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Portugal Newswatch
Reflections on current affairs in Portugal by journalist and author Len Port.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Amaral defiant about his Maddie book
Former detective Gonçalo Amaral has responded defiantly to the outcome of the civil action brought against him by Kate and Gerry McCann over his book about the investigation into their daughter’s disappearance.
The McCanns were awarded €500,000 plus interest in damages, but Amaral is adamant the book was not defamatory and was within his rights to freedom of expression. His views on the case are contained in an interview published in the Portuguese weekly magazine Nova Gente and reproduced on the website of Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral.
“With my book I did not defame, nor did I have the intention to defame anyone, but merely to report what happened during the first five months of the investigation, thus replying to the attacks against my good name and my professional dignity.”
The information in the book is all in the Portuguese police case files and this was not in question during the McCann’s civil action, he said.
Asked if he felt wronged by the McCann’s legal action against him, Amaral insisted the parents were primarily responsible for their daughter’s disappearance because “they practiced a crime of exposing and abandoning defenceless children. The fact that they lost their daughter did not give them the right to sue anyone or to be compensated,” he said.
“They can’t escape their guilt, which is enough to rob them of their sleep, to provoke a lack of appetite and even rage, but against themselves and not against someone who only wrote down what happened during the first five months of the investigation, according to what is in the case files.”
That Madeleine’s younger siblings may someday read his book and become traumatised by it did not concern him, he said.
“Those two children were also abandoned for over five nights in a row and surely they will understand that what is written there is the result of a criminal investigation. There is a question that those two children will certainly ask when they grow up ,but that question will be directed at the parents: why were they abandoned, left to their own devices?”
As to what really motivated him to write Maddie: A Verdade da Mentira (Maddie, the Truth of the Lie), Amaral said he wrote it because his good name and professional honour, as well as that of those who worked with him, had been severely attacked.
Essentially the book was a way to reply to the insults he and his colleagues had been subjected to by the British press and others. “Deep down, that was it: they say we are incompetent, they say we are a third world police force, drunkards, fat, lazy, etc., etc., and the Judiciary Police does not set out to defend us. Therefore I turned to writing, reporting the investigation that had been carried out, so people could draw their own conclusions.”
In his latest interview, Amaral had no qualms about stating his views on the civil action or the McCann couple: “I am a free man and like any other citizen in this country I have the right to express my opinions.”
He agreed that as a result of the court action he and his family had suffered greatly. “My life is gone. If I am alive, it’s due to the heart that I have.” But he does not intend to let the matter rest there or give up without a fight.
He reiterated that he will fight “until the last legal instance.” He intends to appeal the €500,000 damages verdict and is considering suing the McCanns.
“Each thing in its own time, it won’t be only the McCanns, but their group of friends, and other people and entities that will be sued.
There is an illicit action that was indeed performed, the neglect in guarding their children, which caused direct damages to many people, not only to myself, but for example to the Ocean Club workers who were fired and saw their lives change, many of them unjustly, passing from mere employees and heads of family to suspects in a criminal investigation while they had nothing to do with the matter.”
Meanwhile in the UK, the Mirror newspaper reports that Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, as saying that the search for Madeleine will not end until all avenues are exhausted. He was reacting to concerns raised by the Police Federation about the millions of pounds of public money devoted to the case.
Sir Bernard said of the investigation: “It’s moving on apace at the moment in terms of the relationship with the Portuguese and that is to be welcomed. As long as there’s a basis for doing the investigation we will continue.”
Len Port has been a journalist for 50 years, working as a staff reporter, broadcaster and freelance correspondent for many leading news organisations.
Reflections on current affairs in Portugal by journalist and author Len Port.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Amaral defiant about his Maddie book
Former detective Gonçalo Amaral has responded defiantly to the outcome of the civil action brought against him by Kate and Gerry McCann over his book about the investigation into their daughter’s disappearance.
The McCanns were awarded €500,000 plus interest in damages, but Amaral is adamant the book was not defamatory and was within his rights to freedom of expression. His views on the case are contained in an interview published in the Portuguese weekly magazine Nova Gente and reproduced on the website of Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral.
“With my book I did not defame, nor did I have the intention to defame anyone, but merely to report what happened during the first five months of the investigation, thus replying to the attacks against my good name and my professional dignity.”
The information in the book is all in the Portuguese police case files and this was not in question during the McCann’s civil action, he said.
Asked if he felt wronged by the McCann’s legal action against him, Amaral insisted the parents were primarily responsible for their daughter’s disappearance because “they practiced a crime of exposing and abandoning defenceless children. The fact that they lost their daughter did not give them the right to sue anyone or to be compensated,” he said.
“They can’t escape their guilt, which is enough to rob them of their sleep, to provoke a lack of appetite and even rage, but against themselves and not against someone who only wrote down what happened during the first five months of the investigation, according to what is in the case files.”
That Madeleine’s younger siblings may someday read his book and become traumatised by it did not concern him, he said.
“Those two children were also abandoned for over five nights in a row and surely they will understand that what is written there is the result of a criminal investigation. There is a question that those two children will certainly ask when they grow up ,but that question will be directed at the parents: why were they abandoned, left to their own devices?”
As to what really motivated him to write Maddie: A Verdade da Mentira (Maddie, the Truth of the Lie), Amaral said he wrote it because his good name and professional honour, as well as that of those who worked with him, had been severely attacked.
Essentially the book was a way to reply to the insults he and his colleagues had been subjected to by the British press and others. “Deep down, that was it: they say we are incompetent, they say we are a third world police force, drunkards, fat, lazy, etc., etc., and the Judiciary Police does not set out to defend us. Therefore I turned to writing, reporting the investigation that had been carried out, so people could draw their own conclusions.”
In his latest interview, Amaral had no qualms about stating his views on the civil action or the McCann couple: “I am a free man and like any other citizen in this country I have the right to express my opinions.”
He agreed that as a result of the court action he and his family had suffered greatly. “My life is gone. If I am alive, it’s due to the heart that I have.” But he does not intend to let the matter rest there or give up without a fight.
He reiterated that he will fight “until the last legal instance.” He intends to appeal the €500,000 damages verdict and is considering suing the McCanns.
“Each thing in its own time, it won’t be only the McCanns, but their group of friends, and other people and entities that will be sued.
There is an illicit action that was indeed performed, the neglect in guarding their children, which caused direct damages to many people, not only to myself, but for example to the Ocean Club workers who were fired and saw their lives change, many of them unjustly, passing from mere employees and heads of family to suspects in a criminal investigation while they had nothing to do with the matter.”
Meanwhile in the UK, the Mirror newspaper reports that Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, as saying that the search for Madeleine will not end until all avenues are exhausted. He was reacting to concerns raised by the Police Federation about the millions of pounds of public money devoted to the case.
Sir Bernard said of the investigation: “It’s moving on apace at the moment in terms of the relationship with the Portuguese and that is to be welcomed. As long as there’s a basis for doing the investigation we will continue.”
Len Port has been a journalist for 50 years, working as a staff reporter, broadcaster and freelance correspondent for many leading news organisations.
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Hard to argue with any of that especially this:
“They can’t escape their guilt, which is enough to rob them of their sleep, to provoke a lack of appetite and even rage, but against themselves and not against someone who only wrote down what happened during the first five months of the investigation, according to what is in the case files.” That Madeleine’s younger siblings may someday read his book and become traumatised by it did not concern him, he said. “Those two children were also abandoned for over five nights in a row and surely they will understand that what is written there is the result of a criminal investigation. There is a question that those two children will certainly ask when they grow up ,but that question will be directed at the parents: why were they abandoned, left to their own devices?” |
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Sounds like the snarling of a rabid dog.
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No just someone pointing out the obvious.
The mccanns have no shame btw. How could you face the world knowing your own selfishness had resulted in the loss of your own child. |
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never realised it was a few nights children were left alone
bizzare |
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The previous night the kids had awoken and were heard crying.
Maddie confirmed this to her 'mother' the following morning asking her why they had been left on their own. But still they lewft them alone again. KMcC spoke about it in an interview. |
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Anyone who doesn't feel sympathy for the McCanns is totally heartless and/or stupid.
Goodnight |
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I notice you have no sympathy for Madeleine who is the only person deserving of it.
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From the OP-
"As to what really motivated him to write Maddie: A Verdade da Mentira (Maddie, the Truth of the Lie), Amaral said he wrote it because his good name and professional honour, as well as that of those who worked with him, had been severely attacked. CCDA should ask why he received an 18 month suspended sentence in 2009. Hint- google "The Joana Case". |
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Do you agree with the rest of it?
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Akabula. I would have thought that it went without saying that EVERYBODY feels sympathy for Madeleine...including her parents.
Your comment was quite close to shameful...but it is a case that evokes a lot of emotion, so its maybe understandable. |
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Close to shameful?
No where near as shameful as the McCanns conduct in leaving 3 vulnerable kids alone night after night just so they could enjoy a meal and drink with their friends. |
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It's very dificult because the one thing I'm sure everybody wants is the poor child to be found having been loved and cared for however unlikely that may be at this stage. The McCann's didn't deserve what happened to them. No parent does. There but for the grace of god go a lot of parents.
However the question does need to be asked in a sober and respectful way of whether those babies were indeed left alone night after night so they could go drinking? That's not to engage in a witch hunt against the parents. They appear possibly because of their professional background to have been given the most amazing leeway and shielded from this penetrating question and a lot of people will wonder if that had been a single mum claiming benefits how the issue would have been approached? |
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When my kids were young we chose their needs for a holiday and not our own.
They were never left alone although on a couple of occasions we had either my parents or my wife's parents with us so we could take in a show or something similar. I'd never have done what the mccanns did and my sympathy waned for them when I saw how arrogant Gerry was when interviewed. No sign of remorse ever. |
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BTW for what it's worth I don't accuse them of anything other than neglect.
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Akabula. My 'shameful' comment was directed at the fact that you accused Crags of having no sympathy for the child. That was a very cheap shot and totally un-called for.
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"When my kids were young we chose their needs for a holiday and not our own."
Exactly, things change when you have kids and you put their needs first. What surprised me a lot was when she came back to the apartment and found Madeleine was gone.....then immediately rushed back to the bar to raise the alarm - leaving the other 2 younger children alone again in the apartment. Don't understand that at all, although hard to say how any of us would have reacted in a sheer moment of panic. Several things don't seem right, and how arrogant Gerry was in interviews, you can understand why a lot of people haven't exactly got a lot of sympathy towards the McCanns. |
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do we think the mccans will ever tell the full truth about what happened that night??
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thus replying to the attacks against my good name and my professional dignity.”
 Other people from previous cases have already shed light on how Mr Amaral goes about is business. The guy's name is mud and not worth listening too. |
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And yet scandi you defend the McCanns who put their enjoyment before the wellbeing of their children.
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Nobody has ever defended the McCanns. The acted stupidly and they were guilty of neglect.
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^ But were never charged for some reason.
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akabula, please don't say things that I've never said myself, I wouldn't defend parents who left their kids at home, what I've said is that they are innocent until proven guilty and unlike others, will not condemn them as guilty off of the back of the outrage of leaving them home alone - which a lot of people have done.
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How are they innocent? They left their 3 children alone for 6 nights running.
They've admitted that. Guilty of neglect. Whatever happened to Madeleine their selfishness was at the root of it. They made it easy for the kidnappers if that's what happened. |
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for crying out loud it's such a circular discussion
We all know they were guilty of leaving their kids alone. Nobody needs to ram that point home any harder, anymore. But when it comes to direct involvement in her death, then as I say, innocent until guilty |
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Sorry, I didn't mean 'guilty' as in facing charges in a court of law. As for why were they not charged...I guess that is a matter for the CPS to decide based upon whatever they base things on. I don't see them re-offending, though, so there wouldn't be a lot to gain for anybody.
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Av we still got a team out there ?
How much so far £..............................? |
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The problem is that people tend to find an emotional association with people who appear to share emotions which they themselves would feel. I think they call it mirroring when you are with someone. Amusement, horror, shock, anger etc etc. We like to empathise and fit. The problem here with the issue of empathy is that I've never heard the angst ridden contrition which any normal parent would feel under the circumstances especially from the father. In fact the opposite. He has seemed to behave very strangely. That may be grief. I have no idea. But until there is some genuine contrition shown for their own negligence and as long as they are prjecting outwards in an apparently grandiose entitled way then I fear whilst nobody would have wished what happened to them, on them, many people will find it hard to empathise as much with them as should be the case.
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Eternaloptimist
You have summed up my feeling exactly about the McCanns. |
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Hmmm. I'm not sure that you two are the right people to be asking, but.........just exactly what sort of things do you mean? Or is it simply that you want to twist the knife a little bit more?
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I don't know if either have admitted to a sense of guilt towards leaving Madeline and people don't understand that.
If I was Gerry I would have said early on That whilst we now realise it was selfish of us to leave the three children while we were having a meal, we obviously believed that they would be safe. We had friends and ourselves checking them we realise this was not enough and will have to live with this. At no point though does this admittance of carelessness link us to the disappearance of our daughter. Maybe I have missed something like that but I certainly feel that would have given them a little more empathy. |
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There are some people in this world(we've all met them} who can not admit to any wrongdoing no matter what....The MCcanns are those kind of people.
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There is still no evidence that an abduction took place.
Perhaps that could go some way to explaining the lack of contrition. |
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Naydam
I do not wish to twist the knife, as you put it, or suggest that the McCanns were involved in the disappearance, but my years of interviewing members of the public in my working life taught me that there is a way that people generally react or present themselves and also, as I'm sure you know, that most communication is non verbal. Watching the McCanns leaves me with an uncomfortable feeling that things are not quite what they would have you believe and I would suggest that peoples' lack of empathy is for this reason. The McCanns are on record as saying they paid a high price for a mistake on their part. Is that how they really see their neglect? Simply a mistake? |
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Agreed. And one day, the truth will out.
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Which is probably what the police are working on. Can't be easy, though, trying to cut through all the smoke and mirrors. But they'll get him in the end.
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The McCanns, body language, their demeanour, intonation in their voices, do nothing to garner sympathy from the people they are targeting, (yes targeting) they have pursued a deliberate and sustained campaign to relieve money from "parents" and other fools who sympathise with them. I personally could NEVER, NEVER, leave my little daughter, in the same circumstances as they did, I simply could not relax for a minute, let alone hours. It's unforgivable, If I was "guilty" of such selfishness, I would crawl under the nearest rock and say nothing, gladly I'm not made like that.
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Agreed. They've deliberately sought the limelight under the pretext of 'keeping the search for Maddy ' in the publics eye.i just fail to understand why Kate 's version of what she saw on return to the house ( to find Madeline missing) hasn't been vigorously challenged ( because it has been shown to be a lie)
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naydam
Who is 'he'? |
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The 'smoke and mirrors man.
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