The media had long been claiming the plan was based on an episode of the British TV program Shameless, which many understandably believe is reality TV - everyday life in every day Not So Great Britain - especially when it comes to the safety, welfare and prevention of abuse and neglect of children. A country described in The City Journal published by the Manhattan Institute, as "No Country for Young Children"
However, the same media have dropped that angle and now claim it was based on the tragic disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the little girl whose parents and hangers-on claim was abducted while left unsupervised every night of a family holiday in Portugal.
The media’s Madeleine McCann link is supported by police who investigated the Shannon Matthews case. Det Supt Andy Brennan, of West Yorkshire's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "Clearly the McCann case was still in everbody's mind. Madeleine McCann gave them the idea - the fund money. Shannon was chosen instead of her brother because she was a girl and more photogenic.”
Through a slick media campaign on a scale never seen before nor likely to be repeated, the McCanns have amassed a fortune for a fund based entirely on the premise of an abducted child - despite the total lack of any evidence to support that theory.
Not only have the much maligned Portuguese police been unable to produce evidence pointing to an abduction, the much publicised private detective agencies hired by the McCanns, (who almost appear to be hand picked for their lack of previous experience in missing persons cases) have also failed to find any link to a kidnapping - despite ultimately worthless paid testimonies from alleged witnesses who seem to appear from nowhere when the time is right and who vanish just as quickly.
The terms of the fund provide for financial assistance not only to Kate and Gerry McCann, but also family members - including those directly connected to the fund. So far the details of the fund have been left unscrutinised - apart from the revelation it was used to pay the mortgage on the McCann's luxury house - and of course the private detectives who have proved so inadequate, one wonders what the real agenda is behind their appointment to the Team McCann Media Circus.
This week it was revealed that the McCanns are to give a Christmas message to the nation, ala Queen Elizabeth. Unfortunately it wont be a case of "My husband and I" as the McCanns prefer not to take part in the appeal - in the same way they -
* preferred not to be involved in a police reconstruction of the night Madeleine allegedly went missing
* preferred not to answer 40 normal questions put to the mother by the police
* preferred not to stay in Portugal despite vowing to remain until the case was solved
* preferred not to return for the anniversary of Madeleine's "abduction" despite their fondness for "milestones"
* preferred not to actively search for their missing mite themselves - even at the beginning and the days immediately following Madeleine being reported missing. In fact they showed as much personal interest and involvement in the search as Karen Matthews displayed during the search for Shannon. While the media relish pointing out that Matthews went to buy beer and fags, the McCann's jogged and played tennis.
No doubt the new appeal will feature a call for donations - despite the McCanns financial comfort that enabled Kate to give up her job as a doctor. She wasn't the only member of the family who reportedly gave up their job once the fund was established.
Other families with missing children - children who were not left unattended while their parents went out drinking and dining with friends - a syndrome now known as "doing a McCann" - are not so fortunate. They do not have the benefit of a compliant media, invaluable address book, or high flying businessmen to back and bankroll a futile search. Nor is it likely that Gordon Brown has their mobile phone number, as another member of Clan McCann once proudly boasted.
In short, the McCanns are not short of money, not short of influential backers, not short of millionaire sponsors - they are just short of a daughter, something that despite their fondness for blaming everyone else for their plight, they are solely responsible for - an undisputable fact that they and their backers steadfastly fail to accept, admit or apologise for.
It is time for a review of the fund. After more than eighteen months there is still no evidence that justifies the soliciting of further donations to a fund established to search for an abducted toddler.
Clarence Mitchell spokesman for Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann, who increasingly sounds as though even he has difficulty believing his own spin, had this to say about Karen Matthews:“It’s beyond belief anyone could have sought to exploit poor Madeleine’s plight in this way."
An interesting statement from a man who is paid a hefty wage by the McCanns to defend the indefensible. A man who has forged a new career as a media guru on the speakers circuit as a result of at the very least, the total disregard for Madeleine's safety by her parents.
Perhaps the tragedy of Shannon Matthews will cause those who were innocently or knowingly blind to the McCann affair to take a closer look at not only what has happened since May 3, 2007 - but also a closer look at themselves.
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
