Mr McCann will return to Britain this afternoon because of work commitments

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/mccanns-angrily-dismiss-portugese-detectives-claims-that-madeleine-is-dead-1.998408


McCanns angrily dismiss Portugese detectives’ claims that Madeleine is dead

Gerry and Kate McCann talk to journalists as they arrive at a court hearing in Lisbon
heraldscotland staff

0 commentsPublished on 13 Jan 2010


Gerry McCann angrily dismissed Portuguese detectives’ claims that his daughter Madeleine is dead as he arrived at court.

Senior officers involved in the case told a hearing in Lisbon yesterday of their belief that the little girl died in her family’s holiday flat and that her parents faked her abduction.

Returning for a second day of evidence, Mr McCann and his wife Kate insisted that none of the claims were new.

Mr McCann was asked by a Portuguese reporter whether it was worth the emotional cost for the couple to attend the court case.

He replied: “Do you have children? Anyone who has children would go through the same process.”

Lisbon’s main civil court is hearing an attempt by former police chief Goncalo Amaral to overturn a ban on his book questioning the McCanns’ account of what happened to Madeleine.

Speaking as he arrived at the court building hand-in-hand with his wife, Mr McCann seized on public prosecutor Jose Cunha de Magalhaes e Meneses’s testimony yesterday that it was “50-50” whether the child is dead.

Mr McCann said: “The most important thing yesterday was what the prosecutor said, there is absolutely no evidence that Madeleine is dead and there is absolutely no evidence that we were involved in her disappearance.

“That is the conclusion of the process and that is what we are here debating - the conclusions of the process versus the conclusions of the book.”

Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida told the court yesterday he believed that Madeleine died in her family’s apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on the day she went missing.

He said the main evidence for this was the findings of British police sniffer dogs sent to Portugal to examine the flat.

Mr McCann said the evidence of the police witnesses called by Mr Amaral’s lawyers did not surprise him.

“Why would we be shocked? We are not denying the existence of the dogs or anything else,” he said.

“It’s evidence we’re interested in. There is no evidence that Madeleine is dead, that’s what you heard yesterday.”

His wife added: “There’s nothing new.”

Mr Amaral’s lawyers argue that the material in his book - Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie - is contained in the official Portuguese police files for the case, many of which were made public in August 2008.

Arriving for today’s hearing, Mr Amaral said he was “very happy” that his police colleagues had repeated in court what was in the files and in his book.

The McCanns, both 41, from Rothley, Leicestershire, say their main motive for challenging the former policeman is the fear that people will stop looking for their daughter if they think she is dead.

Explaining why the couple launched legal action against Mr Amaral, Mr McCann said today: “This is a legal process that we’re going through to protect our daughter and our family.

“We’re looking for new information to help the search.

“The question of course is who is looking for Madeleine and who has been looking for Madeleine over the last two years, and that is us and our investigators.”

a Mr McCann will return to Britain this afternoon because of work commitments,spokeswoman for the couple said.

Fiona Payne, one of the friends who was on holiday with the McCanns when Madeleine disappeared on May 3 2007, is flying out to support Mrs McCann.

Annabel wrote:

Mr McCann will return to Britain this afternoon because of work commitments,spokeswoman for the couple said.

Aye. Right. His "work committments" never stopped him gadding around the world up until now. What's so important this time?

Work commitments????

Sorry but surely the nhs can do without him for the rest of the week for such an important matter. More bulls..t me thinks!

The Famous Grouse wrote:

Annabel wrote:

Mr McCann will return to Britain this afternoon because of work commitments,spokeswoman for the couple said.

Aye. Right. His "work committments" never stopped him gadding around the world up until now. What's so important this time?

Running away to save his own skin and leave his wifey to take the full force?

ETA wonder if he will have any emergencies on the flight back?

Bloody coward

Is he going back to sign the injunction request to stop Sky live feed or Fiona Payne and Gerry bring Madeleine back to prove she's not dead.

My thoughts exactly sasha.

He has been setting Kate up to carry the full tin for a long, long time. Now here comes the proof - maybe.

Something not right here... Did he know abouts wifey's tearful phone call to the police sayiny Maddie was buried in the hills?? He's rattled big time.. Probabley off for a meeting with Carter Ruck...

Oh dear, is it really wise to Kate McCann to the ravages of a portugese court. She's a bit of a loose cannon at the best of times.

The other iteresting thing is the complete lack of support from friends and family, they aint even spouting their usual crap on TV

If I where Gerry I'd pobably be thinking of buying a one way ticket to some place with no extradition treaty with the UK !

Hes up to something, mark my words!

Will he be back tomorrow?


If he is, what or who will he be briging back.


Remember the last time gerry went back to uk for the first time.


He came back with a photo that was supposed to off been taken on the last day in pdl.

sasha wrote:

The Famous Grouse wrote:

Annabel wrote:

Mr McCann will return to Britain this afternoon because of work commitments,spokeswoman for the couple said.

Aye. Right. His "work committments" never stopped him gadding around the world up until now. What's so important this time?

Running away to save his own skin and leave his wifey to take the full force?

ETA wonder if he will have any emergencies on the flight back?

Maybe he'll have heart attack on plane home and nick somebody's wallet (sorry)

Work commitments never stopped him before. Oprah and so on. He doesn't want to hear what is going to be said. So much for supporting his daughter. Pity he didn't think a bit more about the welfare of his daughter in May 2007.

I find this very interesting as they knew the hearing was due to be about 3 days, surely he would have ensured that he was able to attend ? Im sure it was reported that they would attend all 3 days.

Whats up Gerry?????

Thank you Annabel very interesting.

Mr McCann will return to Britain this afternoon because of work commitments,spokeswoman for the couple said.

I find that hard to believe, what could be so important at his work??? what is the real reason I wonder?, they knew the Date and start of this Trail and how many Day's it would last its only Day 2, Gerry going to America never stopped his work then something is going on I wonder what.

By scuttling back to the Uk and leaving Kate to the mad dogs in Portugal doesn't smack of being supportive. I get more support from my aged bra than he gives her! Whilst we are talking support, where indeed are the relatives and friends?

ETA if he is worried someone ought to tell him that you can buy imodium in Portugal!!!!

Well i hope they stick Kate on the stand when he is gone. Mrs Payne going to support Kate. Well i hope they bring up some of the other evidence that was not looked into by the British police. ( Gaspars statement).

Thank you Annabel

Something definately not adding up... surely he booked the whole week off.

"aged bra".....

i know that situation well sasha....

Hang on a moment, Spokeswoman? What has happened to Clarry or has he had the op?

possibly Clarry having heart failure, needing urgent medical assistance.



BTW sasha, love the bra comment

I bet he is legging it because he has agreed to be cross examined....any angry man is like a missile waiting to go off. At least Kate will get some brownie points for forcing the tears out!!

Was disappointed it wasnt Jane Tanner flying out, or maybe she had enough of Portugal the last time she flew out for the erm, cough, reconstruction!!!

More disappointing actions of a dismal pair of parents....wild horses wouldnt keep me away if I was in their shoes.

I thought 'they' were willing to testify after Amaral??????


what's up does he not fancy it now

this is supposedly for his daughter what a gutless coward he is

i saw gerry on tv jesus wasn,t he in a right state ,looked like he never slept ,red eyed and about crying.no doubt he,s running back home to get his protectors to fit up the judge .

He'll be returning to get a gagging order on the reporting. That's what I think now.