The Grubs: Questions in search of answers

For Justine McGuiness: Simple question to start off with: About conflict of interest.

Brian Kennedy, Madeleine's great uncle is Chairperson of "The Fund". One of the objects of the Fund are - "To provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine’s family"

In other words, the chairman of the fund is a potential beneficiary. He is not the only relative on the board of directors either is he? If you consider my first sentence - do I need to ask the obvious question regarding conflict of interest?

OK, I have done with the simple question - that was your starter for ten. Let's go for the jackpot shall we?

Why is it so difficult to find out details of the fund?

Why has it not been made clear that Directors are potential beneficiaries?

Why has misleading information about the fund not been satisfactorily clarified?

Other not-for-profit organisations provide easily accessible details of their Board and Patrons on their websites. Why is the "Find Madeleine" site different? Especially when you consider the amount of exposure the website gives to donations and fundraising.

Why is the website called, "The Official Website to find Madeleine McCann"? There is bugger all on the website that is directly related to finding Madeleine. Please don't tell me that if enough people buy wristbands, the child your clients lost through premeditated negligence will miraculously reappear - it's just not going to happen.

Has it escaped your notice that there is a lot of controversy regarding this fund? Perhaps you are not aware of this as the British media give no indication of the true extent of anger, outrage and sheer bloody frustration British taxpayers feel about the fund and your clients in general.

This is a two-bob blog. One post alone has attracted 84 responses. Convert that to letters to mainstream media and that may give you an idea of the depth of feeling.

Do you realise that by being transparent, you could minimise the damage already done by a ham-fisted PR exercise that has made your clients two of the most disliked and mistrusted people in Britain? In fact, their notoriety is global - thanks to the new media - the media Team McCann seem to believe is of no consequence. I have news for you - it's 2007 not 1957.

Could you at least make a public statement about the fund to put an end to common misconceptions. If there is a problem - face it - don't try to avoid it. Problems don't go away on their accord - they have a domino effect.

Do your clients intend visiting Australia? If so, do you realise the sort of questions they will be asked by the Australian media? Do you have an inkling of what will happen when Gerry is asked, "Why did you leave your children unattended" and he replies "other parents do it". I will tell you what will happen - they will nail his arse to the wall and when they run out of nails, they'll send out for more. And when they've finished, then they'll set their mums on him!

For one thing, I will make damn sure every Australian radio station, (and that is who your clients will have to target) is aware of the controversy surrounding the McCanns. They will not take kindly to two parents who deliberately abandoned their children night after night to go for a good old knees-up-Mother Brown with their "Pact of Silence" mates. I will do the same with the Australian press and TV current affairs programs. They would lap it up. Your clients will be targeted before they even hit their first bar.

Finally, who the hell thought up that tacky bloody "flash" cartoon "Look for Maddie"? Just once, could Team McCann show a bit of decency and taste - and above all respect for Madeleine?

Questions for me:
Mike, why do you ask Team McCann questions you already know the answer to?
Why don't you go to bed Mike, it's 1:30 and you are angry.
Good idea.
Goodnight all - and thanks!
Wherever you may be - be safe