TeresaG

I can't beleive that they left her alone, however safe they thought it was. I don't understand people that can just go out and leave tiny children on their own.

I really hope that she is found safe and is home soon.

StevenChez

The whole world must be condemning the parents for their neglect but nobody will be kicking them as hard as they're kicking themselves right now.

The entrance to the tapas bar is opposite their apartment but obviously the apartment wasn't visible from where they were sitting. If they were in earshot of the apartment they might have been lulled into a false sense of security thinking they would hear the children if they cried. They could just as well have been having a bbq next door and thought it safe. I'm not condoning what they did, but no matter how good a doting parent you are, it could happen in a split second.

I think the Portuguese police have a lot to answer for. They only closed the borders after 15 hours of the report. It took 10 hours to take the parents statements before they called in additional resources. Only now have they called in abduction specialists. I'm not surprised their law says the police won't give information to the media, it's because the media would slaughter them for their mistakes. Where's their cctv footage or don't they have any? They had a road block which checked 1 in every 5 cars! Why even bother! I'm bloody fuming.

Pray God she's ok.
Cheryl

nickyjohnt

I think her poor parents must be gong through hell at the moment & also blaming themselves. But lets not forget the real monster is the person that took her.

Nicky

Rachel1978

There's a photograph in this article which shows an ariel shot of the hotel complex and they were nowhere near the hotel room, it was round a corner so they wouldn't have even been able to see it.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/stor...ws/news1.shtml

fraser

Or hear anything unless they were superman. I'm sure they're regret it deeply.

Maddie is gone, she wont be back it was obvious from the minute she went. These monsters don't bring them back it isn't on their agenda.

I don't think the parents should be prosecuted though as they have other children and they will suffer more than any of us can imagine until their dieing day.

herrchook

I am having real trouble with Maddie's disappearance. I've been feeling sick to the pit of my stomach when I think of what her parents are feeling and what Maddie herself might be going through.

I feel compelled to watch the coverage, even though it's so difficult to think about it.

Personally, I wouldn't have left my kids alone like they did, but I'm sure they don't need our condemnation. No one can ever punish them more than they already are being.

AussieFlyer

Let's not blame the authorities without facts! Don't read everything the papers say, and it is not nice to make assumptions!

Regarding the parents actions, all was said before and I entirely agree, their fault!

This case reminds me of another abduction case in Greece years back of a 4 (I think) year old boy on holidays with his parents... And to date he was never found, I believe he is 16 now.

I hope they find this little girl, but as time goes by my doubts of they finding this little girl fades away.

But hope is the last thing to die.

graciebluecat

me too ...off the subject sorry ..I live bournemouth where are you off to in oz ?.........litle maddy we are all thinking about you praying for your safe return.

Pollyana

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=448532

dottyspots

As the mum of a 3 year old daughter I felt sick watching the initial reports on the news. I occasionally leave my 12 year old when I pop to the newsagents (etc.), however, I would never dream of leaving my youngest children.

I think that there is no amount of chastisement etc. (from social services or the like) that will ever be worse than what has happened and whether the little girl is found or not (and I hope every day that she is), her parents will be haunted by it for the rest of their lives.

BadgeIsBack

True. I find it amazing what is reported in newspapers - alot of it is wrong. Journalists tend to write and frame things in terms they know people expect to hear.

I'm with Fraser - these parents will be suffering enough. The socio-economic background is just an interest. If they were lager drinking Brits on the piss, the press would just change the angle.

It's negligence and illegal.

Kapri

I absolutely agree with this. I wouldn't leave my kids but
they were obviously lulled into a false sense of security.
They will never forgive themselves. I feel desperately sorry for them.

Fat Bloke

Just looking at the picture of the girl makes me fill up with tears.

To think what she may of gone through, unbearable.

LiverpoolLass

I truly hope that Maddy is found safe and well. My youngest son is her age and I keep looking at him with my stomach churning. I can only imagine what the parents are going through.

The coverage by the BBC over the weekend I found quite perplexing. The implication from the reporters was that this was 'acceptable' to check on small children every 1/2 hour from a restaurant down the road.

Noone can chastise the parents more than they must be chastising themselves but my concern with the reporting over the weekend was the idea that it's 'OK' to leave small children unattended for 1/2 hour periods. Quite shocking.

I also agree that skimming over the 'neglect' issue by the press would have been reported very differently by the BBC in the parents were not doctors!

I'm not very religious but I have said a few Hail Mary's for them all.

wren

I feel very sad that people are calling for these parents to be prosecuted etc. Please show compassion for the devastation the parents must be feeling, and will have to live with forever. It is obvious that they would never have wished this to happen.

It is easier to point the finger of blame than to face the reality that there are some evil people out there waiting to prey on our children, and regardless of what "type" of parent you consider yourself to be we are ALL vulnerable.