THE mystery of Madeleine McCann's disappearance is turning into a parody.Who knew that when Simon Jenkins wrote “It was as if a missing child were this year's Make Poverty History campaign”, his words would give the grief mongers an idea?As Sky News reports, green and yellow wristbands symbolising the plight of missing Madeleine McCann have gone on sale.The yellow ribbons (has anyone seen anyone wearing the ribbons we are all wearing?) are old hat. To show you really care you need the official wristband.The bracelet costs £1. And, as reported, all proceeds will go towards the campaign fund set up by Madeleine's family to help continue the search for the little girl.That’s good. Useful even. The money will surely help the McCanns dedicate their time to the search for their missing daughter.But why not just give money via the fighting fund? Or by wearing the wristband do you share in the public spectacle, show how much you care and, crucially, how much more you care more than non-wristband wearers...
The story has been distressing to watch on our TV screens. What it must like for the parents of Madeleine only a few can know.
BLAME But their misery is far from complete. With no news of Madeleine, and the Portuguese police having no need to indulge the British tabloids with speculation and theory, Madeleine’s parents are the central characters.And today’s front-page news, as reported by the caring Mirror, is: “THEY KNOW LEAVING KIDS WAS WRONG.”Does the Mirror mean to say that Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, now think they did the wrong thing in nipping out for a bite to eat and leaving the children in the apartment on what they thought was a secure resort?Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns know that popping back regularly to look at their children and checking on their well being was less than perfect?Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns realise they should not have left their children alone, just like it is wrong to leave a child in a hotel under the auspices of a baby monitoring service, to leave a child in the car while mum goes to pay for petrol, to talk to a neighbour over a garden fence while the children are indoors?Of course this is not the Mirror’s view. Oh, no. This is Madeleine’s grandmother, Susan Healy, saying: “They know this was a mistake. But it wasn’t child neglect, it wasn’t not caring for your children.”That she feels the need to say this is wrong. That the Mirror can lead with Madeleine’s grief-worn parents is pathetic and misguided. That the paper can talk of “people are asking why they didn’t make use of the crèche” at the resort or take the children out to dinner with them is wrong.But the Mirror has news to write. And the police aren’t playing the game.
THEORIES So the Mirror produces: “THE 6 THEORIES.”Only six! Why this cautious approach? But it is all the Mirror has. And readers hear of the “PAEDOPHILE GANG”, the “LONE PAEDOPHILE”, the “JEALOUS MOTHER”, Madeleine wandering off and “DROWNED”, the “OPPORTUNIST PAEDOPHILE”, the “CHILDLESS COUPLE”.But the Sun has more. It has 130 more. As the front-page headline screams: “MADDIE COPS HUNT 130 BRIT PAEDOS.”The paper says “at least” 130 British paedophiles “might” have taken Madeleine McCann.In “ALGARVE IS ‘HAVEN’ FOR PERVS”, readers learn that Portugal is a “magnet for sun-seeking perverts from Britain and the rest of Europe”.Who knew that perverts get off on watching children at the beach?
Us And Them But help is on its way. The Sun lists the British coppers who will go out there and see to it that justice is done. We, says the paper, are the only country with a sex offenders’ register.All convicted perverts must inform the police of their desire to go abroad. At least 130 have. And the police are looking for them.But – and whisper this – might it be that convicted sexual deviants don’t all tell the police what they plan to do? They are not monitored while overseas. And might it be that not all sexual predators are caught and make it to the list?
Among the policemans' names is Detective Superintendent Graham Hill, attached to theChild Exploitation and Protection Centre. Hill is on the case. He has flown to Portugal.Hill worked on the case of Milly Dowler. She was snatched from near Walton railway station, Surrey, in 2002. Her body was found six months later. Her killer or killers have never been caught.Perhaps Hill’s experiences can help. Perhaps he’ll have more luck. Perhaps not.Meanwhile, a family is distraught, and bearing up incredibly well under the strain and the merciless gaze of the newspapers…
BLAME But their misery is far from complete. With no news of Madeleine, and the Portuguese police having no need to indulge the British tabloids with speculation and theory, Madeleine’s parents are the central characters.And today’s front-page news, as reported by the caring Mirror, is: “THEY KNOW LEAVING KIDS WAS WRONG.”Does the Mirror mean to say that Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry, now think they did the wrong thing in nipping out for a bite to eat and leaving the children in the apartment on what they thought was a secure resort?Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns know that popping back regularly to look at their children and checking on their well being was less than perfect?Does the Mirror mean that the McCanns realise they should not have left their children alone, just like it is wrong to leave a child in a hotel under the auspices of a baby monitoring service, to leave a child in the car while mum goes to pay for petrol, to talk to a neighbour over a garden fence while the children are indoors?Of course this is not the Mirror’s view. Oh, no. This is Madeleine’s grandmother, Susan Healy, saying: “They know this was a mistake. But it wasn’t child neglect, it wasn’t not caring for your children.”That she feels the need to say this is wrong. That the Mirror can lead with Madeleine’s grief-worn parents is pathetic and misguided. That the paper can talk of “people are asking why they didn’t make use of the crèche” at the resort or take the children out to dinner with them is wrong.But the Mirror has news to write. And the police aren’t playing the game.
THEORIES So the Mirror produces: “THE 6 THEORIES.”Only six! Why this cautious approach? But it is all the Mirror has. And readers hear of the “PAEDOPHILE GANG”, the “LONE PAEDOPHILE”, the “JEALOUS MOTHER”, Madeleine wandering off and “DROWNED”, the “OPPORTUNIST PAEDOPHILE”, the “CHILDLESS COUPLE”.But the Sun has more. It has 130 more. As the front-page headline screams: “MADDIE COPS HUNT 130 BRIT PAEDOS.”The paper says “at least” 130 British paedophiles “might” have taken Madeleine McCann.In “ALGARVE IS ‘HAVEN’ FOR PERVS”, readers learn that Portugal is a “magnet for sun-seeking perverts from Britain and the rest of Europe”.Who knew that perverts get off on watching children at the beach?
Us And Them But help is on its way. The Sun lists the British coppers who will go out there and see to it that justice is done. We, says the paper, are the only country with a sex offenders’ register.All convicted perverts must inform the police of their desire to go abroad. At least 130 have. And the police are looking for them.But – and whisper this – might it be that convicted sexual deviants don’t all tell the police what they plan to do? They are not monitored while overseas. And might it be that not all sexual predators are caught and make it to the list?
Among the policemans' names is Detective Superintendent Graham Hill, attached to theChild Exploitation and Protection Centre. Hill is on the case. He has flown to Portugal.Hill worked on the case of Milly Dowler. She was snatched from near Walton railway station, Surrey, in 2002. Her body was found six months later. Her killer or killers have never been caught.Perhaps Hill’s experiences can help. Perhaps he’ll have more luck. Perhaps not.Meanwhile, a family is distraught, and bearing up incredibly well under the strain and the merciless gaze of the newspapers…
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