Portugal covering up pedophilles targetting Brit kids - Boycott?

[bkgirl]

Channel 4 news has informed us that 9 young children were abused in the area where Madelaine mc Cann went missing between 2004 - 2010.They were british children, on hols and the portuguese police have concealed this info. Their parents came forward to Scotland Yard and gave them the info independently.
The Yard has outstanding requests for info for up to 6 months and to say the portuguese are dragging their heels is putting it mildly.
Seriously, we need so sort of sanction/embargo/boycott to FORCE the portuguese authorities to realise our children are not sacrificial. Can their embassador be called and admonished? Come on, what can we DO?

[columngollum]

Presumably the tabloid press will lead the way. If a few redtops make Portugal the bad man of Europe that'll be all the reaction you need. (Mind you, Portuguese prices might drop in response and then economics and family budgets will take over.)

[PatrickStarisabadbellend]

That is terrifying. Why are we only hearing about this now?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

TBH, the way the whole Madeleine McCann case has been handled is enough to stop me considering Portugal as a safe family holiday destination.

[bkgirl]

I feel sorry for the portuguese children who no doubt get similar scant regard. Seriously, cannot believe this is how they are treating child abuse. Hopefully some of the papers will take the lead and put pressure where it means something. Politically the whole thing is worse than pathetic.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Maybe they try to 'brush it under the carpet' precisely so that it doesn't get to be public knowledge (with Court cases and the like, which would no doubt be reported) and thereby deter families from holidaying in the area. Tourism is presumably important financially?

To take that attitude in just so disgusting & so terrible for the poor children involved .

To think that this can go on in the western world in 2014 is awful.

[NiceTabard]

I don't understand this at all.

This man had been operating, in the area, before (and after?) Madeline went missing. Same resorts, tourist (English) children, a sexual abuser.

How on earth is this only coming out now? I flat out do NOT understand.

He was like, what, super prime he-done-it suspect, and he's only come to light now?

I honestly am really confused and don't get it.

[meditrina]

I saw this on the BBC lunchtime news: website article here

They have slightly different dates and number of assaults, which I suspect might mean that it's not always been know that there is a sole perpetrator.

Police co-operation is often Interpol, or direct force-to-force, not via embassy, so I'm not sure what calling in the Ambassador would achieve now the Met is in Portugal and liaising directly.

[bkgirl]

Scotland Yard has requested info/action for 6 months, maybe the embassador could bleeding well get the portuguese authorities to bother answering the requests!!!!!! I don't give a toot that it is different perps, these things need properly investigated pronto.

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

We have been 'boycotting' Portugal ever since madelaines disappearance.
(erm, yes I know we made no difference)

Their police force behaved beyond appalingly. they tried to frame the parents rather than admit they had a problem.

I would support a wider boycott.

[bkgirl]

on crimewatch now...

[HoleyGhost]

Amazing that this was kept quiet until now - sadly, I expect that the media attention will prompt more families to come forward

[jamtoast12]

The story was actually in Kate's book printed years ago.

[coraltoes]

Of course there is no child abuse in the UK... No cover up of crimes... No peadophile allegations where the police haven't seriously pursued them instead of hushing situations to protect an industry....

I'm not saying the Portuguese were right. I'm saying this shit happens everywhere.

John Farley Ruskins, what would a wider boycott involve? No piri piri sauce purchase? No port at christmas? Removing the cork from all your wine bottles? (Most cork production in Europe is Portuguese). not sure what you are trying to achieve

[jamtoast12]

Actually I've always said that the mccanns will release some sort of info (even stuff that was previously known) every few months purely to keep the case in the public eye. ThIs is nothing new, Kate wrote about it in her book. I remember reading about it at the time in the papers The family are just trying to keep it active by releasing a bit of extra info. They'll likely do this forever until the case is solved. As any parent would in similar circumstances. :(

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

This shit happens everywhere?

Well, I don't have to go on holiday where I know the police deliberately did nothing about a missing child for days and then led a campaign to incriminate her parents.

Why would I take my family there for a 'good time'?

[NiceTabard]

All true coraltoes.

[NiceTabard]

Lots of people come on holiday to London, for a good time.

Just saying.

Coraltoes is right.

[bkgirl]

Coraltoes, so what - you want us to DO NOTHING? Any child abuse anywhere needs followed up properly and any investigators who hamper it intentionally anywhere should be arrested for complicity. Yes, the Uk like everywhere has examples of disgracefully handled child abuse (eg.Elm Guest House) but brave people with the help of the internet are forcing our police forces to act properly. We need to force Portugal the same way. Children are what is important here, regardless of their nationallity, wealth, religion or colour.

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

I don't understand why English families continue to go to that area. I think they should show solidarity to the mccanns and say, pull your finger out you lying bastards...I'm sure the police would manage to find some answers then.

But no, better attitude is, meh, shit happens. Unlucky.

[coraltoes]

I agree authorities have to be held to account. I don't see how boycotting Portuguese products achieves this. John Farley, by your logic I wouldn't live in London... Or even the UK.

Bkgirl, and you think contacting the ambassador (who do you mean btw, the Portuguese ambassador in London or the British one in Lisbon?) will somehow change how the authorities interact?? You don't think there has been pressure at the highest level of government? Do you not recall David Cameron backing the re-assessment of the case by Scotland Yard? He carries more sway than an ambassador. Faceless people on the Internet will not be taken seriously. Leaders of the free world however carry a bit more sway.

[coraltoes]

They still go to Kos John Farley...should we boycott Kos too?

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Totally agree Santa I've had some faces pulled when I've said that before but I honestly would not feel comfortable going to Portugal given the way crimes against tourist are handled in general

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

Erm no, I make choices about the things all the time that I feel strongly about. I feel strongly about not going to Portugal on holiday while this case remains unresolved and while I couldn't trust the police as far as I could throw them.

(I have to admit it is not an enormous sacrifice but still)

[coraltoes]

Whereas south east Asia, africa, South America, Middle east are all fab at treating crimes involving tourists. By this reasoning I would travel nowhere!!

[FallonColby]

Have those of you who want a boycott of Portugal also stopped watching the BBC in light of what they knew about Jimmy Saville?