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NIGEL MOORE |
By Nigel Moore
05 December
2008
The 30th of June 2008 marked Goncalo Amaral's
last day of service for the PJ. It was a day that passed like many
before, in a proud 27-year career, with the apprehension of two and
a half tons of hashish and the detention of six traffickers.
After handing in his duty pistol, his badge, his card and his
service mobile phone it was time to close the door on a job which he
had served proudly and to which he had dedicated his life.
For Goncalo Amaral, it had been more than just a 'job'.
"He would have rather preferred being a cop until he died," says
Sofia Leal, Goncalo Amaral's wife, talking exclusively to
'mccannfiles.com'. "He loves me very much and he loves the girls,
but he really lived for his job."
What should have been a momentous and joyous day, looking forward
to the new chapter and new challenges of retirement - armed with the
well wishes and plaudits of his colleagues - instead became tinged
with sadness and profound disappointment.
"When Goncalo went out of the PJ door there was no one saying
goodbye to him. No director. No one. After a life dedicated to the
PJ, it was what most got him down," says Sofia.
The nature of the departure, and premature retirement, made it
difficult to get an aim for his life until he got busy with the
presentations of his book, 'Maddie: A Verdade da Mentira'.
"Goncalo had a bad time with his retirement, but it was the
anonymous bloggers and common citizens that he met everyday in the
street that were his support.
"Although we've tried to give him strength and hope, we were
supposed to, weren't we? It was the people that he never knew
before, and most of them he will never meet, that were the true
providers of hope for Goncalo Amaral."
Sofia was able to confirm that editions of 'Maddie: The Truth of the
Lie' were now assured in France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden
and Finland. There is no concrete news of a UK release date yet,
although negotiations are progressing well.
Finally, Sofia revealed that some weeks ago she wrote a letter "to a
friend of mine that lives in the UK," and had "until now, got no
answer". She wonders "if everything is ok?"
"She lives in Rothley."
