Quote:
Originally Posted by joglynne
I am not claiming to be a perfect parent and would not believe anyone here who claimed to be one. We have all, I am sure, taken a deep breath after something has happened that could have had a bad outcome. What has happened to Maddie and her parents is a lesson to us all to not be complacent.
I do not condone the actions of these parents. However, as I see it, Maddie was targeted by her abductor/s. What her parents did that night was give these monsters a window of opportunity. The consequences of leaving their 3 small children with no supervision is a decision they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.
Had she not been left alone that night I believe that her abductor/s would have just taken her at another time. If you can agree that she may have been targeted, and if the window of opportunity had been a few moments distraction, say on the beach, or in a crowded shop, would you still be putting the parents in the pillory whilst their child was missing? If it had happened in that way to you how would you feel if, at this stage, you were continually criticised by complete strangers who had just read about it in a newspaper or in a news broadcast?
Yes they may well have to face some form of official censure or prosecution in the future but the time is not now.
Add:
I don’t believe anyone on this thread feels that what the McCann’s did was right, arguing about the wording and timing of posts isn’t achieving anything.
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If she hasd been targetted and snatched, say at teh beach while her parents had been looking the other way, I would not have made a lot of the posts I've contributed to on this thread.
The facts are that targetted or not, she was left in an apartment alone. This is disgraceful, stupid, selfish and irresponsible behaviour, whether she was abducted or not. If Maddie hadn't been snatched and it was reported that a couple of holiday makers had left their kids in similar circumstances, my opinions of the parents behaviour would be the same even if nothing had happened to them. Its not the behavious I expect from responsible adults.
They had no excuses for doing this, I believe they are affluent people, and I do not think that they would have had a financial problem paying for a baby sitter.
I have a 2 and a half year old daughter. When I go on holiday she comes with us for dinner. And most of the time we have to have dinner by 7ish coause she wants to be in bed before 9. Because she's with us there are a lot of things me and my wife cant do if we had been holidaying alone. We can't go to restaurants alone, we cant stay out all night, we cant go for romantic beach walks by moonlight. But you know what, thats life and that the responsibility and sacrifices that goes with being a parent. No Im not perfect, but I can honestly say hand heart, that I would never leave my child alone in that manner.
I have a lot of sympathy for them, I wouldnt wish a child being abducted on anyone. The facts are though that Maddie wasn't snatched from the beach or the park, but from a house where she was left alone with 2 other under 5s. I think a lot of the posters on this thread are getting worked up about the fact that they (Maddies parents) neglected their duties and responsibilities as parents, even if it was just for this one occassion.