Maddie x

[PatriciaH]

Just been on the 6 oclock news that the little girl in the paper abroad is not her .... sad news..

[China Doll]

At the moment it's just you.

The media has a lot to answer for.

As do some members of the general public.

Ghouls.

[monkeyeyes]

I have to say that I think it's just you, too Rev.

The McCanns stayed relatively quiet over this 'photo', giving the briefest response they could, really.....................they had to comment or the 'grumblies' would have been saying that they hadn't because they knew she was dead, anyway.

[4getmenot]

ITV said 5 :-(

[Emu2005]

The whole thing is just terrible, but what also depresses me is that people think it suspicious the photo came out 3 days after the new PR people were appointed - it's depressing that people will jump to this conclusion, but even more depressing is that I agree - I think there is the slightest chance this may in fact have been a PR stunt, in which case shouldn't these people be working on finding her instead of working on PR?

[Reverandfunk]

Emu the reason why I am cynical is because of the way I personally think the Mcwotsits have used the media, turning the hunt for a missing little girl into some kind of sick circus. When top PR people are involved i wouldn't put anything past them.

[Gromit]

It is just you Reverandfunk.

The picture was handed directly to the police by the tourist who took it. The police leaked to to the Spanish press and was published on several websites. The McCann's legal team wre handed the picture and only then were the family asked for their opinion.

"Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said the photograph had been passed to the McCann family via their legal team, and was also with Spanish police and British and Portuguese authorities."

No new PR person involved other than to deal with press who were building up this cruel non story.

The statement on behalf of the McCanns read:

i"On an initial glance, it appears to look like Madeleine - about the right age and of European appearance. They have a policy of not commenting on each sighting. They know all too well through bitter experience that all of the sightings up until now have come to nothing.
You can imagine the sort of emotional rollercoaster each time that sort of information comes in."

Very wise words.

[Reverandfunk]

Isnt Clarence Mitchell new?

[sp1814]

I'm 41, and I'm almost certain that when I retire in 19 years, there will be sightings of that girl, and the Daily Express will be printing a new exclusive extract from Gerry's book.

It's just going to go on forever and ever.

[monkeyeyes]

I don't quite get the 'media circus' accusations, I really don't.

If you think that the PR folks are the ring-masters, then the Portuguese Police have to be the clowns...........

[Reverandfunk]

What does that make the parents then?

Irresponsible ar5eholes?

So you dont think meeting the pope, the european tour etc etc was a circus?

[monkeyeyes]

As devout catholics I should imagine having the benediction of God's holy representative on earth was the most comforting thing which they have experienced since May 3rd. The fact that television crews and cameramen followed them is neither here nor there................You can no more summon the media to you than you can ask it to leave you alone !

And publicising your daughter's plight on mainland Europe is perfectly sensible............have you not noticed how easy it is to travel from country to country in Europe and in a relatively short time.........and so they needed to cover as much ground as is humanly possible !

[Reverandfunk]

Devout catholics, a very good religious family.

Pity the church didnt tell them it's a sin to neglect your kids

[China Doll]

And here we go again.

I must talk to Groms about starting up the indignation short cut again.

[monkeyeyes]

And that is entirely the point over which you will NEVER get, Rev.

It utterly colours your view of all subsequent events and you'll never find it in your heart to allow them the compassion I feel they deserve.

[B00]

I really don't understand why they are being criticised for using the media to publicise their daughters disappearance? So the little girl in question wasn't Madeleine, but it could have been- and if it wasn't for the worldwide awareness of her these sightings would go unnoticed.

We can, and we have, all been quite vocal towards them for leaving her alone in the first place, but my God are they now paying the price. We shouldn't forget that there is possibly (providing she's not already dead) a little girl somewhere who will be missing her family dreadfully and be wanting to go home. Whatever the Mccanes do to achieve that cannot be criticised.

[Reverandfunk]

There is only one person that deserves compassion and she's missing.

Why do the parents need compassion? Lost a daughter, who was in the creche all day, screamed at all night before being left alone, yes loads of compassion for the poor parents.

[laurence2]

Rever,

I know we have not seen eye to eye in recent weeks. lol. But you have my full backing when it comes to the parents being irresponsible.

People who believe they had nothing to do with maddie going missing, are seriously ''missing'' the point, they had everything to do with maddie going missing, and if someone gives me the c0ck and bull storey that they are ''PROFESSIONALS'' one more time, i'll go mad.

Immaterial to the outcome of maddie, the parents will always be seen as ''GUILTY'' because it was there selfish actions in the first place that put us where we are now.

[Reverandfunk]

I only disagree with you Luarence when you spout rubbish about chelsea lol.

At least u aint a Villa fan lol

[Reverandfunk]

They key to her disappearance is within 10 miles of where she disappeared from

[monkeyeyes]

Oh ! Did the McCanns leave their children alone ? Well, why on earth has nobody mentioned that before !!?!

Let's just stick there, then, shall we ?

Nope, we don't deserve anyones help, or publicity, or financial assistance.
We deserve to be castigated/villified/ stoned/dragged through the streets behind a donkey.
We deserve to be thoroughly punished by having murderous accusations levelled at us for no other reason than we are white, middle-class professionals and we made a bad mistake.
And as a final torture no-one must mention or publicise Maddies plight....................let her remain where she is; terrified and fightened :

THAT'LL CERTAINLY TEACH US, WON'T IT ?