The PORTUGUESE PERSPECTIVE

We have just returned from 14 days in Portugal and during our time there sought the opinion of both Portuguese people and ex-pats on the Madeleine alleged abduction.
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The initial reaction on every occasion was that "such a crime does not happen in Portugal".  On being pressed this was qualified by "the crime of abduction by a stranger does not happen in Portugal".
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Without exception everyone considered that whatever happened to Madeleine, if she had been abducted, was the fault of the parents leaving the children unattended and that the McCanns should have been immediately prosecuted.   Most people were also of the opinion that the parents could be involved in the events of May 3rd and many were prepared to state that they agreed with the conclusions arrived at by Detective Amaral.  It was obvious from some of the conversations that many had a good understanding of all the details of the case and were following all the happenings with total interest.
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Much off the "evidence" and "theories" attached to Madeleines disappearance were well understood by the majority and this was kept before them by the Portuguese Media.   They considered that the British Media Circus being created by the McCanns was doing little to attract any sympathy and considered as counter productive.  Most felt more effort should be put into the actual search.  Why were the McCanns convinced that they should continue fund raising when their Daughter could be found at any time?
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Many other questions were asked and discussed, all of which have been raised in the past on this Blog and by various links - so interest was indeed high.  It was generally considered that the chance of finding Madeleine alive was very remote, as with such World wide publicity she would be of little use to any abducter.
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It was interesting from our point of view how similar the thoughts were of those we spoke to in Portugal, and how their reasoning and conclusions so closely met those of many UK people we have also interviewed.
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McCANNS AND MADDIE

At last the McCanns have been released from their arguido status by the Portuguese Police. In the short time since then they have apparently launched an attack on the Portuguese Police complaining that the investigation into the "disappearance" of their Daughter had been badly handled.
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Bully for the McCanns! Will they also complain about Metodo 3 who have been paid thousands of pounds over a nunber of months and have also come up with little or nothing? It seems that the McCanns are relying on everyone apart from theirselves in solving the "crime". Whilst they swan around the World ordinary people are still contributing to their Maddie Fund and supporting all the efforts to find the child.
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Perhaps it would be as well for them to remember that it was THEY who left their children unattended, it was whilst THEY were eating and drinking and having a merry old time that Maddie "disappeared". And yet THEY calmly carry on without attatching any blame to themselves.
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For the child's sake we hope she is found alive and well, despite the fact that this now looks a somewhat unlikely result.