fact dispose of her body, lie about what happened and covered up what they had done."

... More
2 Replies

42users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down4users disliked this commentE • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
what happened to freedom of speech
3 Replies

26users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down1users disliked this commentSad Tony • 22 hours ago Report Abuse
He has only ever quoted from the official Portuguese police files on the shelved case. The McCanns are threatening freedom of sppech in Britain....it has to stop.
Reply

22users liked this commentRate a Thumb UpRate a Thumb Down1users disliked this commentArlen • 22 hours ago Report Abuse
Perhaps CarterRuck and K&G Mccann have the power & financial clout to silence TB but it would be a gargantuan job to silence all Madeleine VOICELESS Mccann supporters. For me, going to jail for this cause would be a silent victory in the quest for justice.
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Think the McCanns should go to an English court go on trial re; their missing daughter, cause who knows the retired solicitor could be right - courts don't always get things right - its like the time the boy accused Michael Jackson of molesting him as the boy was only sticking to the same story to... More
3 Replies

13users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down1users disliked this commentRobert • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
What a world we live in. Someone in the know had knowledge that should not be repeated because of rules breaches them and is in fear of going to pison........ Someone repeatedly thought to have committed a murder (confirmed by flouting the legal privledge rules) does not even see the inside of a... More
2 Replies

19users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down3users disliked this commentNigel • 19 hours ago Report Abuse
The McCanns were guilty of three counts of child neglect, that is a fact. Why were criminal proceedings not brought against them. Well there is a law for one and a law for another. As for the other allegations, that is down for each individual to form their own opinions on.
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23users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down2users disliked this commentJinny • 18 hours ago Report Abuse
I hope the McCanns haven't used money from the Madeleine fund to finance their endless court cases. Surely they're not allowed to spend the money on their reputations?
7 Replies

40users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down5users disliked this commentSTEVE • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
Well... I've thought from pretty much day one that the parents did it... quick!!! Come prosecute me too!!!
1 Reply

27users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down3users disliked this commentMuff Diver • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
he is saying what loads have been thinking for years, the whole thing is very bizarre, specially leaving Madeleine alone while they where out
Reply

13users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down0users disliked this commentArlen • 22 hours ago Report Abuse
One must be very careful not sign any undertaking. In criminal defamation, it's better to fight it in court, if the evidence is as factual as the Madeleine Mccann case
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14users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down0users disliked this commentAnother Paul • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
Maybe he should of just wrote a book about it, changed a few names and published it for us all to speculate over....
Reply

29users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down5users disliked this commentCalarcoE • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
I hope he sues them down to their last pair of socks when they are finally found guilty.
Reply

29users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down5users disliked this commentProf • 22 hours ago Report Abuse
So the McCanns have incontrovertable evidence their daughter is alive?
3 Replies


Why don't they convict half the country....it's exactly what most people think!
Reply

40users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down7users disliked this commentArd 'One • 1 day 0 hours ago Report Abuse
he was only speaking the truth
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21users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down2users disliked this commentArlen • 22 hours ago Report Abuse
Waiting for the libel trial in Portugal. I find it luckless that a good man is sentenced, yet no one has been charged with gross child neglect of Madeleine Mccann. I thought it was a crime?
Reply

17users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down1users disliked this commentDannybohy • 20 hours ago Report Abuse
erm!! so Skynews, yahoo and all these other news sites can publish the non-abduction thesis based on the police investigation! but this guy gets sentenced for it!!. Wow! coz that makes sense!!
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23users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down3users disliked this commentMYRA • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
Totally bizarre behaviour, on the part of the McCanns, particularly leaving the children alone, led to suspicion that they were trying to divert attention from reality.
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21users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down2users disliked this commentBEVERLEY K • 18 hours ago Report Abuse
This is what they do with the money people gave them to find their daughter, the daughter they should not have left alone.
1 Reply

19users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down2users disliked this commentBRUCE • 23 hours ago Report Abuse
One way or another he is right. If the McCanns had not leftMadeleine alone just so they could go out for a drink, etc than she would be alive today. Bad parenting led to her death.
1 Reply

12users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down1users disliked this commentPeter • 21 hours ago Report Abuse
Injunctions protect those with enough money from having facts about them made known. Mere mortals don't have such protections. I am sure that this man's apology to the court was through gritted teeth. A PRISON sentence for this ( suspended of not )....the country has gone mad. No wonder the UK... More
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19users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down2users disliked this commentReport This • 17 hours ago Report Abuse
I'd love to see the judges face if the solicitor turned out to be right
1 Reply

36users liked this commentThumbs UpThumbs Down8users disliked this commentTeddy • 1 day 0 hours ago Report Abuse
Give this story a rest--------------------they've made enough dosh!
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So if they had an injunction out against Tony then they could have injunctions to stop the newspapers printing negative things about them.

Not exactly what they were expecting im sure.