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HOLIDAY
MAKER WITNESS
STATEMENTS |
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127 to 128 Statement of
Richard McCluskey sighting
2007.05.09 |
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05 01 Apensos
Vol 1 Page 127 - 128 |
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apenso5_vol_1_Page128 |
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STATEMENT
Richard McCluskey
Age 61
Retired
Statement Date 9/5/2007
On Saturday 05 May 2007 at approximately 01.50hrs I was with my
wife Susan in the holiday resort of ALVOR, PORTUGAL. We were
walking up the bank from the town of Alvor in order to return to
our hotel, known as the Clube Alvorferias, after a night out. As
we approached the junction I observed a white ford transit
vehicle drive up the bank and stop well away from the kerb in
the junction turning right, blocking traffic turning right. I
would describe the vehicle as a flatbed 'transit' vat with a
white cab area with white metal fold down side flaps/boards. I
recognise the type of vehicle as I used to drive one. I did not
notice whether it had any identifying marks of advertising on
it.
As it had caught our attention I stopped and watched. I then
observed a dark skinned male, well built, dark hair (page 1) get
out of the vehicle and begin to stagger up the bank in a drunken
manner. I could not see much detail because it was dark but I
could see that he had cradled a child of about 3-4years over his
left shoulder. Again I could not give anything else due to the
darkness but it was clear that the child was not making any
noise, or crying, or appear in distress. There was no movement
at all.
I was aware that a child was missing in the area and therefore
went and took the registration of the vehicle, which my wife
wrote initially on her hand and later on a piece of paper.
I watched him stagger approx 200m up the bank and then turn
right on a road into a complex area. It was at this point that
the situation appeared very strange and so we decided to take
the vehicle number.
As we were taking the number a woman appeared half running
towards the van from the road on which the van was parked. She
was clearly in distress and upon seeing us began to talk in
Portuguese. We could not understand her and at this point we
were the only other people on the street; but as we were talking
a young Portuguese couple appeared from (page 2) the same
direction as the woman in a small red vehicle and stopped. The
male came over and was able to speak good English he translated
what the woman was saying. In the conversation it became
apparent that the couple had observed the male with the child in
a situation further up the road and had seen the man hit the
woman and had driven around the block and found the woman with
us. He said he had phoned the police. Thinking everything was
alright we left the couple, woman and van in situ and entered
our apartment.
Statement continues with a description of what happened when
they reported the incident.
Upon entering the apartment we put on Sky
news and became aware of a news report about a young couple
acting suspiciously in relation to the disappearance of the
British child. I therefore went to complex and informed them of
what I had seen and gave him the registration on the paper. We
then returned to the area and saw the woman and the vehicle
still in place. I returned to the apartment and after an hour
hadn’t heard anything so I contacted the police. Eventually I
got through to an English speaker and explained what had
happened. The police stated they were sending someone to
reception. I decided to go down and wait for them. As I got
downstairs I could see two police in a patrol vehicle outside
reception. The officers spoke English and I explained the
situation and gave them another copy of the registration which
we had written down. They told me they were dealing or had dealt
with the situation. Then at about 03.15 we checked the area
again and the van and woman had gone.
I can confirm that the registration was 3893 VL for the transit
vehicle. I have also produced a hand-drawn map of the local area
which I now produce as RMC/1.
Signed
R. McCluskey
There is a handwritten note in Portuguese on the statement :
It has already been checked! They are Ukrainians from Alvor with
a blonde daughter who attends the “A Flor” crèche in Portimao.
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129 to 130 Statement of
Susan McCluskey sighting
2007.05.09 (English) |
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05-01-Apensos
V, Vol 1, Pages 129-130 |
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with
thanks to skeptial |
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apenso5_vol_1_Page129 |
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apenso5_vol_1_Page130 |
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Table of Contents
: APENSOS V, Volume I, Supposed Sightings and Locations (FILE
01)....(PDF Pages 113-114)....Pages 129 to 130?"Statement of
Susan McCluskey sighting 2007.05.09 (English)"
Apensos V, Vol 1 Pages 129-130
Page 129 (Page 1 of 2)
CONFIDENTIAL
STATEMENT
Number : S18
Surname : MCCLUSKEY
Forename(s) : SUSAN
Age : OVER 18 Date of Birth : 14th May 1957
Address : x, LIxx AVxxxx, SUNDERLAND, TYNE AND WEAR
Postcode : SRx xxx
Telephone No : 019153xxxxx
Statement Date : 9th May 2007 Number of pages : 3
I am the above named person living at an address known to the
Police.
At approximately 10 to 2 in the morning of Saturday 5th May
2007, I was on holiday in the town of ALVOR, PORTUGAL, with my
husband Richard. We were walking up the bank from the town
returning to our hotel complex known as, CLUBE ALVORFERIAS,
after a night out. We were the only people on the street. We
were on the main road which was dark but lit by street lighting.
As we approached the hotel Raymond(sic) - (Richard surely ??) -
drew my attention to a vehicle which had stopped on the junction
across the road. It was parked in the middle of the junction and
initially I had thought it had broken down because of the way it
was stopped. I did not have any glasses on but I was able to
distinguish a male with a child get up and stagger up the hill.
I can say the vehicle was about 20-30f when it stopped (PAGE
ONE) but we had a clear and unobstructed view of the junction.
There was no traffic and the junction was well lit with street
lighting. Raymond(sic) then decided to go across and check out
the vehicle. We both went over and wrote the vehicle
registration of the white
'pick-up' vehicle down on my hand. We had been at the vehicle
only a very short time, possibly a couple of minutes when a
woman and a couple in a dark vehicle appeared from the road in
front of the van almost simultaneously. I could describe the
woman as 5 ft 5 inches - 5ft 6 inches blonde ponytail with a
very worried / white face. I only noticed she was casually
dressed. I could see that the male who got out of the car was on
his mobile phone. We got into conversation as he could speak
English and I asked him whether he was looking for a man with a
child to which he said yes. He said he had seen the man hit the
girl who was her(sic) (possibly should be 'him') and had turned
around to see if he could catch him which was how he had ended
up here. I also asked him if he knew about the missing child to
which he said yes. I said can we leave it with you and he said
'yes'. He was still on the (page 2) phone at this time.
Page 130 (Page 2 of 2)
We left and returned to the hotel. We went to security to report
the matter but the doors were locked. We therefore went to our
room and had a coffee watching Sky News. We saw the news that
the girl still had not been found and a report of a couple
acting suspiciously. We could not settle and returned to
security and woke him up and explained the situation, after
which we returned to the pick -up and saw it and the woman still
there. At this point the security guard said leave it with me
and initially we did. However after a while we had not had
anybody call so we went back down and spoke to the security man
who stated he had spoke to the woman who said she had a family
argument over not being able to find a child minder, and he had
to leave the van there for the boss to pick it up. We were
incensed by this in light of what was on the news and Richard
asked for the Police and contacted them himself.
(signed) S MCCLUSKEY
Signature witnessed by : |
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131 Additional statement of
Richard McCluskey 2007.05.09
(English) |
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05-01-Apensos
V, Vol 1, Pages 131 |
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apenso5_vol_1_Page131 |
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Table of Contents : APENSOS V,
Volume I, Supposed Sightings and Locations (FILE 01)....(PDF
Page 119)....Page 137?"Handwritten Richard McCluskey statement"
Page 137 (Page 1 of 1) (Copied and pasted from the Page 131
reference)
Statement made 12th September 2007
I am the above named person and I live at an address know to
Police. In early May 2007 myself and my wife were on holiday in
Portugal. I have already provided a witness statement in
relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. I would like
to add the following;
The events of the past week or so, with the McCanns being very
much in the news, have triggered my memory in relation to the
incident.
In my original statement I described a distressed female who ran
down a road towards a white van I had described.
Having viewed recent news footage of Mrs McCann I am now almost
certain that she is the female I described as being in a
distressed state. I say this because of her slight build, high
cheekbones and her eyes and hairstyle.
I've agonised for days over whether or not to contact the police
about this because it is a terrible thing to accuse somebody of.
It had just not crossed my mind that the child?s parents could
in some way be involved in her disappearance.
I have watched a good deal of news coverage about the McCanns
over the past week or so. Another thing which has played on my
mind is the coverage of Mr McCann walking off the aeroplane
holding one of his young children. The way he was holding the
child over his left shoulder reminded me of the man carrying the
child from the white van in Portugal.
Although I could not describe the male I'd seen in Portugal
because he had his back to me, it was the particular way Mr.
McCann held the child that made me think. He held the child over
his left shoulder with his left arm supporting the child?s
weight.
(signed).......R McCluskey |
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133 to 135 Fax from
Northumbria police re
McCluskey statements |
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05-01-Apensos
V, Vol 1, Pages 133-135 |
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MISSING PAGE |
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Table of Contents
: APENSOS V, Volume I, Supposed Sightings and Locations (FILE
01)....(PDF Pages 116-118)....Pages 133 to 135?"Fax from
Northumbria Police re McCluskey statements"
Apensos V, Vol 1, Pages 133-135
Page 133 (Page 1 of 3, with one page (Page 134) Missing )
FAX from Northumbria Police
Block 9/10
Force HQ
Ponteland
Newcastle upon Tyne
Telephone 01912889356
Fax : 62388
From : DC Colin McLean
To : DC Andy GIERC, OP TASK
New Parks Police Station
Leicester
Telephone No : 011624844452 Fax No 01162312190
Date/Time : 9th May 2007 14.33 Number of Pages (including this
one) : 9
MESSAGE
Andy,
Please find enclosed the attached statements of Mr and Mrs
McCluskey and hand drawn map of the
locale. If there is anything else you need please let me know.
Cheers
'Don' McLean
Page 134 Missing Page. (Page 2 of 3)
Page 135 (Page 3 of 3)
(Note : Entered here is a hand-drawn Map of locale with
explanatory entries thereon.) |
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136 Email re McCluskey
statement 2007.09.13 |
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05-01-Apensos
V, Vol 1, Pages 136 |
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Email from Stephen Robinson,
Northumbria police to
Leicestershire police
13th September 2007
Please find attached a
witness statement provided
by Richard McCluskey.
Firstly may I apologise for
the delay in forwarding but
the system crashed at this
end and the problem has
taken some time to resolve.
Mr. McCluskey states he has
already provided a witness
statement in relation the
enquiry having been on
holiday in Portugal at the
relevant time. He provided a
statement in relation to
suspicious activity he
observed in the early hours
of Saturday 5 May 2007.In
the original statement Mr.
McClusky states he described
a male alighting a white
coloured van and walking
along a road carrying what
appeared to be a motionless
child. He then states he
observed a distressed female
run down a road and approach
the same white coloured van.
Mr McCluskey did go into
detail regarding the
incident but then stated
that all details were
covered in his first
statement, provided in May
2007. Not having had sight
of the original statement it
is obviously difficult to
comment on the context and
accuracy of the account
given.
Having viewed recent media
coverage regarding the
investigation, M, McClusky
now states that the female
he saw and described is Mrs.
McCann( the missing child?s
mother). He states he is
"almost certain" that they
are the same person and has
agonised for days over what
to do and whether to contact
Police. He is acutely aware
of the possibly implications
of his account. When asked
why there had been such a
time lapse in him making
this "identification" he
explained it as follows:
Mr. McCluskey states the
thought had never crossed
his mind that a child's
parents could be implicated
in such a matter. Media
coverage over the past week
or so has cased him to take
a renewed interest in the
case. The only thing which
prevents Mr. McCluskey from
stating he in 100% certain
in his "identification" is
the fact that he would , in
his words, " hate to
incriminate and innocent
person."
Mr McCluskey appears to be a
credible person and is not
recorded on local
intelligence systems. |
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137
Handwritten Richard
McCluskey statement |
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WITH THANKS TO SKEPTICAL |
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05-01-Apensos
V, Vol 1, Page 137 |
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apenso5_vol_1_Page137 |
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Table of Contents
: APENSOS V, Volume I, Supposed Sightings and Locations (FILE
01)....(PDF Page 119)....Page 137?"Handwritten Richard McCluskey
statement"
(Note : This is a
handwritten original and is the 2nd Statement, (made on the 12th
September 2007), which Mr McCluskey made to the Police. It is
the same as the Typewritten-up copy of his 2nd Statement
referred to on Page 131 (in the Table of Contents
Thread)?"Additional statement of Richard McCluskey 2007.05.09".
I have copied and pasted the Page 131 copy here to save retyping
the same statement again".
Page 137 (Page 1 of 1) (Copied and pasted from the Page 131
reference)
Statement made 12th September 2007
I am the above named person and I live at an address know to
Police. In early May 2007 myself and my wife were on holiday in
Portugal. I have already provided a witness statement in
relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. I would like
to add the following;
The events of the past week or so, with the McCanns being very
much in the news, have triggered my memory in relation to the
incident.
In my original statement I described a distressed female who ran
down a road towards a white van I had described.
Having viewed recent news footage of Mrs McCann I am now almost
certain that she is the female I described as being in a
distressed state. I say this because of her slight build, high
cheekbones and her eyes and hairstyle.
I've agonised for days over whether or not to contact the police
about this because it is a terrible thing to accuse somebody of.
It had just not crossed my mind that the child?s parents could
in some way be involved in her disappearance.
I have watched a good deal of news coverage about the McCanns
over the past week or so. Another thing which has played on my
mind is the coverage of Mr McCann walking off the aeroplane
holding one of his young children. The way he was holding the
child over his left shoulder reminded me of the man carrying the
child from the white van in Portugal.
Although I could not describe the male I'd seen in Portugal
because he had his back to me, it was the particular way Mr.
McCann held the child that made me think. He held the child over
his left shoulder with his left arm supporting the child?s
weight.
(signed).......R McCluskey |
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140 to 141 Email with McCluskey statement 2007.09.28 (English) |
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1123 to 1125
- Service information re Ukrainian couple ruled out |
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TRANSLATED BY INES |
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5 - 5 APENSOS V, Volume V Pages 1123-1125 |
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apenso5_vol_5_p1123 |
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apenso5_vol_5_p1124 |
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apenso5_vol_5_p1125 |
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Service Information
Date 2007/05/25
To: The Coordinator of the Criminal Investigation
From: Inspector F. Antonio
Subject: Communication of facts about the Disappearance of
Madeleine McCann
We inform you that today this police station received a phone
call followed by the sending of this handwritten document by fax
at about 11.15 by a person who identified herself
Handwritten:
- Same situation
- Two different number plates
- One (JG) already discounted => NEG
- The other (CG) Toyota Maize => NEG
28th May
Typed text continues:
as MK with residence at Rua R. A. D, Leca do Balio.
At this address at about 13.00 KZ, a Ukrainian citizen with
temporary residence permit no. +++, mobile n+++ the wife of the
aforementioned accompanied by her baby son DK was contacted by
myself and my colleague Milton Trigo. She identified her husband
as being the owner of vehicle with NIF nº 234700025, her
husband, together with a colleague from work, on Monday
21-05-2007 at about 15.00 left for the Ukraine for some time,
also taking with them her daughter aged 4, IK, who like her son
was born in Portugal where they have lived for the past 6 years.
Her husband and daughter are staying at the following address
*******, Ukriane, telephone number *****.
Personal identification documents for the husband and daughter
wee not presented as they had them with them but other proof of
their names was presented. Recent photos were shown, of April
this year and from before with their daughter in Leca where they
live. Physical similarities were noted with the missing girl
Madeleine McCann, although (the Ukrainian girl) was bigger and
with a rounder face.
Having previously spoken to the neighbours it was established
that the girl had left with the father and a colleague on Monday
for the Ukraine. It was observed that having taking this girl on
such a long journey was justified that she did not stay with the
small boy (which would have been) a burden for the mother.
The description of the facts denounced was explained in this
way. There was no doubt that the girl was the daughter of both,
known by the neighbours and having lived at the address for a
long time.
By the woman's admission, without mentioning the case of
Madeleine McCann further, as she was now being heard by the
police and regarding any doubts concerning the motive, she says
that she had already observed - as had her husband - that her
daughter could be confused with Madeleine because of the
physical similarities and age.
For your information.
Signed
The Inspector
Following page has car registration details 1125 |
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