Did the Evening Standard change a story about the Mcs due to legal challenges?

Question

I read on the mirror forum that earlier today the Evening Standard published a story online to say that the Portuguese were considering legal proceedings or an inquiry into the Mccanns leaving their children alone whils they went out. Later, it seems to have changed to a story about the Mccanns being 'outraged' at what the Mccanns term a 'sinister whispering' campaign against them and that they are seeking legal advice about this.
What happend to the idea of a free press and does anyone in the know, know why the story was changed? Why has the press not taken any account of public opinion on this story and at least published information about the views of professionals in child protection or the law with regard to child neglect?

Answer 1

You are right!!!



I read this article earlier today.



http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23405351-details/McCanns%20'could%20be%20prosecuted'%20for%20leaving%20their%20children%20alone/article.do



AND it has been altered now. It did used to say what most of the Express said regarding the Inquiry into the McCanns, now the whole tone has changed in favour of the McCanns.



Thats outrageous! What the h*ll is going on with the media in this country???



And I know for a fact its changed, because I specifically remember thinking at the time I read it on the Thisislondon.com site that it will make the paper tomorrow about the Inquiry, but now its been changed to a 'Portugese smear campaign'.



Unbelievable.

Answer 2

The story has changed, but only in the way it has been portrayed.



When you quickly read the first story (Sunday Express- Maddy’s Parents To Face Inquiry- The parents of Madeleine McCann face an inquiry over the way they left their three children alone in a holiday apartment on the night she vanished) you may think for a moment that the McCanns are facing CPS prosecution for child neglect which is not the case.



When you read carefully you will see that what The Express was trying to say is that they have learnt that sinister rumours on the Internet and malicious allegations in the Portuguese press about the McCanns’ private life have provoked complaints to CPS that the couple be arrested. CPS had informal discussions to see whether any offence was committed. The McCanns are upset by these rumours and seeking legal advice.



Sloppy journalism. That is all.

Answer 3

I am confused. I wondered if the story had been changed as it bore no resemblance to what I was originally led to understand. I expected to see a more balanced view but instead it seems to have been twisted. Plus why, when I looked, was there only one person on the comments bit who questioned the child neglect issue, or has this gone as well. There were only comments supporting the McCanns. Now we have a sinister whispering campaign, I would say we have been shouting.



So to summarise, the fund money to find Madeleine is being used for expensive legal advice to get the McCanns out of trouble now and probably later plus expensive legal teams to stop the press from publishing anything against Team McCann. Now or at any time in the future are the McCanns going to use ANY of the money to actually do something to find Madeleine? Has MATT DRAKE been silenced as well. He is the only reporter so far to actually do his job.

Answer 4

Back to basics, what was first reported, wheres the holes in this story ?



http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2074964,00.html



It was interesting that last month when the media began to tire of the McCanns 'campaign' and the front pages were taken over by Big Brother revelations, Michael Barrymore and Paul Potts, suddenly Gerry McCann had his wallett stolen 'with two pictures of Madeleine' thus boosting the McCann's back on the front pages to say how vile it was that someone would steal Gerry's wallett.



How come the McCann 'abduction' was such an important story that the UK Government put Clarence Mitchell

(ex BBC Reporter) who is now director Governments Media Monitoring Unit within the Central Office of Information(COI), In other words a Civil Servant paid by the UK taxpayer, to accompany the McCanns media circus. Putting two and two together, is it our own government that has put a gag on the media, thus ensuring that they focus on the McCanns campaign rather than the McCanns themselves ?!

Answer 5

Sadly, I now think these people have the right contacts and money. Money speaks.

No one has ever had such an almost scandalous media coverage that has smoke screened their own wrong doings.

It is disgraceful that these parents have and continue to be treated as celebrities, when they are simply neglectful and stupid parents who use their positions and influence to excuse their behaviour.

Any insult to them is jumped on immediately. I think not one newspaper in this country will attack them because they are afraid of being seen to be judgemental towards two parents who are suffering the loss of a child. It would be too bold. But I applaud any journalist who has the courage, for it should be done.

Answer 6

I read the same thing on the mirror forum. It seems the Evening Standard was "approached" by the McCanns legal teams.

Now, if you had nothing to hide why would you silence your critics?

Answer 7

At least it's too late to gag the Sunday Express because the story is now in the public domain. I wonder if they will sue the Expresss?

Answer 8

That is friggen unbelievable! 'sinister'??? What is sinister is leaving your friggen children behind in a foreign country while you're whooping it up with your mates at the bar!



I certainly hope someone forces the Evening Standard to come clean about this.



EDIT- I have posted a comment on the Evening Standards page about this discrepency. Lets see if it gets published! I doubt it.

Answer 9

They can afford to sue anyone who upsets them so beware.The problem is they will be to busy to search for their daughter,or face an inquiry in England.

Answer 10

the circus mccann is becoming like the ' untouchables.

Answer 11

ooo havn`t seen that one ,,,,,but if it is true then people with far too much power are defending the indefensible

Answer 12

it all stinks of a cover up.

Answer 13

ah i see they are back in our newspapers once more

Answer 14

Boy, trial by media. People on here would soon hang them without a trial. Whatever happened about being innocent until proven guilty.