Clueless In Portugal: Madeleine McCann
MADELEINE McCann is missing.
Someone knows where Madeleine McCann is. But they are not telling. They will not end the agony. They will not end the nightmares for Madeleine and her parents.
Perhaps the Express can help? Perhaps not. “PARENTS’ AGONY: POLICE CALL OFF HUNT FOR MADDY,” says the headline.
But the story is not quite so. The hunt is not over. And over in the Mail, beside a picture of smiling Madeleine, another headline: “Madeleine: Are the Portuguese police about to give up the hunt?”
The Express says they already have. It’s on the papers front page.
“The searches are coming to an end,” detectives say in a statement. “The places being checked – the results are zero.”
The British papers wanted facts. These are the facts delivered in blank verse.
But it is not over. The hunt continues elsewhere. And the people are looking out for smiling Madeleine, who will be four tomorrow.
Nuno Lourenco is in Sagres, 16 miles from Praia da Luz. He sees a man taking pictures of blonde children.
Lourenco takes a picture of the photographer. But reports are that he that he obscured the image with his thumb.
Claus Montex sees the same man. “When the man was challenged he ran off, but he came back a bit later went back to the beach and carried on taking photographs.”
And there is a woman. “MADDIE SEEN WITH BLONDE,” says the Sun’s front-page headline. A blonde girl has been spotted with three adults.
The adults are believed to be British. One is a blonde woman. The other two are men. Caught on CCTV the three are seen at a Galp petrol station on the motorway heading out of Praia da Luz.
Is this Madeleine McCann? Are these the devils? What does the Mirror think? “DID A BRIT WOMAN TAKE HER?” asks the front-page headline.
The paper boasts of having two journalists in Praia da Luz. Same as the Mail. Same as the Sun. Same as the Express.
That’s eight tabloid journalists, all well-versed in door-stepping techniques and getting people to talk. But none has an insight. All they have are the same quotes from the same people. And questions.
No new leads. No reward offered. No new angle. No new clue. Just stories of Madeleine’s parents’ suffering. Comments on Madeleine’s parents. Pictures of smiling Madeleine. Pictures of Madeleine’s parents. Slights at the Portuguese.
All addding up to what Mick Hume in the Times call “a British public spectacle, an emtional national experience”.
And nothing…
May 11th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
It is disgraceful that the British papers are continuing a story by focussing on distressed parents because they do not have another angle. I agree that it is necessary for the story to stay in the public eye IN PORTUGAL, not over here. The British press try to give the impression that they care about the family but if that was the case they would be leaving them alone. Therefore one can only assume that they are interested in a fast buck and making it off somene elses tragedy if necessary. Thankfully I have not yet heard a British journalist ask Mrs McCann ‘how she feels’, though I am sure it will not be long.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
The focus on the parents makes my heart bleed for Madeleine what sort of agony is she gowing through a pure inocent little angel dragged from her bed with strangers who maybe dont even speak her language makes me cry more for her than her parents. But may God Bless them and give them strength and courage to come throgh this terrible nightmare God willing and everyone else in this world also praying and willing she comes back to her family soon what a birthday gift it would be for the whole world if she was safe tomorrow.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Join the Anorak forums - intelligent life is there…
http://www.anorak.co.uk/forums/
May 11th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Please , Please dear God
Let this beautifull innocent little child be returned to her parents
Let her feel the warmth and protection of them cuddling and holding her tight - She needs to be with them
I cannot sleep or concentrate for fear of what is happening to this poor little angel
She does not deserve this
Which ever monster or deranged person has her - Please show that you are a decent human being and let her go - Give someone a call and tell them where you have placed her so that they can go and pick her up - No one need ever know who you are .
I am sure that you will see it in yourself that this is the good and right thing to do
Anyone out there who knows anything - just think a million pounds - You could have that - Please lets all try to pray and make sure that this heartbreaking situation comes to a good end
its her birthday tomorrow - Please let her celebrate it with her family -
from a heartbroken mother of four year old twins
GOD BLESS YOU MADELEINE xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
May 11th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I pray for her safe return and for all children in her horrible position.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I am only 15 years old and even i can not begin to imagine the pain the poor McCann family must be going through.
And yet while we are focusing on the parents.
What about Madeleine??
What is happening to this poor 3 year old.
I hope the Madeleine returns safely and i hope everybody will pray for this young soul to return to her family. Where she belongs.
I certainly will be.
I pray for her safe return. I pray for her family. I pray for every young child who is in the same place as poor young Maddy.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
How could the father & mother of 2 years old & 3 years old children be left alone, while they having out for drinking & dinning, how can they do this. They are the only one to blame, and they should be taken to court. I hope the child is fine, but if the worst should happen, the parents should be jail for life.
YOU ARE TO BLAME, not the portugal police, YOU
May 11th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
i hope maddy is ok.my heart goes out to maddys parents.i have a daugther maddys age.my prays go out to parents and grandparent and all of the familys.take and keep strong
May 11th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Pray for Maddy and her parents and family by all means and if people feel that they are perfect enough to sit in judgement of her parents then so be it. I would urge anyone, particularly anyone going to Europe, to carry a picture of Maddy and keep an eye out for her. It’s a long shot but who knows???
May 11th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Pray for Maddy, her parents and family by all means and if anyone feels that they are perfect enough to sit in judgement of her parents then so be it. I would urge everyone, particularly those travelling abroad, to carry a picture of Maddy and keep an eye out. Who knows???