Madeleine

[Sir Roger DeLodgerley]

It is worth noting that it is ILLEGAL to leave a child under 14 alone & unsupervised.

Actually it's not. UK law only requires that children (i.e. those under the age of 18 ) should not be left in any situation likely to cause them harm. In any event, the abduction took place in Portugal and so UK legal requirements are irrelevant.

[MadameZiggy]

Yes,I am aware what country the abduction occured.

I'm sorry I wasn't clearer in stating which country I meant.

I stand corrected & bow to the greater knowledge of Scottish/English Law that others on here have.

I just genuinely believed this to be the case-although,I realise I could've made myself clearer about which country I was referring to.

I have got to say that I am really surprised that this isn't the law now (or never was?).
I just thought it was one of those common knowledge laws that we all know such as no cigs can be bought under 16,no sex til 16,etc.

If it is the case that actually it is ok to leave ANY kid under 18 alone,including 3,5,7 year olds,as long as they are not "left in a situation likely to cause them harm",then I am shocked.
Maybe I should disconnect the electricity,hide the bleach,"pad" the walls,get the stair gate on,leave access to water & food & bog off to the pub for a glass of wine or 10 with my friends.

I'm sure that someone can point out to me which safety requirements I missed in my list.

[Vladimir]

Call me cynical, but are people not getting a bit obsessed about this individual?

[bluepeterno1]

For god sake ,gonnae gie the wean a break.

BLUEPETERNO1

[dave2]

I believe that you started this topic to ask what people thought, people have spoken!

You do not have to read any topic that you don't want to.

[Mori]

I recieved this email today as a circular today.

Sorry if something similar has been posted up.

From: Alan McWilliam [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 15 May 2007 09:51
To: Alan McWilliam
Subject: Madeleine Appeal

===== Original Message From phil mccann <[email protected]> =====



As you are aware my niece is still missing and I am asking everyone I know to send this as a chain letter i.e. you send it to everyone you know and ask them to do the same, as the story is only being covered in Britain, Eire and Portugal. We don't believe that she is in Portugal anymore and need to get her picture and the story across Europe as quickly as possible.

Suggestions are welcome.

Phil McCann

Please would you forward this to all your contacts. Thanks. Alan.

Alan McWilliam

65 Victoria Park Drive South
Glasgow
G14 9NX
0141 576 9020
http://www.whiteinchcofs.co.uk

[bluepeterno1]

I believe that you started this topic to ask what people thought, people have spoken!

You do not have to read any topic that you don't want to.

Correct on both points Dave , i just think some of the comments are very harsh , as if it is the wee girls fault that she was abducted...
Bluepeterno1

[glasgowken]

Not the best photo on that flyer Looks like any wee blond lassie.

[Puro_pt]

Not the best photo on that flyer Looks like any wee blond lassie.

We have a "better" mail circulating here in Portugal, with more photos. if you want it (in Portuguese) PM me with your email adress

[Fossil]

it really is strange

[elgee]

Fossil, I agree it is strange and sad but how come nearly 3 + months later the polis now find blood in the apartment ? My knowlege of forensics is limited to novels I have read and CSI on TV but surely that should have been one of the first things they done, search the apartment for evidence of foul play, ie blood stains, DNA evidence ? The whole thing is spooking me and many other parents I know, out. We have had reports from the media about the authorities investigating known paedophiles and child abductors, who live in the area, with one particular person named but I ask how did it get to that stage ? If they knew about it, why weren`t they acting, long before wee Madeleine went missing ?
BTW, previous posters, I don`t think it is at all helpful castigating the McCann family for their perceived negligence. They will have their whole lives to suffer and reflect on this irrational decision to leave the kids alone in the apartment. Parents make mistakes, they are human. Unfortunately in this case the mistake will haunt them all their lives, whatever the outcome. I still hope it will be good and she will be found.

[Schiehallion]

Fossil, I agree it is strange and sad but how come nearly 3 + months later the polis now find blood in the apartment ?

The police didn't find blood. It was a highly-specialised sniffer dog brought from Britain which found traces of blood. I'd assume from that, the traces were virtually invisible by other means.

[elgee]

And are these the only specialised sniffer dogs in Europe ? Were they busy for the last 3 months ? Surely Interpol could have arranged for them to be there before now ?
This case has similiarities to Ben Needham who disappeared in Greece a number of years ago, do you not think ? the family were put in the spotlight then too, IIRC and the case was never solved.

To be flippant, are the dogs autonamous with no police handler then ?

[dave2]

The British police could not get involved until they were invited. Due to Britain's high level of violent crime, compared to the rest of europe, it is possible that such specialised dogs are available in greater numbers in the UK.

Up until recently, it appears that the Portugese police were treating this as an abduction case, not a case of injury/murder followed by body disposal. As such, they would not be looking for blood other than that which might be seen with the naked eye. Such microscopic traces would imply that there had been an attempt to clean the scene where the blood was found.

[elgee]

So, in casesof presumed abduction the Portugese and maybe other European countries dont look for forensic evidence,including blood at the scene of the crime ?