News & Politics - Madeleine McCann abducted from holiday apartment.

Shining Light · 05-12-2007, 06:09 AM

I hope it's ok that I post what I'm about to post, but I feel it's very important and should be posted everywhere possible.

9 Days ago Madeleine McCann (who would have celebrated her 4th birthday today) (Click) was snatched from the room where she was sleeping with her brother and sister whilst on holiday in Portugal. Obviously her Mum and Dad are frantic with worry and I feel it important that everyone is made aware of this case because somebody somewhere will know something.

This is a picture of little Maddie:

and this is an E-mail that got forwarded (via many people) to me last night, PLEASE can you FORWARD the below message to EVERYONE in your E-mail address book and post on any other forum or anything that you go to:

Quote:

Subject: Madeleine, Age 3: Please help find Madeleine for her Mummy
and Daddy

On behalf of Kate and Gerry McCann and all the family, please help us
find Madeleine.

Madeleine, age 3, was abducted from her bed in the family holiday
apartment, Praia De Luz, Algarve, Portugal on Thursday, 3rd May.

Police and all of Portugal are trying to find her. The Portuguese
people, holiday makers and ex pats have been a great support to the
family and continue their efforts.

You, too can help. Please circulate this plea to publicise Madeleine's
photo and ask for information, no matter how small to be passed on to
the authorities.

Whether you are in the UK, Portugal, Europe or beyond, please forward to
all your family, friends,colleagues and business associates.
Someone out there will have some information that will lead to Maddy's
return.

The internet can be a powerful tool in finding Maddy, who is so loved
and missed by us all.

Let's use it positively.

Please pray for Madeleine and all the family at this devastating time.

We need your help. We know you won't let Maddy down.

God bless,

Pat Perkins
(Family friend)

Pat Perkins
Pre Employment Lead

NHS Academy (Northwest)
Pat.Perkins@skillsforhealth.org.uk

I just think this is so awful. This beautful little girl is 4 years old today and should have been celebrating with her parents, instead she's heaven knows where with strange, possibly dangerous people, most likely lonely and terrified. I just don't understand how any could do such a thing to an innocent child.

migamoo · 05-12-2007, 06:16 AM

I heard about this. While this is very sad, I can't help but blame the parents. I mean, who leaves children in a hotel room to go out to eat?

Lexis · 05-12-2007, 06:49 AM

Its so sad, I hope they find her soon. It must be torture for her family.

welshgirlyUK · 05-12-2007, 07:40 AM

I've been contemplating posting this for days, i just didn't know whether it was the right place to put it but i'm so glad somebody has.

The thing about leaving her and the twins alone is sketchy because this resort is very popular amongst British tourists with children because they have good child care services. A 'nanny' apparently goes around the rooms checking on the children and the parents went back every half and hour and i've seen where they were on TV and they were something like 15 feet away and the apartment could be seen from where they were sat.

My concern is the police there. The pictures filmed by ITN were shocking, the police leaving the spanish borders un checked until hours after she'd gone missing and then when it started to rain they left the borders to sit in there car. The video footage shows a car with blacked out windows just going by unstopped. That worries me.

unfloopy_ · 05-12-2007, 11:48 AM

This is so sad. I'm so chocked and worried about all this situation.

chicah · 05-13-2007, 08:43 AM

I've wondered over the last days why this thread wasn't here, was even considering to make it myself.

I think it is so sad, the fact that she is only 4 years old. I truly hope that whoever took here will deliver her back, that this case will have a happy ending - although with all the time since she was taken, hope is fading every day. People all over the world (at least all over Europe) are very engaged in this case and I do hope that someone, somewhere, knows something.¨

Fieryangel, they had not really gone out to eat, they were sitting in the hotel restaurant, and checked on their kids every 30 minutes. When the dad checked on them at 9 pm, everything was okay, but when mommy checked back 9:30, Maddie was missing.
I do understand that some people blame them and they must feel awful, but they were sitting, what, 40 metres from the hotel room?

welshgirlyUK · 05-13-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

THE News of the World has put up a record £1.5 million reward for the safe return of Madeleine McCann.
Stars and business leaders have donated huge sums in an unprecedented show of support for our Find Maddie campaign — to make up the largest award in newspaper history.

After we kicked off the fund with £250,000, Harry Potter author JK ROWLING put up a staggering amount — the largest single donation. But she asked us not to reveal the exact figure.

Kind-hearted JK married a Portuguese TV journalist and her first child Jessica was born in Portugal, a few hours' drive from Praia da Luz where Maddie was snatched 10 days ago.

Her dad Gerry said: "We are very happy and pleased with what you are doing. Anything that can be done to publicise that Madeleine is missing and help with the search is very welcome."

Topshop tycoon SIR PHILIP GREEN matched our £250,000 and said: "I hope this makes a difference."

Virgin's SIR RICHARD BRANSON put up £100,000, saying: "I'd like to appeal as a father to whoever is holding her to please bring her home safe."

Everton football club chairman and theatre boss BILL KENWRIGHT was one of the first people to see pictures of Maddie wearing his club's shirt before they were released this week.

Mr Kenwright, who has pledged a huge personal sum, said: "If it helps towards the reunion it will be the best cheque I've ever written."

Footie chairmen EGGERT MAGNUSSON of West Ham and Reading's JOHN MADEJSKI both gave £10,000.

Ann Summers boss JACQUELINE GOLD donated £100,000, explaining she wanted to get involved after meeting Sara Payne.

She said: "I pray that this nightmare comes to an end soon with the safe return of their beautiful little girl."

Telly star SIMON COWELL promised £50,000, saying: "I heard about the terrible situation here in LA and I hope she is found safe and sound."

Manchester United star WAYNE ROONEY and fiancée Coleen McLoughlin pledged £25,000, telling us: "We are praying for Maddie's safe return and for an end to what must be a nightmare for all her family."

The England cricket team joined in with £20,000. Captain MICHAEL VAUGHAN said: "Our thoughts and prayers are for Maddie's safe return."

Entrepreneur SIR TOM HUNTER pledged £100,000 with EasyJet boss SIR STELIOS Haji-Ioannou and Matalan chief JOHN HARGREAVES chipping in with large sums too.

Source

Is this added to the £1 million the scottish businessman offered a few days ago? Either way i just hope this helps, any help is positive really. And if it is a gang that has taken her, like suspected, hopefully the offer of this amount of money will cause a stir in the ranks and for someone to come forward with the information.

abw92 · 05-13-2007, 12:25 PM

I hope that she is found safe. She is a beautiful little girl. It is nice to see these people giving so much money. Hopefully, it will make a difference.

migamoo · 05-13-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicah (View Post)

Fieryangel, they had not really gone out to eat, they were sitting in the hotel restaurant, and checked on their kids every 30 minutes. When the dad checked on them at 9 pm, everything was okay, but when mommy checked back 9:30, Maddie was missing.
I do understand that some people blame them and they must feel awful, but they were sitting, what, 40 metres from the hotel room?

I don't think it matters if they were in the building, they shouldn't have left the children by themselves. I want to know who thought that would be a good idea. I could understand if they were older and did not want to eat with their parents, but not at their ages.

welshgirlyUK · 05-13-2007, 02:52 PM

The hotel has what is regarded by the travel agencies as a high standard babysitting service so i think they presumed there children were safe.

On holiday in tourism resorts like this that are mainly made up of families parents tend to relax a little more than they would if they were at home. You know the dangers of your local area or your own country but people tend to be a little more relaxed with there children on holiday. I'm not saying its right but i know when i go to Europe on the continent, holiday makers tend to let there kids run around and go off to get drinks and food by themselves when they may not do that at home. They seem less aware of the dangers.

Either way i'm sure the parents in hind sight now are punishing themselves everyday for there decision. I'm just praying there daughter is returned to them and comes back home safely.

elisheva · 05-13-2007, 03:18 PM

I agree with Ashley that you shouldn't be leaving little kids alone, even if you are checking on them every half hour. Never mind kidnappings etc, there's just too much a toddler can get into on their own that could be dangerous. Still, as you pointed out, welshgirlyUK, I'm sure the parents are already feeling terrible about it, so placing blame doesn't necessarily help.

I do hope they find her, poor little girl.

migamoo · 05-13-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshgirlyUK (View Post)

You know the dangers of your local area or your own country but people tend to be a little more relaxed with there children on holiday.

One would think it would be the other way around. Or, at least the same. You're in a different country, you don't know the dangers of where you are, so why should you let your kids run off? That makes no sense to me.

welshgirlyUK · 05-13-2007, 04:02 PM

Tourist areas like where they were tend to be very child friendly and so parents tend to ease up. They seem to love and adore children on the continent and i suppose because here in the UK we are told a lot about how much safer it is on the continent compared to here. Whenever i went as a child my parents would give me a lot more free rein than they would here at home.

I guess as well because you go on holiday to relax and you dont ever really think anything bad will happen to you whilst your on holiday. And it does.

I'm not saying they were right, my first reaction was of shock that they left them alone when i first heard about it but i'm just trying to bring some other perspective.

Ashleigh · 05-13-2007, 06:15 PM

I agree with Ashley too - you wouldn't leave your three year old alone to run to McDonald's, why would you do so in a foreign country?

chicah · 05-14-2007, 05:31 AM

It is not really much different from whenever you are at your cabin (many people in Norway at least have it, I guess it's more like a house you use during vacations), and you sit outside eating, while your children are inside.
And with all the people around, all the hotel staff and the families I guess they simply thought the kids were safe.

I agree that they probably feel horrible about it so it doesn't really help if we all place the blame with them.