Damages Due Over McCann Stories

[Dante]

Four newspapers are to set to pay damages to the parents of Madeleine McCann, after settling a libel case, the BBC has learned.

The Daily and Sunday Express, along with the Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday are to pay a "substantial" sum and print front-page apologies.

Kate and Gerry McCann's lawyers said that some of the newspapers' articles were "grossly defamatory".

The couple say all the damages will be donated to the Find Madeleine fund.

The Daily Express is to carry a full front-page apology in Wednesday's paper, while the Star's apology will take over half its front-page.

The papers are expected to apologise for suggesting Kate and Gerry McCann were involved in their daughter's disappearance.

The action relates to more than a hundred stories across the four titles, including 42 printed in the Daily Express.

Under the terms of the settlement - at Kate and Gerry McCann's insistence - Express Newspapers' barrister will also read out an apology before a judge at the High Court on Wednesday.

The Express group has agreed to all the McCanns' requests. It is also paying all their costs.

The McCanns have promised that the damages will be paid into the "fighting fund" set up to pay for efforts to find their missing daughter.

'Trust and credibility'

Media commentator Roy Greenslade said that for two national newspapers to carry front-page apologies at the same time was "unprecedented".

"I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers," he said.

"I think when people realise that more than 100 stories have been complained about as being grossly defamatory, it will annihilate the Express' readers sense of trust and credibility in their newspaper."

Media lawyer Paul Gilbert from Finers Stephens Innocent said the courts encourage early settlement of defamation cases.

"Clearly the Express' lawyers felt this was a case they should settle without a high-profile trial - which it would be - and as a result have saved considerable costs," he said.

"It certainly is a warning sign to newspapers in the future, if they're going to speculate, they've got to be very careful about what they speculate about."

Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing, aged three, in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May last year.

BBC.NEWS (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7303801.stm)

[Rummy]

Is it terrible that I'm so fucking fed up with all this McCann shit? I wish they'd just go away, it's been nearly a year, I don't wanna keep hearing about it ALL the time. I don't wish for any parent to lose their child, but they did a fucking shit job of being parents leaving their children unattended, quit whining and make sure you never repeat your mistake.
As for Madeline, well, I do wish that she's safe and alive still and all, and that she'll be having a happy life, and ideally be reunited with her parents. As I said though, it's been nearly a year, just...shut up already.
Some people will say I have no compassion, but I'm simply gonna say that's not true, and I won't bother arguing over it.

[Gizmo]

I'm actually past caring about Madeleine by now. People go missing all the time, why is this one so special that the parents should be paraded all over the news every day?

[nightwolf]

I'm the same, to be honest it's either she's dead or her parents are scamming alot of people or both.

It needs to get to the point where if everyone else can handle finding their daughters without the press then why can't they..

[Hellfire]

I'm fucking tired of hearing about them..

[ShadowV7]

Nah it's not terrible for not caring. I've never cared to much about this, don't care about it now. Kids are kidnapped all the time but never get a mention, why is this so different? Though I never realised Madeline was missing for this long.

I still think the parents did something or know something else. They always looked so odd on TV, especially the mum. So emotionless.

[Tellyn]

Damages? They haven't been cleared yet.

[Dyson]

Wow, what used to be sadness has turned in to pure "fuck off"ness at the McCanns.

[Cube]

She wouldn't have been kidnapped if the parents weren't complete morons. Why should the papers have to give them money?

[gaggle64]

You mean the newpapers have been lying to blow up an otherwise pointless and mundane story? Who'd have thunk it?

[Shino]

I thought they wanted the attention.

[Roostophe]

Are there any people who still care nowadays? I remember reading in the papers over Christmas letters people had sent in saying "I couldn't enjoy Christmas knowing that Little Maddy still hadn't been found. My thoughts are with the family at this festive time." I couldn't believe what I was reading!

Fuck! :nono:

[Cube]

Still, at least they're wasting the money be pouring it into a totally useless fund.

[Daft]

Sensationalism like this is part of the reason I don't bother with the papers anymore.

[Tellyn]

She wouldn't have been kidnapped if the parents weren't complete morons. Why should the papers have to give them money?

Precisely! Let's leave three children who are all under the age of 5 in a hotel room in a foreign country whilst we go out and get pissed!

[mcj metroid]

i said this since the first thread here...the parents did it...and fuck off im still of hearing it

[Chris the great]

the papers once say what im thinking and it gets then sued.


for the record, shes dead. like my interest in the story.


the parents may not have actualy killed her, but there actions as good as signed her death warrent.

[Bren]

It needs to get to the point where if everyone else can handle finding their daughters without the press then why can't they..

If the newspapers were behind you trying to find your kid, i bet you'd keep using it till you couldnt anymore. Theyre just being parents, let em keep media attention, it all helps with them hopefully finding madeline.

Just ignore it in the papers, let em look for her lol

She wouldn't have been kidnapped if the parents weren't complete morons. Why should the papers have to give them money?

Why should the parents be blamed for it, they made a mistake, lots of people do. The papers are giving money to help the fund, which will most probably start to be put to find other children i reckon.

Its better money spent on funding the cause, than funding the papers to print more storys on big brother and which new tattoo david beckham has.

Im not keeping my eye on this or anything, iv ignored it mostly lol. But people shouldnt be calling it pointless.

[EEVILMURRAY]

Is it terrible that I'm so fucking fed up with all this McCann shit?
I just have to wonder how the McCanns feel when it was revealed Shannon Matthews was found quicker.

[Stefkov]

They're long over their 15 minutes of fame.
A white family can do this, but get a story of a black kid being nabbed. Bet there won't be any.
Kids go missing every day it's only those that think their kid is even more special than the rest they make up a little story for the media to get their attention on it.
Why the fuck did you leave your kids in a room alone you idiots. In the end it's their fault.

[The fish]

Sensationalism like this is part of the reason I don't bother with the papers anymore.

Read Private Eye, fool! You'd like it! :awesome:

I am beyond caring about Maddy McCann. She's almost definitly dead. So are most of the other children who disappear around the world and are never found.

[Esequiel]

Why should the parents be blamed for it, they made a mistake, lots of people do.

Im a parent, theres no way id leave my kids unattended ANYWHERE let alone abroad. Its just plain fucking dumb.

A white family can do this, but get a story of a black kid being nabbed. Bet there won't be any.

Thats not true and its quite racist. I agree with everything else you say though.

At the end of the day the reason this gets so much coverage is because the Mcanns are upper class people. If it was an ordinary working class family they would have had there children taken off them by now and be locked up.

I feel for the family, it must be really hard. But they bought it on themselves and for the sake of Madeline if she was kidnapped by p**** then she would be better off dead.

[Charlie]

I'm actually past caring about Madeleine by now. People go missing all the time, why is this one so special that the parents should be paraded all over the news every day?

Because they're white, middle class doctors.

[Brian Mcoy]

Mcoys son.

[MoogleViper]

Because they're white, middle class doctors.

And she was a young blonde girl.



To be honest going to the papers has killed her. If a criminal has taken her he would be too scared to send a ransom demand.

[martinist]

Christ, this is the Diana funeral all over again. I'm sick of hearing this pointless news every day, the girl is probebly dead in a ditch somewhere. Also with all this media coverage the guy would have killed her long ago.

[Iun]

It's understandable the media have turned on them. I feel terrible for them, but at the same time, no matter how close they were, the child was left unattended and they should take the blame for it.

[Cube]

And another thing...

If it wasn't for the papers the search would probably have been half the size it was.

[Kurtle Squad]

I'm actually past caring about Madeleine by now. People go missing all the time, why is this one so special that the parents should be paraded all over the news every day?
According to the BBC, it's because it "touched" people, or whatever they said, but that's bullshit. We're just bombarded with crap constantly.



I still think the parents did something or know something else. They always looked so odd on TV, especially the mum. So emotionless.
Yeah...I agree.


Damages? They haven't been cleared yet.
Nope....But the courts will always go the wrong way when it comes to "damages".
As far as I'm aware, the papers said nothing wrong, not that I read them. All I'm aware of is the papers saying what everyone was thinking and suspecting etc....They never said "The Mcanns did it", but "Did they do it?"; there's a big difference.


She wouldn't have been kidnapped if the parents weren't complete morons. Why should the papers have to give them money?
Exactly.


Christ, this is the Diana funeral all over again. I'm sick of hearing this pointless news every day, the girl is probebly dead in a ditch somewhere. Also with all this media coverage the guy would have killed her long ago.
Yeah....I reckon now there'll be an inquest 10 years later where a looney parent (Mcanns) blames another party randomly (The papers) for the kidnapping/death of Madeliene and waste lots of tax money.;)

Why should the parents be blamed for it, they made a mistake, lots of people do.
Let's hope you never have kids.


A white family can do this, but get a story of a black kid being nabbed. Bet there won't be any.
Don't be a racist ****. I prefer the KKK to people that say things like that.

[Bren]

the child was left unattended and they should take the blame for it.

Why? They didnt steal the kid, why should they be blamed? Everyone has just turned this into a big conspiracy type event, where the parents are too blame, based on the knowledge that the papers have told you.

We should be blaming the fucker who robbed her, not them.

[Cube]

Why? They didnt steal the kid, why should they be blamed? Everyone has just turned this into a big conspiracy type event, where the parents are too blame, based on the knowledge that the papers have told you.

In most similar incidents the parents are punished.

[Chris the great]

Why? They didnt steal the kid, why should they be blamed? Everyone has just turned this into a big conspiracy type event, where the parents are too blame, based on the knowledge that the papers have told you.

We should be blaming the fucker who robbed her, not them.


well, they left children of what, 4 and 2 by them selves? how retarded can you get?

its a crime to leave kids that young alone, and its a crime for a reason. as parents they are honour bound to protect there children. instead they go out drinking with friends, leaving children who were to young to even go to school alone to fend for them selves.

its as good as there fault maddie was taken. if you go on holiday with a child, you have to be prepaired to stay in with them, its called parental responsibility.

[ReZourceman]

Christ, all this fuss. I almost wish I didn't kidnap her now.

[MoogleViper]

Christ, all this fuss. I almost wish I didn't kidnap her now.

Yeah but the sex was good though wasn't it?









Too far?

[ReZourceman]

Yeah but the sex was good though wasn't it?









Too far?

No I didn't get that far.

[MoogleViper]

No I didn't get that far.

Did the media attention make it too risky?

[ReZourceman]

Did the media attention make it too risky?

If anything it made it better. I could watch TV and she'd be on....Okay this is too far.

[EEVILMURRAY]

No, he nipped into the gents and realised he didn't have two £1 coins for the Durex machine.

[Tellyn]

Why? They didnt steal the kid, why should they be blamed? Everyone has just turned this into a big conspiracy type event, where the parents are too blame, based on the knowledge that the papers have told you.

We should be blaming the fucker who robbed her, not them.

As I said before, they left three children under the age of 5 in a foreign hotel room, alone and without supervision, whilst the parents went out and got pissed. I went on holiday as a kid, my parents always ate with me at an earlier time or sometimes cooked in the apartment. The McCann's are terrible parents and it is their own fault that their daughter disappeared, no matter what the outcome of the case may be.

[ReZourceman]

I agree 100% with you Tellyn.

Idiocy is rewarded nowadays apparently.

[Shino]

They left the window open! The dude might have gone there just to rob and saw the kids there, one with the ability to talk and tell everyone he was there.

[Chris the great]

tellyn.

tellyn it like it is!


i may have to awward him my sense talk award for the month.

[Stefkov]

Why should the parents be blamed for it, they made a mistake, lots of people do.

Im a parent, theres no way id leave my kids unattended ANYWHERE let alone abroad. Its just plain fucking dumb.

A white family can do this, but get a story of a black kid being nabbed. Bet there won't be any.

Thats not true and its quite racist. I agree with everything else you say though.

At the end of the day the reason this gets so much coverage is because the Mcanns are upper class people. If it was an ordinary working class family they would have had there children taken off them by now and be locked up.

I feel for the family, it must be really hard. But they bought it on themselves and for the sake of Madeline if she was kidnapped by p**** then she would be better off dead.
It may be racist but it's the truth. You go to the papers now or whenever and try to find an article about a black kid being stolen. You'll find articles of them being killed, that Jesse James lad, but being kidnapped..no.
The McCanns are white, that is why they can get their story in the papers.

[Chris the great]

It may be racist but it's the truth. You go to the papers now or whenever and try to find an article about a black kid being stolen. You'll find articles of them being killed, that Jesse James lad, but being kidnapped..no.
The McCanns are white, that is why they can get their story in the papers.


well, the british press reports from britan. there are simply relativly few black children in the countrythe news cant report cases that dont occur. im not saying black kids dont go missing. im simply saying that far more white kids go missing, and the news reflects this. the population of britan is 90% white or there aboouts, so 9/10 kidnappings should logicaly be white kids.

for the record, i have recently seen asian kids gone missing reported in the news, so it isnt just a white bias.

i wont argue a level of racism in the press, but i cant attribute this to it. i think the papers like black people these days any way.

[MoogleViper]

Besides being a young, cute girl will help you to get into the papers.

[Chris the great]

Besides being a young, cute girl will help you to get into the papers.

and the peados

[Stefkov]

well, the british press reports from britan. there are simply relativly few black children in the countrythe news cant report cases that dont occur. im not saying black kids dont go missing. im simply saying that far more white kids go missing, and the news reflects this. the population of britan is 90% white or there aboouts, so 9/10 kidnappings should logicaly be white kids.

for the record, i have recently seen asian kids gone missing reported in the news, so it isnt just a white bias.

i wont argue a level of racism in the press, but i cant attribute this to it. i think the papers like black people these days any way.
I suppose you're right. I'm just no good at arguing points in text.

[MoogleViper]

and the peados

That's more about how good at it you are. I've never been in the newspaper.

[Raining_again]

A relative of one of my good friends went over to a resort close to the one this girl was kidnapped in. Apparently there was people hiding...under..the..beds. A whole pile of their stuff was stolen.

How creepy.

[Kirkatronics]

This has been in the news too long now, theres been alot more important things.
You cant blame the parents 100% for her being kidnapped, its the kidnappers fault more than anyones.
Maybe they are the same person, but we dont know.

[ReZourceman]

its the kidnappers fault more than anyones.

This might be the post of the century. :bowdown:

[Chris the great]

indeed, that kidnapper gets most of the blaim. the raskle.