Why were the boys aged 6 & 7 out in the dark by a motorway?

Question

I can not get my head around why these two small boys were out alone, in the dark, running through a small forest to get to a motorway, which they attempted to run across. What a tragedy.

I am pretty sure they were warned not to go near a motorway, and I don't suppose the parents knew they were going to attempt to run across, but you should not let kids of that age roam around it the daylight on their own!


Please note that although I am circling the neglect issue of the above case, this is not a McCann question.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7061237.stm

Poor boys, and the drivers must be distraught.

mistyblue, you get your facts straight and get off your high horse! the parents knew these kids were out FFS. They probably reported them once the poor little kids had been killed and didnt come home. Doubt two kids, from two different houses managed to creep out at 6ish with scooters without being seen. They would not have been in bed at that time, school holidays. If a six or seven year old is quiet for more that 10 minutes you go check!

Yeah, I have kids, and experience, maybe you let your kids out and thats why you are upset at the amount of people on here who think its wrong!

I do not think children of that age should be allowed to wander off in the daylight. They were left to their own devices and maybe got lost etc etc. They should have been supervised. I don't mean to upset anyone with my view, but its my knee jerk reaction to this.

At primary schools, all over the UK, a teacher will not let an infant school child leave without a parent, why is that I wonder, maybe because at 3.30 it is not safe for a little one to make their way home alone, so why are people offended that I think children of 6 and 7 should not be allowed to wander off and be left to their own devices?

Its not a case of jumping on the parents, its about commen sense and parenting skills surely.

I do agree that kids don't listen, and will wander off and boys will be boys etc etc, thats where being a parent comes into effect. No one said it was easy, and we all make mistakes, I think allowing kids of that age out alone is a big mistake in the making, no matter where you live.

Hopper you are missing the point of what myself and lots of others are trying to say, forget it was 5pm and still light, they should not be allowed to play out alone at that age full stop!

Yes Michael you are probably right, it was a knee jerk reaction on my part to hear on the news that such a tragedy has happened, you look for answers at times like this.

Answer 1

Until you know the full story about this please do not start asking questions....and before you ask yes I do know the full story because one of the poor unfortunate little boys was my cousin

Answer 2

If thats you your cute and your right at 6 my son still forgets and has in haste darted accross the road.No they should not of been out alone and why did the parents let them?For those of you saying it was okay its an accident if my 6 year old wants to go out scooting 1 he can go in the garden 2 I'll be right behind him yes an accident but once again neglect children of this age are not responsible for themselves.These are the children that get abused kidnapped because no adult is taking responsibility.

Answer 3

This is a ridiculous question - Im sorry but it is I agree with everyone who has said its a terrible accident, nothing more nothing less.
Im pleased your such an amazing person who has never had their kids out their site.
Im not going to repeat what everyone else has said cos I feel there is no need.
But the kids were out till 5 (that isnt that late) They went missing (is that the parents fault) The police were called (isnt that what you would do) A search party was set up (obviously neglect!!!!!!) the kids were found dead.
Its a tragic accident! Leave the grieving distraught parents alone.
I have had more than enough of people being on their high horse saying that parents are neglectfull when they're not.
Bad things happen! There is not always a place to lay blame and unfortunatly in this blame ridden society that is impossible for some people to realise..
There was a question earlier on blaming the kids for being stupid!
Its discraceful that rather than have sympathy for the parents at this tragic time we try to lay blame.

EDIT: At different times people demand different ways of treating children, we are bombarded on a daily basis with info about child hood obesity, that kids spend too long indoors and that children dont play anymore, then a tragic accident occurs and you say they shouldn't of been outside first!
Accidents happen and i agree with Micheal, for the love of god give this family a bit of time to grieve! Can you even imagine how much pain they are going through how many what ifs? they are already asking themselves.

Answer 4

No amount of years will ever bring those boys back. He has to live with what he did and if he has a shred of decency in his body he will be haunted by his stupidity and hear the sobs of the boys´mother all of his life. I think this is the type of crime where long sentences will not necessarily act as a deterrent . The consequences of drink driving must be hammered home constantly in the media. Having said all of that if I were the boys mother it would break me to see him out on the streets forming his own family in 4 or 5 years.

Answer 5

I can not believe people can automatically blame the parents with a tragedy like this. I know that area of murdishaw and it is like the area where i live now, those kids could have been playing near outside on the street, (which could be cul-de-sac road for all you know) and the parents could see them, the parents might have nipped to the loo, came back and they gone out of eyesight, the dad went looking, reported him missing at 5pm, (hardly dark by then like the title of your question implies) and the family was informed at around 7.30 what had happened.
I find it very sad that every time a tragedy happens everyone is quick to place the blame on the parents. This was an accident, and how the hell do you think the family and friends will feel now without crap like this being said. It is disgusting and a real shame that some people lack empathy and too quick to stab the knife in!

Answer 6

I think they must have got lost in the woods and tried to get home
Believe there were houses the other side of the motorway so maybe they were disorientated, made for them, not realising the terrible consequences
Their father called them in at five, and when they did not come in a search part y including police were involved. As you say at their age they should have been in the garden and not somewhere else. they were still searching around 8pm with the police so it must have happened when it was quite dark. My speculation only. I played somewhere when we were warned not to about the same age as them, you can't see danger at that age, but you do remember the warning.
Your right if they had been so close to a motorway, they should have been supervised to make sure they did not go out of their garden. We don't really know at the moment.

Answer 7

Agree what is wrong with these people. Those poor poor boys how awful and frightening for them. What a tragedy. Gross neglect. Just hope their siblings are being thought about. Are these "parents" (term loosely being used for these people) fit to care for children at all. Can only imagine the pain they are in and are very sorry for their loss but isnt it time that mummies and daddies went back to being just that, there to cuddle you when you fall, to pick you up and kiss it better and to watch your every move without you even knowing.

Answer 8

children ages 6 & 7 should not be aloud to be on there own in daylight,or night

why on earth would the parents let these two small boys out when it was dark

what a tragedy =[

Answer 9

I don't know the facts of this case so will not point the finger. However, I do feel that there seems to be an epidemic just lately of young children having fatal accidents which could have been avoided.

Answer 10

hi darcy....they live 2 minutes up the road from where i live, on a council estate called murdishaw. if you drive through it at any given time there will be toddlers loose playing and unsupervised. they died at 5pm..it was still light and they were playing at the woods which is at the side of the motorway. last year another kid went missing in the woods for 24hrs..unsupervised again....from what i understand these 2 kids were coming home taking a shortcut after playing out.....again, i wouldn't let my son out at that age..its just not safe.

Answer 11

It seems they were supposed to come home at 5, but did not and had been reported missing. The father of one said they'd not been in the area long and he'd told his son to keep away from the motorway.

Personally, I wouldn't let children that age in my care play outside on their own with such a hazard close by. It's a shame when kids can't have their independence, but surely their safety comes first.