I too think they have been punished enough (presuming that their only crime is to have neglected their children to go for a meal. However, it annoys me royally how much the press have tiptoed around the neglect issue. I know if it had been me, because I am a single mum and live on a council estate the story would have been told so differently. Boozy mum, blah, blah.
However, little Maddie has disappeared and the only question left to ask is, are the twins safe in their care? If the answer to that is yes, then no more should be said. If prison or taking them to court is about punishment then they have been punished in the wort way possible for any parent. If the court action is about rehabilitation, I would think any judge would presume that it was a lesson already learned.
I think their other kids deserve a break from this. Its an awful thing to happen but they dont need to grow up in the shadow of their missing sister.