To think that today's news offers a glimmer of hope

[boringnickname]

here that Madeleine could still be alive. I have always thought the worse but this being bought up again now seems to be quite out of the blue and i can't help but hope.

I know its bad form, but i just wanted to share the glimmer

That isn't an inconsistency it is simply a fact of the case.

For crying out loud. Does anyone seriously think if the mccans had a hand in this they would be continually chasing publicity and trying to get cases reopened left right and centre? Really? Surely they would just fade into the background and not actively seek publicity.

i know it is a fact but whether or not she answered the questions or not, there would still be conspiracy throries on every minute detail...they breed on this kind of stuff...

They could have had the case re opened but they all refused to go back for a reconstruction

After seeing that video noddy it does make me question my original thoughts on what did happen to little Madeleine.

I wouldn't pretend to take one side or the other but Twofalls, when someone has created an elaborate fallacy then they are bound to act as the protagonists within that construction.

I am not suggesting this; just pointing out that what you state isn't necessarily evidence one way or another. I hope that makes sense.

Sadly I don't think it changes anything, the media do this every year and it must be upsetting for the macanns to see how their daughter might look today. I ghope they find her but with every year it passes it gets less and less likey Poor Madeleine

"and it must be upsetting for the macanns to see how their daughter might look today."

I believe the age progressed picture was done with their agreement. I assume they could have said no?

The one thing I remember as being rather "odd" behaviour from the poor wee mites mother was that she washed her daughters favourite toy. I personally, and can of course only speak for myself, would want to sniff the unwashed version till the day I died.

I have always wondered why too my mates would move heaven and earth if anything happened to my ds and vice versa. I am also surprised that none of their friends speak out in their defence

Yes, doormat I know what you mean but I sort of cling to the hope that it was something to do with her parents because for Maddy that would be a better way to die (if she is) than the prospect of thinking a peodophile ring got hold of her.

doormat so sorry x. The files talk about that the washing thing and also that they tore a page out of madeleines book to write a timeline of the checking system before the police were called.

its ok n ty, just giving out an example of how i feel..have asked for that comment to be removed as it detracts from the thread..yes noddy have heard of that too

If it was my child, I also wouldn't want to wash it. Why would anyone?

"For crying out loud. Does anyone seriously think if the mccans had a hand in this they would be continually chasing publicity and trying to get cases reopened
left right and centre? Really? Surely they would just fade into the background and not actively seek publicity."

I'm not entirely sure all this publicity was their choice though. Yes they have participated in it, but I don't think anyone could have anticipated the publicity that this case would have generated, and so quickly. I can well imagine that it would be easy to get swept along with it.

In cases of missing people it is in fact very common for the family to make a television appeal regarding the whereabouts of that person. In fact it is something that is actively encouraged in order that criminal psychologists can study the family's behavior in order to ascertain the likelyness of involvement by judging their reactions. I'm not saying that's what happened with the Mccanns but that this is general practice. It's also not uncommon for a family member to make an impassioned plea for the safe return of their loved one, only for it to turn out that they in fact had a hand in the disappearance themselves. Again not saying that's what happened here, but the statement that x and y wouldn't have happened if z just doesn't hold up because it happens time and time and time again in other cases.

Exactly Titfortat, why wash it but of course this comment and yours will probably be deleted as anyone that believes any different to anyone else isnt allowed an opinion.

Some of you are really demeaning yourselves and Mumsnet.

Completely agree wannabe. But to keep it up for 5 years? And if they had no control to begin with, as interest began to wane they certainly were pivotal in keeping the interest up. So I don't buy it. To what end would they still be creating such a stir if they indeed were at the centre of it.

Immediately afterwards, yes. 5 years on, I can't see it.

Apparently she washed it 70 days after Maddie disappeared as it no longer had her smell and was filthy. I can understand why they returned home after being named as suspects, you'd want to be with family. When it first happened I thought they were suspicious, but surely grief and guilt (for leaving her) would make anyone act strangely.

I also worked with an idiot woman at the time who's son was in Leicester police. Apparently he'd said that the police all had their theories, hinting that they thought the parents were responsible. Not sure if all of the leicester police would have inside knowledge, or whether what my colleague said was even true.

Personally, I feel sorry for the parents. Not only must they grieve their child, but also live with the guilt that they are partly responsible.

I will no longer be commenting on this thread as true opinions cant be spoken!
Isnt it odd no-one is allowed an opinion on this case anywhere included twitter, facebook, netmums or here.

pumpkinsweetie plenty of comments on twitter.