Maddie Kidnapping

[joeSoap]

Just heard on Newstalk that the Portuguese police have arrested three people in connection with the abduction of Maddie and have summoned her parents to a local police station.

A press conference has been called for 6 o'clock.

Hope this is good news, but it doesn't sound like it.

[joeSoap]

Police hunting for Madeleine McCann are said to be focusing on two men and a woman seen with a girl matching her description.

Madeleine: Missing for one weekOfficers have called a news conference for later today and Madeleine's parents were driven away at speed from their apartment.

Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt, who is in Portugal, says it appears there has been some significant development.

According to reports, officers have examined CCTV footage showing a girl fitting Madeleine's description with a woman and two men at a service station just a few miles from the village of Praia Da Luz, on the road towards Spain.

The Portuguese newspaper, 24 Horas, said the woman was in her 40s, blonde and appeared foreign.

Martin Brunt said police have shown a still from the CCTV to a British tourist who confirmed it showed a man he had to chase off from photographing his daughter.

Kate McCann at the service"Things are happening, they could be important, there could be a big development," he said.

Earlier a special service was held in the village church at Praia Da Luz in Portugal to mark one week since Madeleine McCann was abducted.

The three-year-old's mother, Kate, repeatedly broke down in tears and had to be supported by a friend as she listened to prayers for Madeleine's safe return.

A small picture of the child hung next to the altar and many of the worshippers cried during the service.

The priest, who was British, said: "They are empty and in despair, but Christ knows where Kate and Gerry McCann are, he knows where Madeleine's grand parents are."

The strain of the last seven days was plain to see on Kate McCann's face as she accepted the sacraments.


The email posterFriends of the McCann family have also arranged a service in Merseyside tonight to pray for the little girl's safe return.

The service will be led by Father Paul Seddon, who married the McCanns and baptised Madeleine.

And Everton FC has released a picture of her in a club shirt.

Captain Phil Neville said everyone was "praying for Madeleine's safe return."

A poster campaign has also been launched by Madeleine's family.

More than 23,000 copies of the poster have been downloaded from the Sky News website and the family have now made it available in French and Spanish.

[Erstwhile Bóz]

Absolutely terrifying. I hope she's found.

It really freaks me out, though, when the British media get hold of a story like this and it's "Maddie" this and "Maddie" that on the front pages.

[Risteard]

It really freaks me out that if her parents weren't both doctors, they'd be slaughtered in the press.

[Soper]

It really freaks me out that if her parents weren't both doctors, they'd be slaughtered in the press.

Made that exact point to my Mother the other night and got called a 'sicko'.

[joeSoap]

Perhaps we should all stop having pops at her parents and the press until we know she's alive or not. Theres plenty of time for blame afterwards.

Doctors or not, British or not, these people are human beings that made a huge mistake. Hopefully its not one they'll have to regret for the rest of their lives.

[Erstwhile Bóz]

Yep. Hopefully they get the kid back and we can string them up then.

[drummerboy]

I lost my 4 year old child in Spain for 45 minutes. He was walking beside me and we were looking at a menu. Turned around and he was gone. Not speaking Spanish it was agonising. He had found he was onto the nearby beach. We had just arrived and didn't know where anything was. It was the day of the 2002 world cup final. I will never forget it as long as I live. The most agonising 45 minutes of my life. He had wandered on to a nearby beach. The local police found him. The joy in finding him was unbelievable. I certainly won't be condemning the parents of Madeline.

[the 12 th man]

I think the parents have shipped a fair bit of stick on this tbh,my 4 year old son disappeared from under my nose in a Supermarket in Copenhagen,I was holding his hand and let it go to take out my money to pay for something in the shop and when i looked down to take his hand again,he'd vanished.

He was missing for about 20 mins and I enlisted the help of about 10 shoppers to help me find him,he was found hiding behind a load of crates of beer in the off licence.

That feeling I had for the 20 mins he was missing will be with me for the rest of my life.

[Macy]

Whilst I'd agree it's not the time, I don't think drummerboy and 12th man's examples are really the same circumstances as the current case. They do however, make me make a mental note to put a lead on any kids I'm lucky enough to have in the future!

[micls]

Whilst I'd agree it's not the time, I don't think drummerboy and 12th man's examples are really the same circumstances as the current case. They do however, make me make a mental note to put a lead on any kids I'm lucky enough to have in the future!

Exactly...those were accidents that could happen to anyone. These parents chose to let a 3 year old alone with younger kids. Of course they didnt expect this but anything could have happened a fire, one of the kids getting sick etc.

Saying that all thats important right now is trying to get the girl back safely....

[BohsPartisan]

These parents chose to let a 3 year old alone with younger kids.

But weren't they eating in the restaurant in the same hotel and could see the room door from their table? Also weren't hotel staff meant to be looking in on them. AFAIK this is common enough when people go on holidays.

[joeSoap]

Press conference didn't amount to much. It seems that the police haven't got a clue at all, or else they're very close and keeping their cards very close to their chest. I reckon its the former....

[Risteard]

But weren't they eating in the restaurant in the same hotel and could see the room door from their table?

No, i didn't see it myself but it was either the BBC or the Independent showed the area and said there was no way they could have kept an eye on them.

Its completely different from the examples ye have posted above lads, in fairness. They do deserve blame.

Hope the child turns up safe obviously.

[Risteard]

Have they confirmed that she was abducted?
Its highly possible that she went out wandering, being 3 and in a hotel-room alone.
Just speculating but a 3 year old could easily have fallen down a lift shaft, rubbish chute.

I'm just thinking of a case in my area where a very young kid was missing for i think it was two weeks but turned out had committed suicide and was in the body was in the house all along.
Sorry for the grim post.
Was anything said at half 6?

[Raheny Red]

I lost my 4 year old child in Spain for 45 minutes. He was walking beside me and we were looking at a menu. Turned around and he was gone. Not speaking Spanish it was agonising. He had found he was onto the nearby beach. We had just arrived and didn't know where anything was. It was the day of the 2002 world cup final. I will never forget it as long as I live. The most agonising 45 minutes of my life. He had wandered on to a nearby beach. The local police found him. The joy in finding him was unbelievable. I certainly won't be condemning the parents of Madeline.

When I was 11 I went missing in Florida for 2 hours - scary!

[Dodge]

Reports on the radio saying Portuguese police scaling down their operation. Child is obviously not in the resort anymore

[Dricky]

I'd hate to every have the experience of losing a child even for a short time. What the parents of a child snatched go through I can't even begin to understand or imagine what is going through their mind.

[bennocelt]

I certainly won't be condemning the parents of Madeline.

yeah too right, cant believe people are so ready to be critical of the parents, people make mistakes

[GavinZac]

yeah too right, cant believe people are so ready to be critical of the parents, people make mistakes

uh, a mistake is one thing, but should any parent not be criticised for leaving three under 3 years old children alone in a hotel room? had the child simply wandered off and been found a day later, she would probably be taken from them by child welfare officers.

meanwhile, because the UK press have latched onto the case, there is now a £2.5million reward should someone find her, or to go to the parents should she be dead.