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.

[DonkeyHoaty]

Her parents must be relieved that there will be someone to share the blame with.

[itchycopark]

well if your old enough to remember "Butlins" that's what parents did then they, had chalet attendant's going round every so often to check if kids were crying or not with chalets that had been numbered with children in ,which is what mrs mccann was doing, seems ok to me but of course the unthinkable can happen as it did,
to me the way the mccanns have been treated by the press and the majority of people is despicable
that's my opinion

[DonkeyHoaty]

But weren’t most Butlins a secure camp anyway?
I still remember the old Bultlitz escape committee t shirts from back in the day.

[pat2604]

Butlins was a secure camp. Gates were locked at night. I remember it well. I don't blame the parents or think they were involved in any way, but I think that responsible parents would not leave a three year old and two babies in an unlocked apartment on a road anyone could access easily and just check every half hour!

[pat2604]

Basically this was a BBC headline this morning which has been the most positive step forward and might bring things to a close. I just added my own thoughts to it. I just think I could never cope knowing I had left kids in that situation.

[pastafreak]

I remember reading at the time, other parents saying it was common practice. That many parents left their children in the same way and felt secure doing so.

[pastafreak]

As you, I'd never stop blaming myself if my child was the victim.

[pat2604]

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!

[pat2604]

Agreed Pasta.

[naomi24]

Lottie, I thought that was a gated holiday resort? As has been said holiday camps offered child listening services, as did hotels in Europe at one time.

[pat2604]

I love the name DonkyHoaty! Welcome if you are new and welcome back if you are not;0)

[pat2604]

Not hated Naomi. I know that area well and as far as Incan remember those holiday complexes are not hated. We have stayed in a couple of them.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/11/madeleinemccann1

[pat2604]

Gated!!

[pat2604]

Itchycoo, if you read my link you will see that there wasn't a baby sitting service and neither was there any form of child alarm in the apartment.

[andy-hughes]

I would not have left our children, but they have had a lifetime to regret it every waking minute.

[chelle7272]

It was not gated and they could have taken up the babysitting service.

[puzzled54]

Whatever they did, they did not deserve this outcome

[naomi24]

I agree puzzled. No one is sorrier than they are. They’ll beat themselves up for the rest of their lives. Dreadful, just dreadful. Poor people.

[pat2604]

Chelle. There was no babysitting service. If you read my guardian link, you will see they got a reduced payment for that reason.

[pat2604]

I feel sorry for them, but I think they made a huge mistake. I would never forgive myself.