Portugal orphanage scandal

[JinxieJada]

Can anyone elaborate more info on this? someone sent me just a blurb to show me that Portugal Law enforcement is dirty etc.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/child/story/0,7369,1356110,00.html

I know this doesn't reflect on LE as a whole there BUT...is this anywhere near where MM went missing?

[KOOL LOOK]

Can anyone elaborate more info on this? someone sent me just a blurb to show me that Portugal Law enforcement is dirty etc.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/child/story/0,7369,1356110,00.html

I know this doesn't reflect on LE as a whole there BUT...is this anywhere near where MM went missing?


I'm scared to even open this link up. I didn't, gonna let others read and comment. Some countries, appear to be even third worlds when it comes to things like orphanages. It's a very tender side of me about these kind of issues. Our children, are we doing what we should in protecting them to the best of our ability? So they can grow up and be their hearts desires?

[colomom]

Can anyone elaborate more info on this? someone sent me just a blurb to show me that Portugal Law enforcement is dirty etc.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/child/story/0,7369,1356110,00.html

I know this doesn't reflect on LE as a whole there BUT...is this anywhere near where MM went missing?

Did you read that JinxieJada???

~cut from article~

The Casa Pia affair, which has shaken the very foundations of the Portuguese state, finally goes to trial on Thursday. Former presidents have been accused of turning a blind eye to complaints about systematic abuse over more than a decade, while prosecutors have denied that President Jorge Sampaio was under investigation.

A former minister and spokesman for the opposition Socialist party, Paulo Pedroso, was one of those arrested, though he was later freed without charges after spending four and a half months on remand.

Carlos Cruz, 63, Portugal's most famous media personality, will be the star defendant, facing five charges of sexually abusing minors and one of homosexual intercourse with an adolescent.

~snip~

Also on trial are a prominent lawyer, a former ambassador, a marine archaeologist and a former senior administrator in Casa Pia.

Portuguese Law Enforcement???

[JinxieJada]

Colomom -


yes I did read it...and while the article didn't really show me anything about law enforcement this did stick out to me


"In the intervening 20 years the original complaints lodged with the police seem to have been shelved or gone missing."



I'm trying to look up more info...and as I stated prior..I was more trying to find out if it would be the same dept that was involved where the reports went missing..as was doing the MM investigation.

I may be looking at it wrong..I didn't really understand the "connection" for lack of a better word..but it's one of those friendly debates (i have my thoughts about their involvement while the other person involved thinks they are innocent and being 'framed')

hope that helps to explain more of why I asked for other's opinions. :waitasec: LOL!

[colomom]

Colomom -


yes I did read it...and while the article didn't really show me anything about law enforcement this did stick out to me


"In the intervening 20 years the original complaints lodged with the police seem to have been shelved or gone missing."



I'm trying to look up more info...and as I stated prior..I was more trying to find out if it would be the same dept that was involved where the reports went missing..as was doing the MM investigation.

I may be looking at it wrong..I didn't really understand the "connection" for lack of a better word..but it's one of those friendly debates (i have my thoughts about their involvement while the other person involved thinks they are innocent and being 'framed')

hope that helps to explain more of why I asked for other's opinions. :waitasec: LOL!

Gotcha JinxieJada....

Hope I didn't come across as rude...not my intention, I promise.

I did read about this case also. It is absolutely amazing how much I have learned since June. I too, will do some more research and see what I can find out about the lack of action on LEs part. I agree, it is important to gauge the effectiveness of LE in that area! I will add to this thread soon.

~cheers

[JinxieJada]

Nope not rude at all- I posted it in a rush..so I know I wasn't clear in my search for other's opinions and more info. I did find this which did show more of LE's involvement..(It may operate differently there, but here the Prosecutor's office is w/i the LE buildings)


*NOTE* I do NOT know the accuracy of this website..but the info that reads there is very similar to other sites that I skimmed on the same..so if anyone knows please post!**

http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=132&fArticleId=163389

Portuguese public opinion has been shaken by allegations that police and senior authorities allowed powerful clients to abuse the boys sexually and prostitute them, and did nothing to stop them for 30 years.

Teresa Costa Macedo, who was responsible for children's homes in the early 1980s, said state television filmed six boys, who told Eanes about the abuse at Casa Pia, but the footage was never broadcast.
Costa Macedo said she sent reports containing testimonies and photographs to the police 20 years ago, but they did nothing. Police first denied her reports existed, but then produced them. Costa Macedo said she received anonymous threats to stop her pursuing the case.


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/port-j18.shtml

The Portuguese Attorney General’s Office has since confirmed it began investigations into the Ritto affair in 1982, but abandoned them in 1987 for lack of evidence. Files relating to the case were destroyed in 1993.


However, a spokeswoman from Portugal’s Innocence in Danger charity said the organisation had been warning about child abuse for years in Portugal but there had been a virtual “media blackout”.


and probably the saddest thing of all...is majority of those victimized were deaf and/or mute.

[strach304]

Can anyone elaborate more info on this? someone sent me just a blurb to show me that Portugal Law enforcement is dirty etc.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/child/story/0,7369,1356110,00.html

I know this doesn't reflect on LE as a whole there BUT...is this anywhere near where MM went missing?

Shocking! Thanks for posting that article. I hadn't given much credibility to the accusations against a Port LE investigator that's working on this case that is alleged to have beat a confession from a mother convicted of her childs death. Then I see a media report yesterday on ctv where another officer who has retired recently and is being accused in that case as well is also the source Portugal media has been using for the McCann case. Now this, it does give you something to think about.

[april4sky]

Shocking! Thanks for posting that article. I hadn't given much credibility to the accusations against a Port LE investigator that's working on this case that is alleged to have beat a confession from a mother convicted of her childs death. Then I see a media report yesterday on ctv where another officer who has retired recently and is being accused in that case as well is also the source Portugal media has been using for the McCann case. Now this, it does give you something to think about.



It certainly make you wonder!!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=461111&in_page_id=1770


http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/ciprianoL1106_228x316.jpg
Goncalo Amaral is one of five officers accused over the beating of Leonor Cipriano

[april4sky]

Nope not rude at all- I posted it in a rush..so I know I wasn't clear in my search for other's opinions and more info. I did find this which did show more of LE's involvement..(It may operate differently there, but here the Prosecutor's office is w/i the LE buildings)


*NOTE* I do NOT know the accuracy of this website..but the info that reads there is very similar to other sites that I skimmed on the same..so if anyone knows please post!**

http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=132&fArticleId=163389

Portuguese public opinion has been shaken by allegations that police and senior authorities allowed powerful clients to abuse the boys sexually and prostitute them, and did nothing to stop them for 30 years.

Teresa Costa Macedo, who was responsible for children's homes in the early 1980s, said state television filmed six boys, who told Eanes about the abuse at Casa Pia, but the footage was never broadcast.
Costa Macedo said she sent reports containing testimonies and photographs to the police 20 years ago, but they did nothing. Police first denied her reports existed, but then produced them. Costa Macedo said she received anonymous threats to stop her pursuing the case.


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jun2003/port-j18.shtml

The Portuguese Attorney General’s Office has since confirmed it began investigations into the Ritto affair in 1982, but abandoned them in 1987 for lack of evidence. Files relating to the case were destroyed in 1993.


However, a spokeswoman from Portugal’s Innocence in Danger charity said the organisation had been warning about child abuse for years in Portugal but there had been a virtual “media blackout”.


and probably the saddest thing of all...is majority of those victimized were deaf and/or mute.

Sadly I think in most country's past there has been evidence of this sort of evil.
The powers that be turned a blind eye to it. They allowed it to go on as some of them were involved themselves. And those that weren't didn't want to rock the boat.

It sounds as though Portugal is behind the times and needs to clean up its act.
Starting with their secrecy laws which enable them to hide anything.

[strach304]

April, I read where the secrecy law has been changed there and is set to affect on Monday. :)

[april4sky]

April, I read where the secrecy law has been changed there and is set to affect on Monday. :)


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/16/nmaddy116.xml

Hi strach304.

I was glad to read about this new law too...but near the bottom of the article it says the police intend to appeal it. :banghead:

This new law is badly needed IMO.

[CaliKid]

I think the secrecy law is good if it prevents "trial by media", but it certainly isn't doing anything positive for the McCann case.

On the other hand, I really wonder where the search for the truth about Maddie would be today if Portugal operated more like the US where LE and the accused are allowed to release their "sides" in an investigation. I think more openness would allow people who think they know something to come forward.

[april4sky]

I think the secrecy law is good if it prevents "trial by media", but it certainly isn't doing anything positive for the McCann case.

On the other hand, I really wonder where the search for the truth about Maddie would be today if Portugal operated more like the US where LE and the accused are allowed to release their "sides" in an investigation. I think more openness would allow people who think they know something to come forward.


Calikid we have had a trial by media.
The McCanns are being hung drawn and quartered orchestrated by leaks from the PLE.

They have deliberately abused their own secrecy laws.

I think the reason that Portugal is about to change this law is because it is now part of the European Union. They will have to bring their laws into line with that Union.

It's also why the previous case of the mother of the other missing child is probably being looked at again.
A suspected misscarriage of justice caused by abuse of her by the PLE.
She can now have her case looked at closely by the European court of human rights.

That secrecy law needs to go IMO. It certainly doesn't protect anyone but the PLE if they are able to abuse it.

[CaliKid]

Hi, April

Please don't ask me to supply a link because I can't- this was brought up by a WS poster who lives in a country within the EU, and I read it here last week (I think). But she said that most of the other countries in the EU have the same kind of secrecy laws. I also think she said that the UK is the only country that doesn't.

[april4sky]

Hi, April

Please don't ask me to supply a link because I can't- this was brought up by a WS poster who lives in a country within the EU, and I read it here last week (I think). But she said that most of the other countries in the EU have the same kind of secrecy laws. I also think she said that the UK is the only country that doesn't.

I'm not sure either. So I can't provide a link.
I assumed the change in Portguese secrecy laws was due to them joining the EU.
I know the UK has had to make many changes about lots of different things to fall in the UE. It sounds crazy but even the naming of certain foods and wines.
I think Champagne can only be called Champagne if it comes from Champagne France. :confused: I think it has to be called sparkling wine now if it doesn't come from there. Which is a bit of a bummer!!! It doesn't sound nearly as "posh"
My husband has just told me of some more.
Scotch whisky, Parma ham and Fetta cheese can only be called by these names if they come from the original places.

Back to the secrecy laws.
I don't think they protect a suspects rights if they can be so easily abused.
People in power have always abused that power when they haven't had to show accountabilty.
It will be interesting to see if the secrecy law is removed for all cases...I do hope so.

[CaliKid]

http://gazetadigitalmadeleinecase.blogspot.com/

Olegário de Sousa: “Mr Martin Brunt story about my alleged resignation is completely false”

Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa is said to have quit in disgust at the way the missing girl's parents have been treated, according to Martin Brunt, from Sky News. Chief-Inspector Olegário de Sousa denies those allegations: “Mr. Martin Brunt's story, once again, is completely false. The last time I talked with Mr. Martin Brunt was on September 11, the day when Mr. Martin Brunt had another utterly false story, about a 100% DNA match being found, by Police, on the McCann's hired car. On that day, before he put that false story on the air, we talked, around 7.00 pm, and he didn't asked me any question about DNA, that subject wasn't even mentioned,” Olegário de Sousa told us, a few minutes ago.
14h54, September 17, 2007