Madeleine McCann: Watching The Parents
MORE no news on the Madeleine McCann case.
It is now a week since the three-year-old girl was snatched from a Portugal holiday resort.
The story has been distressing to watch on our TV screens. What it must like for the parents of Madeleine only a few can know.
BLAME
But their misery is far from complete. With no news of Madeleine, and the Portuguese police having no need to indulge the British tabloids with speculation and theory, Madeleine’s parents are the central characters.
And today’s front-page news, as reported by the caring Mirror, is: “THEY KNOW LEAVING KIDS WAS WRONG.”
Does the Mirror mean to say that Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, now think they did the wrong thing in nipping out for a bite to eat and leaving the children in the apartment on what they thought was a secure resort?
Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns know that popping back regularly to look at their children and checking on their well being was less than perfect?
Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns realise they should not have left their children alone, just like it is wrong to leave a child in a hotel under the auspices of a baby monitoring service, to leave a child in the car while mum goes to pay for petrol, to talk to a neighbour over a garden fence while the children are indoors?
Of course this is not the Mirror’s view. Oh, no. This is Madeleine’s grandmother, Susan Healy, saying: “They know this was a mistake. But it wasn’t child neglect, it wasn’t not caring for your children.”
That she feels the need to say this is wrong. That the Mirror can lead with Madeleine’s grief-worn parents is pathetic and misguided. That the paper can talk of “people are asking why they didn’t make use of the crèche” at the resort or take the children out to dinner with them is wrong.
But the Mirror has news to write. And the police aren’t playing the game.
THEORIES
So the Mirror produces: “THE 6 THEORIES.”
Only six! Why this cautious approach? But it is all the Mirror has. And readers hear of the “PAEDOPHILE GANG”, the “LONE PAEDOPHILE”, the “JEALOUS MOTHER”, Madeleine wandering off and “DROWNED”, the “OPPORTUNIST PAEDOPHILE”, the “CHILDLESS COUPLE”.
But the Sun has more. It has 130 more. As the front-page headline screams: “MADDIE COPS HUNT 130 BRIT PAEDOS.”
The paper says “at least” 130 British paedophiles “might” have taken Madeleine McCann.
In “ALGARVE IS ‘HAVEN’ FOR PERVS”, readers learn that Portugal is a “magnet for sun-seeking perverts from Britain and the rest of Europe”.
Who knew that perverts get off on watching children at the beach?
Us And Them
But help is on its way. The Sun lists the British coppers who will go out there and see to it that justice is done. We, says the paper, are the only country with a sex offenders’ register.
All convicted perverts must inform the police of their desire to go abroad. At least 130 have. And the police are looking for them.
But – and whisper this – might it be that convicted sexual deviants don’t all tell the police what they plan to do? They are not monitored while overseas. And might it be that not all sexual predators are caught and make it to the list?
Among the policemans’ names is Detective Superintendent Graham Hill, attached to theChild Exploitation and Protection Centre. Hill is on the case. He has flown to Portugal.
Hill worked on the case of Milly Dowler. She was snatched from near Walton railway station, Surrey, in 2002. Her body was found six months later. Her killer or killers have never been caught.
Perhaps Hill’s experiences can help. Perhaps he’ll have more luck. Perhaps not.
Meanwhile, a family is distraught, and bearing up incredibly well under the strain and the merciless gaze of the newspapers…
Posted: 10th, May 2007 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (2,260) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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July 20th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
It remains to be seen if they are smart enough now to take this avenue. I agree that the case will not be an unsolved mystery. There are too many people involved and the world is watching and waiting.
Its no longer reliant on just the parents to provide the momentum to keep it going publicly.
I agree the abductors best chance now is either cut a deal as quickly as possible or give her back asap and run ….
July 20th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I think the best option that the abductors have and their only option is to try and cut a deal as quickly as possible.
There is no doubt that this case wont become a closed one or become downscaled. The best they can hope for now is damage control.
July 20th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I Know in our local community whenever a tragedy happens, the community comes together and helps to fund raise. It doesnt make the problem go away. Its not given with a mean fist either. Its a way of just helping to make the financial going a little easier thats all and to show that we care about the plight of our neighbours.
Kate and Gerry have good jobs but this campaign must be costing a small fortune. So far it has been funded by some heavy players and the amounts received though highly substantial are readily accountable and in the public domain.
I cant imagine Kate and Gerry worrying about paying a tax bill if only they can get their beautiful daughter back alive.
They have said a number of times that they would sell everything they own to ensure that Madelines plight remains in the news in order to get her back alive. Keeping the campaign so visible has ensured that the world is watching and many departments are being called upon to act accordingly.
The bands that are being sold are more than just Madeline bands they are bands of identity and support against this evil. Its says that the world is united against such perverts and this is a way of making their opinion visible.
Its important that the campaign doesnt suffer for the want of something like funds. That would really be a sign of a depraved society!
What the Mcanns have done is advance the whole issue of Child paedophile and abuse by light years.
I strongly feel that the funds and donations should continue to be pumped into this campaign to ensure that anybody regardless of means has the same facilities open to them to raise such an awareness should they be unfortunate to be the next victim of this sick practice by sick individuals.
I think the Mcanns have admitted to be ‘naieve’ they regret leaving the kids the way the did. For now that will suffice for me. Its possible that this maybe a judicial matter in the future, when the time is right, but first things first, and lets prioritise our actions, lets get Madeline home and bring the people involved in the abduction to book.
Combined with this we should be focussing more directly on how we can address the whole issue of paedophile and child abduction and learning from mistakes. This is Madelines legacy to the world.
The campaign will go on for as long as it takes. Its a Pandoras box that has been opened that can never be closed again.
The only hope that the abductors have at this moment in time is to be ensure that Madeline is unharmed. They will be found - Of that there is no doubt. What isnt decided yet is the charges brought against them to accompany abduction.
God help them when they get to prison. I think a life of solitary will be their only hope of survival if they have harmed her in any way because they will never be able to sleep easy knowing that they must sleep with their eyes open for the rest of their lives if shes has come to any harm. Life can be very hard in prison for anyone who harms a child and dying can be harder. There maybe much more mercy shown if they return her now unharmed dont drag this case out any longer for your own sake!
The game is up
July 20th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Great to see the Madeline posters up at the launch of JK Rowlings last Harry Potter book in our local store.
Hope they work the magic and the :
July 20th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Great to see the Madeline posters up at the launch of JK Rowlings last Harry Potter book in our local store. Hope they work the magic and the :
July 20th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Its strange that there is still people coming forward in the investigation. I think they should have released a photofit of the suspect sooner than this. How else would people know whether they saw him or not in the area. I reckon its an inside job and some of the staff members are involved. The Portugese system is very strange. Especially the bit where the witness and suspect are put into a room together to thrash out the story, maybe its to speed things up otherwise it would have to go through a lengthy court process and that would only delay things endlessly. The parents are very commited to seeing the case through to the end. They have also said that they are going to work with child welfare agencies in the future. This is positive. I know that they must sorely regret not getting an nanny or babysitter but they are a very closeknit trusting family too trusting for this world I’m afraid.
July 20th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Found this on the Skynews website. It seems like the police know something about Murat more than whats being reported. I just wish there was an end in sight for poor little Madeline. Its heartbreaking. What kind of people can steal a child? What must she be going through?
‘Police may delay further questioning of the main suspect in the hunt for Madeleine McCann after new evidence emerged.
Murat to be quizzed againOfficers were due to call in expat Robert Murat, 33, to police headquarters in Portimao this week.
But police sources told Sky News Online they may now have to push this back following new information from locals, who were quizzed by officers ealier this week.
Police are now compiling the new information before they re-interview Mr Murat, who lives near the apartment where Madeleine vanished in Praia da Luz on May 3.
“In view of the outcome of the secondary interviews, there may not be time to do it this week. It may now be next week,” a police source said.
Portuguese newspaper reports say some of the witnesses interviewed this week spotted a man matching Mr Murat’s description outside the flat where Madeleine disappeared.
Madeleine vanished on May 3It follows claims from McCann family friends who say they saw the suspect near the apartment shortly after the four-year-old was taken.
The three friends - Fiona Payne, Russell O’Brien and Rachael Oldfield - were allowed to grill the British expatriate in a five-hour session at a police station.
Some of the neighbours had been interviewed in the first week of her disappearance, and were being requestioned by officers.
Others had not been around at the time, and were giving evidence for the first time.
Mr Murat - who is considered an “arguido”, the Portuguese police term for a suspect - claims he had a quiet night on May 3 and had not left his mother’s house.
A police source said: “We will interview him as many times as necessary.”
Police insiders have said the investigation is at a “critical” stage but have not elaborated on what that means.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Devious? Get real Girl. Go suck a lemon!
July 20th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Suspicious people have suspicious minds.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
If everthing in life could be as simple as counting money and rubbing the pennies together it would be great. I dont think that this is a money issue.
I think the Mcanns need all the support they can get financially, Morally and spiritually. I hope the government will address this issue when the accounts are being drawn up and that the taxes collected will in fact be returned to the fund to assist other families in this awful plight.
I admire Kate and Gerry, I know they have recived professional help to enable them to focus on doing something positive but I have no problem with their integrity and honesty on this one.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Thats fine I have no problem with than, 40% is better than nothing and taxes are for the good of the people in general.
I think the Mcanns are doing a wonderful job highlighting the evil crimes of child abduction. You cant put a price on that.
I support them all the way.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Just wondering how many folk who have donated to the Gerry fund realise that unless there have been some very devious methods used - 40 per cent of the money will go to the UK government in tax. This fund is a private limited company and rules are rules whoever you are. Anything over £32,400 will be taxed at the highest rate and all of this fund is unearned income. there may be concessions for charities (I dont know) but this fund is not a charity it is a private limited company with one of the provisos to “provide financial support for the family”.
Bearing in mind that Gerry McCann has probably got an “earned” salary in excess of £32,000 - then surely the whole of the fund money will be classed as unearned income and taxed accordinglyat the high rate. This money has come without expense to the McCanns so the whole would be taxable - I hope that an accountant somewhere can put me right if this is not the case - and I will immediately form a private limited company for my assets to be stored in and just quote that it is to support my family (so sod off tax man - you cant have it)
July 20th, 2007 at 11:44 am
[...] not to us. Not to readers. These new clues have, apparently been revealed to Gerry and Kate McCann, Madeleine’s parents. They have had “intense talks” with Guilhermino Encarncao, lead detective in the hunt. Gerry [...]
July 20th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Both
July 20th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Is that No to the first or second question?
July 20th, 2007 at 12:13 am
No
July 20th, 2007 at 12:12 am
You two are getting very cliqueish (Is that a word?) How about a threesome?
July 20th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Hi Treas, I didnt laugh at your house I think its great. Can I come to it?
July 20th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Sleep tight Madeline - We’re not giving up on you.
July 20th, 2007 at 12:06 am
When Madeline comes home she can come and visit me in my house and you lot cant because you are making fun of it -so there!
July 20th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Wont it be fantastic when they do find her then I can get back to work. If I get caught looking at the web site one more time by the boss I’ll be slinging my hook.
Come home soon Madeline we love you
July 20th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Summer is a wash out. Went looking for a new car today. I think I should be looking for a boat!
Hope Madeline is well and that she is soon home with her lovely family.
July 20th, 2007 at 12:01 am
What happened to the Summer?
July 19th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I think you need to go back to the drawing board, it looks a bit un stable.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
If the McCann friends are now “remembering” seeing a man carrying a child in a blanket - why are they suddenly suspicious? Why were they not more suspicious when they actually saw it. How did they know that - as the reports are saying - that it was at the time Madeleine was taken. Nobody seems to know the exact time she was taken. I thought that they were all eating together with the McCanns - but now it seems that they were wandering around and watched someone carting off a child in a blanket - did they then go back to the restaurant and say “Hey you lot - you better check your kids - we just saw something very suspicious - someone carrying a child in a blanket near your appartment Gerry” Not likely - a couple of months later they all club together and “remember” that the child carrier looked like Murat - why didnt they mention the child carrying man the same night - why wait until Murat is suggested as a suspect by journalists?
July 19th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Not worried coz I got me a house now.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
IS the rain ever going to end?
July 19th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
whooops …..it doesnt come out right when I post it…. pity because it looked great here…
July 19th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
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Look I can draw a house!!!
July 19th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Hey Treas your looking a bit cross eyed!