I have every sympathy for the McCann's and their loss but new evidence has come to light . No doubt it was released on an important date for the McCanns in Brussels but I find it difficult to think this was a one off occasion as we were led to believe.Of course they are not the only parent's to leave their children on holiday or at home.
Madeleine McCann 'scolded parents' for leaving her alone

David Charter, Europe Correspondent


Madeleine McCann was reassured by her parents that they would keep a close eye on her after she reprimanded them for not comforting her the night before she disappeared, according to reports of police interviews broadcast on Spanish television.

Kate and Gerry McCann were scolded by their daughter at breakfast the day she vanished for ignoring her sobs and those of the twins, her brother and sister, according to the TV station Telecinco, which claimed to have seen the first statements made by the McCanns and their friends.

The details emerged as the couple travelled to Brussels to campaign for a European rapid alert system for abducted children, based on a US model.

Mrs McCann, 39, reportedly told police that she was rebuked by her daughter at breakfast on May 3 last year, the day she vanished from the apartment at the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz while the couple dined with friends nearby.

“While we were having breakfast, Maddie said, ‘Mummy, why didn’t you come when we were crying last night?’” Mrs McCann said, according to Telecinco’s report, which did not say how it acquired the statements.

“Gerry and I agreed to keep a closer watch over the children,” she was said to have added.

Telecinco said that in Mrs McCann’s statement, she described how, after finding Madeleine missing at 10pm, she ran back to the tapas bar and shouted, “Maddie isn’t there. Someone’s taken her.” The McCanns’ friends were previously reported to have told police that Mrs McCann screamed, “Madeleine’s gone, Madeleine’s gone.” Mr McCann, 40, told police that workmen had visited their flat to fix a broken shutter two days before.

Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ spokesman, said: “Kate and Gerry have been utterly honest and open with the police.

“The very fact that the comment from Madeleine is now in the public domain is entirely because they themselves told the police about it.

“It is more than curious that this comment, taken in isolation and out of context, that has been in the police file for some 11 months, should now emerge on the very day that they are in Brussels trying to improve children’s welfare and child safety.

“Kate and Gerry have been subjected to leaks and smears from day one and I’m afraid this has all the hallmarks of yet another poor attempt to influence the headlines.”

Mr McCann reportedly described the last time he saw Madeleine at around 9pm: “I opened the children’s door and looked to the left and saw Maddie sleeping with her head on the pillow on the right side of the bed.

“I thought it was quite hot and I didn’t need to cover her up.”

The couple yesterday spoke about their reservations at joining a re-enactment of the day she went missing and said that they would mark the anniversary privately. They would travel back to the Ocean Club only if they thought it would help in the search.

Advocating a European system of “Amber Alerts”, named after an American girl who was abducted and killed, Mrs McCann said a visit to the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children had renewed her hope that Madeleine would be found alive.

“The staff there were very encouraging that there was a good chance that Madeleine is still out there,” she said.

A Portuguese journalist asked whether they should have waited until they were no longer arguidos, or formal suspects, before joining the Amber Alert campaign. Mr McCann said: “It is a sad reality that progress and change is affected by high-profile and often tragic cases.”

What are your views on this? I don't want a slur campaign because they have made a mistake they are likely to pay for for the rest of their lives.Surely that in itself is enough punishment.What do you think about parent's who leave their children to go out for a meal ? Would you do it? Have you done it?

Don't forget it is not only on holiday but what about latch key children? At what age do you think it is safe to leave children? To go to the corner shop? The pub down the road?

I think this subject is a tricky one. I don't want to slur the McCanns and really feel their pain and truly hope that Madelaine is found safe and well.

I watched the two hour documentary on Weds last week, and it is clear that they really felt they were doing everything in their power to make sure their children were safe.

However, we have been on many holidays and have never left our children unattended to go for a meal, drink anything. My kids are older now 9 and 12 and I still wouldn't leave them to go out for a meal. Family holidays are just that and if your children go to bed early you eat early as a family and get a bottle of wine and sit on your balcony watching the sun go down. When they were small (upto 4) we always took a buggy with us so they could sleep if they were tired and we wanted to enjoy the evening.

I just find it difficult to accept that two intelligent people felt it would be ok to leave their room unlock and three very small children asleep esp after Maddy had told them how they had been crying the previous evening, esp when there was a service they could have used.

My eldest is no 12 and has to come home after school to an empty house for a maximum of 30 mins. She is desperate for more independence and I do on occassions leave her at home whilst I take 9 year old out for her activities, this is after I have checked that the neighbour is around keeping an eye on her.

My own view is that our kids are precious and they will have many years when we will be able to leave them and gain their independence.

But the above is only my opinion and the way I have chosen to bring my children up. The McCanns have to live with the fact they left their children and the consequences of those actions.

I do desperately hope they find Maddie.

Dot
xxx

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of what the McCann's did, I find it amazing the incompetance shown by the Portugese police, they screwed up well and truly, and have hidden behind strict secrecy rules on these sort of cases.

As time goes by I have serious doubts the girl will be found, but look forward to being proven wrong. I doubt it because I truly believe there is no impetus behind the investigation. The police are able to carry on regardless and without accountability because of the confidentiality laws, yet leaks like this happen regularly to embarras the McCanns.

Another thing I find interesting is how no one will come forward to say they have done something similar, in fact it has been just the opposite. Curious then that some programs I have seen recently has shown heightened concerns by parents for their children while on holiday. Why? According to everyone else they would never leave their child open to potential risks like this.

I agree that this family has paid a very high price for leaving their children unattended.

My 2 are 8 & 11. I still haven't left them alone, they are too precious to me.

My 11 year old is going to secondary in September so I feel I am being forced to give her independence even though I don't think she is ready. Fortunately for me another mum is offering to share picking up the girls. I will take them to school and she will pick them up. I will still have to do the practise run showing her where to pick up the school bus and where it would drop her off, just in case the mum was ill or something. I don't finish work til 3.15 so in these cases she would be on her own for 30 mins. We are going to give her a mobile phone though. It scares me senseless. i hoping she can go to a couple of homework clubs/afterschool clubs so I can pick her up.

My children are 3 years and 3 months.

I quite often leave them in the car if i'm just popping to cash machine or going to pay for fuel etc. Don't like to leave them out of view and the car is always locked and alarmed.

I only leave them in the house alone for something like a BBQ next door or a street party and will always have the baby monitor with me and make sure I don't go out of range/site of house. Also have a dog that will bark a lot if anyone tried to get in! I think BBQ next door with monitor is not much different to sitting in own garden with it.

Not ever left them on holiday. Stayed in motels with ensuite and put travel cot in ensuite until we were ready for bed so she could sleep without being disturbed by TV/chating/lights on etc. Also been camping so sitting outside tent relaxing once children in bed no problem.

I don't think it's sensible to leave a child in a strange room, strange apartment or strange country! If parents need time alone either leave children with relatives back home or go on holiday with friends/relatives and couples can take it in turns to have nights out whilst the others can mind the children.

Obviously feel for the McCanns and hope that Maddy is returned.

I do feel for the McCanns however as a mum of 3 children now aged 14, 11 10 i can honestly say when they were the age of Madeleine and the twins i would not have left them, esp when there was a service that could have been used and they could afford to pay for........i just can't understand it.

it is a prickly subject and i have recently (within the last year) started to leave my children if i am going shopping. my eldest daughter will babysit for a couple of hours only and we always have our mobile.

my youngest has just started to go the shops on her own or into town with a friend. she takes the mobile with her and always rings to let me know how she is and when she will be home. it is hard my children are very precious to me but i also want them to be independent and not wrap them up in cotton wool. Statistics show that children are in no more danger today than they were 20/30 years ago...I have just finished an essay and researched this extensively, but i agree it is very hard to 'let go'.

I hope Madeleine is found but remember Ben Needham? He has never been found......