The forgotten victim in the McCann case?

Question

What do you make of this article on the Times on Line website, I think it sums up the British media perfectly

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article2324200.ece

Answer 1

Matthew Parris is one my favourite journalists. I would say he is relatively impartial too - he takes a balanced view on most things. Yet again, he is absolutely right. I personally feel that suspects should not be named and shamed before they have been found guilty. For some people, they can never escape the stigma. This is relatively common in rape cases - a woman can cry rape, name the man and his name is splashed all over the papers and news - he loses everything and even if the woman has lied, she gets off scott free with her reptuation intact. It is wrong. It would be very sad indeed if Mr Murat is innocent and was only ever trying to help a couple who wilfully neglected their daughter in favour for a night out. I bet he wishes he had never bothered. What a shame - if only the McCanns could have done the right thing and looked after thier children that night.

Answer 2

I agree completely with what Matthew Parris has written.

I always had my doubts about Murat's "guilt", he seemed too convenient a suspect. Whatever digging into his personal life revealed, no information was ever released that made me think he could have abducted Madeleine. As for the fact that the Police dug up his garden and searched his house at least twice, surely if there had been anything to find, they would have discovered it by now.

I think the focus was deliberately placed upon him by Team McCann, (including, on the Find Madeleine website posting links to articles with titles like "Murat changes story again", hmmm, how many times has YOUR story changed, Gerry?), to draw attention away from the fact that the McCann's neglected their children repeatedly. Nothing has been allowed to be printed which even hints that the McCann's may not be whiter than white.

I ahve no idea if they were involved in anything more sinister than the neglect, but the fact is, even though they may be "grieving", they should be under the same amount of suspicion as everyone else who came into contact with Madeleine on this holiday. Parents do quite often hurt or kill their own children, it's not a nice thought, but it does happen.

I hope that Murat gets some type of compensation for this debacle, mud sticks, as we all know, and these unfounded suspicions will haunt him for a long, long time.

Answer 3

I feel so sorry for Murat and have for some time. Everyone was on a witch hunt against him yet whenever anyone made a comment about the parents who caused this from the beginning by leaving their child alone they were said to be on a witch hunt and innocent until proven guilty. It is ok to make assumptions about Murat but not the parents? I tell you what this has done...when another child goes missing it is going to put the fear in someone to not want to help. If I was in the area at the time and someone had told me a child went missing I would certainly offer to help also especially if I spoke the language of the country was in as well as English. Of course you will not see the media or the McCanns say anything in defense to this poor man who has had life turned upside down and inside out when this case is solved and it is 100% proven that he didnt do it.

Answer 4

Matthew Pariss is a first class journalist and this article is an excellent example of his decency and integrity.


Everything about the reporting of the McCann case has been one sided, hypocritical and, in the case of Robert Murat, downright libellous. Who pointed the finger at him in the first place? A Daily Mirror reporter, whose suspicions were so eagerly taken up by Sky News.

I very rarely read about the McCann case. I have no idea as to how and who and I know that I will get no answers from the British Press.

Answer 5

I read the article in today`s Times and felt that finally a respected journalist is sying what a lot of people on Answers have been saying since this torrid affair started. But a more important and as yet unanswered question is who set Murat up with the Portuguese police?

Answer 6

Sums up the media completely. If they destroy a life they don;t care as long as it s not their own.

Yes I believe that the whole sorry incident could have been cleared up sooner had the press not bitten into the first suspect that they came across and hyped things up so that the real offender(s) could steal away in the shadow of the media circus.

Many times it has shown that the press by its interference has helped perpetrators get away with murder. History has shown cases have dragged on because of speculation and the fingers pointing at the wrong person.

If the press would exercise some diplomacy then cases like these would be cleared up quickly because peoples judgements wouldn't be clouded or swamped with accusations that are unfounded.

Answer 7

I think Mathew Parris is just finding a new angle to the same story. Murat can do the chat shows - magazines, make a few bucks and get on with his life. I don't think he will be condemned for the rest of his life, he hasn't even been arrested.

I agree with the assessment of the British Media though - because there was no official information they just made stuff up!

Answer 8

I totally agree with this article. Once the press name a suspect they are believed to be guilty by a lot of the public. Even after being proved innocent people will assume the worst of this man. I don't think a suspect should be named unless they are 100% sure that is the person they are looking for. (ie; a witness saw the crime commited)

Answer 9

the media only tells you what it wants you to know - look at Diana (Princess of Wales)'s death 10 years ago. The media is still speculating about was it planned, was she pregnant or was it really only an accident? The media (and families involved) properly do know what happened and just not letting on

Answer 10

Yes I do Agree with Matthew Parris! Great opinion and truth about the way the rotten Media has Manipulated this case with the help from the McCanns!