News Updates
Latest Update - Gerry's Blog/Diary
24 May 2007
Today Kate and I went to the Shrine at Fatima to pray for Madeleine´s safe return. It was another early start leaving at 6.30am. Mark Warner, who have looked after us so well, laid on a car and driver. We managed to continue the campaign with telephone conversations and e-mails. The actual visit was veryencouraging with the rector and thousands of pilgrims praying for Madeleine as well Kate and I. We lit candles for Madeleine and also 3 for Madeleine’s grandparents. The trip received a lot of publicity which should help maintain the profile of her abduction. We are planning a relatively quiet day tomoorow although the British Ambaasador is coming to visit and we need to start finalising our plans for interviews in areas of Europe where the coverage of Madeleine’s disappaerance has been limited.
No Update for 25 May 2007.
Day to day life for the McCann's
Usually there’s some free time then for a few stories or games with the twins before heading out.
9.00-9.15 We take Sean and Amelie to Kids’ Club. They really enjoy it and run in. They know the staff well and the staff are all excellent. Both love the domestic corner and Amelie particularly likes to look after ‘babies’. We use the kids club a bit like nursery at home but we think Sean and Amelie still think they are on holiday!
9.30~12.15. We return to the apartments, usually for a series of meetings with our press officer, Mark Warner Reps, occasionally Consulate staff, lawyers and British Liaison officers. During this time we catch up with family and close friends, usually by telephone and discuss ideas how to keep Madeleine’s profile high especially throughout continental Europe.
12.30 Time to pick up Sean and Amelie from Kids’ club then head back to apartment for lunch, which has usually been prepared by one of our family/friends group who have been tremendously supportive.
13.30 –14.30 This is time to spend time playing with the twins either in the apartment or in the play area next to kids club.
14.30-15.00 Usually we take the twins back to Kids’ Club although Sean has had the odd afternoon in the apartment as it’s a bit cooler and he’s not much of a sun worshipper! They have been taking part in many different activities including painting, singing, stories, swimming, trips to the beach and they have lots of toys to play with.
15.00~17.00 We try to get some time together alone, going for a walk to talk things over or getting some exercise. This is often the time for quiet trips to the church for prayers.
17.00-17.30 Meet kids for high tea with other mums and dads. They love pasta and have been doing really well with their vegetables although a few chips have been squeezed in.
17.30-18.30. Games with kids at play area. Amelie loves trying to get in the baby pool!
18.30-19.30 Bath and story time with the twins.
20.00 We put the kids to bed. 20.30-23.00 We try to sit down for a family meal, again usually cooked by one of the small family group out here with us. Chat about the day’s events and plan the next day
23.30 bed and prayer for Madeleine that she will be returned to us safely ASAP.
In addition to above we try to attend various church services during the week, and make multiple phone calls to family and friends. We try to watch the main news early morning and late evening but have had almost no time to read the newspapers or even look at the pictures! Kate is a keen runner and in the last few days has tried to include a run in the daily routine. Yesterday (Sat) at 7am we ran to the monument at the top of the steep cliff overlooking Praia de Luz. We reached it in 19 minutes.
Friday, 25 May 2007
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
MADELINE MCCANN
THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO LITTLE MADELINE McCANN.
JOIN IN WITH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE WHOLE SCENARIO ON HER DISAPPEARANCE.
LET EVERYONE KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ABOUT THE SITUATION.
LATEST UPDATE ON THE MADELINE McCANN STORY
There is not enough evidence to arrest or charge Robert Murat.
A villa that is 150 yards from the apartment where Madeleine McCann disappeared 12 days ago was searched by Portuguese detectives last night.
Robert Murat, who had been acting as a translator for the police searching for Madeleine, and whose mother owns the villa, was believed to be being questioned by police at their headquarters in Portimao.
Mr Murat had joined the search for Madeleine on the night she went missing and had been closely involved with the investigation ever since. He told friends that he was working as a translator between Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, and the police.
Mr Murat, 33, had said he was deeply concerned about the case because he had recently lost a case involving the right of his own three-year-old daughter, who looked like the missing girl, to live with him. Would an implanted chip keep my child safe?
Leaving children alone
The devastation when a child vanishes
Every mother’s nightmare
searching for Madeleine
He became known to British reporters and made himself available to help them to operate in a foreign country. He had joked that he might be a suspect in the investigation. Unconfirmed reports early this morning suggested that Mr Murat may have been released after answering police questions.
On Monday last week detectives were alerted to concerns about Mr Murat’s unusual behaviour by Lori Campbell, a journalist who works for the Sunday Mirror. She said: “He was acting very strangely. I found him to be creepy. When he was talking to me he was vague about his background. He was coming in and out of the family apartment speaking with the media and acting like he was somebody official.”
When a photographer took Mr Murat’s photograph, he became nervous and asked her to delete the picture, she said.
Mr Murat, who described himself as a property developer, has been staying at the villa with his mother, Jenny, 71, who has lived at the property for about 40 years. The house, Casa Liliana, has an uninterrupted view of the flat from which Madeleine disappeared.
Mr Murat has recently been in Britain visiting his ex-wife, Dawn, and their daughter in Hockering, Norfolk. Mrs Murat last night refused to comment at the home that she used to share with him. Speaking behind a closed door she said: “I have nothing to say. Go away.” At about 10pm she was taken from the house by police in an unmarked car. It is believed that she was with her daughter.
Geoffrey Livock, 71, who lives in Hockering, said: “Robert is a goodhearted chap. He was never in any kind of trouble here. He is just a normal fellow.”
Last night the Policia Judiciaria confirmed that three people were being questioned in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance. Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said: “Since 7am we have been making some actions in the field and until this moment they are working in the place [the villa]. Some people have been brought here to the police department to make statements but these are not arrests. I think one person may be British.”
Police officers wearing white suits used by forensic science search teams last night scoured the villa and its grounds. They also drained its pool as they searched for any evidence that Madeleine may have been taken there.
Mr Murat had lived on the Algarve with his English mother and Portuguese father until he moved to England when he was in his late teens. It is believed he had only recently returned to Portugal after his marriage broke down.
Gaynor de Jesus, who went to school with Mr Murat, said: “He said he was an official translator for the police. He has a very easy way of coming across with them [the police] like he has known them all his life. He was quite easygoing .
“All witness accounts, everything that’s been coming into them, he has had first-hand information.”
Hundreds of apartments have been searched during the past 11 days.
The search of a property of someone closely connected with the police investigation will raise concerns about why police did not act sooner on information from a British journalist.
David Shelton, who coordinated the public search teams, said last night: “Robert was there on the first day helping with the police. He later told me he had signed a declaration of secrecy and could not talk about his work.
“I did'nt really know him before but he seemed like a nice normal guy.” Mrs Murat insisted last night that her son had not done anything wrong. “I have been told not to say anything,” she said. “I insist the police issue a formal statement when all this is over to clear his name.”
DEBATE 01
What are you feelings on Madeline's Parent's leaving the children on their own in the holiday apartment?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
DEBATE 02
Are the Portuguese police right to withhold information from the media?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
DEBATE 03
Do you think Robert Murat is hiding something?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
JOIN IN WITH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE WHOLE SCENARIO ON HER DISAPPEARANCE.
LET EVERYONE KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ABOUT THE SITUATION.
LATEST UPDATE ON THE MADELINE McCANN STORY
There is not enough evidence to arrest or charge Robert Murat.
A villa that is 150 yards from the apartment where Madeleine McCann disappeared 12 days ago was searched by Portuguese detectives last night.
Robert Murat, who had been acting as a translator for the police searching for Madeleine, and whose mother owns the villa, was believed to be being questioned by police at their headquarters in Portimao.
Mr Murat had joined the search for Madeleine on the night she went missing and had been closely involved with the investigation ever since. He told friends that he was working as a translator between Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, and the police.
Mr Murat, 33, had said he was deeply concerned about the case because he had recently lost a case involving the right of his own three-year-old daughter, who looked like the missing girl, to live with him. Would an implanted chip keep my child safe?
Leaving children alone
The devastation when a child vanishes
Every mother’s nightmare
searching for Madeleine
He became known to British reporters and made himself available to help them to operate in a foreign country. He had joked that he might be a suspect in the investigation. Unconfirmed reports early this morning suggested that Mr Murat may have been released after answering police questions.
On Monday last week detectives were alerted to concerns about Mr Murat’s unusual behaviour by Lori Campbell, a journalist who works for the Sunday Mirror. She said: “He was acting very strangely. I found him to be creepy. When he was talking to me he was vague about his background. He was coming in and out of the family apartment speaking with the media and acting like he was somebody official.”
When a photographer took Mr Murat’s photograph, he became nervous and asked her to delete the picture, she said.
Mr Murat, who described himself as a property developer, has been staying at the villa with his mother, Jenny, 71, who has lived at the property for about 40 years. The house, Casa Liliana, has an uninterrupted view of the flat from which Madeleine disappeared.
Mr Murat has recently been in Britain visiting his ex-wife, Dawn, and their daughter in Hockering, Norfolk. Mrs Murat last night refused to comment at the home that she used to share with him. Speaking behind a closed door she said: “I have nothing to say. Go away.” At about 10pm she was taken from the house by police in an unmarked car. It is believed that she was with her daughter.
Geoffrey Livock, 71, who lives in Hockering, said: “Robert is a goodhearted chap. He was never in any kind of trouble here. He is just a normal fellow.”
Last night the Policia Judiciaria confirmed that three people were being questioned in connection with Madeleine’s disappearance. Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa said: “Since 7am we have been making some actions in the field and until this moment they are working in the place [the villa]. Some people have been brought here to the police department to make statements but these are not arrests. I think one person may be British.”
Police officers wearing white suits used by forensic science search teams last night scoured the villa and its grounds. They also drained its pool as they searched for any evidence that Madeleine may have been taken there.
Mr Murat had lived on the Algarve with his English mother and Portuguese father until he moved to England when he was in his late teens. It is believed he had only recently returned to Portugal after his marriage broke down.
Gaynor de Jesus, who went to school with Mr Murat, said: “He said he was an official translator for the police. He has a very easy way of coming across with them [the police] like he has known them all his life. He was quite easygoing .
“All witness accounts, everything that’s been coming into them, he has had first-hand information.”
Hundreds of apartments have been searched during the past 11 days.
The search of a property of someone closely connected with the police investigation will raise concerns about why police did not act sooner on information from a British journalist.
David Shelton, who coordinated the public search teams, said last night: “Robert was there on the first day helping with the police. He later told me he had signed a declaration of secrecy and could not talk about his work.
“I did'nt really know him before but he seemed like a nice normal guy.” Mrs Murat insisted last night that her son had not done anything wrong. “I have been told not to say anything,” she said. “I insist the police issue a formal statement when all this is over to clear his name.”
DEBATE 01
What are you feelings on Madeline's Parent's leaving the children on their own in the holiday apartment?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
DEBATE 02
Are the Portuguese police right to withhold information from the media?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
DEBATE 03
Do you think Robert Murat is hiding something?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
DEBATE 04
The Real question what everyone is thinking "is she still alive"? lets all hope
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
DEBATE 05
What next for her parents?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8639909691932480757&postID=8392271092732587240
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