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McCanns give evidence to Leveson Inquiry Leveson Inquiry: McCanns left 'distraught' by press
(40 minutes later)
The parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann are giving evidence to the judge-led inquiry into media practices. Gerry and Kate McCann's daughter disappeared, aged three, in 2007. The parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann have told a judge-led inquiry into UK media practices they were left distraught by press suggestions they were responsible for Madeleine's death.
Their lawyer has said the way the media treated them was a "national scandal". Gerry McCann told the Leveson Inquiry many of the stories were untruthful, sinister or, he believed, made up.
Lord Justice Leveson is hearing from alleged victims of media intrusion at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. His wife, Kate, said seeing her private diary published in the News of the World made her feel "totally violated".
Sheryl Gascoigne, wife of ex-footballer Paul, lawyer Mark Lewis and journalist Tom Rowland appeared earlier. Earlier lawyer Mark Lewis said phone hacking was not restricted to the NoW.
Madeleine went missing aged three on holiday in Portugal in May 2007.
In the first stage of the inquiry, Lord Justice Leveson is hearing from alleged victims of media intrusion at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
Asked why he and his wife had agreed to give evidence, Mr McCann said there was "one simple reason".Asked why he and his wife had agreed to give evidence, Mr McCann said there was "one simple reason".
"We feel that a system has to be put in place to protect ordinary people from the damage that the media can cause by behaviour which falls far below what I would call acceptable," he said."We feel that a system has to be put in place to protect ordinary people from the damage that the media can cause by behaviour which falls far below what I would call acceptable," he said.
He said the couple had got the impression there was a "genuine want to help attitude from journalists" at the beginning and "a huge amount of empathy". Mr McCann said the couple had got the impression there was a "genuine want to help attitude from journalists" shortly after their daughter's death and "a huge amount of empathy".
He also acknowledged that the media had been helpful on occasions, particularly when launching appeals - and thanked people who had come forward as a result of them.He also acknowledged that the media had been helpful on occasions, particularly when launching appeals - and thanked people who had come forward as a result of them.
'Supposition''Supposition'
But when asked if it was helpful that the story was kept in the press for so long, he said he did not feel it was particularly helpful in 2007 and 2008. But Mrs McCann said she felt the relentless coverage was "stopping their chances" of finding Madeleine.
"There was an incredible amount of confusion," he said. "She was on the front page every day for a period.... When a story is so negative, it's not helpful," she said.
"She was on the front page every day for a period.... When a story is so negative, it's not helpful," Mrs McCann added.
Mr McCann said the couple quickly realised there was a "tremendous amount of speculation" in the reporting and that he believed "elements" of the police inquiry were being leaked to the Portuguese press, who were running stories based on "snippets of information".Mr McCann said the couple quickly realised there was a "tremendous amount of speculation" in the reporting and that he believed "elements" of the police inquiry were being leaked to the Portuguese press, who were running stories based on "snippets of information".
These were picked up by the British press who could not tell if these stories were true or not, he said.These were picked up by the British press who could not tell if these stories were true or not, he said.
"They didn't know the source, they didn't know whether it was accurate, it was exaggerated and often downright untruthful and often, I believe, on occasions, made up," he said."They didn't know the source, they didn't know whether it was accurate, it was exaggerated and often downright untruthful and often, I believe, on occasions, made up," he said.
Mr McCann said a Daily Mirror headline, which read "She's dead", was "one of the most distressing headlines that was presented as factual and it was just taken from a supposition".Mr McCann said a Daily Mirror headline, which read "She's dead", was "one of the most distressing headlines that was presented as factual and it was just taken from a supposition".
Mr McCann went on to say that "more sinister elements" then started to creep in, the first of which was a Portuguese article which suggested a cover-up, "some sort of sinister agreement between us and our friends".Mr McCann went on to say that "more sinister elements" then started to creep in, the first of which was a Portuguese article which suggested a cover-up, "some sort of sinister agreement between us and our friends".
'Terrifying''Terrifying'
The inquiry also heard a flavour of the articles which led the couple to successfully pursue a libel action, including a Daily Star headline which read: "Maddy 'sold' by hard-up McCanns", which Mr McCann said "was nothing short of disgusting".The inquiry also heard a flavour of the articles which led the couple to successfully pursue a libel action, including a Daily Star headline which read: "Maddy 'sold' by hard-up McCanns", which Mr McCann said "was nothing short of disgusting".
Mrs McCann said the same paper accused the family of storing her body in a freezer.Mrs McCann said the same paper accused the family of storing her body in a freezer.
Mr McCann also described how on one occasion the News of the World's editor Colin Myler called them, "irate", because they had done an unpaid interview with Hello! magazine to promote a campaign for an alert system for missing children and "berated" them for not doing a NoW interview.Mr McCann also described how on one occasion the News of the World's editor Colin Myler called them, "irate", because they had done an unpaid interview with Hello! magazine to promote a campaign for an alert system for missing children and "berated" them for not doing a NoW interview.
"He beat us into submission verbally and we agreed to do an interview the day after," Mr McCann said."He beat us into submission verbally and we agreed to do an interview the day after," Mr McCann said.
"This was an extremely stressful time. It was the run up to the a year... and to get a call like this, you almost feel guilty. 'We've helped you, we've got a reward,' it's almost like somebody won't help you unless you give something back," Mrs McCann added."This was an extremely stressful time. It was the run up to the a year... and to get a call like this, you almost feel guilty. 'We've helped you, we've got a reward,' it's almost like somebody won't help you unless you give something back," Mrs McCann added.
Kate McCann also told the inquiry that finding out her private diary - which the couple believe was taken for a time by the Portuguese police - had been published in the NoW had made her feel "totally violated".Kate McCann also told the inquiry that finding out her private diary - which the couple believe was taken for a time by the Portuguese police - had been published in the NoW had made her feel "totally violated".
"I'd written these words at the most difficult time of my life, most people don't have to go through something like that. It was my only way of communicating with Madeleine. It made me feel very vulnerable and small," she said."I'd written these words at the most difficult time of my life, most people don't have to go through something like that. It was my only way of communicating with Madeleine. It made me feel very vulnerable and small," she said.
'Terrifying experience''Terrifying experience'
Defending the appointment of Clarence Mitchell as a media adviser in Portugal, he said it was "a full time job".Defending the appointment of Clarence Mitchell as a media adviser in Portugal, he said it was "a full time job".
"We had no prior experience of dealing with the media, but it gave us a little bit of protection. Obviously we were working behind the scenes and it gave us a little bit of time with our family as well," he said."We had no prior experience of dealing with the media, but it gave us a little bit of protection. Obviously we were working behind the scenes and it gave us a little bit of time with our family as well," he said.
Mr McCann also talked about being constantly pursued by photographers, describing the journey to the airport to fly home to Britain as "one of the most terrifying experiences we've ever had... it was frankly dangerous".Mr McCann also talked about being constantly pursued by photographers, describing the journey to the airport to fly home to Britain as "one of the most terrifying experiences we've ever had... it was frankly dangerous".
Talking about the "tens of journalists" camped outside their house in Rothley, Mrs McCann said: "Often they would spring out from a hedge so they could get a startled look so they could attach 'frail' or 'fragile'."Talking about the "tens of journalists" camped outside their house in Rothley, Mrs McCann said: "Often they would spring out from a hedge so they could get a startled look so they could attach 'frail' or 'fragile'."
Talking about a subsequent deal to serialise a book, Mr McCann said what swung the decision was that News International committed to back the campaign and search for Madeleine.Talking about a subsequent deal to serialise a book, Mr McCann said what swung the decision was that News International committed to back the campaign and search for Madeleine.
"We had been lobbying for two years behind the scenes to try and get a review of Madeleine's case. Ultimately the press have helped, galvanising the public, having them engaged. Intervention was successful," he said."We had been lobbying for two years behind the scenes to try and get a review of Madeleine's case. Ultimately the press have helped, galvanising the public, having them engaged. Intervention was successful," he said.
But he said he felt the couple "speak with experience about how powerful the media is and how much damage they can do".But he said he felt the couple "speak with experience about how powerful the media is and how much damage they can do".
"Information is being written and lives are being harmed by these stories and something has to change. A commercial imperative is not acceptable," he said."Information is being written and lives are being harmed by these stories and something has to change. A commercial imperative is not acceptable," he said.
He added that he believed journalists that break the rules should "lose their privilege of practising".He added that he believed journalists that break the rules should "lose their privilege of practising".
Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry is looking at the "culture, practices and ethics of the media" and whether the self-regulation of the press works.Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry is looking at the "culture, practices and ethics of the media" and whether the self-regulation of the press works.
A second phase of the inquiry will commence after the conclusion of a police investigation into NoW phone hacking and any resultant prosecutions. It will examine the extent of unlawful conduct by the press and look at the police's initial hacking investigation.A second phase of the inquiry will commence after the conclusion of a police investigation into NoW phone hacking and any resultant prosecutions. It will examine the extent of unlawful conduct by the press and look at the police's initial hacking investigation.