Finger of suspicion pointing at the McCanns

I beg to differ with the McCanns claim that they are good parents and not suspects. It is about time that somebody started to ask them some uncomfortable questions.

Unfortunately, the Telegraph report still refers to an abduction. However, if the McCanns are involved with Madeliene's disappearance it would not be an abduction would it? I keep going back to square one, there is no evidence to support the theory that there was any abduction. The obvious suspects should be the parents. It is only they who are claiming that there was an abduction in the first place. I am not convinced by their explanations. I suspect that the story is an invention to cover what really happened.

UPDATE: Same story from The Times. However, as the comments are interesting I include them here.

If I had left my kids (personally, I'd never entrust them to a stranger) in a foreign location, and lost one of them, I would be doing everything I could to get them back. If it meant prostituting myself for the media, then so be it.
As far as I'm concerned the McCanns only failure was to put their own personal "time" above the wellbeing of their children.

Steven, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

Why on earth would you leave your young kids at home in a country who are liberal to pedos?

Sorry, they must be in an awful lot of pain and hopefully a very large lesson has been learned.

Lets just keep praying for her safe return.

alison , glasgow,

The first rule of investigation is, everyone is a suspect. Nothing should be ruled out. Remember Tracey Andrewes who was equally calm and collected when she made appeals to find the murderer of her boyfried? She did it herself. Most murders are committed by familiy members. The McCanns should not be immune from investigation.

Dan Holness, London, UK

It was not surprising that the McCanns were asked this question. After all, most abducted children are taken by someone they know, so the parents would, initially at least, have been considered as potential suspects. Obviously anyone who knows the story and has watched the McCanns over the past month cannot doubt their genuine love for all of their children. But perhaps in Germany where the story has not had the same coverage people have not yet reached this conclusion?
The McCanns are "together" because they are good parents and are keeping their family in one piece for their other children and so that if they get Medeleine back she has a family to return to. They are "collected" because they are using their intellegence to do whatever they can to help their daughter. I wish them all the best.

Laura, London,

I have been a victim of double child abduction, the police failed to investigate it, the courts failed to have a public hearing, and the media are not interested because I am a single father.

I pray Mady is returned to her parents, but the media need to now that tens of thousands of children are abducted in the UK from fathers by mothers.

The case of Mady has become media currency and UK fathers have to endure the same as Mady's parents on their own without comfort from anybody.

John, Waterloo, UK

If it was my child, I would like to believe I would act exactly the same.

Charlotte, Hull, UK

This reporter, Sabine Mueller is just typical East German for you. I've known quite a few East German in the past; they all seem pretty cold and heartless. I suppose this is what you get after years growing up in a communist system. The McCannes had chosen the wrong country to expect any sympathy. Lets hope their strength is not dampened by this thoughtless and senseless question. Hang in there, Kate and Gerry. Our prayers are with you everyday.

Mrs Susan Tso, Hong Kong, PRC

The fact that this has turned into such a 'commercial' venture is what is raising suspicion. It leaves a bad taste. Publicity is very good but the direction this is going down is worrying (i.e. the constant plugs for their blog/website).

Plus, they seem to forget that they do actually have two children with them that might just need to be spending a bit more time with mum and dad. Daycare is not an adequate substitute.

Hopefully their daughter is safe, hopefully she will be found. I am not as hopeful of a positive outcome as others, but when all is said and done, there is always hope.

Rob, Dublin,

I hope and pray that madeline is returned to you soon, unharmed!

Stephen Cimini, Pittsfield, mass. usa

"I have never heard before that anyone considers us suspects in this" (Mr Mcann)

And they won't hear it if the British press don't let that view come across. No-one I know discounts them as suspects. Given that no-one knows what happened, how can they be discounted? Curious that what should be a fairly obvious obvious point is first allowed to surface in foreign media.

philip, cambridge,

Yes, the McCann's behaviour since Maddie disappeared is most definately outside 'the norm'. In my knowledge, no parents have EVER done as much as the McCanns in order to re-unite a fractured family. The way that they have managed to mobilise the media world-wide (well beyond the average 3-4 day shelf life a story like this normally has) and garner such support from millions of total strangers is a super-human effort. Most other parents, in a similar situation, would rely on the police to find their child, but Gerry and Kate have taken the bull by the horns and driven the search themselves. THEY, not the Portugese police, are the reason that we all know of Maddie now, and to suggest that they are involved in her abduction is an insult to their efforts.

Roland, Perth, Australia

Don't get so hysterical! Most people in the world have never been to Portugal. How can they be suspects???

Ben, York,

i cant believe what your going through.it must be very sad for the parents,well i be the same.so hang on .i prays every night.

bless ye.

brian, tipperary, ireland

Any Parent can understand how awful this must be for the mc canns

they need our help

if they had hidden away and not attempted to find their baby,people would have critised that too.

they must be very strong and determined people and a very strong couple.

How dare anyone pass judgement on them.

It doesnt matter what the circumstances before the abduction were,it should not have happened,but it did,but now the most important thing is to FIND MADDY.
and thats all anyone should be concentrating on.

lisa, erith, kent

Excuse me but the Times interviewed a social services child expert who said their conduct with regard to leaving their children was considered normal as they were very close by. Further to that, there have never been parents who have done more to search for a missing child. I applaud their enormous strength of character and determination. I hope the McCanns understand that some peole only lash out when they are upset. The truth is everyone wishes Madeleine were home with her parents now and that the cowardly person who took her finds the humanity to return her to her family where she belongs or leaves her in a safe public hospital, hands her to a store clerk or restauranteur, etc.

Emma H., Orillia, CAN

Belinda's comment should make us all feel grateful that we as adults have not suffered what the McCanns are going through. Thank you Belinda.

Marek, London,

Is anyone getting a little fed up with all this stuff about Madeleine in the press? What about all the hundreds of kids who have awful illnesses, where if money was available their life could be prolonged?

RAY SMITH, Sutton,

i belive it isnt her fault and everyone should lighten up on the mother and father because they must be in loads of distress

Jacob, Bedford, England

They have lost their child to a person/people/place unknown, there can be nothing nothing worse. Support them and support them well.

lesley newland, Maidstone, Kent

The greatness of people is shown whenever something difficult, in this case awfull, is overcomed. The odissey of this parents around the world using global means to avoid that this issue of missing children, simbolised by lovely Madeleine, can never be forgotten is an heroic achievement, because for the most of us their pain would unable any move.
Let's hope their faith allows the miracle to happen. It will for sure be a great lesson to the whole western world who, in spite of all its pretense development and tolerence still is able to judge when the moment implies support and solidarity.
"Dont' judge to not be judged" ( quotation from the Bible)

Helena Borges, Funchal, Portugal

"outside the norm" - There is nothing normal about having your child taken from you, to live with the fear of not knowing what the outcome will be - I can not imagine anything worse for a couple to endure. The McCanns’ could be any of us who take our holidays in the sun with the kids. They can not be criticised, in fact the opposite is true, they have both shown tremendous courage and bravery throughout this ordeal and they have done what any good parent would do in the same situation. 'Do whatever it takes and everything possible to get their child back'. I just hope and pray the person(s) who took Madeleine McCann can reflect on the pain they have caused Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry. I hope this person(s) can find the courage to take responsibility and return Madeleine to her mum and dad.

Milo, Birmingham, England

Sorry Elle but that's too cynical for words....this is real life not a Hollywood film. The McCanns need compassion and support - not conspiracy stories.

Rosie Blackburn, Woking, England

I just wish their was something I could do. Kate and Gerry are amazing I would have gone to pieces by now. I think of Madeleine a lot and I just wish she could be found it makes me feel sick to think of her away from her mum. My daughter is 17 now but she always relies on me and I don't know what I would do without her. Please ge ther home soon.

Jackie Tipping, Cherrsey Surrey, England

Wonderful people - I wish them all the best

Luisa, Burela - Lugo, Spain

The immediate reaction to have is that the McCanns are going too far in their bid to get their daughter back, but if you really think about then perhaps there would be more cases in which the family do get their child back. The media is possibly the most powerful entity in the world today and there will be very few people today in western europe who have not heard about Madeleine's tragic story, this will work wonders for the search party. I, like many many others, have never encountered Madeleine McCann in person yet i could be highly confident that i would recognise her should I see her now. I think that what her parents are doing is testament to how much love Mr and Mrs McCann have for their child and i can see no gain in accusing them of the abduction of their own child, what exactly would be the point, short-thinking minority of the world?

Will , York,

Elle Morgan - I notice that your definition of the word "suspect" does not involve evidence or any reasonable grounds for suspicion, but includes everyone in the entire world. The McCanns have at various times wept, pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, prayed, and pulled out all the stops to ensure that their missing daughter is not forgotten or slips from public view (and someone out there knows something - what better way to ensure that they come forward than keeping this as a headline issue?). What part of all this is "outside the norm", by your standards? What on earth do you consider normal? They have done what any human being (apart from you, apparently) would do and fought hard to ensure that everything that can be done is being done.

Mark, Worthing,

The parents are doing their best, but it is still NOT good enough! The investigtion needs to engage not disengage, what that means is that you cannot rely on the vehicle to get there... you need to rely on your intuition and you humanity...and of course the spirit of life...
prayer is helpful ; but essentially ... you need to get off the grid to find this girl. technology will not find her.

robin, london, uk

I find it absolutely shocking that anyone are accusing the Mccann's of being part of the disappearance of their beloved daughter!!!!!! Whoever came up with that idea, must be seriously SICK and need help!!!! Their "only" wrong doing, was leaving the children unattended, for which they will pay for the rest of their lives, NO MATTER what the outcome of this tragic case is!!! It is OBVIOUS they are loving parents.... just look at the photos of little Madeleine...that tells it all!!! Give them a break and help find that poor little innocent child - and get her re-united with her family, where she belongs!!!! Little one, try and stay strong, help is hopefully on its way....bless you XXX

Susanne, Altea, Spain

God Bless Gerry and Kate, Can't imagine what you are going through

I pary for Madeleine everyday

Susan , Kildare, Ireland

Perhaps now is the time for the McCanns to consider spearheading the setting up of a European based charity to search for "Loved ones - Stolen?". The search for Madeleine (as a UK resident) being at the forefront of course.

The search could commence by picking out the most recent "disappearances" of children below say the age of 8 from Portugal, Spain, Germany, France, Italy etc. It would make sense perhaps to commence a specific search for a child of Portugeuse residency?

Wayne Lord, Derby,

Don't be ridiculous. They are simply trying to keep this story in the public domain (for perfectly understandable reasons). Anyway, Elle, how can any of us really make a judgment about what is "normal" behaviour for a distraught parent in a situation like this. Were I in their shoes I would do everything they are doing. I applaud them for doing it and hope it works. If Madeleine is returned to her parents as a result of someone looking at her picture, watching an interview, people like you will feel pretty silly. Let's face it, what else can they do?

Sam, London,

WE CAN NOT LET THE INNOCENT OF THE WORLD PERISH. WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A STAND.

1200 children go missing everyday in the US, that is 800,000 per year. 500,000 of those are never reported sometimes because it is a divorced parent that takes them.

Madeleine was very carefully abducted and is a child that belongs to the world. If nothing else, she has brought our focus to a positive measure. Yes, there is evil around every turn, and yes some parents make really stupid mistakes with their children. But, who would expect this?

STOP BEING MAD AT THE WRONG PEOPLE!

The world is mad, and needs something, anything to cling to. It may be to blame, depression, anger, whatever.

The fact still remains that there is two possible outcomes, she is found, or never found.

Be human everyone, show some compassion, and take a look in the mirror or where you live and wonder how the world got this way? We can't just let the innocence of the world perish!

Susan, Spata, NJ

I just wish that they get their child safe and sound.I can't even picture myself losing my child i will dye my child means a lot to me .I also have a 3 year old girl.

They need to be strong ,good luck.

zoe, cape town, south africa

Elle - Why do you not understand. In crisis people are be drawn together or pulled apart, also they seem to have a personal faith. What would you do if your son/daughter was abducted? all they are trying to do is get their daughter back. Behaviour outside the norm - they are not in a normally situation so of course their behaviour is outside the norm. Do you believe they are suspects? everyone is a suspect including you.
I see your heart goes out to the misssing child but not to her parents.

Peter Giblin, Dublin, Ireland

Hi my name is Belinda and i'm only 12 but i just have to say that i believe that madeleine is still alive and is still somewhere out there. I wear a yellow ribbon and I pray for maddie every day. I just hope that she will be returned safely to her parents and her twin brother and sister.

Belinda, Stoke-On-Trent, u.k

my heart goes out for any missing child. But, I do not understand how collected and "together" the McCanns are in this sorry affair. Their behaviour since the "abduction" has been outside the "norm". Does that make them suspects? Yes, everyone is a suspect the world over and they are not exempt!

elle morgan, cwmbran, wales