We're devastated.. if she comes home we won't be there

2 August 2009 
Sunday Mirror
Phil Campion
AMY MUM NEW HEARTBREAK: BANK REPOSSESSES HOUSE

The mother of missing Amy Fitzpatrick faced new heartbreak last night after a bank ordered the repossession of the family's Spanish home. Audrey, whose 15-year old daughter went missing in Spain on New Year's Day, 2008, said the family is EUR38,000 in arrears on the property in Mijas, Southern Spain.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Brian Kennedy, Madeleine McCann, Metodo3

Cops let Maddie suspect off hook

29 June 2009
The Sun
Simon Hughes and Antonella Lazzeri

A SUSPECT in the Madeleine McCann case was let off the hook — after a private detective tailing him was deported by cops.

The detective was told to leave Portugal after the suspect complained.

It is illegal in Portugal to run a private investigation into a crime when a police one is still active. As a result of the deportation, the suspect had nearly a year to get rid of any possible evidence against him.

The man lived near the holiday complex in Praia da Luz where Maddie, three, disappeared on May 3, 2007.

A source close to the McCann family last night accused Portuguese cops of "hindering" the investigation, adding: "It's a disgrace."

The detective was working for the Spanish firm initially hired by Kate and Gerry McCann. Their British investigators are now looking into the man.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Antonella Lazzeri, Brian Kennedy, Madeleine McCann, Metodo3

MI5 agent 'forced to give evidence'

26 June 2009
The Irish News
Barry McCaffrey

A MI5 agent will be arrested and forced to appear in court if he refuses to give evidence at the trial of two Co Armagh men accused of Real IRA weapons-smuggling, Belfast Magistrates Court heard yesterday. Lurgan men Desmond Kearns (44) and Paul Anthony McCaugherty (43) are due to go on trial later this year in connection with an alleged plot to ship arms to the north from mainland Europe between May 2005 and June 2006. They were arrested after a three-year MI5 'sting' involving two undercover agents codenamed 'Amir' and 'Ali'.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009

MADDIE SUSPECT LINK TO ABDUCTED BOY, 7

25 June 2009
The Sun
Antonella Lazzeri
Test to quiz paedophile facing murder trial

A MURDER suspect due to be quizzed by detectives hunting Madeleine McCann is a convicted paedophile being chased over another abduction. Spanish police want to question the man over the disappearance of a boy of seven.

Little Jeremy Vargas vanished in 2007, just eight weeks before Maddie was snatched from her family's holiday flat in Portugal. He was playing outside his home in the Canary Islands. The new suspect, a middle-aged man, was living in Europe at the time under an assumed name. He is currently on remand in a British prison.

He is due to be tried over the alleged murder of a woman and is said to be facing other allegations linked to child abuse.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Antonella Lazzeri, Madeleine McCann

Publican gets six year driving ban

Publican gets six year driving ban
22 June 2009
Donegal Democrat

A St Johnston publican who was caught drink driving while he was already serving a driving ban received a six year disqualification at a recent sitting of Letterkenny District Court.

The court heard Garda Patrick Gerraghty stopped 65-year Joseph Peoples of Kinnycally, St Johnston on the town’s Main Street on March 31. A subsequent test confirmed he was over the legal limit at the time.

Solicitor, Niall Sheridan, told the court his client “took a chance” as he was fearful of walking home at night.

He stated People’s business had not been going well and there were a number of break-ins during one of which he was assaulted and was since living in fear.

“My client has since been very frightened of walking on the street at night. He has no more confidence and the normal procedure was that someone would pick him up,” he explained.

“He took a chance on the night in question and drove the mile home. The family have since sold his car so there is no prospect of re-offending,” said Mr Sheridan.

Judge Kevin Kilrane disqualified Peoples from driving for six years and fined him €1,000.

***

(Later article)

Served alcohol without licence
Donegal Democrat
11 September 2009

A St Johnston publican was convicted at Letterkenny District Court for trading without a licence.

Joseph Peoples of Main Street, St. Johnston was charged with allowing the sale of liquor at his premise at the same address on September 27 last year.

Solicitor Niall Sheridan entered a guilty plea on behalf of his client saying he had “bad health” recently.

Judge Kevin Kilrane fined him €633.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Donegal, St Johnston

New Suspect In Madeleine Mccann Case

7 May 2009
Sky News

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Madeleine McCann

Donegal town promises to keep praying

2 May 2009
Belfast Telegraph
Brendan McDaid

The Ulster community among whom Madeleine McCann’s family spent their last complete holiday together will gather tomorrow to pray for her — two years to the day since she vanished.

The residents of the remote picturesque coastal town of Dungloe in west Donegal will gather to pray at St Crona’s Church, where just over two years ago they had stood alongside Gerry and Kate McCann and their three children at Mass over Easter.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Donegal, Joe Peoples, Madeleine McCann, McCann pub, St Johnston

McCann parents on Oprah show

29 April 2009
Irish Post

AS the second anniversary of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance approaches one of America’s biggest stars has offered her support to the heartbroken family.  And Irish people in the McCann’s native Donegal are also praying for a miracle.

Parents Kate and Gerry McCann have never stopped in their search to find their missing daughter. And in an emotionally-charged interview with chat show host Oprah, which will air next week, Kate McCann speaks of how she misses Madeleine and visits her bedroom every day.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Clarence Mitchell, Donegal, Joe Peoples, Madeleine McCann, McCann pub, St Johnston

15 April 2009
ITV
Robert Murat statement

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Robert Murat

Maddie TV hope

Maddie TV hope
New evidence to be shown in reconstruction
5 April 2009
The News of the World
Neville Thurlbeck

A telly reconstruction of the hours leading up to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann will contain vital evidence about new suspects.

A Channel 4 documentary will feature witness statements never released by Portuguese police. .

They have been scrutinised by programme-makers and will be broadcast to mark the second anniversary of Maddie's disappearance as part of a renewed bid to find the tot. Her parents Kate and Gerry are collaborating with the Channel 4 team.

Maddie was three when she went missing on May 3, 2007, in the resort of Praia da Luz. Gerry has returned there with two of the "Tapas Nine"—Jane Tanner and Matthew Oldfield. They were dining with the McCanns the night Madeleine vanished and are also helping with the programme.

But Kate has remained at the couple's home in Rothley, Leics. She felt unable to cope with returning to Portugal.

A lookalike actress will play her in the reconstruction, while the daughter of one of the pals will take on the role of Maddie.

The McCann's spokesman Clarence Mitchell said:

"There are pieces of witness testimony which have not been released.

These include the suspicious behaviour of several individuals in the area where Madeleine disappeared both before and after she went missing.

"We hope that it will jog someone's memory. This documentary will give a whole new sense to what happened on that night."

The programme will be shown on May 7.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Clarence Mitchell, Lori Campbell, Madeleine McCann, Neville Thurlbeck, News of the World, Ross Hall

Real IRA suspects unmasked

15 March 2009
The Sunday Life
Ciaran McGuigan
Spotlight falls on accused as cops make arrests over soldier killings

Paul Anthony John McCaugherty accused of trying to buy weapons and explosives for real IRA.

This is the man accused of being behind a plot to import tonnes of weapons into Ulster for the Real IRA. Our main picture shows the man cops have accused of being the Number Two in the dissident republican organisation responsible for gunning down two soldiers in cold blood last Saturday night.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Forensic Science Services

8th ASIS International European Security Conference

1 March 2009
Security Today

The 8th ASIS International European Security Conference will take place on 26-29 April 2009 at the Montreux Music and Congress Centre in Montreux, Switzerland. The theme of the conference will be "Taking security management to the next level" and will feature over 30 high level educational sessions for and by international security experts. Around 500 senior security professionals, corporate executives, consultants, architects and law enforcement officials are expected to participate.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Brian Kennedy, Metodo3

The murder squad made up of civilians

24 January 2009 
Daily Telegraph
Richard Edwards

An RSPCA worker and a former civil servant are being used by police to investigate murders in a cost-cutting initiative. Greater Manchester Police has set up the country's first murder inquiry team made up of civilian workers. It means that up to half of such cases in Manchester now are not dealt with by the CID.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009

Crack spy team in new Maddie hunt; Ex-cops and spooks hired

14 January 2009
Mike Sullivan and Antonella Lazzeri
The Sun

An elite team of ex-cops and secret agents are spearheading a new hunt for Madeleine McCann. The veteran investigators have been hired by missing Maddie's desperate parents Gerry and Kate. The 12 crack former Scotland Yard detectives and MI5 and MI6 agents have been secretly on the ground in Portugal for weeks chasing any new leads which may help to find her. The group was recruited over the past few months after Portuguese cops announced they had shelved their inquiry into Maddie's disappearance.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2009, Antonella Lazzeri, Brian Kennedy, Clarence Mitchell, Find Madeleine Fund, Leicestershire Police, Madeleine McCann, Metodo3