From Inside The Courtroom

Sky reporting may be detailed but the overall take isn't that good. I still think Brunty also has an agenda. ITN was very supportive and BBC much more neutral. Sky tended to emphasise anything negative, and, more crucially, leave out positive comments where they could easily have been put in.

Obviously, their minute-by-minute reporting is good.

Thanks again Maria and Rosie! I'm so glad I found this forum!

rosemary wrote:Rosie I think Maria meant Chimney Sweep? Maria your reporting was exactly what we needed...entertaining, very clear and informative and funny too. Heartfelt thanks!

BTW the more I read the more it occurs to me that one of the most fundamental differences in our cultures, i.e. Britain and Portugal is the concept of the individual´s perfect right to not only question the actions of their Police but to act for themselves in a situation that may call for it. I found the reference to the "McCanns´Fund" was very telling from one of the witnesses. He was bemused by it and highly suspicious of it. Why, he asked himself would they need it? For WHAT purpose??? The concept that they would HELP to further the investigation THEMSELVES was totally alien to him - after all that was Police Work! This is a classic example of the mindset of people who still live in a POLICE STATE. If the Police say it is over, the investigation is closed, then it is closed..no arguments......we the people, do not question their conclusion, we cannot question their authority. Opened my eyes.
That is how I saw it all.

Very apt. Can you imagine some ordinary person, perhaps on the fringes of society, being afraid to come forward with information? God knows what they may think might happen to them once they went to a Police Station. They could have finished up being fitted up.

Please God someone will come forward now.

Maria You have also scored a hit with your reports from over on PAF2 - they want to say thankyou! Wish you could replace the SKY twitter who is giving a very one sided view.

And also on JATYK Maria. It filled in the gaps. I can't wait for your account of today's proceedings.

I think we're all waiting eagerly for Maria's update on today's proceedings.

We are, we are. Poor Maria.

I went through your posts and felt very 'cosy'. I'm happy that my accounts, although incomplete and sometimes too light still do interest you and provide some additional information. Thank you all.

I was planning to write a similar report today, but it turned up that today was a very emotional day, so I decided to write two posts, being this one dedicated mostly to relationships.

In the morning, it actually was funny. Fiona came with Kate and Isabel. I was introduced to her and without warning Isabel said 'They want to know everything about you' and all of them laughed out loud. I was intrigued, but somewhat reluctantly I started 'I'm sixty,...' and Kate and Fiona laughed even more and said 'We don't want to know, we don't want to know'. I didn't get it, so I turned to Isabel and asked her why were they pulling my leg. She explained. It was the 'media circus' downstairs who were very curious about me and asked questions to ALL three of them trying to know who I was, thinking that I was british... (they said that I was portuguese and they didn't know me at all). The portuguese pink press even called the PR people yesterday, asking them who I was and if they could arrange for a press conference... We certainly had a very good laugh this morning!

Isabel invited me for lunch and that's when it started. I don't know how, they started talking about ages, and it turned out that I was the eldest. I think it was Isabel who said that they all should look at me and I said that I was no role model to anyone. That's when Kate, already in a mixed mood, said something like 'I think you'r good'. I noticed the sad tone and Fiona's worried look at her. But we were already late, so me, Isabel and her assistant rushed back to court, leaving them behind doing something on the computer. When Kate arrived at the courtroom, she had already aged again, she looked again very fragile.

About 4pm the judge made a break. I went to the toilet and when I was coming back I met Kate and Fiona by the elevator, preparing to leave to the airport. My heart suddenly became very heavy, I kissed Kate and Fiona, Kate said with very strangled voice 'I hope we meet again in better circumstances'. She was very close to tears, I was frozen. It only occured to me 'Come on' and I caressed her in the face and kissed her. I didn't dare hugging her, she would certainly break down. I almost run away, couldn't do anything else.

Dear Kate.

Aw bless you Maria your a very special person!!

This one I'll do it tomorrow morning. Sorry.

Yes, Maria. You are such a sweetheart. What a lovely human story you have told us.

It's clear for all of us - even without really seeing you - you're a warm, caring woman Maria.

Poor Maria, very distressing. But at least Kate knows that she has people on her side. I am so glad that you were there.

Maria

Thank you once again for sharing with us. Poor Kate, it must be almost too much to bear.

And now you are semi famous and sort after by the women's magazines. And this for being a kind, caring person who was willing to put herself out to show support to a couple who live an enduring nightmare.

Maria, you are a star. You do yourself, and the forum proud.

Ditto from me to Maria.
The forum is honoured to have you here.

I am sure it means more to Kate McCann than any of us know to have you go out of your way to show support Maria.

I think I'm going to cry.

Good night all.

Maria,

Its people like you who enable others to keep going and feel the warmth and support around them under the most stressful and traumatic situations.Your a lovely person with huge heart,a natural giver and that is why people have noticed you there,giving your support to kate and gerry..You have done so good keep it up maria,i wish i could join you out there.

Your family and friends should be proud of you to,they have one hell of a good person in their lives.

Aw, Maria, as I write this I have tears in my eyes - poor Kate - thank goodness she had you there. You wrote a very poignant article about Kate.

Hi Maria
You must have come away from your meeting with Kate with a heavy heart but one day, she will be whole again and we on here are all behind them in their fight for justice for Madeleine. Thank you for your reports and for the time you have given to covering the court case. I thank you for the bottom of my heart and only wish I could do more. I hope that the McCanns realise that they do have some support and after Kate's meeting with you I am sure they do.

PS I look forward to reading your report........no pressure! LOL

I rarely post here but I read marias accounts from the court and just had to post.

Maria, don't know you but you seem to be a wonderfully warm and caring person. I think showing support to the McCanns may have helped them an awful lot. Especially as you are Portuguese as Im sure they sometimes feel they don't have much support there.

You did just the right thing at just the right time and handled that situation perfectly...... Bless you Maria.


p.s. thanks for the translations from the court as well.

Yes indeed Maria. It was so comforting for us to hear that you were able to meet Kate and give her a kiss. Your warmth and caring nature comes through to us too reading your postings. I can see from today´s Sky interviews just how drawn and exhausted and how very frail Kate now looks. I think the only good thing to come out of Lisbon if there is anything at all positive to observe, is that the publicity, negative though it seems, is at least just that Publicity and this is exactly what they so desperately need. Even if God Forbid Amaral does drag it out for years (unthinkable I know) he is at the same time keeping Madeleine´s profile on centre stage throughout the world. this is for you my dear (60 indeed! and you obviously don´t look it!x)

Maria meant for the post above!

Well done Maria. Thank you my friend, for keeping us updated.

maria wrote:I went through your posts and felt very 'cosy'. I'm happy that my accounts, although incomplete and sometimes too light still do interest you and provide some additional information. Thank you all.

I was planning to write a similar report today, but it turned up that today was a very emotional day, so I decided to write two posts, being this one dedicated mostly to relationships.

In the morning, it actually was funny. Fiona came with Kate and Isabel. I was introduced to her and without warning Isabel said 'They want to know everything about you' and all of them laughed out loud. I was intrigued, but somewhat reluctantly I started 'I'm sixty,...' and Kate and Fiona laughed even more and said 'We don't want to know, we don't want to know'. I didn't get it, so I turned to Isabel and asked her why were they pulling my leg. She explained. It was the 'media circus' downstairs who were very curious about me and asked questions to ALL three of them trying to know who I was, thinking that I was british... (they said that I was portuguese and they didn't know me at all). The portuguese pink press even called the PR people yesterday, asking them who I was and if they could arrange for a press conference... We certainly had a very good laugh this morning!

Isabel invited me for lunch and that's when it started. I don't know how, they started talking about ages, and it turned out that I was the eldest. I think it was Isabel who said that they all should look at me and I said that I was no role model to anyone. That's when Kate, already in a mixed mood, said something like 'I think you'r good'. I noticed the sad tone and Fiona's worried look at her. But we were already late, so me, Isabel and her assistant rushed back to court, leaving them behind doing something on the computer. When Kate arrived at the courtroom, she had already aged again, she looked again very fragile.

About 4pm the judge made a break. I went to the toilet and when I was coming back I met Kate and Fiona by the elevator, preparing to leave to the airport. My heart suddenly became very heavy, I kissed Kate and Fiona, Kate said with very strangled voice 'I hope we meet again in better circumstances'. She was very close to tears, I was frozen. It only occured to me 'Come on' and I caressed her in the face and kissed her. I didn't dare hugging her, she would certainly break down. I almost run away, couldn't do anything else.

Dear Kate.

Maria what can I say? But a huge big thank you for so accurately portraying what the media and camera miss, that Kate McCann is fragile and emotional and needs to know where her daughter is, anyone that does not think this by now, simply has no heart at all.

Kate never even think not for one minute that you do not have the hearts and support of people on this forum, you do and we are here with you and Gerry 100% of the way, if in doubt just glance anywhere in any thread on this forum and the message is strong and it is clear.

Maria thank you for being there for Kate and Gerry and thank you for being there for all of us, telling us the truth behind the scenes, thank you.