tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34871991.post1073667400947169000..comments2024-03-09T13:29:11.190+00:00Comments on Art Hostage: Stolen Art Watch, Da Vinci Madonna, Dalrymple Day, Update !!!!Art Hostage http://www.blogger.com/profile/04025483327345956228noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34871991.post-13491488737499287402010-03-05T12:00:17.156+00:002010-03-05T12:00:17.156+00:00Dalrymple said:
A figure of 10 per cent was often...Dalrymple said:<br /><br />A figure of 10 per cent was often reported by the media in such cases, but paying £2m would have been irresponsible and reckless.<br /><br />The sum was £50,000 to £100,000, which would have been payable after recovery of the painting and with the approval of the police. No-one involved in any criminality could receive a reward for returning the stolen item.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34871991.post-61599399171523040552010-03-05T05:08:25.134+00:002010-03-05T05:08:25.134+00:00By BRIAN HORNE
Published: Today
AN expert on missi...By BRIAN HORNE<br />Published: Today<br />AN expert on missing art told a jury yesterday how he helped trigger the police sting to trace a stolen £15million Da Vinci masterpiece.<br />Witness Mark Dalrymple, 57 - a top loss adjuster - described how the covert plan swung into action when he received a "deceptive" letter from a law firm in July 2007.<br /><br />The court heard the note offered to negotiate a reward for helping 'repatriate' the Madonna of the Yardwinder on behalf of 'clients'.<br /><br />But Mr Dalrymple said: "There was nothing to negotiate. They had no rights, neither did their clients nor their clients' clients."<br /><br />Instead, the High Court in Edinburgh heard he phoned Detective Inspector Gary Coupland, who was leading the hunt for the robbers.<br /><br />Mr Dalrymple had joined the hunt for the Da Vinci hours after armed raiders snatched it from the Duke of Buccleuch's Drumlanrig Castle, in Dumfries-shire, in 2003. Yesterday, he was giving evidence against five men - including Marshall Ronald - accused of holding the art to ransom for £4.25million.<br /><br />Mr Dalrymple told how he replied to Ronald, the solicitor who'd signed the emailed 'reward' letter. The plan was for Mr Dalrymple to put him in touch with an undercover cop - known as John Craig.<br /> <br />He said: "We had agreed there would be a ruse."<br /><br />Defence lawyer Maurice Smyth said Mr Craig was represented "untruthfully" as the Duke's representative. Mr Dalrymple replied: "Yes."<br /><br />In the dock are Ronald, 53, of Upholland, Lancashire, Calum Jones, 45, of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, David Boyce, 63, of Airdrie, and Robert Graham, 57, and John Doyle, 61, both of Ormskirk, Lancashire.<br /><br />They deny conspiring to extort £4.25million in 2007. The trial continues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com