http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24386130

1. how on earth could the parents have left these young children alone? this has always puzzled me

2. why now is this 'phone detective' approach being used? why not back then?

I too am totally bewildered as to why parents would leave a 3 year old, along with twin younger siblings, alone in an apartment - no matter that they were 'only' 100 yards away.

Having travelled with my son worldwide from the age of 5 months I would never have dreamt of leaving him unattended. If he couldn't come with us, we didn't go (unless a babysitter was available).

It's surprising indeed that they haven't undertaken the mobile phone analysis earlier. So much money has been thrown at this case. There are dozens of kids that go missing each year, under far less dubious circumstances, with only a fraction of police resources used on McCann to find them.

Seeing that little girl's face again in the article brought back the horror of it all..I am sure many of us can remember that dreadful feeling of 'what if'....we never left our son, but I'm not a perfect parent, there are many times I am sure that things might have turned bad or accidents could have happened....I thank heaven on a pretty much daily basis that they didn't. I truly hope that something might happen now to somehow bring truth and justice to the fore

I completely agree. I myself don't have children yet, but who in their right mind leaves 3 children under 5. No matter how close you are!?

I've always raised the point that would the world be so forgiving if the Mccanns had not been professionals? Say it had been a single mother or a couple who both worked in minimum wage jobs? I've always thought in this story, something smells fishy.

I feel compelled to chime in and report that I've left a variety of children of differing ages unattended in hotel and motel rooms around the world. This is an unhappy story, and I agree that we're not hearing all of it, but that part of it doesn't seem at all out of the ordinary.

How old are you ? This is horrid...are you attempting for one second to try superiority?
Good for you...I'm glad you don't have kids yet....when you do? Good luck kid

Why have you taken offense at this? I'm merely throwing ideas in the mix. Years ago, I watched my friends struggle as young parents and they felt the brunt of many a judging eye or comment. My age has nothing to do with this. I am not a 'kid'. You have to admit there was a lot about this story that doesn't add up. Superiority my a$$. I don't know who you think you are, but you're very small minded.

I want the child to be found safe and well more than anyone, but I don't understand why this case gets so much attention, let alone funding, when others are pushed to the side.

Good luck to you in life, attack is not the best form of defense

The same thought had crossed mind

I think most folk people would expect 'professionals' to know better.

And i do not think it is a matter of superiority; common sense rather.

That BBC piece at the top is remarkable in being content free.

One wonders why it was written at the time it has been.

I seem to recall my parents describing holidays in Butlins and the like where you left your child in the cabin and the baby patrol let you know if yours was crying while you enjoyed the " entertainment"

Somehow a whole generation of children survived this ordeal without being abducted

Ben Needham had a single mother, hotel worker. Left child with grandparents who then let the child play outside, alone, with building work going on. Were the grandparents in their right minds?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappe...of_Ben_Needham

It could be argued that the McCanns are being vilified because they are professionals.

It reminds me every much of places like Butlins were kids are left, it was not unusual, and I think even these days it is not unusual although probably less common.

There was an 8 y old allegedly abducted after the Mcann incident .. Single mum , on benefits, numerous kids by different fathers. Whole family were v un photogenic .. I remember reading Articles as to how the media and public weren't as interested In the story as they were in the mcanns ..

Also it turned out the mum had drugged the kid and hidden Her in in ex boy friends bed box or something similar..to try to make money like she thought the mcanns had .. Sad

If you look at distance between where the McCann's were dining (with a group of friends) and the holiday apartment, it hard to understand why they could be so relaxed about it. It wasn't just downstairs, it was 80 meters away, blocked by trees and a pool. Very young children to leave alone in a flat for anything more than a few minutes. And it's a bit troubling that the young twins were said to be sedated so that they could sleep better.

The other troubling aspect of this case is Mrs McCann's reaction or rather, lack of reaction. It's very unusual for a mother's grief to be so subdued and controlled.