Is the main purpose of the Find Madeleine fund to pay for the support team around the parents?

Question

The campaign fund stands at nearly £600,000. Its purpose is to secure the safe return of Madeleine, it can also be used to support the McCann family. Originally donations were sought for sniffer dogs to be taken to Portugal, then for private investigators. Next, a legal team was flown out to advise on the setting up of the campaign fund and to 'liaise'. This team has nothing to do with the investigation in the child's disappearance.

Nothing much wrong with any of this. BUT , as far as I know, the legal team are still there, along with others including members of the McCann extended family, who are devoting themselves to this campaign full time. Legal teams don't come cheap. So my point is, is most of the money being used to protect the McCann parents rather than do anything to find their child? Is one of their jobs to comb through forums and report on adverse publicity - perhaps threatening legal action?

nicola h. I've read that the Warner Holiday village is not charging them for their extended stay - don't know if this applies to the aunts and uncles and others in the team though. Also they are both of fully paid leave from their jobs - he is full time and Mrs McCann part-time and as doctors that must add up to enough to keep things ticking over. They have the use of a private jet and other transport paid for too.

I certainly don't think they should have to worry about money at a time like this and they need some support, but a legal team? and one of them a QC?

Teh Beauty Spot: Warner are paying for them to stay at the complex. They are on full pay from their jobs. private jet and cars provided and it seems accommodation etc for trip to Rome was provided. I'm sure they will have some personal expenses and the publicity etc will cost money but I think the expenses of keeping a legal team must be huge.

Anyway, I'm sure it will all have to be accounted for , then we'll know.

Answer 1

You're speculating about them being on full-time pay for six months because this is the NHS norm. But I get the impression that the McCanns are settling permanently in Portugal, which would mean this is not just a leave of absence but a retirement.

Also, I imagine the goodwill is running out. If I was Mark Warner I would not let the McCanns stay for free indefinitely (just for them they have two apartments; one to live in and another is being used as an office for fan mail, donations and Team McCann Portugal branch meetings). However, Mark Warner has said that they will let the McCanns and their family members not only stay at the resort for free "for as long as they need to", they're also paying for all their flights back and forth.

It is generally agreed that at least one member of the McCann family has quit his job to be a full-time campaign manager (Gerry's brother). So it would not surprise me if other McCann family members were on the payroll.

Other than that, they have in their employ two solicitors, one barrister, the PR firm Bell Pottinger, two "trauma consultantS" and a firm of accountants. Someone from the Foreign Office who devotes themselves to the McCanns full-time is there, courtesy of the British taxpayer, as are two "Crackers", 3 officers of the Leicestershire police.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=454949&in_page_id=1770

Although I'm pretty sure they've got someone in their employ trying to counter negative publicity, so far I have seen no evidence of them mounting legal actions against people who post on internet forums/message boards. It would be impossible for them to take civil actions against the anti-McCann camp for several reasons, the primary reason being most of it is speculation and not outright defamation.

Answer 2

I don't know what to think any more, I have seen other questions about the McCann's that have been horrible really vitriolic. Your question does address a relevant point. I don't know if it is the McCann's or the press who have generated all the publicity. One thing I do know is that they have paid a very heavy price for leaving the children alone but more to the point, the little girl has almost certainly paid the highest price of all. My feeling is that it would have been better if they had kept a lower profile and the British Government had sent over some of our own detectives to help the Portuguese because forensically and in other ways they seem to be out of their depth. As for the all the people surrounding them etc I don't know, I honestly have not paid much attention but I don't see how groups of people all putting their oars in can help. If the money has been donated to finance the finding of the little girl and for a reward when and if she is found alive then that is what it should be used for, Not living expenses for people other than the parents themselves.

Answer 3

Yes, the money is being used by the McCanns. That is why they did not set up a charity because then, the fund would HAVE to be used for Maddy and not Gerry and Kate (and cuddle cat's) global tour. That is exactly why they chose to set up a Limited company - so they could directly benefit. Would you honestly expect anything more from them. Don't forget that as they employed by the NHS they will get paid for one year (6 months full pay and then 6 months half) signed of "sick" which they most definitely are in my opinion. By the end of the 12 months, there would of course be the book deal.

They do not pay for their accommodation in Portugal nor flights - Warners pay for that too.

Yes, it is all rather a big joke is it not?

Answer 4

To be honest, Im shocked that more people arnt expressing disgust at this fund and the way the public are being misled. No-ne can do anything about poor Madeliene, and no-one can do anything to stop the publicity-seeking parents (the media are the only ones that can do that, and lets face it, they wont because they are ALL too busy brown-nosing the McCanns) but we CAN make ourselves heard about this fund con! Why arnt more people angry about this? I dont understand it.

Pensioners are giving money they cant afford, kids are giving their pocket money, fund-raising days are in full swing, WTF is happening here? Cancer charities are desperate for donations, so are Childline, NSPCC, etc etc, yet 600,000 so far is being GIVEN to 2 financially well-off people so theyre Family can all stay in a Holiday Resort, and they can go on trips around Europe!!

Why dont we all just focus on that for now? We cant change whats done, but we CAN stop other people being conned.

I donated weeks ago, before I even knew this money was going straight into the McCanns pockets, Ive since written 3 e.mails asking where the money is going, no-one has even replied. What a laugh these clever people must be having at our expense. Literally!

Answer 5

Bearing in mind how much McCann cared for his daughter (he left her (with two younger twins) as a 3 year old, what more do you need to know about Gerry McCann's morals, parenting, common sense..)
He's heartless enough to leave a child that age, and even younger kids, and here he is getting the most tight-knit legal act ever together to secure an endless stream of finance, and yes, for what exactly?
Mr McCann, if you ever read these things here, get this. When Kevin Wells was looking for Holly he decided to keep a log because of the way the police and lawyers made sure they were the last to know anything, mainly to stop them jeopardising the police operation and a safe conviction, then the family were required to sit tight, and await developments.
What you are doing Mr McCann is financially benefiting from your own daughter's absence, which I find truly repellent.
I hope they find Maddy alive and I hope she is taken into care where decent people will look after her,and not abandon her to go off to fill their faces every night with children in absentia.

(Just read "bb2002's" post above mine. Brilliant post.)

Answer 6

Good question. So where are the reasoned answers from the Mccann supporters?
The Mcann's are on full pay.
Their accommodation is being paid for by Mark Warner
They have the use of a private jet.

I suspect that the money is being used to pay for the rest of the family to stay in Portugal (Why is that, when the Mccann pair are off on a tour of Europe???)
It is being used to pay for a "Fund" Manager.
it is also being used to pay for a PR Adviser.
And don't forget the lawyers!

I am so sorry that ordinary people are being duped into contributing to this PLC.
Kids from a local school here are doing a sponsored walk for the Find Madeleine appeal, the sad thing is, that they really believe that the money will be used in that way.

Answer 7

The whole thing has seemed like a financial scam from the start. They messed up in a huge way, yet they expect everyone else to take responsibility for sorting it all out. There should have been some kind of independent body put in charge of the "company" spends from day 1. Don't see any need at all for a PR spokesperson to help find Maddie, especially now most people know about the case.

Answer 8

I think everyone knows the answer to that. It is to fund the parents themselves. Who do you think is paying for them to stay out there in the first place, and what about all the travelling they are doing, the food and accommodation they are getting? The list goes on and on. But I bet they are not paying a penny themselves. How do we know she is still alive anyway. How can they be so sure, unless we are not being told the whole story.

Answer 9

At the moment they are raising money for what?

Its been a month and what are sniffer dogs going to do?

The team will have to make decisions about what they are going to do .....

Really belive they needed their own P.I.who can talk to street people to find leads on who may have taken their child and to sift through and search for toher evidence and copperate with the police...

Answer 10

If you want to email me I can send you a copy of th email sent to me by Team McCann...which was very , very vague in terms of how they intend to spend this money...

I am convinced more than ever that the money is for the family's personal enjoyment!