Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
Original poster

New thread to discuss the developments from the news for Madeleine Mccann

415 replies

ScoobyDooooo · 09/05/2007 12:17

I know the other thread got a bit out of hand but lets keep this one nice if possible.

I think it is good to discuss all that is happening in the news & also good to see peoples views on what is happening in the news.

The lastest i can see so far is that Madeleins parents want to keep focused on the finding of there daughter & want to keep this in the news they don't want things to turn on the police investigation & how it is being handled.

Mr & Mrs Mccann have also decided they want an E poster which they are going to be sending out through email to spread the news so that everyone, everywhere can look out for beautiful Madeleine.

OP posts:
scatterbrain · 10/05/2007 20:04

we know that

scatterbrain · 10/05/2007 20:05

actually the police said they were looking at cctv films - but would not comment further

crispyduck · 10/05/2007 20:06

MrsMar - I agree....tbh If it wasnt for the media, information would not get back to the public... don't get me wrong I don't believe in sensationalism like taking every bit of information about a celebrity and turning into a big dramaf, but this type of media coverage is diferent, why are they getting so much stick atm.

LucyJones · 10/05/2007 20:08

why are the media getting so much stick?
Wel i was pretty repulsed by the parents being driving away in a car lying down in the back under blankets chased by a pack of photographers

ThatBeetroot · 10/05/2007 20:09

But there is no news

LucyJones · 10/05/2007 20:11

exactly Beetroot.

UCM · 10/05/2007 20:12

I did say this on the other thread, telling the public that there is going to be a press conference in 6 hours time is obviously another bid to convince us that the Portuguese police are doing all that they can.

Which I am very sure they are. Sadly I don't ahve much faith in them at the moment simply because they are a very small force and I am not sure what technology/man power is available to them. I mean, Portugal doesn't have the problems as say London so there are probably 5 deputies and a sheriff. Tongue in cheek before anyone moans.

DANCESwithnewlytannedlegs · 10/05/2007 20:12

Mars - excellent post. I hope there is some news soon, those poor parents. I haven't watched any of the footage as I just can't bear to see those parent's grief but I am keeping up to date with what is happening and this thread is v. informative.I'm grateful to see (well this top bit I've been reading) hasn't turned into a bun fight.

crispyduck · 10/05/2007 20:15

Yes I agree, that is repulsive, but still the grandparents used the media this morning in an interview, so thats ok....The mother and father have both used the media for the the safe return of there little girl, surely the media are doing some good for them too.

scatterbrain · 10/05/2007 21:00

Agree with UCM - the Portuguese are trying to play the media ganme for us Brits - but they obv v uncomfortable with it and their laws prevent them actually giving any info.

There is no real news though - although some hopeful leads now.

belladonna · 10/05/2007 21:10

Thinking about Maddy made me think about my own infants. It's atavistic. It's terrible.

Please please please can all parents NOT leave their children alone?

Even if they are being checked every half hour, it is plenty of time for a child to be sick, choke, wake up with night frights, face fire hazards alone etc.

I know that most parents don't leave their children alone - for sure mine have never been left alone - this is a heartfelt plea to those who do.

Can Mumsnet please start a campaign for all parents to follow the law and not leave their children alone?

BigPantsRule · 10/05/2007 21:13

With apologies to anyone connected to the Portuguese police, I'm afraid the whole thing smacks of incompetence. It's all very well claiming that national laws prevent them from doing this or that, but precisely how the hell do they ever arrest anyone for anything, or get any witnesses of crimes, without disclosing at least some information? So they are now circulating pictures of Madeleine and a description of her clothing. Big deal - that should have been done on day 1, NOT day 7. A former UK detective being interviewed at the scene on GMTV this morning was questioning why the shutters and door of the apartment had not been taken away for forensic investigation, and why the wall over which the abductor would have climbed did not appear to have been covered over/cordoned off to prevent contamination. Another reporter yesterday asked a police officer who was searching the area why he had simply walked away from a remote padlocked building instead of gaining access or at least making some attempt to see inside. The answer? "Private property - against the law!" There was no suggestion of finding out who owned the shack so that they could gain permission to search it. So no, IMO they are NOT doing everything they can to secure the child's safe return. They should admit that they simply do not have the experience in this area and let the real experts take over.
End of rant.

quietmouse · 10/05/2007 21:19

I agree with you BPR.

Heartbreaking to think how this little girl may have been let down because of their inexperience and inability to let anyone help them.

It just feels to me as though they have given up on her. They have not their best by her, as far as I can see.

ChocolateFace · 10/05/2007 21:22

How involved are the British Police?

BigPantsRule · 10/05/2007 21:24

CF - as far as I know they are working merely in an advisory capacity. Sadly I think most of the main opportunities might have been missed by the time they were called in. Who knows, though, perhaps they ARE more involved than the Portuguese police are letting on. We can but hop.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 10/05/2007 21:25

They're getting involved I think now.

Did anyone see the picture of the photofit in the Times?

An oval with hair- no faical features at all

Well yes I'd guess you'd recognise that....

iammewhoru · 10/05/2007 21:30

Is it possible the parents were hidden under blankets so the media did not see their distress at perhaps being told the search was now being scaled down? Every time I think of this case I hear that appeal from Kate Mccann when she said ?she is so special. Please do not hurt her?. So so so terribly sad and I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through.

But I think the talk of childless couples only really serves to make those that feel so sad about this hope that she is being well looked after. A childless couple wouldn?t plan such an abduction. A childless couple would snatch a child when an opportunity arose, not watch a specific child and plan when to strike.

I would imagine the person that took this little girl planned to do it in Portugal or somewhere where they had little experience of these types of crimes so as to take advantage of that inexperience. But I don?t think we can really criticize the police because we don?t really know. We only know what the media tell us, and the media only know what they?ve been told, and can only gather information that they?ve been given access to so I think the picture that we?re getting is a bit of a half picture. Even the family have said they should not be criticized and I would imagine they would have been the first to jump on the bandwagon if the incomppetence was as bad as we are being led to believe.

I hope this family can find some answers and some peace, but sadly I don?t think this little girl will ever be found.

ChocolateFace · 10/05/2007 21:42

Think about it. You're very well off and your on child dies. You desperately want to replace her. You hire someone to find a replacemnet. they look for a particular type of child, but know if they take one fom an English speaking country, the police will be competant and find them. So they choose a country whos police isn't so good, and focus on English speaking holiday makers. I imagine they're a wealthy couple and therefore able to hide a child more easily. I really refuse to imagine anything more sinister.

foxcub · 10/05/2007 21:45

Totally agree with you BigPants

...and if they are focussing on 3 main suspects now, WTF haven't they released the CCTV footage of those suspects - so members of the public can let the police know if they have been spotted elsewhere???

foxcub · 10/05/2007 21:47

I get the feeling that atm the family are appeasing the Portugese Police, as they're so dependent on the local police to find their daughter. When this is all over I think we will really get a sense of the family's desperation and frustration with the laid back attitude of the local police.

iammewhoru · 10/05/2007 21:48

But she?s too old. They were talking to a detective who has been involved in lots of these types of cases and he was saying that a child to go to a childless couple would normaly be under 2 as they would be more likely to adapt quickly and forget what they had been through. A 4 year old would understand what was happening to them and it would take much longer for them to conform and to even learn to love their new parents.

quietmouse · 10/05/2007 21:50

iammewhoru - None of us should think like that. We have to remain positive! As the police are releasing so little detail, there is every chance she could have been taken 'to order' but to replace a specific child for a family who have lost a daughter.

Particularly if the sighting is her. That has to be really good news.

We must think that way, really.

ChocolateFace · 10/05/2007 21:50

I realise that, but whoever took her obviously wasn't thinking straight.

ChocolateFace · 10/05/2007 21:51

I agree with you quiet mouse.

foxcub · 10/05/2007 21:57

I understand that the CCTV footage of the three suspects and child was from the night she was taken....presumably en route to Spain