People need to back off and leave maddy's parents alone.?

Question

Do you really think it is constructive behaviour to continue criticising and dragging down her parents?

In a way, i can see why they may have decided to take this risk: Have we heard of any child abduction case's in portugal in recent years? The Alrgarve is viewed by many as a relatively safe place to be, and many children play in the streets on their own and come to no harm. The parents of maddy must have thought they could just about get away with leaving them on their own. The restaurant isnt millions of miles away, and i suppose they thought to themselves- what could possibly happen, they are in bed.

Again, im not supporting it, im just trying to see things from their perspective.At the end of the day, the risk backfired, but i really dont see what good it will do for people to continue torturing them and pushing their faces into the dirt. We need to focus on getting maddy back now and offering all our support to Kate and Gerry McCann.

Thanyou.

I know the majority verdict is to not leave your kids on their own, but please, please remeber who is at stake here: the little girl.

I swear to you now, these parents are really going to get done for this. Wouldnt be suprised if social services intervene or get given a harder punishment.

I think they were very very naive and very stupid, maybe they just wanted to get away- maybe they kids were driving them mad the previous day. You know what kids are like, i really dont know.


I really dont see how you can put a meal first in front of your own children.

anything is better than constant sniping, and no do u really think if i had an iota of a clue where she is, i would be on the phone sooner than you can say jack rabbit. you idiot.

Answer 1

If we allow these parents to get off scott-free, we'll be essentially incentivising all parents who lose their children. We need to keep the pressure on.

Answer 2

My heart truly goes out to them being a parent of three myself but the truth of the matter is that this would NOT have happened if they hadnt left the kids alone. I dont think anyone is the perfect parent but the kids were very young to be left alone. A lot can happen in half an hour between checks. I pray that she can come home safe. If the parents were young or single mother they would be prosecuted probably for neglect so why should the McCanns be any different. however, the loss of their child and the guilt they must be feeling is all the punishment they need. They have my support cos at the end of the day, they know they have done wrong but the ones who took her are the real criminals and we should focus on getting her home

Answer 3

Firstly, the parents didn't just leave the kids alone - they left them alone in a GROUND FLOOR ROOM.

There can be no excuse for this - it simply defies common sense.

Secondly, the issue isn't that the parents didn't think there was a risk of abduction - the issue is that it's just not safe to leave children where they are out of your sight. Not because they might be kidnapped, but because so many awful things can happen. E.G children could choke, fall, be ill.

Thirdly, the parents didn't just do it once: they did it every night! This means that anyone could have watched their routine and known when those children would be alone and vulnerable.

Finally; like everyone, I feel desperately sorry for the parents; it's the most terrible ordeal. But I feel more sorry for their daughter - she's the only totally innocent party in this and sadly, she's probably the one suffering the most.

Answer 4

Hi,
No I don’ think that we should ignore the fact that two highly educated parents (they are doctors) should not have left such young and vulnerable children alone whilst they went out to dinner at a nearby restaurant, no matter how close it was, or how frequently they allegedly returned to check on their children.

Such arguments will hold no water in Portugal, where children of all ages accompany their parents to restaurants and outdoor cafes. In fact most restaurants are very well set up accommodate young children, and youngsters are welcome.
Another issue is that the resort where they were staying offered a baby sitting service.

My points are not intended to heap further misery on this couple, who will carry the burden of their decision for the rest of their lives. It is just a dispassionate look at the shared responsibility they share in this incident, and the tirades about the performance of the Portuguese should be considered with these points in mind.

I smell the burning quills of outraged feminists scorching parchment.

Having brought up five kids, I say that no parent can totally eliminate every possible risk that young kids face during growing up, from fleeting moments their kids may be alone, to that very first motor-bike (God forbid), or their first date.

Very young toddlers are extremely vulnerable to their physical surroundings, and to disturbed adults. Parents should strive to eliminate as many risks as they can, manage the risks that surround toddlers.

This couple had several choices that would have reduced the risk to their toddlers:

1. Stay home, and eat in.
2. Hire a baby sitter
3. Take their kids with them

They did neither, and they share responsibility to what happened to their daughter.

Walsh

Answer 5

You simply do not "take risks" when it comes to the safety of your children.
You should never go out to a meal and leave 3 children under the age of 4 in bed.

"We need to focus on getting maddy back now and offering all our support to Kate and Gerry McCann." What good will this do?
Unless you know something or are helping in some way that is the only possible way of finding her. Focusing, huh

Answer 6

Slaging of her parents isn`t going to make the situation any better, however put yourself in a small childs shoes u wake up u cry for mummy she doesn`t come so u cry for daddy he doesn`t come you would be terrified. Put asside the fact that maddy was taken anyone of the three children could of woken and been terrifed for 30mins. If they were a young unmarried couple from a council estate they would be treated very differently by the press and public.

Answer 7

I think it was an error in judgement to leave the children alone in the apartment. After all I am sure they wouldn't leave them home alone back in England. However, I am sure that there is nothing anyone can say that could make them feel any more guilty.

People need to stop criticising them and focus on finding Madeleine. They made a mistake that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives and they do not deserve the negativity they are now facing.

Answer 8

Well said tabitha. These kids had got a routine going of being left home alone. The maniac who took her had ovbiously watched and waited for how many nights? I read in the paper that they had left them alone everynight of the holiday with the patio doors open in case of fire!! Ok i accept you cannot believe everything the papers say but what we do know for a fact is that the parents left their 3 kiddies home alone. To be a parent is an honour and a privledge, i know they are probably going through hell but Mr and Mrs McCann you could of avoided this.

Answer 9

As bad as it is about the poor girl, the facts remain the same. If she hadn't have been abandoned, she would not be missing. I too, would be on the first plane out there if it would do any good, or i knew where she was. I hope like anyone that she is well and ready to be found. But you cant stop people from criticising her 'educated' parents. They let her down.

Answer 10

The Eurovision song contest is on tonight. It's watched by an estimated 100 to 600 million people world wide. The family's tradgedy should be highlighted at some point in the show. Think about this. It would only take a minute. Spread the word.

Answer 11

I have been wondering if perhaps the parents of Maddy had been leaving the children alone every night and perhaps someone noticed their routine.
You have to wonder how he/she/they knew the children were left alone.
I agree that leaving the children alone is outright NEGLECT but no-one can punish the parents more than they will be punishing themselves.