New search for little Maddie

I think some of the posts are very critical of the McCann’s and I do believe if they had been a working class family it would have been much worse. However, they were part of a large group, about 10, I believe, and they all left the kids asleep. They all took it in turns to check the children, going at least every 30 minutes, maybe more often than that. If memory serves me correct, one of the party checked the McCann’s children but didn’t go right into the bedroom. When Kate went some 20 minutes later Madeline had gone. I believe she had gone when the other party member checked but she didn’t realise. The abductor had a head start and it’s clear the police made a mess of the initial investigation.

I have a close friend that lives in Rothley and she’s often seen Kate and spoken to her. I remember her telling me how thin she was and had a haunted look. I can’t begin to imagine her tortured thoughts. I hope they get some closure in this lifetime.

Blondiescot

The victim here is Madeleine.

She's certainly the primary victim, but I dread to think how many more broken hearts there are in this tragic tale.

They have already collected several bags from the depths, I should think they are finding much more than anticipated, dumped from over many years. DNA testing and modern technology must have any live wrongdoers quaking in their boots as well as potentially giving closure to others

Oreo

No hanging judges at all, I see posters who think only of the child and what befell her.I agree that the parents have paid dearly and am sure we all can sympathise with them while at the same time some of us can see that leaving three tiny ones home alone in a strange apartment was a huge factor in this tragedy.

I agree Oreo with everything you say.
If this were a different scenario say a run-down Estate. A house with a pub next door parents who regularly left three under fours to go just next door for a drink .
Then one night a fire broke out and unfortunately one of the children died. Would people have had much sympathy for the parents and the wider family . Of course, they wouldn't they would accuse them of child neglect and so would the social services, they might even remove the other two children.
All parents have a duty to think for their children when they are too young to do so for themselves, wherever they are ,their intelligence or parenting skills.

I just see it as absolutely tragic. I blame the abductor and not the parents. Ok, it was foolish to leave them unguarded but, when you really think about it, have you always kept a good eye on your children? Constantly?

I know I didn't. They weren't left alone at night - but they played in the garden, played in the street, went on sleepovers, 'hid' in shops - even camped in the garden with friends.

On holiday, beyond toddler stage, they'd play with a group of kids, take themselves off to the loo etc. - and did we always have eagle eyes trained on them? No, we were just relaxed and enjoying ourselves. We had no sense of danger.

When you look at it through the eyes of an abductor, any open door or window, any unattended child, any momentary little lapse in parental supervision - is an opportunity. Thank God we were lucky and no harm came to them!

Madeleines parents have paid the hardest price and will carry their guilt to the end of their days. They don’t need the blame of others , they will be blaming themselves fir ever.
It was a terrible mistake which went badly wrong. We all make mistakes and usually get away with it but to castigate the parents on and on is cruel and unkind.

silverlining48

Madeleines parents have paid the hardest price and will carry their guilt to the end of their days. They don’t need the blame of others , they will be blaming themselves fir ever.
It was a terrible mistake which went badly wrong. We all make mistakes and usually get away with it but to castigate the parents on and on is cruel and unkind.

Well said silverlining

I blame the abductor and not the parents
And Hetty58 I agree
Sleepovers in tents in the garden, an older visiting child opening a side gate, a momentary lapse of attention in a shop or when out and they're suddenly not there, surely most of us have experienced all those things.

I can't print what I'd like to do to such people.

…it’s clear police made a mess of the initial investigation.

I think from what we were told at the time that it’s abundantly clear that the police in Portugal messed up big time. I like to think the British police would have been more professional and made better progress as a result, but who knows?

That moment of inattention is so easy. I remember a family beach holiday, aged maybe six, my little autistic brain being just fascinated by the creatures in rock pools, investigating the next one - then the next.

When I went back up to the sea wall, my family weren't there - so I wandered back the way I came, still couldn't find them, sat on the wall and sulked.

I must have been missing for more than an hour, walked a mile - of course, they were searching in both directions. I got such a hard smack when they found me and bad sunburn too - but survived.

Years ago I read an article by Katherine Whitehorn; she said that her criteria for any decision about her children was 'What would the Coroner say?' This is not flippant; pausing to go over what questions might be asked of you, like 'What on earth were you thinking of?' might well make any parent considering their arrangments to think twice. I was always super cautious - I'm not suggesting that this made me a good parent as I do feel at times I have stifled my children in the name of safety and protection.

Trying to get the right balance is never easy MrsNemo.

What happened about this? Anyone know? Did they draw a blank again?

I loved Katherine Whitehorn. Still find her articles in old books sometimes. I was that sort of parent: saw danger everywhere. Even so there were several occasions when something bad could have happened to my children. The phone rang one afternoon when I was about to go to the playing field to pick up my son. Thinking that his older sister would be with him I chatted on the phone only to get to the field and find him sat on his own. I felt awful. Still feel guilty nearly forty years later and get whatifery moments.