Lost child - Madeleine McCann

[*Bob*]

I think everyone here can probably recall plenty of teary appeals on the tea-time news made by those who then went-on to be convicted. A lot of people will inevitably have that sinking feeling.

But for now, a sinking feeling is all I'm prepared to admit to.

[MadWorld74]

The mother will formerly be named as a suspect. The father maybe named as a suspect later on. What does that all say?

www.news.bbc.co.uk

[Asset]

I think it says the Portugese police are clutching at straws. It doesn't make sense. Nut we'll have to wait and see as *Bob* says, for some actual evidence.

[downsouth]

As far as I'm aware none of us have access to the information that the Portugese police do. Even if we think it makes no sense they should be allowed to get on with their investigation which after this time must be coming to a close what with the recent DNA findings.

Let's hope it isn't as it now seems however it is not an uncommon crime committed by parents be they working or middle class.

[ratty]

It's madness. Some reports are saying that her blood MAY have been found in a hire car the McCanns hired 25 days after Madelaine's disappearance. Really does not add up at all. Portugese police are notouriously dodgy and corrupt! Having said that - something don't add up!

[Jessie]

With the UK spotlight on the Portuguese police I expect they're not being dodgy and corrupt in this case. Whoever took that little girl, whatever happened to her: it's unspeakably sad and tragic. Poor little thing.

[MadWorld74]

My mother and Father used to put me to bed of a night in our hotel room when we were on holiday, whilst they went down for dinner in the hotel restaurant. In the 70's that wasn't seen as something out of the oridinary. Not in our family anyway. You could quite happily have your evening meal/drinks in the hotel with the other guests and be happy in the knowledge that your child was SAFE and sound asleep upstairs. Knowing that when they came up to check on me, I'd still be there!

I know it's a slighty different set up here, but nowadays even behind a locked door your child still isn't safe. That I think is the saddest thing.

[SeanMacGabhann]

MW - that is slightly overreacting

What is this reaction based on - children are no less safe now than they ever were

[*Bob*]

I don't think that's true, MadWorld.

In reality, the really sad statistic is that the majority of children who come to harm would have been safer with strangers than they were with their own family.

[MadWorld74]

That reaction SeanMacGabhamnn...is based on my opinion. Nothing more. Please do not ask me to back my 'opinion' with statistics as I have none. In my opinion and from my memories of growing up you COULD leave your kid indoors and go out and come back and expect them to still be there.

[Marmora Man]

MadWorld74 Wrote:

> In my opinion and from my memories of growing up

> you COULD leave your kid indoors and go out and

> come back and expect them to still be there.

And in my opinion you can still do just that. Statistically, as Sean points out more childreb are harmed by family members than strangers.

[MadWorld74]

lets hope that's not the case here then.

[MadWorld74]

Regardless of whether you think I'm 'overreacting' or if you think what I say is 'true', I just expressed my opinion that's all guys, settle down.......

[downsouth]

Now then, now then! MW is simply expressing an opnion. Each to their own.

[MadWorld74]

oh dear, Portuguese police have now said that they are certain the mother of Maddy was involved in her death.

[SeanMacGabhann]

ok - so a few of us did latch straight on to your opinion MW - soz

As MM points out you can still do that - if people choose not to then that is more likely to be the influence of media reportage than anything so mundane as facts.

The reason your opinion eleicits interest is I would argue down to 2 things

1) there is a suggestion (I could be wrong!) that you think the world is going to hell in a handcart but you wish this wasn't so. Take comfort from the fact that it isn't even if you thnk it is

2) In big media cases such as this there is a pressure to "do something" - so badly thought out legistlation, curbing normal freedoms and encouraging further suspicion amongst strangers arrives, thereby creating the very world we ALL wish to avoid. That is why many of us are so quick to jump up and defend reality versus perception

[MadWorld74]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ok - so a few of us did latch straight on to your

> opinion MW - soz....Yes so you should be I am no whipping post!

>

> As MM points out you can still do that - if people

> choose not to then that is more likely to be the

> influence of media reportage than anything so

> mundane as facts.

>

> The reason your opinion eleicits interest is I

> would argue down to 2 things

>

> 1) there is a suggestion (I could be wrong!) that

> you think the world is going to hell in a handcart

> but you wish this wasn't so. Take comfort from the

> fact that it isn't even if you thnk it is.......the world HAS gone to hell in a handcart.

> 2) In big media cases such as this there is a

> pressure to "do something" - so badly thought out

> legistlation, curbing normal freedoms and

> encouraging further suspicion amongst strangers

> arrives, thereby creating the very world we ALL

> wish to avoid. That is why many of us are so quick

> to jump up and defend reality versus perception....no comment.

[cdonline]

You mean it might not be some nasty johnny foreigner child snatching paedophile?

It must be wrong, cos we all know that any justice system outside this country is corrupt and worthless.

[*Bob*]

Everybody is entitled to their opinions. Eg "I believe that the world is flat and that if I reach out my arms really, really far, I can touch the moon". But that doesn't stop them from being nonsense.

If no-one challenged anyone on their opinions, all we'd have here would be a list of statements, and we might as well all just go home and forget the whole thing.

[char1ie]

So the general consensus is that the mother and father did it? Or they had an accident, and faked the disappearance?

What annoys me is how much press attention they seem to have cultivated. I know appeals for witnesses who may have seen the child are necessary but daily press conferences? Private jets? Audiences with the pope? Appearances on talk shows? And then they have the gall to suggest that they want the press to back off and give them some space.

Charlie

[*Bob*]

The UK press are going to go into overdrive between now and the evening press.

I think the general gist is the the Portugese Police believe Mum had 'something to do with it' but not Dad, as of yet, based on (as of yet) partially revealed forensic evidence in the car they hired some weeks after the disappearance.

Forensic evidence isn't foolproof though (ask the Guildford Four - though as my dear Mum would no doubt have said "if they didn't do it, they probably did something else")

[SeanMacGabhann]

To be honest, as far as the case goes, I'm not that interested. I would love for the girl to be ok but almost everything else is speculation with all of the temptations that brings

But dwelling on the details of the case (or any horrific crime) always seems a bit ghoulish to me. We will never be privvy to any of the full details, just a bunch of official releases to the press and the hysterical spin on those by the more prurient members of the media

It's all very grim anyway...

But let's not put extra locks on the door because of it - abuse of children is as old as the hills - this much we do know

[downsouth]

Sean - for once I am very much in agreement with you.

[clare]

*bob*

your mum must have been talking to my mum

[downsouth]

'Apparently' they believe she (the mum) killed Madeleine by accident. Dad is still being questioned but not yet classified as a suspect.