How many "tapas friends" do Kate and Gerry McCann have? I raise this because, like so many commenters to my posting earlier this week about the couple's travails, I am appalled by the lack of rigour in much of the coverage.
Today's newspaper stories show how there is no agreement about even the most straightforward "fact" - the number of people dining with the McCanns on the night that their daughter Madeleine disappeared, and who are to be re-interviewed (allegedly) by the Portuguese police.
According to the Daily Mirror on its front page, The Sun in a page lead, and the Daily Express also in page a lead, police will speak to the "Tapas Seven".
But, according to the Daily Telegraph here, and the Daily Mail here, police plan to question the "Tapas Nine".
Anyone for eight? I know. A small point. Small, but in the context of the way this story has been covered, significant because it indicates, yet again, that - whatever your opinions might be - reporters cannot agree on a single, simple fact.
