The Tapas 9
The Tapas 9 are the nine adults who dined in the Tapas Bar at the Ocean Club Resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal on May 3, 2007. Here are the details about these people:
- Dr. Gerry McCann
- Dr. Kate McCann
- Dr. David Payne
- Dr. Fiona Payne
- Dianne Webster
- Dr. Russell O’Brien
- Jane Tanner
- Dr. Matthew Oldfield
- Rachael Oldfield
Dr Gerald Patrick McCann is Madeleine’s father. He works at Glenfield Hospital in Leicestershire as a consultant cardiologist. Dr McCann, like his wife, has rarely shown any emotions in the numerous TV interviews and public appearances. Some reports say that he went for a haircut on May 4 and went jogging on the beach in Praia da Luz less than 24 hours after his daughter went missing. Dr McCann also sits on various committees and Quangos. One such group is COMARE - the committee devoted to investigating the medical effects of radiation on people who live near nuclear power stations. His well connected world has inevitably led to many conspiracy theories as to what happened and who is giving high level support to the McCann family. (Top)
Dr Katherine Marie McCann. Madeleine’s mother was born in Liverpool and works as a part time General Practitioner. Since returning to England from Portugal after being made a suspect in the disappearance of her daughter Madeleine, Mrs. McCann has not returned to work and she has made few public appearances. The PJ were interested in Kate’s relationship with Madeleine after some stories were published in the press that said Madeleine was often crying for up to 18 hours a day. The journal Kate
created while in Portugal was allegedly seized as part of the investigation. A key factor in this case has always been the fact that Kate has not shown much emotion and has barely shed a tear in public or in front of the cameras. (Top)
David Payne 41, is a surgeon at Leicester Royal Infirmary, specialising in strokes. He helped run the Find Madeleine campaign. Speaking of Madeleine’s disappearance, he spoke for the first time to say: “We know they didn’t do it. One of our party saw Madeleine being abducted. We were waiting for something to happen but didn’t in our worst nightmare think it would be this.” (Top)
Dr Fiona Payne, 34. The mother of two and her husband are the only couple in the group reported to have used a baby monitor that night. The Payne’s stayed in the Algarve to support the McCann’s after Madeleine’s disappearance. (Top)
Dianne Webster is Fiona Payne’s mother. She told police that on the night of Madeleine’s disappearance each couple was responsible for looking after their own children. She has given no interviews. Allegedly she stayed at the Tapas Restaurant when everyone else ran back to apartment 5A although there are many versions of what actually happened on the night of May 3. (Top)
Dr. O’Brien is the friend of the McCanns who is said to have checked on his own children on the night of May 3 and found one of them vomiting. Allegedly he is said to have asked for a change of bed linens from the resort housekeeping but they say no such request was made that night. (Top)
Jane Tanner has become the most controversial of the McCann’s friends who dined with them on the night of May 3. Jane Tanner came up with the only known sighting of a possible abductor although her credibility is called into question. Several weeks after May 3 she revealed details of the “Egg-man” abductor and after many months, she changed her description to a more detailed “Bundle-man”. Read the abduction theory to see how Ms Tanner’s story has been called into question by many people following the case. (Top)
Dr Matthew Oldfield, 37. An endocrinologist at Kingston Hospital Surrey, he worked with Gerry McCann in Leicester before moving to London with his wife Rachael. He checked on the McCann children at 9.30pm, but did not look to see if Madeleine was in her bed. (Top)
Rachael Oldfield, 36. Recruitment-consultant, mother of a 22-month-old daughter and ex Corporate Tax Lawyer. She spoke for the first time in Aug 2007 to dismiss “hurtful and ludicrous” reports which suggested police had intercepted phone calls and emails between the McCanns and their friends which contradicted earlier statements they had given. She said: “They are throwing mud and we are not able to defend ourselves.” Admitted as a solicitor in November 1996. With Richards Butler for 6 years and Blake Dawson Waldron, Melbourne for 18 months. Spent time in retail and Polo Ralph Lauren and John Lewis before entering the world of recruitment. Rachael’s maiden name is Manpilly. (Top)
