The purpose of
this site is for information and a record of Gerry McCann's Blog
Archives. As most people will appreciate GM deleted all past blogs
from the official website. Hopefully this Archive will be helpful to
anyone who is interested in Justice for Madeleine Beth McCann. Many
Thanks, Pamalam
Note: This site does not belong to the McCanns. It belongs to Pamalam. If
you wish to contact the McCanns directly, please use
the contact/email details
campaign@findmadeleine.com
MICK SWINDELLS (Dog Handler - former Police Sergeant)
Mick Swindells is one of Britain's top dog handlers. He is a former
police Sergeant, based in Blackpool, Lancashire but was often called
upon by other police forces for his expertise. Lancashire Constabulary
was a pioneer in the training of dogs to sniff out dead bodies following
the Moors Murders case in 1964. Mick is now a member of The Global
Rescue Services charity based in Penmaenmawr in Conwy. The ex-Fylde
officer was part of the joint operation by international rescue
charities CANIS and Rapid UK after the Pakistani earthquake; he worked
at the Margala Towers complex in Islamabad. The Global Rescue Services
has branched out to help forensic science by training four dogs to find
human remains. This specialist team of four handlers and dogs will be on
call to help in murder enquiries and other incidents involving human
remains. Mick Swindells has been featured in several British and
Portuguese documentaries. He explains that what the dogs react to is
totally intangible - likening it to a "fragrant soap" to the human nose.
However, his greatest emphasis has been on the dog's inability to lie.
KEELA AND EDDIE (Cadaver Dogs - South Yorkshire Police)
Eddie and Keela, both springer spaniels, were brought to
Praia da Luz at the end of July (with the British "Cracker
Team"). Keela is one of Britain's top police dogs - earning
more than her Chief Constable in South Yorkshire - and is
trained to sniff out the smallest samples of human blood.
Eddie is a 'victim recovery dog' which can detect blood and
human remains. The dogs, which have worked in Britain,
Ireland and the U.S., earn
£500 a day each and are insured for £4.5 million.
May 10
2007: A petrol station where CCTV images of two men and one
woman suspected in
the disappearance of Madeleine were recorded near Lagos Melanie Mapps/Getty
Images
Transcript
G.
Its an encouraging thing that um they are looking at all
possibilities and being very thorough and err its an
excellent example of collaboration, between both the British
and the Portuguese police...working together ultimately to
try and solve the case of Madeleine and whats happened to
her.
K.
Yeah,I mean we've got an excellent relationship with the
Portuguese Police and we need to keep that link um and the
flow of information has been great actually,its been very
reassuring.
G.
We very much know that you know, they like frank information
and its much easier for us to deal with when they do that
and err we were well aware that these developments were
going to happen. We were informed in advance but naturally
this length of time we're desperate to find Madeleine. Thats
the key thing. Of course um its difficult but we expect the
same thoroughness and be treated the same way as anyone else
who has been in and around us.I mean we would'nt expect it
any other way. We're not naive err but on numerous ocassions
the Portuguese police have assured us that they were looking
for Madeleine alive and not murdered..being murdered and I
don't know of any information thats changed that. Of course,
the information and the way the investigations going is
about thoroughness and making sure that everyone is as
confident as possible..that...that is the case um Kate and I
strongly believe that Madeleine was alive when she was taken
from the apartment. Obviously what we don't know, is what
happened to her afterwards , whose taken her and what the
motive is and we are desperate to find that out.
K.
And as Gerry just said (inaudible)
Police said they are looking for a living child and they
have said that a lot.