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I am not sure of the ethics of considering this case and expressing more conjecture to what has already become a media frenzied issue. However in common with most people I have my personal thoughts which I would like to express.

Difficult as it is to accept, Maddy's parents could have, albeit unintentionally, harmed their beloved daughter and killed her. This is possible in any such cases and the fact that they have made press appeals for her safe return and are both respected,intelligent and middle class individuals makes no difference. Unfortunately in life strange things sometimes happen.

Having only arrived back in England last week, following a two week vacation in The Algarve, I have listened, and read, a great deal about the disappearance of Madeline McCann on May 3rd 2007. For anyone unsure of the basics of this case Maddy allegedly mysteriously disappeared from the holiday apartment of Kate and Gerry Mccann in Prai Da Luiz, on the Algarve, Portugal.

This apartment also had the younger twins of the McCann's sleeping alongside Maddy whilst their parents enjoyed an evening meal with friends a short distance from the apartment. Of course these children should not have been left alone, despite the regular checks which the McCanns and friends made on them. However the McCanns now have to live with the fall-out from their decision and criticism here is not constructive. When Kate checked the apartment at around 10pm, I think, she discovered Maddy was missing but the twins were still there. Much of this could be suspect, and open to question, but is possible. Maddy as a pretty little 4 year old could have been a particular target for God knows what or who. The parents since May have kept up a media campaign to keep the story alive and the police case active, in an attempt to find Maddy. Fair enough all this could have been a cunning ploy , who knows? Finally DNA was found in a car used by the McCanns 25 days after Maddy went missing and appeared to seal their fate with Portuguese Police. However it was argued that transporting belongings in that car, from one apartment to another, may have accounted for the DNA found. The findings of police dogs that can show a death has occurred in a car or premises was interesting but I am not sure how accurate this evidence is. The timing of their return to England certainly seemed, at the least, inappropriate or strange.

However there has not really been any conclusive evidence to prove anything either way . There have been many errors by police especially in the early stages of this case. Watching a recent current affairs programme regarding Maddy's disappearance it was interesting to see a woman who had been accused of killing her daughter and sentenced to a long jail sentence. As the photos showed she had been severely beaten by the Portuguese police until she had understandably confessed. The child or her body had never been found.This child went missing within a short distance of where Maddy disappeared. Some of the officers were now involved in the McCanns case. As Portugal has no paedophile legislation there have been many strange disappearances over the years.

Personally I think until anything is proved different I shall stick to the 'No, They did not kill her side' of this debate. At least as long as people believe this there is a chance of finding Maddy if she is still alive. To condemn them without evidence, and proof possibly, is to forget little Maddy and condemn her to wherever she is for life. That is an unthinkable outcome.

Learn more about this author, Ethel Smith.
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