Madeleine McCann: When Will It End?
THE search for Madeleine McCann goes on. And all we want to read is that she has been found alive and well.
But each day just brings more pictures of Madeleine McCann’s parents. Cameras in ther faces. Microphones to their lips. Watching them. But we have seen enough of the McCanns’ suffering.
A reward has been posted. The News of the World has put up a “record” £1.5 million reward for the safe return of Madeleine McCann. “POTTER GOLD,” says the headline as JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, has offered £250,000.
Others have donated money: Simon Cowell, tycoon Philip Green, Richard Branson, Wayne Rooney, the England cricket team and more.
The money may work. When dealing with the lowest form of human life, money may trigger a reaction, a lead to find Madeleine. Appealing to the criminals’ better nature is hopeless. But will money affect they who stole Madeleine? How could they claim it and get away with their crime?
The reward may also trigger a lot of bogus calls, false claims from chancers afer the cash.
“COPS: MADDIE IS STILL ALIVE,” says the front page of the People. But they don’t know. Not for sure. To put this headline on the front page is bad reporting, offering false hope. It smacks of opportunism, using Madeleine to sell newspapers.
The News of the World has money. The People has Madeleine alive. And the Express has the group experience, turning Madeleine into “OUR MADELEINE”.
All that helps the effort to find Madeleine is good. But what more can be done?
But how long before Madeleine is moved from the front pages? Talk of the police in Portugal scaling down the hunt is a sign of nothing.
All hope of finding Madeleine McCann alive, if at all, is lost when the tabloids no longer feature her on their front pages.
And her family is left alone…
May 13th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Please keep positive
please don’t think negative
We have to keep people positive to keep the story live and well in the tabloids
Please pray for madeleine and light a candle for her
Please\pray to dear God above that madeleine will be guided back to the loving arms of her parents where she belongs
Please\, Please - We all have a duty to keep this story at the forfront of everyones thoughts
Do not give out negative thougts we all have to find strenght from somewhere to keep up the momentum
If you can , Please think of little madeleine
What is she going through at this moment
She will be scared - frightened - just imagie this as being your little girl - what would you want to do - Exactly - You would wnt to keep the story alive
Only God knows and the people that have her
Just think anyone out there who has any info - you could lead a fantastic life if you got the reward for helping to find Madeleine
Please\, please help if you can
Everyone is so desperate to rescue this little girl and give her back to her parents
Thankyou for reading this mail - I hope it makes you think
Gail
May 13th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I enclose a copy of a letter I sent to Sky News, 12th May, which is self explanatory. I agree with your comments. The way forward is through responsible journalism and media coverage, maintaining a high profile for this case, with no hidden agenda of swelling their own coffers at the expense of this familys tragedy and the unknown fate of Madeleine.
Dear Sirs,
I am so relieved that the reward for Madeleine’s return is now growing. I have been writing all week to the newspapers, radio etc., to try and get someone to harness the media and celebrity powers.
A serious point I would like to make is this. The Reward is almost worthless unless there is a statement of Terms for her release to her abductors.
The money will almost certainly be tempting and the higher the reward the greater the temptation.
Much as I would hate to see them go unpunished, I feel the only way you will entice the abductors to hand her over is to issue an amnesty with the reward. It would be worth it to get her back.
It is very probable that she is now locked away from the sight of the public and we have no idea what country she is in.
It is the abductors who you need to be appealing to in every country where there is a possibility of her being held captive.
Appeal to them for her safe return, assure them that she can do them no harm, she poses no threat to them, they have no need to harm her, ask them to leave her somewhere safe and contact the police to fetch her.
Do this as a regular newsflash on every television station in every country where there is a possiblity she is being held, no matter how remote.
At this late stage Madeleine’s only chance is to keep her high profile. Her kidnappers, undoubtedly, will not be expecting this massive outcry and show of public support.
I have a friend who is a retired police officer, his opinion is that these kidnappers will be laying low, waiting for this all the publicity to die down and go away.
When they feel the coast is clear they will carry on their ‘normal’ lives and whatever it is they do.
Madeleine’s only chance of being returned is to keep up the high profile media coverage and to publicise the urgency of finding her.
You are doing a great job of doing that, please dont stop until she’s found, I know I wont.
Yours faithfully,
Susan
May 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Who cares? Things like this happen every day. It’s by far the parents fault for leaving the children alone, and it makes sense that Madeleine was specifically targetted by the kidnapper. Why should the tabloids make such a drama about one particular incident, when things like this are reality, and the media are just looking for something like this in order to make a profit. They don’t really give a damn about the child, it’s the money they want! The only person at all who should be given sympathy is Madeleine, but I doubt even she understands what’s truely happening. Nevertheless, FIND her, and torture the kidnapper to death.
May 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
There’s still much hope and only by continuing positive thoughts of her safe return will ensure a more positive outcome. If money rewards help then whatever it takes for the exchange of this wee girl to her family. I disagree with being synical regarding the press as they can only help to spread the news amongst the world. I am not religious but at times like this I pray for eveyone concerned. My heartfelt thoughts are with Madeline’s family.
May 13th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
This is for people who think that Madeleines parents DESERVE what has happened to them!!! Many couples leave their children asleep in their rooms while they enjoy a drink or food at the Hotel Bar checking them every half hour!! It makes my blood boil to hear people judging this couple who clearly love their kids and were enjoying a relaxing holiday thinking their children were safely locked in their room. Evil people will stop at nothing to get what they want!! they could have been at home!! Yes we have to think about that because many a time we tuck them in bed and go on the back garden on summer evening!!! So I say to people who judge other people becareful what you say and think, God tells us to be compassionate and loving and he knows your heart, If you think this couple DESERVED this then you are EVIL and GOD will judge you accordling along with the people who have taken little Maddie. To Gerry and Kate, My heart is breaking for you and I’m praying intensely for you and Maddie, Keep your hopes up and remember Jesus is with you at all times. Godbless Lizxxx
May 13th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
It seems to me that, the government and the people in high places in Portugal are more guilty than they admit to, the whole idea of the secracy Law is only to protect the one’s that have the poor little girl. and why haven’t this country done anything about it? If it had been a member of our government’s children, there would have been all out war to find them. my surgestion to our government is to get off your backside and start doing what your paid to do with your international liason officers and public relation. IT IS TIME TO DEMAND THE INFORMATION FROM THAT COUNTRY and to calculate what’s we have so far. Nothing. it is all well and good prayers are being said by the people high up. and Lord know’s I have added my own prayers for her saftey.. but there comes a time when one has to start knocking on all doors in Portugal.
May 13th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
two points….
while we are so busy criticising the Protugese police lets not forget Soham with Ian Huntley at the centre of the search for days before he was sussed. How long did it take to find the two little girls?
Has Milly Dowlers killer ever been been caught? How long was it before they found her body? Months!
How slow were the Brit police when the child was snatched from the bath? Long enough for her to be violently abused by a known offender who was caught by luck alone.
How quick would the response have been if the family had been at Butlins or similar in the UK?
Initial response to a missing child left alone would be to look around the immediate area first to see if she’d got up and gone to look for her parents.
We brits can be so smug sometimes it makes me angry!!
Also, I’m sure we’ve all been a little careless with our children (hindsight is great) but I just wonder what the coverage would be like if Maddy had been one of three young children left alone by a single mother drinking in the bar?
I can just imagine the tabloid vitriol!
May 13th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Whilst this is not entirely the parents fault that this happen, let it be a lesson to us all ***Never leave young children unattended!*** Anything can happen and in this case it did, we must learn from this and never let it happen to another child. Madaline is the victim here, she was let down by her parents.
May 13th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Madeleine is the only victim here.
The parents were responsible for her. She trusted they would look after her and protect her from all evils and dangers. They have let her down. She is in the hands of dangerous people who could be harming her every living second of her life. She is unprepared for this the type of society she has ended up in. All she is thinking right now are where are mummy and daddy and why have they left me alone with the bad people. She is hurting and afraid and heartbroken. I know because I too was a Madeleine what feels like not so long ago.
I am a now a mother of two children aged three and four and my husband and I have never left them unattended. Even a simple footstool has a warning not to leave young children on it unattended let alone a strange apartment with all sorts of potential hazards. We have in five years only ever gone out as a couple once when my sister looked after them. Even in England we would never dream of leaving them alone let alone in a foreign country where dangers to toddlers are more, due to the constant exposure of unfamilair ground. Why do people lose all sense of security and duty when on holiday?
What Madeleine’s parents did amounts to child neglect. Anything can happen to a toddler within minutes unattended let alone half hour to one hour. Even sleeping affords no escape from that as there could have been a fire in the apartment or even one crying child wakes all and they are afraid when no one responds. Even a listening monitor is better than no supervision at all. As medical practitioners, they are at the forefront of the caring profession and fully informed on the needs of young children, elderly and sick being a constant, twenty four hours a day. They advise their patients and relatives of this fact day in and day out. Their is no excusing what they did was wrong. The fact that many have done it is no excuse either. They too are wrong. It is wrong wrong wrong to leave young children by themselves. If society does not judge right and wrong then who will determine boundaries? It is the responsibility of society at large,not just the parents, to ensure the safe nurture of our children., and keep a check on each other.
Ofcourse Madeleine’s parents suffering is immeasurable and will continue for the rest of their lives but the focus should be the suffering of Madeleine who is in the hands of evil people whose access to Madeleine was facilitated by the absence of her parents. Her life changed the minute her blissfull sleep of dreams of the innocent was disturbed by strange unfriendly hands grabbing her in the dead of night ……
The focus should move away from the parents and there should be more pleas direct to the kidnappers to have mercy upon her. The should be reminded that she is no more than a baby that never harmed them and that even the removal of her has harmed her enough. Further that God is watching and can still forgive if they regret and give her back now before it is too late.
God Bless and Protect you Madeleine and give you the strength to hold on to your identity and memories so that you can survive and eventually escape. God please protect your angel Madeleine which you gave to us to care for and nurture. Please do not intend this as a lesson for it is too hefty for us to bear. The lesson is learned, please forgive us our shortcomings and please return her to her parents.
May 13th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Painful truths all round.
They try our patient belief.
Yet until the Angel is found
God alone can succor our grief.
May 13th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
To Gerry, Kate,Sean and Amelie my heart goes out to you all i pray to god that some good news comes out of this, your heatrs must be broken. Please do not blame the parents we all make mistakes. I hope and pray that madeleine will be home and safe soon with you all. All my love xxx
May 13th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
I think that Kate and Gerry are going through enough without these throw away comments regarding their neglect, all of us at some stage have stood in a glass house, please don’t throw stones. As has been said before keep this in the media, put her picture and news of the financial rewards on every news channel across Europe. I turn on the television every hour or so hoping to see if she has been found. Whoever is holding her, please please let her go she is only a little girl and wants to be with her Mummy and Daddy. I pray for her safe return. To Gerry and Kate, stay strong, we are all with you. xxx
May 13th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I have read all the messages with interest and we can all regret things
with hindsight. Poor Madeleine is the one we should be focusing on.
All the major websites should have a logo across the top worldwide in
several languages with her picture so that if she is being held by a paedophile ring or a solitary criminal he or they become more aware of
the issues at stake. Someone out there may be devious enough to
come forward and claim the reward by sacrificing “their friend or friends”.
The kidnapper/kidnappers.
To the people who feel it necessary to constantly blame others for errors of judgement- and everyone does at sometime or other, think of
the words of a Beatles song;-
“Whisper words of wisdom, Let it Be”.
Forgiveness is an amazing thing and compassion even greater.
More effort should be put into controlling Paedophilia, stamping it out online and catching and treating or imprisoning people whose minds are so perverse they are unaware of the unimaginable horror they create for children they abuse. Owners of Internet companies who allow Pornographic and Paedophiliac Websites to flourish should be fined and imprisoned if they do not remove them and realise that they are financially benefitting from the suffering of children.
I hope that Madeleine will be returned to her family soon and that everyone will be able to concentrate on helping all children who suffer abuse at the hands of such unscrupulous people.
Wishing support and strength to all members of the McCann family and
hope that they will all be reunited very soon.
May 13th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I am a born again Christian and I just want to say to the McCann family that we are upholding them in pray and most especially there is not a moment that passes that I don’t think of little Madeleine. She is constantly in my mind and always in my prayers. God knows and understands this situation and it is only by trusting in God that we can have hope. It is easy for us to make accusations as to why she was left alone. Yes I am a mother of a beautiful blonde daughter and I cannot imagine the heartbreak of losing my precious gift from God. However, I know that in all things God will be my hope and strength. Little Madeleine is in God’s hands. I pray that whatever her situation that he will be her comfort and hope and that he will give her the strength to endure this ordeal and that she may be returned safely to her parents. Let this be a lesson to us all. This world is evil. Satan is all around and yet we don’t often seem to concerned about our eternal situation. This is not God’s fault as many non religious people might say. Evil is all around us but the day is coming when our victorious Lord and Saviour will over rule all evil. I just hope that everyone reading this will be prepared to meet the Lord on that glorious day. For some whom don’t it won’t be so nice being condemned with all the evil that we see around us today. Little Madeleine is God’s child and he will watch over her. To Kate and Gerry and the family - we want Madeleine back and we will continue to pray and uphold you all and pray that you all will know the strength and comfort in these difficult days that only comes from God above. With much love & prayers
May 14th, 2007 at 10:24 am
The papers all the way through this incident have been trying to persuade us that they care about the McCann family. If this is really the case why do they not leave them alone instead of using the paparazzi style pictures of distress to try and sell more papers and make more money. It is completely immoral and unprincipled.
I am not sure that the religious rant above is helping anyone, it seems to me that this is little better than the People headline suggesting that Madeleine is still alive. All it does is implies that if we all pray that Madeleine will be fine, this is along the same lines of false hope and is not helpful.
I am not suggesting that the people posting here do not care, far from it they clearly do, as do I, however there is little we can do to help Madeleine until the authorities find her. We can however help the other members of the McCann family by getting out of their way!
May 14th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I cant imagine what the parents are going through,
but stay strong Gerry & Kate.
It may be hard but think positive at all times.
You have the countrys sympathy, and lets all hope little maddy is returned. My heart goes out to the McCann family.
God bless xxx
May 17th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
please who ever has her give her back
her parents are desparate
May 18th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I have read the posts with interset and realise there are many misguided people around.
Are the parents to blame in any way? Of course they are.
From what we are told the children were left and checks made every half an hour. Had there been an electrical fault it takes just 4 minutes from the point that say a faulty television bursts into flames, to kill everyone in a dwelling with superheated air. Therefore anyone leaving a child alone for any period of time is a risk to their lives.
Add to that the fact that the patio door was left unlock, and the person(s) who left it unlocked was criminally negligent because they unwittingly aided the abduction.
However, take into account the look of the parents and there is something not quite right. Mrs McCann is suffering in the way that one would expect. As each day passes she looks more guant and appears to be losing weight. There has never been a look on her face other than one of concern for her daughter.
Compare that to Mr McCann who other than walking with his head down in the first few days, has been seen laughing and smiling to the cameras. Being a dad, and having lost a child of my own, that does not ring true. I accept people put on a show to hide their grief but something simply does not compute.
The police say that the parents have been cleared of any involvement, but even that is an absurdity. The simple fact that they left the children alone and with the door unlocked, makes them involved, even if indirectly. Add to that the fact that there was no evidence of a single other person in the apartment as far as we know, and that casts suspicion on the family. Add to that Mr McCann’s marrerisms and that cast doubt on him. Add to that the fact that in other such cases as this, the family mortgage their homes to finance extended stays in foriegn country’s while the McCanns have launched a fund to raise money and I can’t help but wonder if this is nothing more than an elaberate hoax, (of which Mrs McCann knows nothing).
It is not that too far fectched given the fact that people fake suicide for insurance and grown children have been know to fake their own abduction to get ransome fees. In Madalines case no ransom need to be asked for because £m’s will be raised from the fighting fund, with the McCann seemingly in the background, and therefore no possible clues left or pickup required. Its the perfect crime.
If Madaline is found safe and well, with no sign of abuse, which I hope to god she is, that would give added credance to the possibility of it being a con.
May 18th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Please leave those parents alone! Ok, they made a huge mistake leaving their children alone. What good does it do to point this out day after day … Hindsight is a wonderful thing is it not! How can anyone deserve that?? The Mcanns simply made a bad judgement - they are suffering every second of every day for that judgement. This negativity will not help in thier tireless search for Maddie. And as for the person who said ‘whats the point’ and ‘bad things happen all the time’ Well maybe as a bloody species we should for once stand up and fight for the right to be safe, for our children to be safe and force this issue of child abduction and abuse into finality. These people get away with crimes like this because they can … well NO they can’t and should never be able to do this. The person or people who has done this should be found and made an example off! My prayers are with little Maddie and her family and for everyone who is working so hard in trying to find her.
May 18th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
“Well maybe as a bloody species we should for once stand up and fight for the right to be safe, for our children to be safe and force this issue of child abduction and abuse into finality”.
Children can’t stand up and fight for the right to be safe, they rely on their parents for that.
Even with this story on the front pages I witness a 2-3 year old walking 50 yds in front of the woman looking sfter her. When the child reached a road and disappeared around the corner the woman simply carried on walking at the same slow pace. That child could have gone into the road and been knocked down, or been abducted and the car out of sight by the time the woman reached the corner.
If you want abductions to stop proecute the parents when a child gets knocked down or goes missing because until someone goes to prison for neglect it will continue to happen.
Michele if you want children to be safe you need to get off your soap box in support of the idiots who allow their children to go unsupervised and get on one that demands justice for the children.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Somehow I feel a strange instinct inside of me telling me that these parents were very keen to dine out that night ALONE. (which is fair enough, get a babysitter), however it was not planned that way.
They put thier 2 younger children to sleep that night after a day in the sun,except the eldest did not want to sleep. The eldest one wanted to go with themand join them desperately; with a quick temper and impatience, a decision was made on the spur of the moment, and the eldest was ordered sternly to ‘go to bed’!
Having done that they leave and assume that the eldest will sleep shortly, but not, only a short while after crying she is heard by a passer-by and taken ‘to see mummy’ having not heard from her since.
Sounds likely?
I think this situation is like no other and no-one deserves this but I believe that the parents are lacking in emotions due to guilt. Where are the tissues? Where are the cries?They are hidden from the sudden shock and guilt that they feel having left her alone and awake and a feeling of rejection. They were oblivious to the fact that a crying child can be heard, oblivious that an upset and angry child will MAKE herself heard. And which I think she did eventually as we all now know.
What makes the parents so sure she is safe and alive? Are they indenial that maybe just maybe they are the cause of this, unable to face to the fact that thier selfishness has led to therir daughters exposure to a posssible illfated end? abandoning a child whom they did not want to take with them to dinner.
An accident waiting to happen, it was. Madeliene where ever you are; you did not deserve this at all, hoping if you are found you can tell us what happened that night. God bless you.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
I really agree with Mick totally. you read my mind. It all adds up.
Thats why they are sure she is safe. Thats why they wont leave Portugal without her. Thats why they harfdy ever look at the camera.
Naive a nation we might be concerning children and thier abduction, thats why its the easiest con to win people’s empathy and money.
May 19th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
As a mum , i can’t begin to understand what the family are going through at this time.As we are all aware that our children are so dear to us in each and every way.I can only pray that Madeleine will be back with her family very soon.If the people who have got her please give her basck to her family soon.Just imagine what you would be going through if this happened to you .Some one somewhere knows where madeline is have a heart and just give her back, let her go back in to the arms of her loved ones please
May 20th, 2007 at 4:53 am
God be with this child and her parents. This is something that never leaves My mind. Please give her back to her mum and dad. They have been blessed by God with a gift that has been taken away. God be with them all.
May 20th, 2007 at 9:20 am
[...] public scrutiny are doing their best to restrict it. MADELEINE McCann is missing. And you know that reward, Remember that we said hwo waving around wads of cash might not work? Sky News has this: Detectives [...]
May 20th, 2007 at 10:15 am
WHY is this case still in the news. In fact, why was this case - above the other 1,199,999 reported casesin th worl each year - in the media in the first place.
Rich parents.
White.
Photoenic.
‘Intelligent’ (apart from leaving three under 4s alone in the villa) family.
Access to celebrity and MPs.
Middle class.
Doctors.
That’s why.
I want the child to be safe, to be found wherever she is.
However, I object to the media warping this story…telling me what I should be thinking, feeling and doing.
Just saw pics on SKY of the family ‘coping’.
What is that all about? The family are being used, just as the family are using the press. This entire situation leaves me with a very uneasy feeling.
May 20th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Maybe social services should investigate as to whether the parents are capable of looking after their remaining children??
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:39 pm
I wonder if the parents truly undertsood thier incompetance of leaving the children alone in the unlocked room… would they have left thier travelers cheques and money on the table in an unlocked room while they went out ???? I highly doubt it!!!.A childs life is far more precious than money ever was so if they would not leave thier money in fear of some one taking it why leave thier children alone?? …
May 26th, 2007 at 11:21 am
we can all say what posessed the parents off madaline to leave 3 children asleep in their room while they ate a meal some yards away. how many mothers and fathers have left there children asleep in the house while they have sat in the garden, or even asleep in the car on there drive way.it only will take a second for someone to take them and you never think it will happen to you but it has happened to the mccann family and every day they have to live with it untill she is found, the guilt they must feel most be very over whelming and i feel for all of them,we all make mistakes in life and these two people will feel punshied for the rest of there lives wether madaline is brought back or not, they will have have missed weeks in her life and will wonder if she will come back the same madaline that was taken.my heart goes out to them we can all say what if …in life if it had’nt of been madaline it would have been another child . i will pray for madaline eveyday and for the parents for a safe return of a beautiful little girl.
June 4th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
[...] £500,000 home and use the funds to pay for the search for meet any ransom. But why? There’s a £1.5million reward on the table. No need for more. Why be greedy. Take the money on offer. But the kidnappers [...]