Which way do the McCanns turn now?

Question

Now that their fabricated superficial facade of naivety is visibly melting away along with their popularity just what now for the McCanns?
Do they stay in Portugal and risk becoming the main focus of suspicion and contempt from the locals or do they come home and risk Social Services and therefore the possible loss of the twins, and the potential loss of their jobs in the medical world?

Lexy31:

That's the point. Just which way do you go?
A nightmare of their own construction.

Emma T:

Yes, that's what I like to see. After considering the wording and layout of my question, the pertinent quandary of their plight, the ramifications of either choice you reply with such a fulsome and intelligent deeply considered answer that a recalcitrant turnip would deem fatuous.
What an asset you are to the debating society. From now on I will no longer have to wonder about what anyone should ever have to consider under any circumstances, I will henceforth just impart that those involved should just "get over it".
Move over the Dimblebys, here she comes.

Teddy:

That's the McCann's defence - they did nothing illegal. How satisfying that is when they are one child down is beyond me.
Morally they are repugnant. Leaving their children 7 days alone at night on the trot!
By all mean don't judge them, just ask yourself if you have used them as babysitters.
No idea re the twins about sexual and physical abuse (huh?) but certainly neglect. Why did they bung them in a creche all day and leave them alone at night? Some morals.

17pdr:

That idea was mooted months ago and I would not be at all surprised to see the book, film, play, toys, etc...

Arthur B:

And how do you arrive at that erroneous conclusion?
I tell you, if I am sick then at least I still have my child by virtue of the fact I never left him alone at night if I went out. Going out boozing 7 nights and leaving children that age alone - well, that's what I call sick.

Nanook 570:

Your point "But saying that,i dont think many people would want to be treated by them if that's the level of care they give to their own children" answers why they might lose their medical jobs.
Good points. I feel their best hopes are staying in Portugal if Madeleine isn't found but finding Madeleine would change all that.

Faith:

There is no glee here, just astonishment at how the media have fawned over "parents" who neglected their children. None of us lack empathetic compassion for their loss, but we are annoyed when we hear that they maintain they did nothing wrong. What kind of message is that?
Thank you, nice to be here and keep up the robust grilling of those who posit questions like I do, I am there to be taken to task for all I say, which I stand by but am prepared to be challenged.

Ra Horus

Yes, I am tired of that. On off on off....
Good point, I totally agree, that there was total lack of humility on their part which has engendered a slightly less than warm feeling for the McCanns despite the magnitude and nature of their loss.
That, couple with Gerry's marketing of his own missing daughter, well, they have not done themselves any favours in my eyes.

Curly Sue:

Yes, the guilt will stay with them, and that is sad, I have to say.
All I would say to those who castigate myself and others for impugning the McCanns only have to ask themselves how they would feel if it was THEIR children the McCanns were "babysitting" that night.

RM:

I agree with all of that, I don't think I could answer that any better at all (or even near it!)
Thank you.

Hiya JACK H:

Oh boy, another spot on answer.
Well said, I agree with all that as well. Thanks again.
The circus has turned into a rollercoaster...

Little weed:

True. It is just that this past few days there has been speculation they are leaving Portugal - then they're not.
Made me wonder what was expedient.

Busy Bee:

I can understand that. See my answer to her.

Answer 1

I find it odd that there has been talk of them coming home now. By all accounts the investigation is more active now than at any other stage over the past three months. The PJ have gone on record saying that they are following new leads, the blood test results aren't even in yet, and if the sniffer (cadaver) dog reports are true, then surely that's a hugely significant thing, and dramatically changes the direction of the investigation.
If it were me, it would confirm that my decision to remain in Portugal was the correct one, where I would be close to the investigation and any new developments, and I wouldn't be thinking of going anywhere.
I wonder if it's a somewhat petulant knee-jerk reaction to the shift in the parents' relationship with the PJ, not to mention the enforced removal of the twins from the creche?
I don't think the Social Services in the UK will have anything to charge them with - the problem happened in Portugal, therefore it's out of their hands. I wish they could get involved, but I think they won't. The twins' welfare needs to be supervised by a third party, and the parents need to be taught that what they did was wrong, had consequences and they bear some responsibility for those consequences.
I also don't think they are in any danger of losing their jobs - they could just slot back in, ride the tide of criticism of some, take comfort in the support offered by others, and in a while, the public will lose interest in them.

Answer 2

Nothing will happen to the Mcanns wherever they go they have too many influential friends who will use every power they have to protect them.To Teddy legally they did do wrong.If you read another question from JACK H the 1933 childrens act says it is ILLEGAL to leave children alone if it is LIKELY to cause harm to the children.I am not saying the Mcanns were directly involved with the childs disapearance but they were the ones who left the children so it was their NEGLIGENCE which brought about the situation.Re the social services not being able to take action because the offence took place in Portugal,the social services are a law unto themselves they can intervene if they belive a child is at risk and given the Mcanns track record I think the social services have more than enough evidence to show the twins ARE at risk in the Mcanns care although as I have said above I dont think any action will be taken.

Answer 3

hmmm, it's a toughie. You can be sure that they wont lose their jobs as the NHS would see that as 'bad karma' or something. I think we are going to see ever more desperate attempts at gaining sympathy - this whole circus has been nothing more than an attempt to deflect attention away from their neglect. Of course I feel for anyone who has lost a child, but the circumstances of this case make it difficult to like or even care about these parents. Who is looking after the twins while the McCanns do their world tour? They should get back home, care for their twins and allow them to start healing. All I know is if the McCanns were just ordinary Joe Bloggses and not doctors they would have been 'lynched' by now.

Answer 4

Hmm,this is a difficult one.I think they're scared to come back the the UK as they know for a fact there is somewhat of a hate campaign against them and the public/media wont leave them alone.There is also the possibility, as you've said, of social services being involved which im surprised they already have'nt been out to see the McCann's in spain.I think it would be unlikely they would lose their jobs as what has happened has nothing to do with their jobs, only their personal life.But saying that,i dont think many people would want to be treated by them if that's the level of care they give to their own children.I think they will stay in Portugal whether maddie if found or not.

Answer 5

Caught between a rock and a hard place. Caught up in a nightmare of their own making etc, etc. Whatever happens, wherever they go they will have to live with the guilt for the rest of their lives, for they can never escape that even if they went to the moon. Perhaps they'll turn to the Pope again for solace, who knows? I wonder, if many of the people who still support them and say they did nothing wrong are actually looking at ther own lives and saying "there but for the grace of God go I". Many, many professional people have children, and rather than giving up their expensive lifestyles they abandon their children to the care of others, or as in this case, no one.

Answer 6

What i'm curious about is how one minute they know the DNA results found in the bathroom and the next minute, there still waiting. Do they know or not. I read on yahoo I think that it was a north european person's blood found, but then BBC news said they are awaiting results. Idiots

To your question, I think it would help if they finally said that they made a mistake instead of defending themselves and saying that they did the right thing when they didn't, personalyl, if you had Maddy and were taking care of her, would you want to hand her back to two parents who might do the same flipping mistake again. I would like to think she is still alive and is perfectly safe, but seriosuly, the mccanns are not doing themselves any favours.

Answer 7

It's obvious that they know more than they are letting on.
What they did was a crime, leaving 3 toddlers alone.
What ever they do, now or in the future, is their doing, or caused by their doing. They lost a child through their
own negligence. They are going to have to live with
it. We need to see what the police come up with and
what the new evidence is and where this case goes.

Answer 8

They have stated that they will stay in Portugal, whether that's a good idea remains to be seen. I cannot see the social services getting involved in this case if they come home. There are still many people who support them and I don't think legally they have done anything wrong, morally perhaps, I'm not going to judge them sorry. Are their other two children at risk from sexual and physical abuse, possible criteria for taking your children into care.

Answer 9

We haven't heard the full results of the police enquiry yet so we can't fully make a judgement as to where they will be heading.

Answer 10

I agree with Jack H.