The National Trust Version of the Truth of the Lies

NdTNI - Northern Ireland Tourists disTrust National disTrust

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'The Truth of the Lie' is a book by Gonçalo Amaral based on the criminal investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, an innocent little girl allegedly abandoned for the night, then allegedly abducted, or depending on which version of events you want to believe, allegedly murdered.

According to mail circulated in December 2010 to caravan owning National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park customers, the National Trust proudly proclaimed with clarity: As a result of a number of site updates Castle Ward is delighted to have received a Northern Ireland Tourist Board 4 Star Caravan Park Rating.'

And as if that wasn't enough to whet the appetite and have you rushing to make your bookings for the year, they further impressively claimed: 'New site updates include the following: Improvement of shower facilities (now separate female cubicles), New laundry facilities (token operated washer and tumble dryers), New indoor hot water washroom facilities, A small onsite shop, A new wide entrance with one way system for easy access, A new drive-on drainage post for camper vans, All year opening from 1 March 2011.' Haven't they been busy beavers since the end of October 2010?

Then came the questions from already disillusioned doubting National Trust Members, and former customers. When was Castle Ward caravan park awarded 4 Star Rating? asked one member of the public, and the official answer to the impertinent question? The National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park had NOT been awarded any Rating by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board as claimed by the National Trust.

Also revealed was the fact the National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park had NOT been Rated at all by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for many years, so why was the National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park allegedly masquerading as a 2 Star caravan park prior to 2011, and how then do they justify the 60% site fee increase of January 2010?

Under the heading: Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the National Trust and our £9.25 Million, more questions were asked of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, questions which thus far remain unanswered.

Having accepted bookings, and payments, (another increase in site fees making it approx 90% within 12 months) and having then been informed they'd been rumbled, the National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park in a further mailing to customers on 19th January 2011, ambiguously proclaimed: 'I am writing to follow up my recent letter and to provide you with further clarification in relation to the Castle Caravan. In my earlier letter I indicated that we had received four star rating for the Caravan, but I did not make clear that this is subject to completing specific works.


Due to the very inclement weather conditions during December, work on the planned upgrade to bring the facilities fully up to four star rating was unavoidably delayed. I am pleased to say, however, that construction work is now well underway and on track for our opening date of 1 March 2011. We expect to achieve our new 4star rating from NITB following the completion of these works.


We look forward to welcoming you back to the site again soon.'

The truth regarding the alleged lie of the foregoing statement is thus, the National Trust Castle Ward Caravan Park will NOT have been graded or awarded a 4 Star Rating by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board when the Caravan Park opens on the 1st March 2011, nor will it have been graded or awarded a 2 Star Rating by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Sceptics would probably allege misrepresentation with intent to deceive for financial gain, but why would a charity such as the National Trust attempt to allegedly deceive the public of Northern Ireland? Perhaps the rumours of the National Trust in Northern Ireland annually incurring huge financial losses, are not rumours after all.

Seem to remember reading someplace that it is better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie, although personal dealings with Senior Management personnel of the National disTrust would thus far indicate the opposite appears to be their policy