By John Mair, senior lecturer in journalism at Coventry University

The television world may be all agog at the defection of Ramsay Street from Channel One to Channel Five but the media world and the world’s media are still enthralled by another soap – Kate and Gerry McCann and the saga of their missing daughter Madeleine.

There are only three facts in this story.

Madeleine disappeared from the McCann holiday apartment in the Portugese resort of Praia da Luz on the evening of May 3rd 2007.

She has not been found.

Parents Kate and Gerry are now ‘arguidos’ or official suspects. So too is local expat Robert Murat.

Millions of words have been written worldwide mindful of, and ignoring, those three facts.

Each day literally scores of stories appear all over the world and in all languages (Nearly 2,000 in a Google news search on Tuesday February 12 alone, for example).

On the front page of the Daily Express ‘Missing Maddy’ vies daily with the death of Princess Diana for space.

Former Sun Editor Kelvin Mckenzie calls it ‘the most significant story of my lifetime’. At least two respected British current affairs strands – ‘Panorama’ and ‘Dispatches’ have had a bite at the McCann cherry.

BBC Radio Four has too, Oprah Winfrey is said to want the McCanns exclusively to speak for a large sum and the feature documentary makers like John Smithson are circling for the big one.

Just what is the appeal of the McCann story?

The obvious elements are there – the sheer horror of the crime if it is that. Abducting a beautiful three-year-old from her bed.

Her parents, Kate, and Gerry too, play their part in the ‘soap’ in that they are upper middle class and attractive.

The McCanns are the first private individuals (or suspects according to your view) to have their own ‘spin doctor’ figure to sell their story.

He is Clarence Mitchell, a former BBC Royal Correspondent has worked nearly full time for them for nine months. He resigned a well paid UK Government post to do so. His job he says is to ‘help’ them and be a ‘buffer’ to the media for them. It is a highly controversial role.

In the last three months, I have produced two public events with Clarence. They were packed out – more than 200 at each. There was much heat and some light generated at them, much of it about his role. Clarence held his own. Usually.

The McCann story is a morality tale for our times.

Some have taken against Kate and Gerry simply because they feel they ‘abandoned’ their daughter (and her siblings) for a night of fun with friends. Others simply dislike them because of their class. Others for manipulating the media in their favour through Clarence and cleverness.

The McCanns and Clarence have proved masters at turning the story when needs arise.

‘The McCanns; Guilty or Innocent?’ is a ‘debate’ fanned by the internet. One squeak in Praya de Luz becomes a shout in London in minutes.

‘Stories’ in Portugal’ become ‘fact’ in Britain then go back to Portugal to be embellished even more The printed media have proved adept at recyling.

As Mitchell bitterly puts it “If there were green awards for recycling it should go to the British and Portuguese press”.

It’s not just the professionals. Everybody has a view on the McCanns. Blogs following the Media Society Clarence event at the LSE last month attracted hundreds of postings – most of them lacking in any rhyme or reason. If you want to see raw bile look up the3arguidos.net. It does not make for pleasant reading.

This particular soap opera will have an end in tragedy or in triumph. Then it will be ripe for the historical documentaries to be made and for the media – print and broadcast – to audit itself. That should be fascinating.

Forget ‘Neighbours’ and Channel Five tune into “The McCanns – an everyday story of not so ordinary Leicestershire folk. Playing on a screen or a newspaper very near you”.

John Mair produced ‘The McCanns and the Media’ for the Media Society at the LSE on January 30.

Comments

Leo (18/02/2008 13:47:29)
Suspects, according to my view, yes, and according to the Policia Judiciaria. And yes, the McCanns ‘abondoned’ their daughter, night after night.

Anonymousthe1st (18/02/2008 14:01:45)
Fair enough, but the bile goes both ways. You ignore the vitriol from you journalistic colleagues (e.g. Tony Parsons, James Whale e.t.c.) with regard to the Portuguese people, the PJ, bloggers e.t.c. When an individual shows emotions in a forum you judge it, but not when your coleagues do it.

Matthew (18/02/2008 14:05:22)
And you add to the Media “whirl”, whilst criticising it at the same time.
There is a word for that kind of thing.
The McCann’s are Arguido’s for very good reasons…and they and their “friends” have
failed Madeleine even more than just deserting her to go socialising at the Tapas Bar…and perhaps further afield also. They have also failed her by not helping the Police to the full in the Investigation.
Some parents…and friends… huh ?

Johanna (18/02/2008 14:08:36)
If you want to see raw bile buy a paper. That people want to comment without being censored is only natural and a re-action to your Country´s foul propaganda making saints out of neglecting parents.

º¤ø,¸¸,¤ºDAVEº¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º (18/02/2008 14:26:17)
Some correspondents just can’t help themselves, can they?
I think that this story’s a commentary on the soap opera style coverage of the case rather than the guilt or otherwise of the parents.
Maddy has been missing almost a year now and one day she will drop off the media radar.
When will that be? After the 12-month anniversary? When the next child disappears abroad? When she is found?

Paul Linford (18/02/2008 14:49:56)
The Kelvin McKenzie quote rather proves your point. “Most significant story of his lifetime?” Well, more significant than Freddie Starr not eating a hamster, maybe, but more significant than 9/11? More significant than the death of Diana? More significant than the Falklands and the Miners’ Strike? He’s ‘avin a laugh.

mairy hinge (18/02/2008 14:50:38)
have any journalists heard of, or even read, the mccannfiles website? you should take a look at it and open your eyes. the3arguidos.net website shows translations of Portuguese, Spanish, French and Belgian Mccann news items which strangely never make it to press in the UK; we are being s*at on in this country IMHO.

thentherewere4 (18/02/2008 14:52:28)
The British have always had a soft spot in their hearts for murder.

chriss (18/02/2008 14:55:31)
the mccanns are suspects for a very good reason.they left thier babies alone at night to go out with their friends.FACT..
thanks for the link to the3arguidos.net.very interesting site

Eddie and Keela (18/02/2008 14:56:38)
The best trained sniffer dogs in the UK, I believe, found the smell of death.
Perhaps they could sniff out the smell of the death of invesigative and objective Journalism in the UK.

NotACultMember (18/02/2008 15:02:22)
Thank you very much for the site www.3arguidos.net Most informative which is more than can be said for the UK Press.

Barbara (18/02/2008 15:18:33)
‘Raw bile’, eh? Well, those who seek justice for Madeleine McCann have had far worse words than those thrown at them. And at least the forum folk have been investigating this case thoroughly for nine months. Which is more than the UK press have ever done, for some peculiar and unknown reason.

Vimes (18/02/2008 15:20:16)
Why not take a look at 3A for yourself and make up your own mind – you have nothing to lose but your prejudice.

bjr (18/02/2008 15:20:31)
Bile, so we are accused of producing bile, I don’t think that is correct. Bile is being produced by the British Media for not reporting the actual facts in this case and making the McCanns saints out of neglecting children. There are translations from Portgua
l and many questions that need answering. The main one is why was Madeleine left alone with the twins on the 3rd May 2007 and why haven’t the parents admitted they should never have done this and advised all parents not to do this? Why don’t they return to Portugal and answer the questions? Why do they have to employ a media spokeman? These are only a few of the questions, www.the3arguidos.net discusses this and many other issues something the British Media seem to forget to do. By the way thanks for the free publicity, done us great favours.

V Ward (18/02/2008 15:21:07)
I’ve read the3arguidos, and it isn’t a website full of bile. It is moderated brilliantly and full of ‘opinions’ and free speech! Something the UK press seem unable or unwilling to do in this case.

Julius Caesar (18/02/2008 15:34:33)
Contrary to the comments in this article, the 3arguidos.net is as far removed from raw bile as one could possible be. It is just a very good site with no spin from sources close to …….. (we know who it is). All the 3A site does is to show the inconsistencies in the case. People are very polite to each other unlike the Mirror Forum, which was closed down because of disruptive behaviour by mainly pro McCann people.

Gaynor (18/02/2008 15:40:08)
I just can’t understand our media any more. I have been on the 3 Aguido’s and it is a good debating site with pro and anti McCann posters with no trouble. I do not know if McCanns are guilty or innocent but they are guilty of putting a sociallife before their children. the PJ must have had good reason to make them suspects. The media circus was started by the McCanns from day one and the british media have just given one sided stories supplied by Clarence. Don’t you think it is in bad taste for this PR man employed by a window maker to be giving conferences about the perfect PR campiagn? Madeleine is a missing child but with the fund and the money aspect it is getting sickening. I would like to know if clarence and Justine’s fee for these conferences is going to the LTD company fund and if they are making money out of it. Most of us who question what is happening are parents ourselves and I for one would not think of putting a social life and my friends before my child.It was not just the one night out was it?
What about Clarence’s stories in our press , this sad little man is beyond a joke now.
The McCann files is another excellent site that Clarence tried to close . It has all the case catalogues and is excellent without being pro or anti .
Most people just want justice for little Madeleine and are fed up of the spin and greed from camp McCann.

H.M. (18/02/2008 15:40:44)
Why you are not commenting Mari Luz poster campaing. Her parents are upset that her photo has been used without they permission. You can find the information in spanish, potugese papers and in 3A.

Leah (18/02/2008 15:43:15)
Very good points from Julius Caesar. I agree, it is a very good site. It is a shame that other sites cannot be as polite as the 3A, it is very informative, and is not nasty at all.

Margaret (18/02/2008 15:44:56)
I have been following this case since the beginning and very quickly realised that our press were biased in favour of the McCanns. The article misinforms when it states that they went out for just one night. Also that they are “upper middle class”! You should watch the Panorama interview, in particular the piece filmed by Jon Corner. Then repeat that they are “upper middle class”.
Finally, through terrible non reporting by our press, I looked to the forums to guage what other people were thinking. One being the Mirror Forum, which was closed. I then found the 3A, and it is far from “full of bile”. So another fact you have wrong. I have not registered on any forum site and therefore not posted comments. The posters seem much better equipped than myself to post (I am 60). But I say well done 3A, at least you are reporting facts from overseas newspapers. We are not all “mind-dead” in the UK and are fed up with being conned.

Anonymousthe1st (18/02/2008 15:52:23)
Look someone’s complained about my Tony Parsons piece! They wany it gone. It was a direct quote from the Mirror and someone doesn’t want it seen anymore (the Mirror have removed the offending article from their archives too). This is the media today … take responsibility for the actions of your profession!

Manuela Ruivo (18/02/2008 15:57:36)
Your article looks balanced but it isn’t.
Soap is entertainment. This story isn’t entertainment at all, we aren’t seeing the “Big Brother”, it isn’t fiction … It is reality and deals with manipulation of Media and people, with corruption, with lack of ethic and morals.
Let me highlight some of your comments:
1. “Millions of words have been written worldwide mindful of, and ignoring, those three facts”. Replace worldwide with UK. The Media in the rest of Europe did not forget they are “arguidos”.
2. “Her parents, Kate, and Gerry too, play their part in the ‘soap’ in that they are upper middle class and attractive.” The interest in this story has nothing to do with the fact they are middle class and attractive. Without the UK Media reportage on this case from day 1, there wouldn’t be any McCann case.
3. “The McCann’s are the first private individuals (or suspects according to your view) to have their own ‘spin doctor’ figure to sell their story.” Nothing amazing on here. Amazing is that this spin doctor was a government member.
4. ‘The McCann’s; Guilty or Innocent?’ They are not guilty and they are not innocents.
5. There is evidence against the McCann’s. That’s why they are “arguidos”. We don’t know which evidence but “Rogatory Letters” can’t exist without evidence. Labs can’t analyse “no evidence”.
6. “Some have taken against Kate and Gerry simply because they feel they ‘abandoned’ their daughter (and her siblings) for a night of fun with friends. Others simply dislike them because of their class.” No one dislikes them because “simply” they abandoned their kids but because they did not (until they were forced to) admit it. No one dislikes them because of their class but because their class allows them to corrupt the system.
People dislike them because they do whatever is necessary to run away from Justice.
And the “whatever is necessary” covers defamation of other people and organizations. Their media champagne was from day one full of criticism (of the type not nice to read) over the Police. This criticism did not concern the Police in general but much more: a whole country, its culture and even personal attacks to innocent people. That’s why people don’t like them.
7. “The McCann’s and Clarence have proved masters at turning the story when needs arise”. It is truth but did not help them. The public opinion went from pro to anti due to this master ability to change the story.
8. “If you want to see raw bile look up the3arguidos.net. It does not make for pleasant reading.” Here you aren’t at all impartial, neither fair. You can read in the 3arguidos anti-McCann’s stories indeed but the majority is not “raw bile”. The 3arguidos gives you the freedom of discuss anti-McCann theories.
Are we only allowed to read Pro–McCann “raw bile”?

Vimes (18/02/2008 16:03:23)
I wish to complain that no one has complained about me, yet.

bounty (18/02/2008 16:06:44)
OMG !
I didnt realise, are people saying these children were left alone on most nights of the holiday and the parents didn’t just go for a ‘quickie’

Eddie and Keela (18/02/2008 16:11:32)
Are there any Honest people left in the UK media.

bounty (18/02/2008 16:22:39)
What is this
”upper middle class”
Have they got X-ray vision or ESP ?

womble (18/02/2008 16:28:36)
It would be nice to hear from some genuine supporters of the McCann family, not just idiots obviously pretending to be people they’re not. At this rate I’m beginning to think that they
no longer have any genuine supporters. Why would this be?

spinfree (18/02/2008 16:32:56)
A genuine question – why do the British press print Mr Mitchells spin as gospel and try and spoon feed it to their readers? How has this been allowed to happen. Forget for one moment that they are the parents of this child – they are suspects in a child murder – why are they allowed to run rings around the press and public?

PJane (18/02/2008 16:33:52)
I have been drawn to this site as I wish to read what is being reported in the European press and further abroad.
At least other countries newspapers do not have Clarence Mitchell as Editor in Chief.
I can at least read unbiased reporting of this case – which has intrigued me since I first learned that two doctors, thus well educated people (although I think the more educated the less common sense) felt it necessary to leave three children aged three and under alone in an apartment.
As a single parent – this is something I would not do – nor any other parents, single or otherwise.
Thanks to the 3As I can express my opinion and read other like minded opinions.

lori (18/02/2008 16:39:47)
I have read through these posts and went to the 3a site. I see there are people on here that have cloned other names from the web site of the 3arguidos. This is making this post a farce so please cloners butt out. If you are pro McCann then so be it but everyone is entitled to an opinion. As far as I can see you are trying your best to make an a*s of the 3 arguidos. I say you are cowardly AND IT DOES NOT WORK.

lori (18/02/2008 16:39:51)
I have read through these posts and went to the 3a site. I see there are people on here that have cloned other names from the web site of the 3arguidos. This is making this post a farce so please cloners butt out. If you are pro McCann then so be it but everyone is entitled to an opinion. As far as I can see you are trying your best to make an a*s of the 3 arguidos. I say you are cowardly AND IT DOES NOT WORK.

Charles (18/02/2008 16:40:50)
A most interesting dialogue, here, demonstrating the anger on both sides of the argument. Surely there must be more posts under consideration after a complaint than on any other subject.
Most of those supporting the McCanns appear to want no debate at all and cannot countenance any discussion that may veer into suspecting the parents or their friends of any wrongdoin. Those that are more cynical have watched the Clarence-led circus, seen the videos, watched the interviews and have arrived at the conclusion that there is something very fishy going on.
To all those to whom this raging controversy is new may I suggest a browse over on the 3 Arguidos site, also the mccannfiles sit. Both may be a bit of an eye opener, and it’s just possible you may learn something.

chriss (18/02/2008 16:42:21)
see you cant even reply to any articles that mention tthe3arguidos.net.with out the pro mmcanns acting like children and cloning names.i have been on the site and it very good

tinA (18/02/2008 16:43:51)
Blatant I post a comment about poster now here cloning user names from 3aguidos.net guess what happens i get cloned 1 post below mine obviously look at the content of my clone. clearly Mr and Mrs Mccann do not have their own genuine supporters so who is behind these clones.

debbie (18/02/2008 16:44:22)
Hurray for the Three Arguidos!The only place to go for exchanging information, and finding out what is really going on!
People are on this site because the newspapers are not doing their job. More and more people realise they are being ‘had’.
I’m a fifty-eight year old mother and grandmother and have no problem with this site.
Try reading it, John – you’ll be surprised.

JennyBabe (18/02/2008 16:45:39)
oh come on who has “complained” about every comment relating to the3arguidos.net. it is actually a forum that allows discussion from all perspectives and provides a lot of relevant information. I do not understand how anyone can call this “bile”. Now leaving three babies alone in an unfamiliar setting with the doors unlocked and going out drinking that definitely brings “bile” to my throat along with the Fiona Philips of this world who feels that she has the right to speak for everyone in claiming that “we all do it”. I most certainly do not and nor do I know anyone else who does!

Sofia, Portugal (18/02/2008 16:46:05)
I support the Policia Judiciaria in their search for the Truth in the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. My country, its people and its institutions have been ridiculed, insulted and humiliated countless times by the McCanns, their relatives, their friends, their supporters and a significant part of the British media. This does not help Madeleine, but that does not seem to matter to those individuals. Portugal has paid a hefty price for the McCanns’ responsible parenting style. What hurts most is that Madeleine has paid an even higher price.
Justice for Madeleine. Força, PJ!

Graeme (18/02/2008 16:48:07)
The McCanns are an innocent family – you will all rot in hell for being accusing them of abandoning their children. You’ve all done it.

lori (18/02/2008 16:48:57)
Thank you very much to the cloners or should I say the McCann clan as I have viewed the 3arguidos site again and it is totally awesome. I am sure you regret PLUGGING the 3arguidos.net. There will be many followers now.A big thanks again to you and the THANKS to you and John Mair I say a job well done .

Charles (18/02/2008 16:55:13)
The proportion of posters here (at least of those posts that remain) appears slightly greater in terms of what I’ll call ‘Pro-McCann’ than the average whenever comments are invited after an article.
The same is happening all over the web – a group here – a forum there, is attracting more of the group who will hear no wrong about the McCann camp.
A look at comments on articles in the daily press usually shows up a considerable majority of poster that simply don’t buy in to the Clarence / Mccann spin circus.

charles (18/02/2008 17:04:51)
Gosh, there are posters on here praising the 3 arguidos site in one breath and a few minutes later the same person is on mightily criticising it.
Has this column provoked an attack of schizophrenia?

Gaynor (18/02/2008 17:09:27)
Why do supporters of the McCANNS always ruin debates about the case . We are all allowed our opinions and I respect both sides of the argument. To clone people’s names from a site that allows debate from both sides is the lowest of the low. If extreme supporters are as evil as this then it is not a good advert for their idols is it?
This is beyond being childish and I am seriously wondering if these followers are in need of medication or think they belong to some religious cult.
The PJ will do thei rjob eventually and perhaps then Maddie will have justice .

kazzy (18/02/2008 17:10:24)
Charles, unfortunately, the pro-McCann keyboard chimps are very active here. They have cloned many of the posters names from the 3As and are being disruptive. Very sad that people aren’t allowed to post an opinion.

Charles (18/02/2008 17:14:03)
What on earth is a keyboard chimp?

womble (18/02/2008 17:15:46)
Are there any so called ‘pro’ mccann sites that you can join, without having to provide your inside leg measurement, where I could go just to look around? I am able to read the comments at the three arguidos but unable to read any comments on pro sites. The only bile I see here is from the Pro faction, or maybe just trolls pretending to be pro. It is a shame that this is being done under the pretence of wanting justice for a small child.

womble (18/02/2008 17:20:59)
“yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation” yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation.

womble (18/02/2008 17:23:23)
Wow, as a member of no forum on the McCanns I still managed to rile the maggot enough for it to clone my username. Not worth wasting your time on me little maggot..
……..did you have a link for that open pro site by the way?

kazzy (18/02/2008 17:25:00)
Charles – chimps = disruptive posters. In this case – a small band – a cult – who intentionally disrupt any discussion they don’t agree with.

Baronstu (18/02/2008 17:25:48)
The Supporters of the McCanns are showing their desperation by cloning other peoples Nicknames to post derogatory remarks about a Bastion of Free speech.
These People show to the World how desperate the McCann campaign has become.

CT (18/02/2008 17:26:44)
bile it may be – but bile is a complex solution essential for the digestive process helping break down the undigestible.
If we had a “balanced diet” in the British press then 3A would not be needed. You – Mr Mair – and your colleagues created the need for this site

Charles (18/02/2008 17:36:52)
Forty complaints being processed as I write. Quite astonishing – and I feel rather sorry whoever is going to process them.
This reminds me of Kelvin McKenzie’s comment that when he wrote a piece sympathetic to the McCanns he received over 8,000 e-mails – virtually all of them extremely unsympathetic to the parents.
The subject of class cropped up then, and I must admit it had me rather worried that an editor of a newspaper could have so seriously misundertood the British Class system.
The existence of the various fora that discuss the McCann circus – for it is exactly that – exist purely because of what people see as the uncritical and unquestioned acceptance of the Clarence Mitchell produced legend, and the suspicion that surrounds a case where those that are declared ‘suspect’ are demanding the evidence and attempting to drive the agenda.
I can’t see this happening with the average bank robbery, can you?

James (18/02/2008 17:38:20)
Whether or not the McCanns arguido status is justified or not remains to be seen. However, the fact that suspects in a criminal investigation into the disappearance of a 3 year old child have an ex-government official to act as a highly paid spokesman and ‘spin doctor’ to manage a very dubious PR campaign, to say the least, must surely raise questions that need to be answered. If people cannot find unbiased information in the mainstream media they will naturally look for the answers elsewhere.

Womble (18/02/2008 17:38:53)
Open pro forum link?

Eleanor (18/02/2008 17:49:23)
To all browsers of The 3 Arguidos.
Read the, “Please leave a Few Words for Clarence Mitchell,” thread. It just about says it all

sofacleese (18/02/2008 18:02:18)
Buenos Aires

Charles (18/02/2008 18:02:19)
I see my last post has received a complaint. Perhaps the complainant would like to share that with which he/she disagrees?

Anonymous (18/02/2008 18:04:39)
Prolixity Charles.

Nia (18/02/2008 18:19:21)
I think Charles that your post was complained about because it was a tad too lo,g to hold anyone’s attention. In this day and age one has to keep things short. (And I don’t just mean skirts!) In respect, Nia x

Rigby (18/02/2008 18:32:16)
Your comment regarding the 3arguidos site is a fair one. It is full of bile and it runs unchecked, people can and do post the most sickening theories as to what happened to that poor little girl, all in the name of free speech. The Moderation on that site only comes into play if you try to object, then you are immediately banned. From what I have seen there are some very sick people who frequent that site but fortunately it will be closing down soon.

IgnoreRhodes03 (18/02/2008 18:42:33)
Ignore the pernicious comments from the supporters of child neglectors. The person / persons doing this must be very sick individuals to do such a thing. Why clone names? Obviously there is BIG news about to break which Clarry and friends don’t want us to hear about. Are the Tapas friends being interviewed or about to very soon? Are charges about to be brought. IMHO anything is possible.

astounded (18/02/2008 18:43:33)
It makes me laugh when the denizens of the site mention ‘information’ and ‘facts’ that they can get there which aren’t available anywhere else. There’s a good reason for that you know folks. They make it up, or get the press to do it for them. Just take a look at the site – any reasonable person can see it’s a gossip factory, nothing more.

retribution (18/02/2008 18:47:18)
The vilification of the 3arguidos site is without justification. Sure, there will always be the odd poster who goes to outlandish extremes with their theories, but, in the main, the people who post on that site have one over-riding desire – Justice for Madeleine McCann.
Much of the debate is centred on information gleaned from the media – I have to say that the UK does a miserable job of reporting any developments in this case and it is only because we have posters in Portugal who translate the Portuguese newspaper reports that we are able to get a more realistic view of the ongoing situation.
If you go back to the beginning, May 2007, and read how the various statements attributed to the McCanns and their holiday friends have changed – how many different descriptions there have been from one of them of the man seen in the area carrying what looked like a child is one which springs to mind – you will be amazed at the difference between what we are asked to believe now compared to those early days.
At the 3arguidos, there is an enormous amount of serious discussion and a great desire to know the truth.
John Mair should come to the 3arguidos and give his point of view, eneter into debate – he will find that the posters there are mostly considerate of each other’s opinions, whether they are “Pro” or “Anti”.
Come on John, what are you waiting for?

Ignore rhodes03 (18/02/2008 18:47:20)
Obviously some big breaking news must be about to happen. Are the Tapas pals being interviewed? Are charges about to be brought? Why else would people try to discredit the 3A site and clone names from over there. Some very sick individual or individuals are behind the cloning. they need medical help in my honest opinion.

Silly Gorgon (18/02/2008 18:56:10)
The 3 Arguidiots convicted the McCanns months ago, before their odiousness motivated the Daily Mirror to cast them out by shutting down its forum.
Nothing’s beneath the members of the 3Arguidos in their ‘quest for justice.’
Several of them took it upon themselves to contact Esther McVey directly… one of them even claimed to be a friend and posted details of a telephone conversation which were later, mysteriously, deleted.
It is an appalling site filled with the blathering of appalling people. If justice is ever served, let it be on them.

Try Thinking Sometime (18/02/2008 18:58:32)
If John drops by does he get access to the infamous Locked Thread forum?
In the interest of debate, of course.

Dontyoudareclonemyname (18/02/2008 19:09:02)
Only Joking!

sick-of-the-circus (18/02/2008 19:25:22)
US Social Worker says the McCann’s are culpable for the disappearance of their own daughter and goes on to say, You just don’t neglect your children in that way.”
Watch the video here:-
Neglect: Do you leave your kids unattended – and at what age…???
http://www.yoursocialworker.com/videos/neglect.wmv

Baronstu (18/02/2008 19:33:10)
And I am showing my desperation by posting a picture of myself on the forum.

Pepper (18/02/2008 19:33:41)
Sick of the Circus
Yeah, really, really relevant posting the views of U.S. citizens about the European Law. That would be par for the course from a U.S. based forum and NBRADO from the United States.
BREAKING NEWS
The McCann children were sleeping on MW property. The parents were dining a few meters away on MW property. Surely the criminal is the person who trespassed upon private property to steal a child, but then all your sympathies would seem to lie with the paedophile

John (18/02/2008 19:35:11)
Hitler never stood Trial so do we assume he was innocent too?

Big Johnno
(18/02/2008 19:40:51)
If the 3As Site is full of “Looney Tunes” why are people trying so hard to discredit it & sabotage it by organising mass spamming attacks? If it was so much hot air why do people feel so threatened??????

IsChildNeglectLegal (18/02/2008 19:44:51)
lynnkx
You will find that it was “Pro” McCann Posters who contributed to getting the Mirror Forum closed down & let’s not for get Mr Mitchell who was heard to boast of his sucess;-) Why is stiffling free speach so high on the agenda with this case?

Fred Bloggs (18/02/2008 19:49:01)
Sussed. The person cloning these names is the same one who set up the reflectionsinthemirror forum, which was just a site for cloning names. And there was nasty porn on it. The hosts of that Forum banned it. The person responsible is just a nasty, jealous person whose mummy must have thrown him on his head as a baby. Diddums do.

TheHermit (18/02/2008 19:49:13)
Free speech is a scary thing, isn’t it? Anyone wish to complain about this post?
Grow up, the lot of you!

Womble (18/02/2008 19:53:27)
OMG!! Someone on an internet forum showed concern about a child putting themselves at risk on the internet and you think they’re wrong to do that? How many ways can you twist that to make it suit your opinions of those that don’t support murder suspects? What’s the issue? You can’t stand things being said about the McCanns, or did your counselling allowance run out?

IsChildNeglectLegal (18/02/2008 19:54:11)
Constant over use of the “Report” Button was a common tactic employed by “Pro” McCanns on the Daily Mirror Forum, I see the same childish 1/2 dozen people are now here cloning names…how pathetic & boring….
Do your worst, people that aren’t taken in by the “reasonable parenting” Front won’t go away!

Rigby (18/02/2008 20:01:26)
If anyone does feel the need to wallow in the bile and read some of the well resourced and intelligently debated threads may I recommend a few must reads: “I just saw Clarence Mitchell at McDonalds” extremely interesting reading what each poster would have done to him if they had seen him.
“Disposing of a body” the less said the better
“Maddy’s strange growth” these 3 samples should show you the calibre of posters on that site. Unfortunately there are hundreds more.

womble (18/02/2008 20:03:57)
(1) Everyone is afraid of Dracula.
(2) Dracula is afraid of only me.
Therefore I am Dracula.

Think about it!