'Madeleine's Parents About to Fly Home' - Did you see the Sky Exclusive?

Question

I've just read an interesting article on Sky Online with Madeleine's uncle Brian Kennedy entitled 'Madeleine's Parents About to Fly Home'. It's since been pulled and replaced with a watered down version of his interview and an 'exclusive' from the McCanns stating their intention to stay in Portugal.

Quite a telling interview, talking about parties when they return, how him and his wife were regular babysitters and in his opinion both these NHS doctors are needed in the UK and should return home.

Did anyone else manage to read it before it was pulled?

ANNIE T : What a hypocrite you are - you spend 4 days at Butlins reporting distressed children, yet you defend the McCanns and their actions. How predictable of you to resort to name calling - I'm neither a pig or an idiot. You certainly don't have to pity my children (and I have 4) as I have never and would never act in the same way as the McCanns have done.

Get your facts straight ANNIE T - millions of us DON'T leave our children in danger, maybe you do and maybe this explains your crazy defence.

michelle l - thanks for pointing out the following quotes from Brian Kennedy, Kate's uncle :

On the twins :

"It would be a natural reaction to feel very over-protective towards the twins, but they're sensible and I'm sure that won't happen".

On the fund :

"We're going to need it, there are big bills coming in for things we've produced, for travel, for accommodation while Gerry and Kate are out there.

"They're not wealthy and there's no way we could carry on without it".

Responding to criticism that the McCanns would not have had so much help if they weren't doctors, he said: "It's true we have friends we could call on that others may not have - and we used them, we called in favours."

That's an understatement!

Bobby L - interesting. There are obviously little snippets getting through, but are being closely monitored and pulled for some bizarre reason. Thanks for pointing that out - I can't remember where I originally read about Madeleine wandering off. I need to go and sit down and have a think.....

Bobby L : found it. It was on Sky's 'Harry Potter Fans Reminded of Madeleine' page.

Gerry stated '.... the chance that Madeleine had left the apartment by her own had been "practically eliminated".'

This has indeed mysteriously disappeared from the said report.

jones - thank you for finding the original report.

Answer 1

Here is the pulled article, together with a comment from a Mirror forum poster focusing on why it was so quickly replaced by the article you now get if you click on the link.

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:42 am Post subject:



.

FROM SKY NEWS


The parents of Madeleine McCann will soon be flying home to the UK, Sky News Online can exclusively reveal.

Brian Kennedy, the missing girl's great uncle, says Kate and Gerry McCann are planning to cut short their stay in Portugal and go back to their jobs in Rothley, Leicestershire.

"Kate still keeps quoting the end of the summer as a possible date of return," he said. "They'll have to go back to work in due course. "They have a family to support. They're both highly-trained medics and they're needed."

He said their departure will be so upsetting they want to leave the country quietly without the media glare that has surrounded them since Madeleine vanished.

"It will be a great ordeal coming back without Madeleine. I think when they do come home it will be low-key. "We've talked about a party* but that's not something we'd do instantly. There will be a lot of settling in to do."


It has been my opinion for some time now that the fundraising is not bringing in nearly as much cash as the McCanns planned.

*A PARTY !!!!

http://news.sky.com/skynews/ar.....54,00.html

Answer 2

I am more horrified by the judgmental bigots on this page than I am at Madeleine's parents. I very much suspect that many of the judgemental people on here do not have kids and their ignorance shows. Those who do have children are speaking very high and mightily and I doubt can say that they have never made a mistake with their parenting. I am sure many many parents have lost sight of their children for 10 seconds and have had that "panic". Thankfully 99.9% of the time you find them within seconds. In fact, the lack of sympathy being shown towards the parents (indeed the total vilification in many cases) leads me to suspect that many of the people who have commented so heartlessly on the parents on this page, show through their comments and lack of empathy that they are probably themselves not the perfect parents. One thing you do learn when you have children is that children themselves make many mistakes (people do- that is life) and wrong decisions. The person we should be thinking of first and foremost is Madeleine. Secondly her family, particulalrly her parents who will be going through something none of us can imagine. We do not know the circumstances really at all. News reports are conflicting and scant, because of the inability legally of Portuguese police to give much detail (this also prevents the McCanns from saying much about what happened). We have two children (4 and 18 months) and have been on this kind of holiday. We have not left them in the room on their own like this but I have seen others do it when they go to the pool or when they go to the complex restaurant. Often they have baby monitors with them. I understand that the McCanns were with a large group of friends who had children and I can well imagine that all of the parents in that group did the same thing and that there was discussion about whether to do it or not. When we are on holiday, we relax and do things we would not do at home. Life seems slower, more relaxed, safer. They were in a family apartment complex of a well known travel co with an excellent reputation providing expensive family friendly holidays/ environments. I can see and understand that in that moment in that location, the parents made that choice not out of malice, neglect or any of the other terrible accusations levelled at them on this page but with the knowledge that they could see the apartment from the restaurant, would check back every half hour and telling themselves (and probably others telling them) that it would be fine. They will pay the price for that moment of complacency forever if Madeleine is not found safe and well. Surely that is too much punishment in itself, let alone the additional punishment some of you want to place on them. I do agree though that the British press are probably not criticising them due to their class, which is wrong. No parent in this situation in these circumstances should be criticised by the press. It may be that the press (for once) are being considerate and waiting for the storm to clam and that the criticism will start later. I also agree that parents have a different (and probably unrealistic) view these days of wanting to maintain the life that they had before children as far as they can. I think this is often particularly the case where both parents work hard outside the home (not the case in earlier generations) and also society tells people that kids should not mean they cannot socialise/ work etc... This is a time for empathy and a time to thank god (or whoever you believe in) that this has never happened to you and pray that it never will.

Answer 3

I didn't manage to read it, but I have now. (Thanks for the transcipt whoever posted it)

Curiouser and curiouser, does anyone else get the impression that this carefully constructed house of cards may be starting to disintegrate? I can understand the conspiracy theorists obsession now, this is getting stranger and stranger. Wasn't there mention of Uncle Brian putting his foot in it before? or stopping his son from speaking during an interview or something? Maybe Uncle Bri is a bit of a loose cannon here.

But, its comforting to know they're planning a party, lets hope the mysterious Nanny shows up by that point, then no one has to worry about looking after the twins, do they?

Answer 4

Interesting, Dellyxx, that the little item about the possibility of Madeleine wandering, which Gerry was quoted by Sky as saying was now 'practically eliminated' was also pulled.
I can't remember if it was quoted from his blog, but it's not on that anyway and the Sky online article in which it appeared - and on which you commented a few days ago - has been modified also.

Answer 5

Hi Dellyxx, No , did not see this report. I try to keep as far away for hearing or seeing any of the McCann tribe as possible. There can be NO justification for leaving small children alone and unprotected in today's world - no matter who or where you are. I feel that history is being re-written here, and that any truth will be well and truly buried. If this couple are really returning to the UK, I for one will be pleased to hear that social services have called them in for a chat about their parenting methods, and refer them to the CPS if necessary. If they are found to have been lying, and dissembling in this matter, then the medical council should consider their case as well.

Answer 6

Sorry did not see the report, well done to "JONES" for the visual. Seems to me that someone seems to be in an awful hurry to, "re arrange facts more sensibly"

Now I know what the government connection is - They are providing a large bucket of whitewash left over from the various "hearings" - David Kelly, Iraq, Diana etc.

I see that the people not agreeing with you are descending to name calling again in lieu of a cogent argument. Decent parents do not leave their children alone - there are lots of us about.

Answer 7

No I didn't, drat! I cannot comprehend as why anyone would want a party if their child goes missing! Perhaps ,if Gerry and Kate (or is it Katherine?) paid for Brian and wife to holiday with them as babysitters, then this sorry story may not have happened!
Annie T: If you were distressed yourself, why stay for 4 days?
You could have left after the first night! I haven't been on a holiday for years, but I wouldn't leave my kids like that! They come with me or we stay in the accommodation!

Answer 8

i didn't read the news before it was pulled but i have the updated version - my oh my!!!

quote from Brian Kennedy, Madeleine's uncle - Chairman of the fund - 'it would be a natural reaction to feel very protective towards the twins but they are 'SENSIBLE' and I'm sure that wont happen' - yeah, alright - so they will fight there feelings to buckle up there ideas and put them first and carry on as 'normal'

at least he has explained what the fund is being spent on - 'big bills we've produced, travel, accommodation etc'

who exactly is 'we'? has the fund gone on flying everyone out there? for accommodation for all family and friends to visit? how very nice.

'they are not wealthy people' well, i dare say either are the general public who has donated to your fund, but that didn't stop you taking it.

these people are beyond belief!

Answer 9

Gerry probably demanded that the article be pulled.
poor old unc probably got a right royal ear bashing, fancy giving away that they are planning a party, still sounds about right - the Mccann's do like a knees up - wonder if the local tapas will do the catering?
shame they seem to keep forgetting Margaret, b*gger sorry i meant Madeleine......

Answer 10

these people should face neglect charges, I am a working class mother and if it had of been me who had left my children in those exact same circumstances, I would be locked up right now. The McCanns disgust me.

I hadn't seen the article but now I have I am even more disgusted, a party!! If my little boy was missing, I wouldn't want to enjoy anything ever again until he was safely back with me, these are truly despicable people.