Timmy McColl - One Year On
May 23rd 2013, 6:01 am
#1
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,508
Timmy MacColl - One Year On
So it's a year ago on Monday that Able Seaman T MacColl went missing and there still isn't any information on what has happened.
Gulf News ran this this morning and have come out with three options (pretty much as we have already agreed. I must say the second of the three I believe is still the most likely.
Interesting in point two where his missus insists it's not even him on CCTV.
Gulf News ran this this morning and have come out with three options (pretty much as we have already agreed. I must say the second of the three I believe is still the most likely.
Interesting in point two where his missus insists it's not even him on CCTV.
1 Timmy fell into the sea
and drowned
What lends it credibility: Timmy was heavily drunk when he left the Rock Bottom Café at 2.10am and took a cab for Port Rashid where his ship HMS Westminster was docked. It’s quite possible he fell into the sea as he was boarding the ship and drowned and his body was dragged away after being caught in the propeller blade of another vessel or the HMS Westminster itself when it sailed the following day.
What goes against it: Timmy’s body was never found when British Royal Navy ship HMS Middleton swept Dubai’s coast using hi-tech cameras and sensors in July.
Sea currents wash everything onto shore. If he’d drowned, his body would have washed ashore.
Port Rashid has security fences and sentry points. Given its layout, it’s unlikely that someone could fall into the sea here.
2 Kidnapped or murdered
What lends it credibility: CCTV footage of Timmy leaving Rock Bottom café was the key to the investigation. But now it appears that the man caught on camera is not Timmy, His wife Rachel, 26, and policeman uncle Neil Cunningham have disputed the CCTV footage. “It’s not my husband…I know what he looks like, how he stands. The CCTV might not be clear, but I know what he was wearing... his mannerisms... I am the one person in the world who can identify who he is,” said Rachel. So could it be that he picked an argument with someone and got killed or is being held captive?
What goes against it: It is highly improbable that someone would have killed Timmy. He had come to Dubai just days back and hardly knew anyone here let alone have enemies. If he were kidnapped for money, there would have been a ransom demand.
3 Timmy went AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) of his own volition
What lends it credibility: The walkaway theory may look highly unlikely but it is something that cannot be ruled out. What drums up the speculation that he staged his own disapperance is the fact that he sent back his credit card with his shipmates before parting ways with them at the Dubai Seafarer’s Mission on his last day in Dubai. Why would he do that? Could it be that he wanted to break all contacts and start life anew?
What goes against it: The world isn’t that big anymore for someone to vanish. Technology would have caught up him by now. It is impossible for someone to survive for so long with no access to finances. Timmy’s relatives claim he was very close to his family and would never do anything like that.
What lends it credibility: Timmy was heavily drunk when he left the Rock Bottom Café at 2.10am and took a cab for Port Rashid where his ship HMS Westminster was docked. It’s quite possible he fell into the sea as he was boarding the ship and drowned and his body was dragged away after being caught in the propeller blade of another vessel or the HMS Westminster itself when it sailed the following day.
What goes against it: Timmy’s body was never found when British Royal Navy ship HMS Middleton swept Dubai’s coast using hi-tech cameras and sensors in July.
Sea currents wash everything onto shore. If he’d drowned, his body would have washed ashore.
Port Rashid has security fences and sentry points. Given its layout, it’s unlikely that someone could fall into the sea here.
2 Kidnapped or murdered
What lends it credibility: CCTV footage of Timmy leaving Rock Bottom café was the key to the investigation. But now it appears that the man caught on camera is not Timmy, His wife Rachel, 26, and policeman uncle Neil Cunningham have disputed the CCTV footage. “It’s not my husband…I know what he looks like, how he stands. The CCTV might not be clear, but I know what he was wearing... his mannerisms... I am the one person in the world who can identify who he is,” said Rachel. So could it be that he picked an argument with someone and got killed or is being held captive?
What goes against it: It is highly improbable that someone would have killed Timmy. He had come to Dubai just days back and hardly knew anyone here let alone have enemies. If he were kidnapped for money, there would have been a ransom demand.
3 Timmy went AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) of his own volition
What lends it credibility: The walkaway theory may look highly unlikely but it is something that cannot be ruled out. What drums up the speculation that he staged his own disapperance is the fact that he sent back his credit card with his shipmates before parting ways with them at the Dubai Seafarer’s Mission on his last day in Dubai. Why would he do that? Could it be that he wanted to break all contacts and start life anew?
What goes against it: The world isn’t that big anymore for someone to vanish. Technology would have caught up him by now. It is impossible for someone to survive for so long with no access to finances. Timmy’s relatives claim he was very close to his family and would never do anything like that.
Last edited by Kix; May 23rd 2013 at 6:12 am. Reason: Adding and "a" to his name - sorry
May 23rd 2013, 6:15 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 292
Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
I rarely read the Gulf news (because it 1000 pages thick)
Does it have better writing than other papers?
I get sick of reading WAM press releases copied verbatim.
Does it have better writing than other papers?
I get sick of reading WAM press releases copied verbatim.
May 23rd 2013, 9:40 am
#3
Concierge
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29,625
Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
yes point two is the most believable, first I have heard about it not being him in the CCTV clip.
May 26th 2013, 5:47 am
#5
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 292
Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
"Mobile network forensics experts should be able to tell which areas of Dubai Timmy was in and when, using data sent by his mobile phone to masts, repeaters and beacons in Dubai."
“The police have not done any analysis on the phone"
Riiiiiight. Very fishy
“The police have not done any analysis on the phone"
Riiiiiight. Very fishy
May 26th 2013, 5:57 am
#6
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Joined: Sep 2008
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Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
If something this basic wasn't followed up then questions do indeed need to be asked.
It's also pretty damned accurate.
May 26th 2013, 6:36 am
#7
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29,625
Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
This is so micky mouse, pretty much the exact route the phone (not necessarily he) took can be plotted via either Etisalat or Du - no matter where the sim was from, he's roaming on one or both of those networks. It works by using three different masts/ground stations etc (your phone is usually connected to a minimum of 3), that way, using relatively simple geometry and the strength of each signal from each mast, (or looking at a screen) the path can be plotted.
If something this basic wasn't followed up then questions do indeed need to be asked.
It's also pretty damned accurate.
If something this basic wasn't followed up then questions do indeed need to be asked.
It's also pretty damned accurate.
May 26th 2013, 7:28 am
#8
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Posts: 3,508
Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
In The Sun too.
Nothing of real interest, a bit sad really that she still sends texts and voicemails - I wonder whether the paper has hacked them?
Nothing of real interest, a bit sad really that she still sends texts and voicemails - I wonder whether the paper has hacked them?
May 26th 2013, 7:35 am
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
Conspiracy ? I think incompetence or indifference are more likely explanations. Do you think the UAE authorities would be concerned about an Able Seaman who got drunk and went AWOL ?
May 26th 2013, 8:01 am
#10
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,502
Re: Timmy McColl - One Year On
If he accidentally got run over by someone with a lot of wasta. A cover up is possible.
If he accidentially came across something that someone with wasta didn't want known, a cover up is also possible.
One can't rule out cover ups in the UAE. It goes on, probably more than most people realise.
If he accidentially came across something that someone with wasta didn't want known, a cover up is also possible.
One can't rule out cover ups in the UAE. It goes on, probably more than most people realise.
May 29th 2013, 3:08 pm
#11
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,680
Timmy still missing - Dubai
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...25638837_n.jpg
Hi folks
Forgive me for popping into here but please see the attached.....it is a year and a few days since British sailor Timmy McColl disappeared after leaving a bar in Dubai.
Neil Cunningham is Timmy's uncle and the family are desperate for answers as to what happened to Timmy, so I have put this on here as a reminder so he won;t be forgotten
Thanks
Dread - x
Hi folks
Forgive me for popping into here but please see the attached.....it is a year and a few days since British sailor Timmy McColl disappeared after leaving a bar in Dubai.
Neil Cunningham is Timmy's uncle and the family are desperate for answers as to what happened to Timmy, so I have put this on here as a reminder so he won;t be forgotten
Thanks
Dread - x
May 29th 2013, 4:22 pm
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
Re: Timmy still missing - Dubai
Dude, theres a thread like 1,000,000 pages long on Timmy. Have a looksee.
May 29th 2013, 4:48 pm
#13
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,680
Re: Timmy still missing - Dubai
In that case I shall ask the mod to tag this one onto that......apologies, Middle East is not somewhere I venture too much....well apart from some fab holidays in Oman !
Dread - x
Dread - x
May 30th 2013, 3:04 pm
#14
"Insert witty title here"
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: dxb
Posts: 2,251
Re: Timmy still missing - Dubai
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...25638837_n.jpg
Hi folks
Forgive me for popping into here but please see the attached.....it is a year and a few days since British sailor Timmy McColl disappeared after leaving a bar in Dubai.
Neil Cunningham is Timmy's uncle and the family are desperate for answers as to what happened to Timmy, so I have put this on here as a reminder so he won;t be forgotten
Thanks
Dread - x
Hi folks
Forgive me for popping into here but please see the attached.....it is a year and a few days since British sailor Timmy McColl disappeared after leaving a bar in Dubai.
Neil Cunningham is Timmy's uncle and the family are desperate for answers as to what happened to Timmy, so I have put this on here as a reminder so he won;t be forgotten
Thanks
Dread - x
The picture that you posted is supposed to have all the major languages spoken in the bur dubai area saying the same thing i.e. the word 'missing'
the arabic word is Maqsood which is fine but the Urdu word is not written properly. The Urdu word for Missing is 'Lapata'. Someone has tried to write that word but has completely botched that job up, so far so that someone who speaks or reads Urdu could never have figured out what is written there. The letters are there but there is a specific way to tie the letters together in Urdu which was never attempted in this picture i.e. a completely botched job. Considering the seriousness of the issue, I would have thought someone would have looked into these small but very important details before having these printed and distributed.
Since a major population of the Bur Dubai area are Pakistanis, a large demographic was ignored by mistake.
Maybe a new campaign with Urdu only, Hindi Only, Malayalam Only posters with clear words printed and proof-read by competent people is the next step?
Just my two bits. I hope you find him or atleast come to some form of closure as I know from personal experience how horrendous it is to have lost someone like this. Btw I would be more than willing to proof read anything you want me to, free of charge ofcourse!
May 30th 2013, 4:27 pm
#15
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,508
Re: Timmy still missing - Dubai
just an observation:
The picture that you posted is supposed to have all the major languages spoken in the bur dubai area saying the same thing i.e. the word 'missing'
the arabic word is Maqsood which is fine but the Urdu word is not written properly. The Urdu word for Missing is 'Lapata'. Someone has tried to write that word but has completely botched that job up, so far so that someone who speaks or reads Urdu could never have figured out what is written there. The letters are there but there is a specific way to tie the letters together in Urdu which was never attempted in this picture i.e. a completely botched job. Considering the seriousness of the issue, I would have thought someone would have looked into these small but very important details before having these printed and distributed.
Since a major population of the Bur Dubai area are Pakistanis, a large demographic was ignored by mistake.
Maybe a new campaign with Urdu only, Hindi Only, Malayalam Only posters with clear words printed and proof-read by competent people is the next step?
Just my two bits. I hope you find him or atleast come to some form of closure as I know from personal experience how horrendous it is to have lost someone like this. Btw I would be more than willing to proof read anything you want me to, free of charge ofcourse!
The picture that you posted is supposed to have all the major languages spoken in the bur dubai area saying the same thing i.e. the word 'missing'
the arabic word is Maqsood which is fine but the Urdu word is not written properly. The Urdu word for Missing is 'Lapata'. Someone has tried to write that word but has completely botched that job up, so far so that someone who speaks or reads Urdu could never have figured out what is written there. The letters are there but there is a specific way to tie the letters together in Urdu which was never attempted in this picture i.e. a completely botched job. Considering the seriousness of the issue, I would have thought someone would have looked into these small but very important details before having these printed and distributed.
Since a major population of the Bur Dubai area are Pakistanis, a large demographic was ignored by mistake.
Maybe a new campaign with Urdu only, Hindi Only, Malayalam Only posters with clear words printed and proof-read by competent people is the next step?
Just my two bits. I hope you find him or atleast come to some form of closure as I know from personal experience how horrendous it is to have lost someone like this. Btw I would be more than willing to proof read anything you want me to, free of charge ofcourse!
Surely it would be obvious that if you want Urdu speakers to reply to a Missing poster, you'd expect them to be able to read it - and the numbers and details.
Shaking my head at the sheer ineptitude of everyone concerned in this farce.