Missing Madeleine

[NoflopsHomer]

Guys, please keep it cool.

(Oh and come and read the live updates from the GUKPT event in Plymouth - I can't resist a plug anywhere... )

[FlyingPig]

It is a fare point, people act in different ways some are extreme others are the exact opposite, but to leave defenseless children alone for 15 minutes in a room by themselves and go for a few drinks 300 yards away, is neglect of your duties as a parent. As a parent you are 100 % responsible for your children. Especially at that age. Would you say this would be a fair reflection of most parents?

I can have my own point of view, please don't tell me the government have taken that away from me.

[The_duke]

I have no axe to grind about anybody's method of child upbringing. Each set (or lone) parent(s) must live by and with their actions. If they treat their children with extreme protectiveness are they ruining them for later in life (independence/healthy respect of danger etc etc) if they leave them home alone (for any length of time) are they abandoning them to all sorts of dangers (External and Internal - 20 seconds is enough for an active 2 year old to get hurt). We are not Judges of their character we can only be judges of our own. We worry every single day about our children (mine are all over 16 now eldest 25 and I still worry FFS) but we have to judge every situation we find ourselves in as they are growing up with our own values. There are no defined lines or boundaries as far as children are concerned, it is up to each individual parent(s) actions to provide the love and advice to prevent horrendous events like this one happening to us.

Whatever our individual views, the parents of Maddie are in a situation that is unthinkable to any parent..

Just pray to whatever God you hold dear that you are not ever placed in that situation -- I know I do every day...

[MANTIS01]

Touches peak of cap and nods in the direction of The_Duke as per sinking 20ft putt to win The Open....as to acknowledge something good just happened.

[turny]

spot on billy, i never said they deserved to get maddy killed, i said they deserve whatever they get, i think that was a point missed by some.

whatever anyones opinion is, one thing is for sure...MADDY DESERVED BETTER! and her brother & sister.

have read your original post and i apologise for taking in wrong context.

u meant thet deserve whatever they get  punishment wise, not what has happened so far.

sorry for misinterpreting

[boldie]

This whole incident typifies the press/media of today.

It is not news anymore, for the most part it is just pure speculation. From my experiences (when away with work) the speculation is usually well wide of the mark or tilted in some way to create headlines and increase readership/viewing figures.

The fact that the Portugese legal system/police work is all meant to be confidential makes matters worse. Why have all these leaks been coming out?

I say lets wait and see for the hard facts, otherwise I'd hate to comment at all...

It was pure speculation from the start. the way Robert Murat got treated by the British press was nothing short of disgraceful. "Child porn found on Maddie suspect computer!" (no there wasn't) and all those sorts of headlines (Daily express for that one) were nothing but speculation and I would dare say blatant lies in an attempt to sell more newspapers. It's about time someone took the British press to court over this sort of stuff and milked them for every single penny that they are worth. The press in the UK gets away with everything but murder and it's about time the law got changed with regards to what they can and can not print..maybe them having to cough up a few million to one person who sues them would be a very good idea.

[lazaroonie]

Boldie, the one thing you forgot, and probably cant have been expected to know, is that no british person conviceted of a crime outside these fair shores is ever guilty, and has always been a victim of "jonny foreigner's" arcane legal system.

[brad.strider]

This whole incident typifies the press/media of today.

It is not news anymore, for the most part it is just pure speculation. From my experiences (when away with work) the speculation is usually well wide of the mark or tilted in some way to create headlines and increase readership/viewing figures.

The fact that the Portugese legal system/police work is all meant to be confidential makes matters worse. Why have all these leaks been coming out?

I say lets wait and see for the hard facts, otherwise I'd hate to comment at all...

It was pure speculation from the start. the way Robert Murat got treated by the British press was nothing short of disgraceful. "Child porn found on Maddie suspect computer!" (no there wasn't) and all those sorts of headlines (Daily express for that one) were nothing but speculation and I would dare say blatant lies in an attempt to sell more newspapers. It's about time someone took the British press to court over this sort of stuff and milked them for every single penny that they are worth. The press in the UK gets away with everything but murder and it's about time the law got changed with regards to what they can and can not print..maybe them having to cough up a few million to one person who sues them would be a very good idea.

most of the internet rumours, british paper stories and overall speculation originated in the portugese newspapers boldie.

[Zebediah]

I live less than 50 yards as the crow flies from my nearest pub.
Pick the correct seat and I can see my front door from the pub.
But if my missus/parents/in laws etc came round and saw me having a quick pint in there while the bairns were in bed.
They would create a lynch mob and cut my b******s off!

It was 100% neglectful parenting (what if a rapid fire broke out on the floor below for eg?)....HOWEVER!

They have already been punished more than any rapist/muderer/paedophile ever will, and god forbid will probably (I really really hope not) get worse.
So to say to prosecute them for leaving the kids is pointless, they'll already regret their actions till their last puff.

[steeley68]

They have already been punished more than any rapist/muderer/paedophile ever will, and god forbid will probably (I really really hope not) get worse.
So to say to prosecute them for leaving the kids is pointless, they'll already regret their actions till their last puff.

Wait, wait, hold on there. Are you saying that because they are racked with guilt, that they shouldn't be prosecuted?

It's child neglect, whether they are remoseful or not. Oh, but hoi - they're SORRY. Oh, well that's ok then, case dismissed.

Also, a drunk driver regretted having another pint, getting into his car and mowing down 3 pedestrians - PROSECUTE!!! No,no,no - wait your honour, he/she regrets ever having another pint. etc, etc. Do you get my drift?

[byronkincaid]

They have already been punished more than any rapist/muderer/paedophile ever will, and god forbid will probably (I really really hope not) get worse.
So to say to prosecute them for leaving the kids is pointless, they'll already regret their actions till their last puff.

Wait, wait, hold on there. Are you saying that because they are racked with guilt, that they shouldn't be prosecuted?

It's child neglect, whether they are remoseful or not. Oh, but hoi - they're SORRY. Oh, well that's ok then, case dismissed.

Also, a drunk driver regretted having another pint, getting into his car and mowing down 3 pedestrians - PROSECUTE!!! No,no,no - wait your honour, he/she regrets ever having another pint. etc, etc. Do you get my drift?

i think it's probably more akin to driving carelessly for a second and accidently killing your child, or some stupid mistake like that anyway.

[MANTIS01]

Don't forget that when you go on holiday you tend to have a slightly more casual attitude to things. I would wager that the McCanns hadn't left the kids alone for a second before...but on holiday they were not so strict with themselves and relaxed for a fatal second. Girls tend to go on holiday have a few one-night stands and generally behave in a way they wouldn't in their normal lives back home in the UK. Also the McCanns were eating with 7 friends, mostly doctors, so if their offence was so horrific as to be classed as child neglect do we not think something would have been said at the time.

It is said that Gerry McCann bumped into another mother checking on her child as he went to check on his kids. If other people you know are doing this and think it's ok it wouldn't take a massive shift in mindset to slip into similar ways. It is very easy to say what you would/wouldn't do in front of your lappy back in blighty. Has anyone ever done something stupid on holiday before?

[Newmanseye]

. Has anyone ever done something stupid on holiday before?

Not with my Kids, Never, not ever would i put them at risk for an instance.

Its neglect, end of, Nuff said.

[madasahatstand]

. Girls tend to go on holiday have a few one-night stands and generally behave in a way they wouldn't in their normal lives back home in the UK.

 

What??? This is a broad generalisation and I really dont think its true. If you have one night stands at home then you'll have them on holiday. I dont think most 'women' change who they are because of the sun.
Also I dont see how one night stands and leaving some very young children alone have anything even remotely similar going on. One night stands involve one person taking responsibility for their own actions. Leaving young children alone involves you giving up responsibility for them while you cant see them and taking responsibility for oneself.
I wasnt going to enter this debate but the comment about one night stands was the hook!  How can you even put both issues in the same paragraph?
Them being doctors doesnt shock me at all. Doctors are only human and come with a wide range of personalities (well except surgeons who are type A personalities) Some of them are so far up their own arses that they think they should not be dealt with the same as everyone else. I actually think any professional person like a doctor should set an example and on this occassion they didnt. I hope the social work look into this on their return cause they were out of order. FFS young children being left alone? How can anyone justify that in a stange country when the kids could wake. That brings me to the doping allegations. Whats the difference between joe bloggs giving the kids some sleeping medication and these doctors? The difference is that joe bloggs would be hung drawn and quartered by now but because these are doctors is okay cause they knew what they were doing? Bollox!  Doctors are not allowed to treat their own families so If its t rue and they are not both struck off, Ill be gobsmacked!

[Zebediah]

Wait, wait, hold on there. Are you saying that because they are racked with guilt, that they shouldn't be prosecuted?

It's child neglect, whether they are remoseful or not. Oh, but hoi - they're SORRY. Oh, well that's ok then, case dismissed.

Also, a drunk driver regretted having another pint, getting into his car and mowing down 3 pedestrians - PROSECUTE!!! No,no,no - wait your honour, he/she regrets ever having another pint. etc, etc. Do you get my drift?

Not even remotely similar, and people get away with leaving their children all the time in this country, generally a warning from social services is all they get.

p.s. A lot of hate came through your post, suggest you try and get yourself a bj or the like