Official Madeleine McCann Facebook page and website news

Andrew wrote:Yeah just a completely blank page for me as well.

Doesn't it usually say something though if a website has been taken down... Some error message at least...

It's not running on Windows XP is it?

If you use the numeric IP address you get this....

AndyB wrote:If you use the numeric IP address you get this....

I always like to leave a few intriguing extra browser tabs open when I take a screenshot.

So was it something to do with not renewing the domain then?

So the 'Find Madeleine' site has gone and never to be seen again then?

unreorganised wrote:

AndyB wrote:If you use the numeric IP address you get this....

I always like to leave a few intriguing extra browser tabs open when I take a screenshot.

Andrew wrote:So was it something to do with not renewing the domain then?

So the 'Find Madeleine' site has gone and never to be seen again then?

It's there Andrew. Just been on it.

chirpyinsect wrote:

Andrew wrote:So was it something to do with not renewing the domain then?

So the 'Find Madeleine' site has gone and never to be seen again then?

It's there Andrew. Just been on it.

Yes, it appears to be back again

Sorry admin I didn't know where to put this


https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4201196/madeleine-mccanns-parents-thank-supporters-for-continuing-to-be-on-our-side-as-they-wait-to-see-if-investigation-will-get-cash-boost/

Madeleine McCann webpage under fire over free speech and charity status claims


By Mark Saunokonoko
11:13am Aug 28, 2017





The official Find Madeleine McCann Facebook page has been criticised over controversial rules that appear to shut down the right to free speech.

Members of the public have also accused the McCann Facebook page of misleadingly proclaiming it is an official charity, instead of being correctly categorised as a limited liability company.

British girl Madeleine is still missing after mysteriously vanishing from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal more than ten years ago, in May 2007.



Those people who ask questions or "analyse the investigation" on the Find Madeleine Facebook page, operated by a family friend, will be banned, according to a post titled 'Rules of the Road'.

Facebook users will also be immediately ejected from the group if they attempt to debate parenting decisions about when it is appropriate to use babysitting services.


"Please don't post your opinion on leaving children alone. Doing so will result in you being banned. No questions asked," the post states in large red font.
"This is our page and we ultimately have the say on the content and tone ... anyone criticising Madeleine or her family in any way, will be banned."

Doctors Kate and Gerry McCann claimed somebody entered their two-bedroom unit while they were eating tapas with friends at a nearby resort restaurant and abducted Madeleine while she slept next to her younger brother and sister.
The lead detective on arguably the world's highest profile missing persons' case later wrote a book theorising Maddie died in an accident and her parents faked an abduction and disposed of her body.
Parents Kate and Gerry have always steadfastly denied any wrongdoing in the disappearance of their daughter, and Portugal's detectives shelved the case in 2008.
In a huge outpouring of sympathy and support following the alleged abduction, it was estimated almost $6.5m was donated to the official Find Madeleine Fund.
However, despite best practice, the fund was never set up as a registered charity and is in fact a limited liability company.




Last week, after sustained pressure, the Find Madeleine Facebook page quietly changed its official status from a "charity" to "community".
A key difference between a charity and limited liability company is the level of detail it is required by law to publically divulge each year.
Since its inception in 2007, the official fund, Leave No Stone Unturned Ltd, has only ever published the bare minimum of detail over how it has spent the millions of dollars donated by the public.
The Find Madeleine website claims because the organisation is currently focused on searching for one child only, Madeleine McCann, it cannot register as a charity.
Last week it was reported Operation Grange, led by London Metropolitan detectives, will next month request further funding from the UK government to continue the search for Madeleine.
Funding is due to expire in September, after almost $18m has so far been spent on an investigation that has to date yielded nothing.




In May, nine.com.au reported Scotland Yard's six-year investigation into Madeleine's disappearance was a poisoned chalice laced with critical errors because of a high level agenda to not interrogate the child's parents.

US criminal profiler Pat Brown has also been heavily critical of Operation Grange.

"What Scotland Yard was doing was not a proper investigation," Brown earlier told nine.com.au.

"Scotland Yard went in saying the McCanns are not suspects, and that [the disappearance of Maddie] is an abduction. There is absolutely no way you should have entered an investigation saying that.

"They spent a tremendous amount of time following the most ridiculous leads ever. It was like watching a massive charade."



http://www.9news.com.au/world/2017/08/28/11/13/madeleine-mccann-webpage-under-fire-over-free-speech-and-charity-status-claims

Mainstream media in Australia. Excellent! I wonder if the UK MSM will have the courage to reprint this!

I've just seen this bit at the end.

"Nine News podcast exploring Madeleine McCann case by Mark Saunokonoko coming soon".

That sounds promising.

Let's not get our hopes up just yet! How many times have things looked promising before? Mark Saunokonoko may not have had the McCann spell placed on him yet....

No, I certainly won't be counting my chickens yet!

Presumably though, if a programme appeared outside the U K, the McCanns would have difficulty in taking action about it, thinking of Pat Brown's failed attempts to sue Channel 7 in Australia for the hatchet job that was done on her.

Well I don't believe the M's have had the funds to sue anyone else after GA for a long time but don't understand why the rest of the world or at least the big English speaking ones haven't had their investigative journos on the case. A group in America (the most sue happy place on earth) did the JonBenet Ramsey on prime time TV and that family are pretty damn rich and have high up backing.

So what entity/Government has scared off even these overseas journos on this pretty big story that could make them run a mile? I highly doubt it the McCanns themselves they are scared of....

The US may be litigation happy but they have a constitution that promises free speech. We have neither a constitution nor the right to free speech.

What we do have is a set of solicitors who have made a fortune by persuading some High Court judges that free speech is a bad thing, it makes you wonder why some judges are so afraid of free speech, and whether they, too, have ever needed the services of such a solicitor.

Official Madeleine McCann website 'barraged with hate' by sick online trolls

THE official website set up to help find Madeleine McCann has been "barraged with hate".

By Jerry Lawton  /   Published 5th October 2017


The digital coordinator of the site – a close friend of the missing youngster's parents Kate and Gerry – has reported the abuse to US investigators probing "hate speech on Facebook".
The move comes after Brit police were granted an extra £154,000 by the Home Office to continue their search for Madeleine who vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007 aged three.
The Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange inquiry has cost taxpayers £12million since it was launched six years ago.
The decision to continue the search for at least another six months sparked widespread cricitism on social media.

The Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page now includes a link to an investigation by US news website ProPublica into trolling.
The McCanns' coordinator wrote: "We've been barraged with hate via Facebook and are sure others have too.
"Help ProPublica investigate hate speech on Facebook.''
Opinions on "leaving children alone" have already been banned from the site

Madeleine vanished from the apartment while her parents dined with pals in a nearby tapas bar.
Visitors to the webpage were warned: "This is not a place for you to post your negative opinions about the McCann family.
"We are not a debate page nor a place to analyse the investigation.
"This is a support and information page for Madeleine’s family and the Official Find Madeleine Campaign

The page urged visitors 'let’s keep the page positive', adding: "PLEASE do not feed trolls. Trolls feed on havoc and causing chaos.
"If we do not feed them, they will starve for attention and hopefully spread their hate someplace else.
"Do not ask questions about the investigation.''

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/650130/Official-Madeleine-McCann-website-barraged-hate-trolls-facebook

This is just more regurgitation of an old story. I've merged an earlier topic with this one.

Article by Tracy Kandhola

8th October 2017, 1:29 pm

Updated: 8th October 2017, 5:25 pm


CAMPAIGN OF HATE Madeleine McCann’s parents bombarded with hate mail from trolls after being given extra cash in £12M search for their missing daughter

The abusive messages come after Kate and Gerry McCann received an extra £154,000 to keep the investigation alive

THE PARENTS of Madeleine McCann have been bombarded with hate mail from trolls in the wake of police being given extra cash to continue the search for their daughter.

The official website set up to find Maddie, endorsed by Kate and Gerry, posted earlier this week: “We’ve been barraged with hate via Facebook.”


Maddie’ parents begged trolls to stop plaguing them with vile abuse only two months ago saying it was “so awful and upsetting.”

It subsided but flared up just days after the Home Office announced it was handing Scotland Yard an additional £154,000 to keep the hunt for the missing youngster going for the next six months.

A family friend today told The Sun Online: “Kate and Gerry are angry and upset that people continue to write false and malicious things against them.

"Every time a positive story appears the trolls kick in with even more abuse. It’s been going on for 10 years.”

The source added: “They are extremely grateful for the continued support by the Home Office and the Met Police, and they receive many positive messages from wellwishers.

"But the trolling spoils it and whilst they try and ignore it they can’t always.”


Supporter Sarah Godwin urges the web haters to stop. She posts on the Maddie Facebook page: “I agree it should be stopped and spreading their horrible negativity isn't good for anyone.

"I believe there is a huge majority of people who support the McCann’s, I'm one of them.

“What is always helpful to remember when we read disgusting, ignorant and hate-full comments is that there is really only a very small number of people who react like that.”

The page’s un-named digital coordinator, a friend of Maddie’s parents, posted on Wednesday: “We’ve been barraged with hate via Facebook and are sure others have too. Help ProPublica investigate hate speech on Facebook.”


Angela Johnstone replies: “About time something was done about the abusive comments people make. They hide behind the safety of being on facebook. They would never have the guts to say it to someone’s face. Cowards the lot of them.”

Pamela Gurney posts: “Only the police can get those answers so we must support them while the investigation is ongoing. We all want the answers to where Madeleine is, of course we do, but how Google and Facebook can help is another matter. At present they fail Madeleine by allowing such dreadful platforms to arise.”

Colin Kavanagh writes: “Too much hate campaigning on here by sicko's out to spread their evil opinions without proof of any kind which should be stopped, and even blocked by Facebook.”

Cindy Murphy states: “Any normal, well adjusted human being would never write some of the horrid things I've read online. It says far more about the writer than the victim.
Sending only love and hope to Madeleine's family.”

Kellie Howe posts: “Funding extended, thankfully! I am not sure why we have to ask for additional funding when she is still a missing child who needs our help but I am thankful the home office is not giving up on her.”

Cops on Operation Grange, the £12 million inquiry into Maddie’s disappearance set up in May 2011, have so far failed to unearth any new clues. But they are hoping to trace a “critical witness” woman they think could hold the key after their request for a new cash boost was recently approved.

Three-year-old Maddie vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal’s Praia da Luz in May 2007. She had been left alone sleeping with her younger siblings while her parents were dining with pals in a nearby tapas restaurant.


Police say the woman they want to trace was living in the country but moved away after her husband’s death and describe her as “a critical line of inquiry” and want to “rule her out as much as rule her in.” One theory they are working is that Maddie was snatched during a burglary gone wrong.

Medical worker Kate, a former GP, and heart doctor Gerry, both 49, of Rothley, Leics, hold onto a glimmer of hope their daughter could still be alive. She would now be aged 14.

In a TV interview to mark the milestone 10th decade anniversary in May Kate told how abuse from trolls has been “shocking, striking and quite hard to get your head around.”She told BBC presenter Fiona Bruce adding: “Why would someone in a position of ignorance write that, add to someone’s upset? It is so awful and upsetting.”


She and Gerry still try to shield their 12-year-old old twins Sean and Amelie from the taunts made against them and “the downside of social media.”

The couple try to avoid to social media, apart from for the vital Maddie campaign. Kate said: “We are aware of things that get said because people alert us to them. Our worry is for our children.”

Gerry added: “We have told them that people are writing things that are simply just untrue and they need to be aware of that.”

Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell, who is also targeted by trolls, refused to discuss the latest online abusers, saying: “I’m not talking about the trolls because it only fuels it.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4638533/madeleine-mccanns-parents-bombarded-with-hate-mail-missing/

It must be difficult for those kids, but you don't get to choose your parents, you just have to put up with them.

What is a 'medical worker' anyone know?

Medical worker Kate, a former GP,

It's been asked before what Kate does but nobody knows - hopefully it's not something which involves meeting the public!

The OFM Facebook page posted this link along with the whingeing about abuse - I bet most of that was actually people asking polite questions.

https://www.propublica.org/article/have-you-experienced-hate-speech-on-facebook-we-want-to-hear-from-you

candyfloss wrote:What is a 'medical worker' anyone know?

Medical worker Kate, a former GP,

Perhaps she's working for an insurance agency call centre, answering phonecalls from people who have questions about their medical coverage.

My guess is that she's working as a counselor for Missing People. High prestige, fancy title and huge pay packet for minimal effort.

Poe wrote:My guess is that she's working as a counselor for Missing People. High prestige, fancy title and huge pay packet for minimal effort.

Can`t remember if it was her or Princess Diana who said she would like to be a counsellor, but KM would have to go through years of training to be a BAC accredited counsellor and not sure MP would recommend that someone in her position of never having found her child counsel others in what must be harrowing memories to keep playing over and over.  But I suppose it would be possible for her to do it if she knew what had happened to her own child.

https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/how-we-can-help/families-and-friends/ways-we-can-help-you/60-telephone-counselling.html

I know that a friend had to stop working as a bereavement counsellor for a while when her mother died - not because she chose to - and a relative whose wife had recently died was turned down as a volunteer for the Samaritans for that reason.