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Updated and expaded list of shame. Which I can only describe as scandalous.~
The other alternative was to entitle the piece: You Cannot Be Fucking Serious?By way of an answer to this question.
Is there a single unbiased, articulate journalist left in the UK? Is there even ONE with the integrity to provide an unbiased, non-emotive rendition of the FACTS about this case?
What I can be serious about however, is my respect and admiration for a person that researches, catalogues, and then goes on to publish a list of such proportions, that I can only describe as mighty.
This isn't the first list by any means that has been presented to us by Winnowing The News. I shouldn't perhaps describe them as lists, that description being too low, too demeaning, too unappreciative of the time and effort that must have gone in to projects thus.
Perhaps catalogues then, or better still encyclopaedias, because they are truly that, encyclopaedic. As too is the other material to be found on the site, be the subject, Goncalo Amaral, Raymond Hewlett or the IRA even. I would even go so far as to say that it wouldn't be a stretch that one day, the archives of the site became an educational tool in the lessons of Media Manipulation.
You have my unmitigated respect Madam.
And perhaps while on the subject, might I ask you to spare a thought, and perhaps an unsolicited thank you now and then, for a woman who's tireless efforts are an inspiration to us all, Joana Morais. Knowing that to produce even the simplest of blog posts can take anything from a couple of hours to kiss the day goodbye, I shudder to think how great the burden of work that the Lady subjects herself to. My many and sincerest thanks Joana.
Right so! what have we got?
The Mail and the BBC, always topical at GQW, let's have a look at just these two beacons of light. I can't lay before you their reporting on the lifting of the injunction on Goncalo Amarals book, A Verdade Da Mentira, The Truth About The Lie, because just like evidence of abduction, there ain't none.
There is only this.
Shameful censorship regarding the ruling of the Lisbon Appeals Court in the Amaral case
BBC
McCanns to sue Portuguese officer 17 May 2009 "...[McCanns] are to sue [Gonçalo Amaral] for defamation..."
Madeleine McCann policeman 'book action' postponed 11 December 2009, BBC News, "...An attempt to overturn the banning of a controversial book claiming Madeleine McCann is dead has been postponed...A Portuguese judge granted an injunction banning the book, ["The Truth of the Lie"] by...Gonçalo Amaral, in September..."
McCanns' Christmas 'heartbreak' . Last updated: 19 Dec 2009 "...Gonçalo Amaral is trying to overturn the banning of his book, The Truth Of The Lie, in which he questions the McCanns' account that Madeleine was taken while they were eating with friends..."
McCanns confident over court case 14 January 2010 BBC, "...Kate McCann says she is confident that a book ["The Truth of the Lie"] written by [Gonçalo Amaral] who led the investigation into her daughter's disappearance will not be published..."
Officer loses McCann book appeal 18 February 2010 "...Gonçalo Amaral has vowed to continue his fight in the European court [Gonçalo Amaral] has failed to overturn a ban on his book ["The Truth of the Lie"] about missing Madeleine McCann..."
Madeleine McCann book appeal lost by detective 18 February 2010, BBC News "... [Gonçalo Amaral] has failed to overturn a ban on his book about missing Madeleine McCann..."
New Madeleine McCann leads filed away, says father 19 February 2010 BBC News, "...[McCanns] spoke to reporters after [Gonçalo Amaral] failed to overturn a ban on his book ["The Truth of the Lie"] about their daughter..."
DAILY MAIL / SUNDAY MAIL
We'll sue cop Sunday Mail, 17 May 2009, Bruce Walker "...Their decision to sue the former police chief is a bid to prevent further publication of [Gonçalo Amaral]'s "deeply offensive" book The Truth of the Lie..."
Maddie detective's book is banned Daily Mail, 10 September 2009, 147 words "...A book that claims Madeleine McCann is dead can no longer be sold, a judge in Lisbon ruled yesterday. [McCanns] were said to see the ruling as a triumph and were 'absolutely delighted' that further publication of ["The Truth of the Lie"] ..."
Show-offs! Ex police chief blasts McCanns; Vanessa Allen Daily Mail, 12 December 2009, 387 words "...[McCanns] have accused [Gonçalo Amaral] of making 'obscene' amounts of money from the high-profile case and have previously won a court injunction to ban the book ["The Truth of the Lie"] from being sold worldwide..."
Kate: I can find a little solace at Maddie resort The Mail on Sunday, 13 December 2009, 447 words, Matt Sandy "...libel case against [Gonçalo Amaral]...The website statement from Kate added: 'As the injunction [against Amaral's book] remains in place, we have no reason to be disappointed..."
Maddie cash to run out in three months Sunday Mail, 13 December 2009, 421 words "...[McCanns]...flew to Portugal last week for a new libel action against [Gonçalo Amaral] , who wrote a book ["The Truth of the Lie"] claiming Madeleine died in an accident, but on Friday the trial was adjourned until next month. It could see them net £1 million - cash that would be immediately diverted to the fund to find Madeleine, who was just about to turn four when she disappeared from their Algarve holiday home in May 2007..."
Detective sued over Maddie is to visit UK The Mail on Sunday, 10 January 2010, 178 words, "...[Gonçalo Amaral] is due to appear in a Lisbon court to fight a £1million libel action brought by the McCanns over his book on the case..."
Jan Moir Column Daily Mail, 15 January 2010, 1994 words, "...The McCanns are back in Portugal...as they continue their libel case against [Gonçalo Amaral]. He is trying to overturn the banning of his book The Truth Of The Lie in which he questions the McCanns' account that Madeleine was taken while they were eating with friends. Indeed, he goes further and accuses them of covering up their daughter's death..."
McCanns shouldn't have left the children alone, say police Daily Mail, 14 January 2010, 651 words, Vanessa Allen "...But he was giving evidence on behalf of Gonçalo Amaral, the detective accused of libelling the McCanns in his bestselling book, Maddie: The Truth of the Lie. [McCanns] took legal action against Mr Amaral over accusations they faked their daughter's abduction to cover up her death while on a family holiday. They won a court injunction banning the sale of the book worldwide and preventing him from repeating the allegations..."
A silly own goal for the airbrushed poster-boy; Daily Mail, 16 January 2010, 1350 words, Platell's People "...[McCanns] say they have no regrets in taking [Gonçalo Amaral] to court for libel, thus subjecting themselves to weeks of lurid accusations in court. They claim Gonçalo Amaral's accusations in his book Maddie -- The Truth Of The Lie have hindered the search for their daughter. For his part, Amaral warns that he will drag the McCanns though the European courts for years..."
So why have they put themselves on trial? ; She's terrifyingly thin. he's boiling with rage. and they're having to sit in silence as a disgraced ex-cop accuses them of covering up Maddie's death... Daily Mail, 16 January 2010, 2281 words, David Jones "...Melodramatically titled Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, the book had become a best-seller in Portugal by September, when the McCanns won an injunction ordering it to be removed from the shelves..."
Was this Maddie? Revealed, The photo files Portuguese police kept secret... to the fury of the distraught... Daily Mail, 3 March 2010, 832 words, Arthur Martin "...Their existence came to light in a legal action brought by the McCanns against [Gonçalo Amaral] .... They had wanted to stop him airing the slur that they had been involved in their daughter's disappearance..." much more here.
Updated cor bleedin' blimey list here.
