Where is Madeleine?

Question

If you are from Portugal, what is your opinion of the investigation and what do you think the outcome will be?

The law seems to make it difficult for the police to make any statements, but here in the UK, it is very frustrating to work out what has happened and when we will have more information.

Answer 1

I am Portuguese and very emotional with all that is going on with the search for little Maddie. My opinion is that the Portuguese Police should've reacted straight away. Spain is a short drive away from Portugal and no one stops you at the border or checks your documents. While they have been searching in Portugal Maddie was probably already in Spain. I can understand that by law they cannot disclose any information, and everyone has to respect the laws of the country, however, I do think that to begin with they were slow. There is no point in blaming and pointing fingers at anyone because at the end of the day a lot of people made mistakes. Maddie's parents should not have left those children alone, the Portuguese police should've reacted a lot quicker and the British Media instead of pointing fingers could've assisted by getting news out to Spain and other European countries.

I just hope that Maddie is found and for today...Happy Birthday Maddie.

Answer 2

I think that maybe the investigation started just a little bit late but that's just an opinion and that's all. On the other hand, I think the police (together with the British police) has been trying as hard as possibl to find clues and get results, difficult as it may be. As for the outcome, I'm pessimistic, but again what do I know? Let's just hope and pray that some miracle comes along and they finally find Maddie safe and sound.

Answer 3

As far as I know, the parents reported to the police 2 hours after "not finding Maddie". In less than 1h 30m you can reach Spain. But this was not the police's fault. (Or anyone's...) . As far as I know the Portuguese police started to work immediately. It's true they don't say much. I agree with that. You don't want to let the criminals know what you are investigating! Then you loose the factor "Surprise". That seems to be tremendously important in cases like these. Let the British Press be annoyed. The only important thing is to bring Maddie Home!!!

Answer 4

I am not from Portugal, but I hope that she returns safely. I feel so bad for a little girl, I was a little girl and once lost at school outside, I was so scared crying my eyes off until my mum found me an hour later. I can imagine how much of fear this little girl has, hopefully if she is alive. Hope so.... I really hope..

Answer 5

I agree with Jorge...
Everything has been so vague, the investigation was brought out too late. I hope she's found. I read somewhere theyre thinking the kidnapper was a Brit?

I agree.. the British media pisses me off, they do nothing but make things worse. Fudge. I hate them.

Answer 6

I have just read the reward is now 2.5 million pounds, I hope she turns up alive and well very soon

Answer 7

Could you all please send this to your contacts? Thanks
-----------------------------
READ THIS BULLETIN - AND REPOST IT FOR ME - IT MAY BE A BIT LONG BUT ITS A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION - SIMPLE AS THAT !!!!

IT CONCERNS LITTLE 3 YEAR OLD MADELEINE McCANN WHO HAS BEEN ABDUCTED IN THE ALGARVE IN PORTUGAL !!!!




ANYONE WITH ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HER - GO TO THE BBC NEWS WEBSITE AND CALL THE NUMBER THEY HAVE ON THERE OK.

ALTERNATIVELY CONTACT ME ON MYSPACE AT:

www.myspace.com/96931253

GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION AND I WILL PASS IT ON FOR YOU - THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM !!!!

SHE IS AWAY FROM HER MUMMY AND DADDY RIGHT NOW WITH SOMEONE SHE DOESN'T KNOW AND MUST BE SO SCARED LOVE HER LITTLE HEART.

IF EVERYONE REPOSTS THIS FOR ME - ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE IN THE ALGARVE AREA OF PORTUGAL - THEN MAYBE WE CAN UNCOVER SOME CLUES OR HELP IN SOME WAY.



IT WILL COST YOU NOTHING BUT 2 OR 3 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME THATS ALL. AND IT MAY JUST GET THIS POOR LITTLE 3 YEAR OLD GIRL BACK WITH HER MUMMY AND DADDY - AND YA MIGHT LIKE TO SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR HER TOO !!!!

TO REPOST THIS - SIMPLY CLICK ON 'REPLY TO BULLETIN' AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE - WHEN THE NEW PAGE OPENS - COPY AND PASTE THE WHOLE PAGE INTO YOUR BROWSER - THEN GO PASTE IT INTO A NEW BULLETIN OK. IMPORTANT ***CLICK REPLY TO BULLETIN FIRST THEN COPY PASTE IT INTO A NEW BULLETIN OR THE PICS OF MADELEINE WONT SHOW UP OK ******

TAKES 2 MINS TO DO - AND IT MAY WELL SAVE THIS LITTLE GIRL FROM HER TERRIBLE TERRIBLE ORDEAL.




HERE IS THE BBC NEWS ARTICLE ABOUT ALL THIS OK - READ AND REPOST IT ALL PLEASE !!!!


The mother of missing Madeleine McCann has appealed to whoever is holding the three-year-old not to hurt her.
Madeleine is believed to have been abducted from the family's holiday apartment in Portugal on Thursday.

Her mother Kate McCann, from Leicestershire, said: "Please let us know where to find Madeleine or put her in a place of safety."

Portuguese police have widened their search to nine miles (15km) from the Algarve village of Praia da Luz.

Mrs McCann, who had asked to speak to the media, said: "We would like to say a few words to the person who is with our Madeleine, or has been with Madeleine.

"Madeleine is a beautiful, bright, funny and caring little girl. She is so special. Please, please, do not hurt her.

Speaking with husband Gerry at her side, she added: "We beg you to let Madeleine come home. We need our Madeleine."

Her final sentence was in Portuguese - "Por favor, devolva a nossa menina" - which means "Please give our little girl back".

Pyjamas

About 50 volunteers have been helping to search the area for signs of the girl, including the clothes she was wearing when she vanished.

Her family confirmed she was wearing white pyjama bottoms with a small floral design and a short-sleeved pink top with a picture of Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore.

The pyjamas, bought in Marks and Spencer last year, had the Eeyore written in capital letters.

Police have a sketch of a suspect but will not elaborate on their evidence "to safeguard the child's life".


Portuguese police say they believe Madeleine is alive

The toddler is believed to have been taken from her bed while her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant and regularly checking on her and their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

BBC correspondent Robert Hall said he had been out with a volunteer search team - made up mainly of British expats and tourists - on Monday.

Although they said they had not been well briefed by police, they did know one item they were looking out for was Madeleine's clothing, our correspondent said.

Dave Felton, an expat from Manchester who lives in the village, said: "People are still hoping that we don't actually find her and that she is safe and sound somewhere."

Around the marina in the nearby town of Lagos, maritime police have been searching amid claims that a man was seen with a small girl in the area.

In Portugal we say 'hope is the last thing to lose'

Mayor Julio Barroso


Police under spotlight

Marina worker Joao Riveiro said a number of officers had been searching and making inquiries.

"Police without uniforms moved around a lot about two days ago. They moved around and were asking questions."

Officers have taken records of all boats booked into the marina between 27 April and 6 May.

Along the nearby coast police have checked a cave complex at Ponta da Piedade, with the help of volunteer canoeists.

'Vague sketch'

Police, who have received thousands of calls, have not reported any progress in their investigation since saying on Saturday they thought Madeleine had been abducted but was alive.

They are coming under increasing pressure to give more information, but correspondent Robert Hall said it was not the style of the Portuguese police to provide constant updates to the media and public.

Local mayor Julio Barroso told BBC News 24 work was going on behind the scenes to try to find Madeleine.

"Our judicial police are following all the signs, and they are working very hard for all these days and they have many many people involved," he said.




In pictures: Madeleine search

He said about 130 people were working on the case, including 80 detectives, some of whom had come from the capital Lisbon. The team also involved local and maritime police, firefighters, volunteers and members of the Red Cross, he said.

When asked how he felt about what had happened he said: "In Portugal we say 'hope is the last thing to lose'."

At the weekend, officers were stopping cars on roads and searching abandoned homes and scrubland in the surrounding Algarve countryside.

Airports across the country are on alert and police believe the toddler is still in Portugal.

They have been showing locals what one called "a vague sketch" of a suspect.

It is believed the image shows only the rear view of a man.

Mrs McCann found the outside shutter and window to Madeleine's room had been opened and her daughter missing shortly before 2200 local time on Thursday.

Mark Warner managing director David Hopkins said in having a meal nearby in what was a "very safe environment", the McCanns had "done nothing that I'm sure many parents wouldn't have done".

A spokesman for the company said two holiday bookings at the resort had been cancelled and six had asked to go to another site.