Madeleine McCann

[morningpaper]

Instead of starting lots of new posts about Madeleine, could I politely request that anyone who wants to post on the subject please post on this one thread? (N.B. Duplicate threads may be flamed hysterically.)

Please note that this thread is not to criticise Madeleine's parents or family, as this is not in the spirit of Mumsnet.

Please can I take the liberty to quote from this article:

"This is the real life of Kate and Gerry McCann, and it must now have become a place of agony beyond all understanding. Pity them, if you have any compassion at all, and demonstrate the minimum of grace: the ability to desist from judgment."

yes maybe but just maybe I'd start by selling my £600000 house before asking the public for hand-outs.

can't blame the parents for getting themselves a good defence: just look at how many people on MN have already convicted them...

why is it that the Portuguese can say these things? In England, when accusations are made there is evidence to support. I think this makes us doubt intuition.

Except they aren't asking the public for handouts?

Wow wannabe - you've been busy, you alreadyknow the price of the McCanns house and you've had time to google their barrister and find out that they were also responsible for definding Pinochet (either that or you're relying on media gossip) and so what, does that somehow indicate their guilt?!

And even if they do ask for public support financially no one has to donate and as someone else pointed out there hasn;t yet been an appeal made (unless of course Sky has the scoop already)

There will be people who want to donate towards legal costs. Even if you don't. Setting up a properly administered fund (presumably overseen by trustees) is the most sensible way to do that.

If indeed they are.

no they aren't

the news said they have received some anonymous donations

Fancy me thinking this was a public forum and I could post my thoughts

Well if a CHILDRENS CHARITY says it is neglect to leave a child alone. Thats fairly cut and dried, regarding the debate on whether it was wrong to leave the children.
A four year old is missing due to their selfishness.

regarding the legal fund

From Totally Jewish.com
TopShop tycoon Sir Philip Green has donated to a ?fighting fund? set up by the McCann?s lawyers yesterday to help pay their legal bills.
Dated 17 May 07

www.totallyjewish.com/n.....nt_id=6302

Which constitutes asking for handouts?

Strange as it may seem to someone as clearly misanthropic as you, some people may actually want to help them.

I don't beleive anyone can imagine exactly how much this would cost. Staying in Portugal, paying mortgage, bills at home, whatever they earn it would still be eaten into. I, being as I am (can;t think of word) thought that they would stay in Portugal free, mortgage would be frozen etc, i doubt that .......

The whole ghastly business reminds me of Lindy Chamberlain, or am I showing my age???

ey wait a minute I never said anything about who their lawyer was or who he defended that was someone else. as for the price of their house, well it's been all over the papers since the beginning, for what reason I have no idea, maybe to reiterate to us that they are middle class, well-respected "doctors".

why are we discussing this?

its all just speculation

OK Today on the Jeremy Vine show they were going to discuss whether donations for the find madeleine campaign should be used for the Mc Canns legal costs. This discussion was abandoned becuase Mr Mc Canns sister had contacted the BBC and stated categorically that money raised for that campaign would NOT be used for that purpose. So you can all drop that particular line of gossip.

I said it was Gen Pinochet, he fought extradation for many years to prevent him facing justice for for his crimes.

Wannabe - why the quote marks around "doctors"? Is it in doubt that they're actually qualified doctors?

Is anyone speaking to me?

Its a different fund

wannabe, do you have a problem with the fact they are middle class? and why "doctors" they ARE doctors so why the quote marks? Think before you post, its mostly best.

I think its irrelevant whether they are doctors or not .....

I have absolutely no idea if Kate and/or Gerry killed Madeleine. However, I do think that it is a FACT that they have acted negligently in their failure to protect their daughter from harm.

why Fabby

If lots of peple choose to donate towards legal costs they might have to set up a second fund. Because that way they can appoint trustees and ensure they can't be accused of benefiting.

God this poor poor family.

Lawyers represent lots of people. General Pinochet was as entitled to a lawyer as anyone else. You can't condemn the McCann's because their lawyer once represented someone unpleasant, that's ludicrous. If you ever buy a house, are you going to demand a list of previous clients from your solicitor, and turn them down if there's someone you don't like?

jooleybee look at my post on 19.58