Latest:

05:02 Warning issued about dangerous gas
03:02 Stars play charity football match
03:02 Hunt faces Leveson Inquiry grilling
02:12 Egypt candidates woo middle ground
01:22 Clinton: End Assad 'rule of murder'
00:22 Rebel groups agree on Islamic state
00:22 Saltire Games ban 'ridiculous'
00:22 Food industry experience offered

Lindy McDowell: What really happened to Maddie?

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

More pictures

On the one hand we’re told that Madeleine McCann was snatched, probably by a team of devious and experienced child-traffickers. On the other we’re presented with a picture of how she may look now — a bit older but still with the same fair hairstyle.

I am no criminal mastermind myself, but if I had snatched a child and was trying to disguise her, the first thing I’d do is completely change her hair ?

Is this little girl still alive? That’s the haunting question. The investigation still seems to be focussed entirely on the possibility of abduction.

Is it not also possible that on the night she disappeared, Maddie woke up, discovered her parents gone and set out (as four-year-olds are wont to) to find them?

Has this eventuality been properly investigated? Isn’t it possible the little girl could have come to some tragic, but entirely accidental harm?

Print
Text Size
- Normal
- Large
- Extra Large

I saw a bit of the show about Madeline last night and the people who did the photo said that since they started 10 years ago over 900 children had been found because of the photos - all of whom had been missing for at least 2 years. I think any person would feel that it is therefore worth a shot putting the photo out.

Posted by Brónagh | 08.05.09, 14:13 GMT

No, probably not - because her cuddle-cat was found on the mantelpiece too high for her to put it there - it must have been an adult. Also, evidence with a sleeping - drugged? - child being carried around the resort. Then this loitering man - couple all this evidence with a missing child and your conclusiion seems facile

Posted by Patricia Brogan | 07.05.09, 09:46 GMT

Do you seriously think this hasn't occurred to investigators? It was ruled out very early because a) Madeleine would never have left without Cuddle Cat, b) Cuddle Cat was found on a high ledge, too high for her to have reached, c) she couldn't have reached the handles on the French doors to let herself out, d) there was a child proof guard at the top of the stairs. She didn't leave by herself, she was abducted from inside the apartment by a man who had been watching the family. I pray to God they locate her before any more time goes past.

Posted by Ani | 07.05.09, 06:08 GMT

If this is the type of article that "journalists" who work for the Belfast Telegraph get paid to write I think I am going to apply for a job there the next time an opening arises. Lindy you really should stick to what you know best, one sided unionist tripe.

Posted by Michael Falkes | 07.05.09, 01:32 GMT

Yes, it's been fully investigated and Madeleine's parents themselves say it is likely, but they're own knowledge of their daughter keeps them from embracing the theory. But she didn't have to have a habit of leaving in order to do it that once. I doubt it was just some accident that killed her, like falling and getting a head injury or drowning while she was out, because by now her body would have been found, of course. It's incredibly unlikely that someone would have come into the apartment to take her, more like she went outside to peek at the vacation resort at night or went searching for her mummy because one of the twins was crying, and just started walking and looking around, and was spotted by the wrong person.

Posted by KB | 06.05.09, 22:46 GMT

Surely if she only had an accident, her body would have been found by now? It was only, oh, TWO YEARS ago. And it's not like they didn't search the area.

Posted by Claire | 06.05.09, 14:33 GMT

If you had done your research, you would know that the probability of a hair colour change has been taken into account both by the authorities and Maddie's parents. You would probably also know that they have considered every conceivable scenario. In all likelihood, if Maddie had just wandered off, she would have turned up, or been turned in, by now. If she had come to harm by accident, it is not likely that all evidence of the accident would be obliterated. And even if the McCann's admit the possibility of an accident, what are you suggesting? That they call off the search?

Your article is all questions - there's even a question mark where there shouldn't be one. You sound annoyed. You have no right to be. The McCanns are under no obligation to satisfy the public with evidence that they're looking in the right place.

Posted by Ella | 06.05.09, 12:10 GMT

It's refreshing to read the work of a journalist who is willing to question the 'abduction' theory. The Police dogs Eddie and Keela signalled a death had occurred inside the apartment and many other details point to the same conclusion.

Posted by Lorraine Cave | 06.05.09, 11:09 GMT

I suggest you do some research then

starting with

The 60 reasons leaflet from the Madeleine foundation

Joana Morais blog

The 3 Arguidos forum has lots of evidence from the released files

But it is refreshing to hear a journalist question it at all.

Posted by julie brandon | 06.05.09, 10:03 GMT