Were the McCannes wrong to leave Medaleine alone?

Answer 1

1. Learn to spell.
2. Get your facts right.
3. She wasn't alone.
4. Community guidelines do not permit me to convey my opinion of people who ask really stupid questions!

Answer 2

YES.

Some people have tried to justify what the McCann's were doing (every night of the holiday, by some accounts) by saying that a child can disappear from under your nose if you just take your eyes off them for a few seconds, but they were NOT with the children, and this was NOT for a few seconds.

Saying 'nobody's perfect' (again, as some people are, trying to silence criticism of the McCanns) doesn't change that. Maybe she still would have disappeared even if they had stayed at home...but nobody can say that for sure, because they didn't.

If rather than disappearing, Madeleine or one of the twins had been found to have had a serious accident in the apartment after being left there alone all evening, the McCanns would have been legally responsible for the consequences due to 1) leaving the children unsupervised/unprotected and 2) not being there to take immediate action when the accident happened. In fact, at least in British law, even if they had left the children with a responsible 15-year old babysitter, if anything had happened, they would STILL hold legal responsibility (a babysitter in the UK is only legally responsible for their charge/s when aged 16 or over).


Leaving little (or even older) children alone like that (even when NO accident or abduction takes place...even if the doors and windows ARE locked...) can cause emotional damage. It is NEGLECT, and yes it is WRONG.

Answer 3

I think so, I have 2 children, although they are old enough to look after themselves now, I would never have dreamt of leaving them alone even at home, I know this is a terrible thing that has happened, but 3/4 year old children like to wonder why leave 3 kiddies all under the age of 4 alone. Popping back isn't good enough, it takes only seconds to fall from a cot, choke anything. I find myself getting quite angry at the parents and questioning their actions?

Answer 4

"Were the McCannes wrong to leave Medaleine alone?"


YES! YES! YES! YES!

Anyone who thinks otherwise are *insert chosen insult*

Answer 5

Yes and everybody knows that. What caring mother does that in the first place? I think it is disgusting. The parents should be punished for what they done. After all they brought this on in the first place. I feel like banging their heads together. I am not a parent and even I know how wrong and stupid they were.

Answer 6

100% Wrong. That little girl needed her parents, you don't know how much of a struggle she went through being taken from the room where no one was bothering about them. Hope the parents enjoyed their quiet evening in the 'near by' tapas bar. Pitty they hadn't done what most parents on holiday have to do and that is to put the children in their pushchairs and enjoy a family meal!

Answer 7

Yes, anything could have happened. What if there had been a fire, what could the parents have done to save them sitting 100 ft away in a bar. One of them could have choked to death in fact theres that many things that could have happened. If any of the things above happened people would have rightly said what irresponsible parents they are so why are we expected to feel any different because their child has been abducted. It doesn`t alter the fact that if they were taking care of their children it wouldn`t have happened.

Answer 8

yes they were wrong they may not have deserved to have their child snatched but they can't escape the fact that if they had used the babysitting service offered by the hotel it would not have happened can't help wondering if the girl is returned if they will have been learned a valuble lesson or if back in britan they will leave their children home alone while they go off to the pub

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

YES very wrong... she was their responsibility.they have behaved in a very irresponsible selfish and neglectful way.It is also against Portugese and UK law to leave children under the age of 13 alone.

Answer 11

II'd like to tell you Val (whoever you are), the McCaans are not 'paying' for it - others are paying for it (quite literally!) while they are enjoying the rewards. They have made a grave mistake indeed. Wish this had happened in UK where action would've been taken against them. They are selfish irresponsible, wanton parents who need a few lessons in parenting.