Like many I too watched on Sky the programme about the Madeleine Foundation.  I had hoped that the programme would be unbiased and reflect more on why the Foundation do what they do.

Was I surprised to watch and then immediately draw the conclusion that the programme was none other than a hatchet job on the Madeleine Foundation and a way forward into getting the message across that those that speak out and wonder if the McCanns are speaking the truth are nothing but a bunch of sick stalking nutters? Absolutely not.  It was to be expected.

To be honest, who am I kidding, the synopsis of the forthcoming programme was enough to tell me what the programme was going to entail and whose  side the BBC would really be on.  And I can assure you it was not the side of the Madeleine Foundation and Goncalo Amaral.

Even for those that question the whole case, like myself, including the role of the parents, police and governments, last nights programme left me with sick ghoulish feeling especially when it was exposed that the Foundation had been to the riding school where Madeleine went, and how those four Foundation members had lunch and then leafleted the area. From that revelation I thought it was so disrespectful and distasteful of the Foundation to even contemplate this action yet alone go ahead with it.

The McCanns

The McCanns were the people that started the programme and the final comments spoken by Simon Hare were from none other than Kate McCann and what she had written on the official Find Madeleine site, giving her reason for writing the book and the presenter Simon Hare left everyone with the impression that it could be partly to blame because of the actions of the Foundation and those that disbelieve the McCanns.

None of the discrepancies were put to the McCanns and no questions were asked of them, the clips they showed of the McCanns were those that would draw public sympathy to their plight and to be honest make some people even jump off of the fence onto their side because of the actions of a few people and the way they will be portrayed as hounding the McCanns.

Tony Bennett and the Madeleine Foundation

Straight away Simon Hare in a roundabout way lets his viewers know, that money is involved with regards to the Madeleine Foundation, he explains the rigmarole to get to the secret meeting but he then says this, which leaves his viewers knowing that the Madeleine Foundation sell their books to people:

They discussed many aspects of the McCann case and they also sold me a copy of their new book.

The ex-chairwoman Debbie Butler was interviewed, the BBC again took the golden opportunity to show the Express frontpage with the photo of Debbie Butler along with the headlines “McCann Stalker”.

She spoke of her role in the leaflet drop and how she leafletted the McCanns neighbourhood and when it came to dropping leaflets through the doors of the McCanns neighbours, Helene Davis-Green, a UKIP candidate who stood in the General Election attended who was part of the Madeleine Foundation, could not go ahead with the leaflet drop as her legs went to jelly so Debbie took over and distributed the leaflets.

The blame game had already started and the ex-chairwoman left everyone with the impression that everything that happened on that day was down to Tony Bennett and him forcing her to take those actions, she stated:

Mr. Bennett decided that we would go into that area. I’d never been there. He’d been there before. I found out he had been there before. Erm, he knew where we were going. I drove. We had Grenville Green with us and Helene Davies, his wife. We visited the farm that Kate had taken the children to and had some lunch there. Mr. Bennett leafletted there alone and instructed me to go and leaflet in the immediate area where the McCanns live. Erm, which I did with Helene. And then he told me that I must leaflet their road which I did. I was doing it with Helene but Helene’s legs just went to jelly and she wouldn’t do it so I did. I didn’t leaflet their own home at all.

The report later made Tony Bennett again look like a vengeful man, Tony Bennett made this comment

I didn’t hear that. I don’t know whether she meant us or not, but, erm, we are focused on this particular case. Erm, I…., my focus is on the truth. The focus of other members of the Madeleine Foundation is exactly the same. I haven’t got any history of pursuing individuals.

It was promptly followed by a scene where Simon Hare showed clips of Tony Bennett pursing Michael Barrymore over the Stuart Lubbock death and Simon Hare commenting:

Tony Bennett previously tried and failed to bring a private prosecution against the McCanns for child neglect. In 2006 he attempted to mount a private prosecution of Michael Barrymore in relation to the night Stewart Lubbock died at the TV entertainer’s home. Another high profile case at the centre of a media frenzy. Tony Bennett first came to prominence by taking direct action over the metrification of signs.

So immediately we have what Tony Bennett said disproved, and everyone knowing his role in the Stuart Lubbock case and how his campaigns can resort to the removal and destruction of metric signs and the removal of County border signs.

And if that was not bad enough, they then went to a clip where Tony Bennett sat directly behind Gerry McCann at a Parliamentary Sub Committee on the Press and Privacy hearing.  Again this was portrayed in a way that gave the average viewer the impression of  Tony Bennett trying to intimidate Gerry McCann.

And the words that followed were what Tony Bennett had left on a messageboard.

It was to send out a quiet message. We are looking over his shoulder checking out what he and his team are saying, watching them.

But the interview went one further it actually got Tony Bennett to admit that he did not know what happened to Madeleine and that if she was abducted he knew he was adding to the parents pain and anguish. Tony said:

If it is certain that she was abducted then we are adding to their anguish.

And when questioned how he felt about it, he showed no remorse in his reply if he was wrong, but stated this:

After all, if I’m making bad points, if we’re making bad points on our website they can be challenged, and refuted easily can’t they?

But is this not what has happened in the past, Tony Bennett and his claims were taken to hand by the McCanns and their lawyers and a court order states that should he breach this order then he is liable for £50,000 damages and possible imprisonment?

Forums and Blogs

And if this was not bad enough the worst was yet to come, the forums and blogs, yes the comments about harming the McCanns and wishing them harm and the hate spilled out at them that have appeared on many forums and blogs were spoken about.

The act of a mindless few have now tarnished those that have never threatened harm to the McCanns with the same brush.  Those that have frequented these messageboards are now lumped with people that are classed as nutters, sickos etc.

Please can anybody tell me how that brings justice for a child?

Goncalo Amaral

Yes the BBC set out what it intended to do in my honest opinion and that was to label any person that spoke out about the McCanns, their child minding skills whilst on that holiday and their thoughts about what happened to Madeleine McCann as nothing but sick individuals, that are in a minority group and who are in fact a menace to society.

And the BBC, also thanks to the Foundation, got the opportunity to bring in Goncalo Amaral, as the Foundation was seen filming on his birthday and on the Goncalo Awareness Day.  It has left many viewers with the impression that the Madeleine Foundation and Goncalo Amaral are tied at the hip.

Conclusion

There will be many that will try and see the light at the end of the tunnel, many that will say the BBC would never have made a programme like this 2-3 years ago and it shows that the tide is turning.  But my own personal view is sadly different the BBC has left viewers with the following points to note:

1. The Madeleine Foundation chairwoman was portrayed as a “stalker” by the media.
2. The Madeleine Foundation did not show any remorse should it be proven that Madeleine was abducted.
3. The Madeleine Foundation are linked to Goncalo Amaral.
4. Forums and Blogs are nothing but places that provide sickos, nutters, stalkers etc with a place to vent their anger and hatred at the McCanns.
5. Goncalo Amaral still referred to as the copper removed from the case, this again leads people that he was removed due to his incompetence.
6. The Madeleine Foundation do not care if people think they are associated with the McCanns as they find it as an avenue to get their point across.
7. And the Madeleine Foundation sell their books to people, hence they make money out of what they write.
8. And the most damaging part is this, the BBC left people with one message, that message being, should they decide to take up arms with the Madeleine Foundation, Carter Ruck (McCanns Libel Lawyers) will have no hesitation in pursuing any Foundation member should they libel or defame their client, ie the McCanns.  Now who wants to join an organisation knowing that you could be paving the way for libel proceedings against yourself?

There is only one consolation in this whole episode, and that being it was only just over 16 minutes long and it was shown on a regional programme and not a national programme.

Many will disagree with me, but it was a hatchet job and to be honest, I do beg to question why Tony Bennett allowed this to be aired or even considered being part of a programme like this?  Surely common sense tells you that the British Press are not turning on the McCanns, they might be testing the water but as for turning they are far from it.

This programme was designed to discredit the Madeleine Foundation, Goncalo Amaral and all those that speak out and question the McCanns, whether it be their child minding skills or whether they do know more than they are saying, but one thing for sure, the BBC have achieved their agenda and my own personal feeling is that this is a step backwards for those that want to see justice for a child.