Madeleine - A Step Forward

[pat2604]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61183857

It would seem that there could be an end to this case if all goes to plan.

I still will never understand how parents could even consider acting as they did.

[ladybirder]

They had to "cope" Pat. They had two other children needing them.

[andy-hughes]

pat - // I feel sorry for them, but I think they made a huge mistake. //

I think everyone acknowledges that - but none more than the McCanns.

[andy-hughes]

pat - // I doubt Portuguese parents would do it. Children are out and about in Mediterranean countries in the evenings. The English seem besotted with putting kids to bed early even on holiday! //

I entirely agree - as the Butlins' system shows, British culture has long been for parents to enjoy their evenings without their children, unlike their European counterparts who enjoy their children all the time.

Our oldest girls are in their forties now, but when they were under-tens, we would usually take them with us when we went out to eat in an evening, and we got used to the twin situations we encountered - one was that they would be the only children in the restaurant, and the other was that we would be openly stared at for doing something so unusual as eating out as a family, after seven in the evening.

We always enjoyed going abroad, where everyone else - apart from the British of course, did what we did, which was enjoy our children's company, and witness the by-product of them being comfortable eating in restaurants, and knowing how to behave, and order easily as adults.

I think things are better now, eating as a family is far more common than it was when ours were small, but it's taken time for that to change.

My take on it is that the Europeans simply like being with their children, and don't see the need to pack them off to bed in order to relax and enjoy a glass of wine.

[ladybirder]

The rest of their party did the same, each taking it in turns to check on the others. Unfortunately when it was Gerry's turn to check he did not actually push open the children's bedroom door. He could see the twins were there but Maddie's bed was behind the door. All was quiet so he assumed all was well. If he had looked they would have known she was missing one hour earlier.

[anneasquith]

I do believe this child was dead not long after she went missing.

[andy-hughes]

Anne - Why do you believe that?

[burlyshirley]

^ I've always thought that. Used and then killed, sadly.

[Mozz71]

Well, I hope the fella is guilty because whether he is or not, making his identity public like this will forever link him with the case.

[Peter Pedant]

the suspect has been an arguido ( cautioned witness ) before

I thought the extra evidence was a jail cell confession
( well he would do that wouldnt he?)

[Khandro]

Unfortunately, they might have the right man, but what they have for evidence seems to be all circumstantial, he's a convicted rapist & known to have broken into properties, but unless there is more concrete evidence such as DNA or a witness the chances of convicting him look to be nil I'm afraid.

[ladybirder]

I hope Anne is right. If she did die the quicker it happened the less she suffered.

[Sqad]

A-H anne is statistically correct as just under 80% of abducted children are dead within being abducted.

[Sqad]

"within 48 hours "

[Sqad]

If and a big If she was found alive, she would be 18 years old now, so I ask should she be returned to her family?

[anneasquith]

Sqad, I believe at 18 years old, that would be her decision .

[ladybirder]

She should be allowed to do whatever SHE wants.

[Canary42]

/// should she be returned to her family? ///

After the way they neglected her ? No way.

[dannyk13]

Sqad // should she be returned to her family//
I think that would depend on what sort of life she was living.

[Sqad]

At 17 years of age, I was told that I was removed from my mother at birth and the people who brought me up, called Mum and Dad, were not my parents..........no decision to make.......I stayed with my non biological parents.

Yes, yes, I suppose it would be for her to decide, BUT if she decided to stay with the people who brought her up, would the McCann's accept her decision?
I doubt it.

[dannyk13]

Sqad //would the McCann's accept her decision?//
If she was eighteen years old they would have to accept it.