Wednesday 16th October
More has been written about this particular tragedy than almost anything else in recent years. And still it continues to fascinate. Sadly little children, often young girls disappear every now and then, and some are never found either. But we hear little, or certainly less about these and their bereft parents than we do about the McCanns. Why is that? What is it about this case that enthralls us so?
At the time I was surprised at the news coverage given, and still am. But the reasons are both complex and pretty obvious too. The McCanns are an attractive middle class couple; they are in fact doctors. Then there was the holiday scenario; an abduction in a pretty holiday resort; I imagine reporters were fighting for the assignment. The McCanns are also incredibly media-savvy, using to the full newspapers and the internet and social media to spread the world about their missing child. And who wouldn’t? Well lots of others, less knowledgable, possibly more grieving parents I suppose. Not that I am accusing the McCann’s of being uncaring, it is just that they don’t somehow ring true with me. They are always just that bit too prepared, too unnatural; too professional almost in their TV appearances. Then there is the fact, undeniable that they left three young children sleeping and unattended while they were having a meal. Almost every parent will insist that they would never do such a thing, so inferring at least some element of blame on the parents.
Then there is the apparent incompetence of the Portuguese Police, and all the false leads – the McCann’s rented car, long-term male residents etc:
But lastly there are the photos and videos of little Madeleine herself, which are so cute they tug at your heart-strings.
I sincerely hope that at some point the truth of what happened to little Madeleine is discovered. If only to stop the media frenzy, the endless articles, the Crimewatch specials, the raising time and again of false hopes, and I am afraid the long hard faces of her parents.