Saturday, December 7, 2024

Enough Is Enough – The Madeleine McCann Case, Its Unspoken Secrets & Why Operation Grange Needs To End Now

Jane Monckton suggests enough is enough and argues it is time to close the investigation into the ‘disappearance’ of Madeleine McCann; focus funding instead on other missing people who can more likely be found

The Madeleine McCann case has been a fixture in public consciousness for 17 years. As a three-year-old who vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort on 3rd May 2007, Madeleine became a symbol of hope, horror, and heartache for a family – and a mystery for a global audience.

 

However, after years of an investigation riddled with dead ends, millions in public funding, and a recent disappointment in the acquittal of suspect Christian Brueckner in other totally unconnected cases, many are asking the same question: Why does this case continue? Who holds the real answers? And, is there anyone out there who actually knows what happened?

 

A costly obsession – Millions spent, few results

Since her disappearance, the hunt for Madeleine has become one of the longest-running – and shockingly costliest – missing persons investigations in modern history. In the UK alone, an estimated £14 million has been spent by the British government on Operation Grange, the inquiry dedicated exclusively to finding her. And what has this unprecedented spending achieved? Precious little, if anyone were actually honest.

 

The latest in a long line of “persons of interest,” German national Christian Brueckner, was initially paraded as a suspect by authorities. For years, he was presented as the ultimate suspect, with tantalising hints from investigators that finally, an answer was within reach. Yet, Brueckner was acquitted in another unconnected set of cases, and the public, once again, was left with the bitter aftertaste of a dead end lead. It begs the question: how much longer should this cycle of build-up and disappointment go on?

 

Red herrings and endless questions – Who knows the truth?

As the Brueckner debacle shows, the investigation has been marred by high-profile suspects who, in the end, turn out to be red herrings. Time after time, public interest is reignited with suggestions of “new leads,” only for hopes to be dashed. One can’t help but wonder: how many people out there actually know the truth? There must be individuals, witnesses, or former suspects who have held pieces of information for years – information that could bring the truth to light. Yet the silence remains deafening.

 

For instance, many people still believe that multiple individuals connected to Praia da Luz on that fateful night might hold valuable insights. The complex network of witnesses, staff, and even other guests at the resort has never fully been disclosed, creating an air of secrecy. Why hasn’t this circle been fully investigated? Are there people shielding each other, protecting reputations, or perhaps even benefiting from the ambiguity? How many know the truth, and why hasn’t it come out?

 

A media frenzy turned financial drain

The McCann case has also become a staple of tabloid speculation, with sensationalism often driving the narrative. This has led to endless news cycles, yet almost no new information. We hear about a “breakthrough” only for it to turn out to be irrelevant, as in the case of Brueckner. In the meantime, the families and friends who might genuinely be connected to the case but entirely innocent are hounded by the media and given no peace.

 

But beyond the voyeurism, there’s a real human cost here, as well. Imagine being a relative of the McCann family, constantly reliving the tragedy in the public eye. Or imagine being a potential witness or informant, wanting to come forward but stifled by the sensationalism. This relentless churn of media attention has not only stymied progress but has also created an environment where justice seems increasingly unlikely.

 

Has the McCann investigation become a money pit?

For those watching from the outside, it’s hard not to notice the amount of public funding channelled into the Madeleine McCann case. When Operation Grange was launched in 2011, the British government was already under pressure to solve the case once and for all. Yet, here we are, over a decade later, with little more than speculation, conjecture, and dead-end leads to show for it.

 

To put things in perspective, most missing person cases do not receive this level of financial support, let alone an ongoing operation involving a team of detectives exclusively dedicated to one case. This extensive use of resources raises uncomfortable questions. At what point does this pursuit, as heartbreaking as it may be, become a fruitless money pit? What are the limits of such an investigation, and who determines when enough is enough?

 

Christian Brueckner – The latest in a line of failed leads

Christian Brueckner, a convicted criminal in Germany, was publicly labelled as a major suspect, with authorities insinuating that the case’s resolution was closer than ever. For months, the public followed the hints and statements, believing this might be the moment of closure. And yet, with Brueckner’s recent acquittal in Germany in a separate set of cases, the Madeleine McCann case seems as lost as it did in 2007.

 

If Brueckner was, indeed, a red herring from day one – as many experts now believe – then why was he pursued so doggedly? Why was so much time and money invested in yet another dead-end? This latest misstep is emblematic of a larger issue within the investigation: a pattern of misdirection, fuelled by sensationalism, that leads nowhere. This mismanagement not only wastes resources but chips away at public faith in the investigation itself.

 

The human toll on the McCann family (and the public)

For the McCanns, the reality is one of endless agony and frustration. Kate and Gerry McCann, who once inspired global sympathy, are now met with mixed reactions, often due to the perception that the case has overshadowed other equally tragic disappearances. In many ways, the prolonged investigation has become a burden not only to them but also to the public, who are forced to confront the unsettling realization that justice may never come.

 

Every failed lead, every dead-end, only exacerbates the sense of helplessness and frustration. It’s no longer just about finding Madeleine; it’s about finding peace and closure for everyone involved. When millions are spent, and years are lost, the cost is emotional as much as it is financial.

 

Time for a conclusion – Is there a line between hope and reality?

While hope is a powerful thing, there’s a line between hopeful pursuit and futile obsession. The resources poured into the Madeleine McCann case could have been allocated to other families seeking justice, to other unsolved cases that lack this level of media attention and public funding.

 

If this investigation continues, should it be with a cap on resources? Should it be shifted to a lower priority? Should there be a different approach entirely – one that finally gives closure rather than more questions? These are uncomfortable questions, but they are necessary ones. It is, perhaps, time to consider the ethical limits of an investigation like this and the price we are willing to pay for an answer that may never come.

 

Who will end the silence?

The most pressing question of all remains: who knows the truth? With so many suspects, witnesses, and “people of interest” connected to Praia da Luz, it’s difficult to believe that no one holds a piece of this puzzle. Someone, somewhere, knows more than they’re sharing. But as years pass, the possibility of anyone coming forward diminishes. Whether out of fear, protection, or complicity, the truth remains hidden.

 

The question is whether the investigation’s resources might be better spent encouraging those with critical information to come forward. Perhaps a shift in focus from pursuing elusive suspects to encouraging testimony might be what’s needed now. Without genuine answers, the cycle of disappointment and dead-end leads will only continue.

 

Enough is enough – An end in sight?

For over 15 years, the world has watched the Madeleine McCann case spiral into a costly, complicated quagmire. Every new suspect, every promising lead, seems to end the same way—nowhere. The recent acquittal of Christian Brueckner in a separate set of unconnected cases underscores the painful truth: Despite the millions spent and years lost, we’re no closer to finding Madeleine than we were on that fateful night in 2007.

 

The time has come for a sober reassessment; not only of the investigation itself but of the resources and public interest invested in a case that has seen far more support than most.

 

The McCann family deserve closure, as do the many families whose missing loved ones will never receive this level of attention or funding. It is time for an honest reckoning, one that prioritises the truth over sensationalism, closure over endless searching for a child many believe will never be found. The world may never fully understand what happened to Madeleine McCann, but we can, at the very least, decide when to let this chapter close. 

 

Jane Monckton has worked for ‘The Steeple Times’ since its inception in 2012. She has followed the Madeleine McCann case with interest and has come to be outraged that resources allocated to Operation Grange are not reallocated to help find missing people who she believes can actually be found. Follow her on Twitter at @Jane_Monckton.

 

Editor’s note – Unlike as is the case in many publications, this article was NOT sponsored or supported by a third-party. Follow Matthew Steeples on Twitter at @M_Steeples and watch his shows on YouTube at @mjs2781/streams.

 

A message from our editorial team – Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus and the cost-of-living crisis impacts our advertisers. If you haven’t already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by supporting our work via Patreon.

 

A warped sense of priorities… Madeleine McCann on a tennis court prior to her ‘disappearance’ in May 2007 and her parents out running near the resort she ‘disappeared’ in the days after her ‘disappearance.’
A warped sense of priorities… Madeleine McCann on a tennis court prior to her ‘disappearance’ in May 2007 and her parents out running near the resort she ‘disappeared’ in the days after her ‘disappearance.’
Living-it-up… Gerry McCann enjoying a round of golf (left); Kate McCann at Downing Street, London hobnobbing with Missing People CEO Martin Houghton-Brown, the Duchess of Gloucester and the then Home Secretary Theresa May on 23rd May 2012 (right).
Living-it-up… Gerry McCann enjoying a round of golf (left); Kate McCann at Downing Street, London hobnobbing with Missing People CEO Martin Houghton-Brown, the Duchess of Gloucester and the then Home Secretary Theresa May on 23rd May 2012 (right).
Brown nosing with a ragbag of rotten rubbish… Amongst those to have supported the McCanns have been especially gobby attention seekers including job wrecker Sir Richard Branson, “Chanel-clad” charity begins at home tin banger Baroness (Catherine) Meyer and her pompous arsehole late ex-husband Sir Christopher Meyer and job wrecking grabber Sir Philip Green.
Brown nosing with a ragbag of rotten rubbish… Amongst those to have supported the McCanns have been especially gobby attention seekers including job wrecker Sir Richard Branson, “Chanel-clad” charity begins at home tin banger Baroness (Catherine) Meyer and her pompous arsehole late ex-husband Sir Christopher Meyer and job wrecking grabber Sir Philip Green.
Enough is enough – Missing still yet little to no police resources for their cases… Ben Needham disappeared in Kos, Greece on the 24th July 1991 aged 1 and his mother gets little help for her search; Martin Allen disappeared in London on 5th November 1979 aged 15 and though his brother, Kevin, keeps the case in the public eye as much as he can, he gets little to no help from the Metropolitan Police. Why won’t the police consider reallocating resources away from Operation Grange towards the search for other missing people? £14 million has been wasted for nothing, after all. What are they hiding?
Enough is enough – Missing still yet little to no police resources for their cases… Ben Needham disappeared in Kos, Greece on the 24th July 1991 aged 1 and his mother gets little help for her search; Martin Allen disappeared in London on 5th November 1979 aged 15 and though his brother, Kevin, keeps the case in the public eye as much as he can, he gets little to no help from the Metropolitan Police. Why won’t the police consider reallocating resources away from Operation Grange towards the search for other missing people? £14 million has been wasted for nothing, after all. What are they hiding?
Pictured above – Since croaked paedophile Sir Clement Freud (right) lunched with Gerry (left) and Kate McCann in Praia da Luz in Portugal in July 2007, two months after their daughter’s disappearance. Mrs McCann later praised the risotto as “the best she’d ever tasted.” Pictured below – Ghislaine Maxwell pictured at the launch of a book about Sir Clement’s brother, Lucian, titled ‘Breakfast With Lucian’ in 2013 by Geordie Greig. Also in the image are Nicholas Coleridge, Piers Morgan, an unknown child, Geordie Greig and Ariadne Calvo-Platero.
Pictured above – Since croaked paedophile Sir Clement Freud (right) lunched with Gerry (left) and Kate McCann in Praia da Luz in Portugal in July 2007, two months after their daughter’s disappearance. Mrs McCann later praised the risotto as “the best she’d ever tasted.” Pictured below – Ghislaine Maxwell pictured at the launch of a book about Sir Clement’s brother, Lucian, titled ‘Breakfast With Lucian’ in 2013 by Geordie Greig. Also in the image are Nicholas Coleridge, Piers Morgan, an unknown child, Geordie Greig and Ariadne Calvo-Platero.
In 2009, private investigators for Gerry and Kate McCann issued an E-FIT to the media of a woman they believed could be “potentially significant” to their investigation. She has never been found, but, speculation online (entirely unproven as accurate thus far) has regularly included: “She looks remarkably like Ghislaine Maxwell.” There is no suggestion that this is one and the same woman, but it would be ever so helpful if the convicted nonce sex trafficker Miss Maxwell came forward and cleared this up for once and for all.
In 2009, private investigators for Gerry and Kate McCann issued an E-FIT to the media of a woman they believed could be “potentially significant” to their investigation. She has never been found, but, speculation online (entirely unproven as accurate thus far) has regularly included: “She looks remarkably like Ghislaine Maxwell.” There is no suggestion that this is one and the same woman, but it would be ever so helpful if the convicted nonce sex trafficker Miss Maxwell came forward and cleared this up for once and for all.

Missing Madeleine – Questions STILL without answers… £14 million wasted on Operation Grange… Why continue? Why waste more? Why not help others?

Many questions about what happened on the evening of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann remain. Some that have been highlighted by the press and discussed online include:

 

  • Why did Kate McCann refuse to answer 48 questions put to her by the Portuguese police?

 

  • Why were certain records of phone calls on the evening of the disappearance “whoosh-clunked” from the memories of the phones of Mr and Mrs McCann and the ‘Tapas 7’?

 

  • Why were relevant mobile phone records never handed over to the authorities in spite of them potentially being useful to the search?

 

  • Why did the couple not use the babysitting service on offer in the holiday resort on the evening of 3rd May 2007 when they went out on the razzle dazzle with friends?

 

  • Why was the door to the apartment – which opened directly onto a public highway – left unlocked with three children aged under three years old alone inside?

 

  • Why did a British sniffer dog sense the smell of a corpse in a cupboard in the apartment from which Madeleine McCann disappeared?

 

  • Why did a sniffer dog also supposedly sense the smell of a corpse in a vehicle hired by the couple a month after the disappearance of their daughter?

 

  • Why did the McCanns repeatedly try to discredit the work of the sniffer dogs and their handlers?

 

 

 

  • Why have the McCanns attempted to ‘gag’ anyone who disputes their version of events – most especially Gonçalo Amaral?

 

  • Why, given over £14 million has been spent on this search to date, has nobody come forward with any sighting of ‘missing’ Madeleine McCann given the very, very substantial rewards on offer?

 

Enough is enough – In December 2017, when £11 million of British taxpayers’ money had been spent towards the search for ‘missing’ Madeleine McCann, 86% of viewers of ITV1’s ‘Loose Women’ said the public purse should cease to fund the investigation. Now, in January 2023, with that sum now well in excess of £14 million (aside from the millions in private money also), it is time to allocate resources to the search for missing people who actually can be found, we would suggest. Shouldn’t 2024, when many suffer because of the cost-of-living crisis and many others remain missing without financial assistance for the search for the them, be the time that this pointless waste of funds finally ends?

2 COMMENTS

  1. Jane Monckton? Omg the same Jane Monckton who comments and specialises in domestic violence in UK? Hope so but regardless, this is an excellent article asking the very questions I’ve been asking for years ( and more) £14million is an insane amount of money especially when SO MANY other children are missing with little or no mention. Ben Needham breaks my heart, just as important 💔. Anyway looking forward to more stuff from you Jane! I’m Matthews 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 fan! The witty Welsh warbler at your service! Love Wally

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