Kate's Mates

'Our friend Kate McCann, the perfect mum,' two of her closest friends speak out
By LAURA COLLINS

Here is an article from the Daily Mail which contains lots of photographs(as usual I suppose they won't be copied across!!!!!) worth a look for the snaps IMO. 16th August 2007


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-482027/Our-friend-Kate-McCann-perfect-mum-closest-friends-speak-out.html



'Our friend Kate McCann, the perfect mum,' two of her closest friends speak out
By LAURA COLLINS
Last updated at 18:09 16 September 2007

Calm, laid-back, loving and happy. Away from the headlines and the horrors, this is how Kate McCann's friends knew her to be with her children.
Yesterday, at the end of a week in which Kate has been described as 'struggling' to cope with three 'hysterical' children and short-tempered with Madeleine, two of her oldest friends, Linda McQueen and Nicky Gill, have spoken out in her defence - and told of her heartbreak and devastation.
Nicky said: "The things that have been said are unfair and hurtful. It's frustrating for Kate and Gerry that anything is taking the focus away from Madeleine and away from the search for her.
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"At the bottom of all this, Kate is a mother who has lost her daughter and she needs all the help she can get. Kate is a warm, loving, loyal friend.
"We're her friends. We'll do whatever it takes. We'll continue to support and help right to the end."
The 39-year-old personal trainer, who lives in the Liverpool suburb of Childwall, has known Kate since they met at the age of six on their first day of school.
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"If anybody was meant to have three children under the age of three, it was Kate," she said. "She's so cool, calm and laidback. I never saw her run ragged once. She was just so happy."
Nicky also defended Gerry, who had been described as 'absent' when it came to child care. She said: "Gerry is a fabulous dad. He's a working father but very hands-on. He's like a fourth kid, rolling around with them in a very rough-and-tumble way, and with a fabulous sense of humour.
"He and Kate balance each other really well. They have a very special relationship."
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Linda McQueen, a 45-year-old teacher from Formby, Merseyside, has also known Kate since they were children. She said: "The family had a great routine - their mealtimes, bedtimes and bathtimes in particular were great fun.
"We holidayed with them as part of a big group earlier in the year. It was just lovely."
Having a large family was, Linda explained, something of which Kate always dreamed. "They were up and down about whether they could have children and then they went through IVF so Madeleine, all of the children, was a dream come true."
Nicky added: "It seems so cruel that this happened to them just when they had all they wanted."
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Both women have been in close contact with Kate and Gerry since Madeleine disappeared from their villa in Praia da Luz on May 3. Yesterday Linda recalled how she had spoken to Kate at about 2am on the night Madeleine vanished.
"She just said, 'Somebody's taken Madeleine, somebody's taken Madeleine.' She sounded shocked and frantic and was just trying to get everything up and running to find her. It was just awful. This cold, icy feeling came over you."
Nicky spoke to Kate the next day, by which time "she was exhausted, physically and emotionally".
The McCanns have been criticised by some for a 'too slick' publicity campaign to try to find their daughter.
But Linda said: "Kate and Gerry were so traumatised that they went into a cocoon in the first couple of days. But all the advice they were being given was, 'Get Madeleine's face out there.' So that's what they did. They will do whatever it takes to find her."
Nicky said: "I think Kate has done extremely well. It's horrendous. She is the kindest, most caring person. But the frustration is that every day spent talking about Kate and Gerry is another not finding Madeleine."
Linda added: "They're an amazing couple. They have their vulnerable times and their dark moments.
"But Kate can't let Madeleine down and we'll get through it.
"I think it's only a small minority who are critical of Kate. The rest are sticking with us and keeping Madeleine in their prayers.
"We need to refocus on Madeleine. That's the most important thing to Kate - to get the focus back on Madeleine."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-482027/Our-friend-Kate-McCann-perfect-mum-closest-friends-speak-out.html#ixzz3bS6HIted
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Straight from the pages of Hello magazine by the sound of it - totally unrealistic and unbelievable.

It was difficult to steel myself to get past the headline about Kate the perfect mother. 

The quote from Linda McQueen about bathtimes being such fun has very unpleasant connotations thanks to another McCann crony.

LM also mentions that she went on an earlier holiday as part of a large group - that must be the Donegal trip which is in itself very weird and full of contradictions.

There is no doubt in my mind that all the friends were coached in what to say.

Given there is so much doubt over whether the Donegal trip happened, I would bet those flowery testimonials are completely rehearsed.

Resistor wrote:I ran it through a plagiarism checker, of the type used in schools, colleges, universities and publishers.

Wow! A plagiarism checker, brilliant!

I'm willing to bet that the jemmied shutters story would score even higher.

It's just all blatant codswallop reading through any statements these friends have done. 

Do their friends honestly believe all the nonsense they have been told. Especially after all this time.

I think not but it's amazing that nobody has really stood up and swung away from the script.

Gagged, threatened, sued I guess if they do.

It really is bizarre this McNonsense business.

Here's a piece from a lengthy CNN broadcast around the time the K&G were made arguidos,the "mates" are Linda McQueen and Nikki Gill. The interview is part of a lengthier broadcast which can be found here.......

http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0710/08/ng.01.html


RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before Madeleine McCann went missing, her family lived a quiet, ordinary life here, about 2 1/2 hours north of London. We came here to the village of Rothley, England, to learn more about Madeleine McCann`s parents. We wanted to know what life was like for them before they started making headlines around the world, before British celebrities started pleading for the safe return of their daughter, before they met with the pope.

We came here to ask a very simple question: What can you tell us about Kate and Gerry McCann?

NICKY GILL, KATE MCCANN`S BEST FRIEND: They`re extremely good for each other. They bounce off each other. They`re excellent parents. They`ve formed a really good family unit. They balance each other really well, actually. They`re the two sides of a coin. They really are.

KAYE: Nicky Gill and Linda McQueen grew up with Kate McCann. Nikki is her best friend.

What is it that you think that people should know about Kate and Gerry McCann?

GILL: For me, it`s that the two special people who love the children dearly. They would not harm a single hair on their heads. They just want them back.

KAYE: Both women say Kate wanted five children but needed in-vitro fertilization.

GILL: Whatever they needed to do, they were prepared to go the whole way to have a baby and to have a family. And it was just crucial to them.

KAYE (voice-over): Much of the storm around this story began when tabloid newspapers published what they say are bits and pieces of Kate`s diary, painting a very different picture of Kate. CNN has not independently confirmed these reports. The papers say Kate was a frustrated mother who described her children as "hysterical," "hyperactive," "difficult to control," adding Madeleine`s excessive energy "exhausts" her.

(on screen): Was Kate overwhelmed by the children, as this report about the diary suggests?

LINDA MCQUEEN, FRIEND OF THE MCCANN FAMILY: Overwhelmed by the children? No.

GILL: No. She just loves the children. And like I said before, she`s a mom that goes and takes it all in stride. She`s not -- to listen to her with them, she`s so calm and, "Yes, it`s fine." There`s no air of anything negative about her.

KAYE (voice-over): "Flash," a Portuguese magazine, says Kate McCann told them the first six months of Maddy`s life were very difficult. "She cried practically for 18 hours a day. I had to permanently carry her around."

The magazine reports, after the twins were born, Kate says Madeleine started to demand lots of attention. "She`d run up and down screaming in the background shouting for my attention." A spokesperson for the McCanns confirms Kate was interviewed by the magazine, but denies she complained about Madeleine being colicky or demanding attention.

(on screen): Are Kate and Gerry McCann negligent when it comes to their children?

MCQUEEN: Not at all. No. Not at all. It couldn`t be further from the truth. It really couldn`t. They`re really strong, caring parents.

KAYE: Kate and Gerry met studying medicine in Glasgow, where Gerry grew up. When Kate took a job in New Zealand, Gerry followed.

MCQUEEN: I think he went to the pub one night and said, "I`ve met the girl of my dreams."

KAYE: The couple married in Kate`s hometown of Liverpool at this church in 1998. In 2003, Madeleine was born. Then came the twins. The family settled in Rothley. Kate worked part-time as a general practitioner so she could be home more.

DR. DOUG SKEHAN, GERRY MCCANN`S BOSS: One has to say they have everything that you would want for, and suddenly everything has turned into a nightmare.

KAYE: Madeleine`s great uncle says this is not the first time the couple has dealt with hard times. Both come from working-class families.

BRIAN KENNEDY, MADELEINE`S GREAT UNCLE: Sometimes people automatically assume, because you have two doctors, they must be quite well-off and wealthy. It`s been a long struggle for them to get where they are now. And just as life was looking good, this sort of thing happens.

KAYE: Their home in Rothley is a fortress now. Police block the street. Reporters wait on their every move. All Kate and Gerry want, those closest to them say, is for the focus to return to finding Madeleine.

GILL: They are heartbroken. Their little girl is gone, and we`ve still got no answers as to where she is.

KAYE: No answers as to what happened to her either, until somebody starts talking.

Randi Kaye, CNN, Rothley, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

I don't think that's the same Randi Kaye that I used to know..

When was the last time Nicky and Linda went on record saying such glowing stuff about the McParents.. 

Were they paid to say such guff.

Probably imo.

Nikki flies out to Portugal twice at Kate's behest,arriving Sunday and leaving on 12 th May after only 6 full days. She visits again 26th until 29th June for 3days. Here is her rogatory statement 07/05/2008


http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/NICKY_GILL.htm


Witness statement of Nicky Toni Gill (Kate's friend) 2008.05.07

Statement by: Nicky Toni GILL
Age if under 18 years old :
Occupation: Fitness Instructor

This statement (consisting of 3 pages and signed by me) is true and in accordance with my understanding.

Date: 07 May 2008
Signature ________________________________________

I am the person referred to above, resident at the address previously provided to the Leicestershire police. I was questioned in relation to my friendship with the McCanns and the Healy family as well as about my three visits to Portugal during the summer of 2007. I have known Kate since the first day of primary school 36 years ago when we both lived in Anfield, in the Liverpool area. Since that day we have maintained our friendship during school and adult age. Kate met Gerry when he would visit the university almost 13 to 14 years ago and they married 10 years ago. I met Gerry 1 year before they married, when they moved to New Zealand. They have three children, Madeleine aged five and the twins Sean and Amelie, aged three.

Before Madeleines disappearance last year, Martin and I would see Kate, Gerry and the family several times a year when they came to visit Kates parents or sometimes when we went to Leicestershire. We would regularly talk on the phone or send messages. Kate is the godmother to my youngest son, Harry.

I knew that they were going on holiday to Portugal and I talked to Kate about how difficult it would be with three small children. She was hopeful that all would go well, as all of the members of the group also had small children, and that they would all be in the same boat.

Early on the morning of Friday, 4th May 2007 Kates mother phoned my mother who, in turn, phoned me. My mother told me that Madeleine had disappeared and that she had been abducted. Nobody knew the full facts. I immediately sent a text message to Kate, without really knowing what to say. Kate asked me to pray.

On the following night at about midnight, Kate contacted me by phone, she was devastated and appeared lost. She said that judging from the action of the local police, one would think that she "had lost a dog". Her situation was one of desperation. I then asked her by means of text message whether she wanted me to go over and join them, to which she responded yes. She then told me that another friend, Michelle Thompson, was also going. Michelle and I got in touch with each other and agreed to travel together.

During the following 24 hours we kept in contact by means of text messages, but I spoke with Gerry on Saturday morning and he seemed to me to be in a nervous emotional state. He asked me to bring them some warmer clothes.

Michelle and I travelled from Liverpool directly to Faro early on Sunday morning. We were met at the airport by representatives from Mark Warner who took us to the Ocean Club resort. We stayed in an apartment on the top floor of the same block where Kate and Gerry were staying. We met up with Kate and Gerry at midday the same day. Kates appearance was terrible, she looked exhausted and worn out. They were talking to Alan, a psychologist provided by Mark Warner.

I looked out of the terrace window of the apartment and expected to the place full of police, but there was nobody, just a helicopter flying over.
.

Sometime later Gerry and Kate went to fetch the twins from the creche, trying to maintain the most normal routine possible. During the time we were there, we tried to help out in we could and maintain some normality for the twins.

On Monday morning, Fiona Payne knocked on our door and told us that there would be a search organised by a resident, Dave, we agreed to join the search and went with about 10 other people in a mini bus. We spent the morning searching grounds and areas of difficult access surrounding the resort, but I dont know where the exact location was. There was no police involvement in these searches, but I think that Dave was in contact with the local police. Later that day Kate phoned to ask whether Michelle and I could help look after the twins. We entertained the children between the two of us that afternoon.

On Tuesday midmorning I was in the supermarket with Michael Wright when a man entered and asked loudly where GMTV was. The place was full of people from the press. I spotted him later sitting in the bar with GMTV reporters, but I didnt see him again during the rest of my stay in Portugal. I looked at him but I did not know who he was. It was only upon my return to England that I discovered from the news that the man was Robert Murat.

I returned home on the following Saturday, 12th May 2007. Following my return I maintained almost daily contact with Kate by means of text messages and sometimes by phone. When we contacted each other I tried to be as positive as possible and raise her morale. I had told Kate that if it was necessary for us to return to Portugal, she only had to ask. At the end of June I think Sandy and Trish had to return to their home to deal with some matters and Kate phoned me to ask whether I could help them during their absence. Another friend, Linda McQueen and I travelled together on 26th June and returned on 29th June. We stayed in the apartment that Sandy and Trish had occupied. Once again we were there to provide as much positive support as possible.

My other trip to Portugal was in August, but I cannot remember the exact date. At that time Kate and Gerry had left the Ocean Club and had rented a villa. I travelled alone and Gerry came to pick me up from the airport in a hire car, also alone. I stayed with them in the villa and once again helped take care of the twins when they had meetings, etc and I offered them the best emotional support that I could.

As regards the accommodation during my visits, I never noticed anything strange in any of the places.

With regard to the contact I had with the couple, I would say that I saw Kate and Gerry every day in the morning and at the end of the afternoon and if they were not in meetings we would be together.
.
With regard to their behaviour, I do not understand how they managed to keep functioning, given the circumstances, how they managed to keep going. Kate was in a very unstable emotional state. Gerry appeared to be more concentrated on what needed to be done but he also had his moments of greater depression.

With regard to the car hired by Kate and Gerry, it was a Renault Scenic, but I think that they only had it when I travelled to Portugal for the last time. I would be transported in the car daily, given that the villa was located outside of the resort. There was nothing strange about the car, I never noticed any unusual odour. There was no way in which Kate and Gerry could have hidden Madeleine and then have transported her body to another place. They were never alone and had the worlds press literally camped at their door.

Kate and Gerry never placed the children at risk and I know that they adored Madeleine and the twins, because they both very much wanted to have children. They both loved their children, Madeleine meant everything to Kate and in my opinion they are both excellent parents, totally devoted to their children.

This statement was made by me and is truthful in accordance with my understanding.

The McCanns are users, they don't have real friends.

Real friends don't expect you to risk prison time by lying for them.

I know this thread is titled "Kate's Mates" but there is a noticeable omission from the witness statements, tv interviews etc. - Gerry's mates.

Where are Gerry's childhood friends? Why aren't they giving statements to say that Madeleine meant everything to Gerry? Come to think of it, why do Kate's pals insist that Madeleine meant everything to Kate but don't say the same about Gerry?

Does anyone know who Aunty Claire is? I'm presuming she is a friend rather than an actual aunty. There is a home video, taken by GM before Christmas and Madeleine appears to be helping put wrapped presents into a sack . Gerry asks Madeleine, "Who's that for?" Madeleine replied ti it's for Aunty Claire. He asks if they are going to post it, Madeleine says no and then KM says, " We are! " Madeleine says, "I've written a letter." Cannot find anyone connected to the McCanns called Claire but she was obviously someone important enough for Madeleine to write to at Christmas. Is she one of Kate's mates?

Seeing as the latest news has put several names of guests staying at the Ocean Club that week above the parapet (Totmans and Weinbergers for instance) it is interesting to see who the McCanns apparently wanted to be interviewed by police in the early days of the investigation.

See the Verdi post on 07.04.17 at 0.32:

'Comprehensive list of people that the McCanns requestted to be interviewed by rogatory and the stated reason for each group.'

I have no idea as to the authenticity or accuracy of this. However many of the names are indeed very familiar. (I think Dan Smith might be a mistake and might be referring to tennis coach Dan Stuk? He is in group 2 which is a list of individual customers and employees of Ocean Club who saw the behaviour of Kate and Gerry on the day of Madeleine's disappearance.)

https://jillhavern.forumotion.net/t13879-assuming-madeleine-died-how-do-we-know-one-of-the-other-little-girls-belonging-to-one-of-the-group-wasn-t-paraded-as-madeleine