madeleine mccann

I’ve not written a word on the subject of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance before now, because it’s such a tragic affair and every parent’s nightmare. I honestly believe the last thing the family needs is someone uninformed like me pontificating about what may or may not have happened. But as I picked up the papers this morning I couldn’t help but notice the front page of the News Of the World carrying an artist’s impression of the face of the man they reckon could be Maddie’s kidnapper. Now something worries me about this. It’s what, nearly 250 days since she disappeared and only now do we have the first image of a potential suspect – who was viewed at the scene apparently by a number of witnesses. According to the paper, a ‘family source’ claimed it to be a significant breakthrough for the case. Why has it taken this long for the image to come out? How significant is it really? What is the police view of its significance? Is this helping or hindering the search for Madeleine’s abductor? Who knows? I do understand the family’s view that keeping the story in the public eye represents the best chance of finding out what happened to their daughter. Perhaps. And I’m assuming the NotW wouldn’t have published this without some reference to the family first. If this is a genuine line of enquiry why doesn’t someone at the centre of this case come out and state that clearly, permitting the police to get on with pursuing it with as much determination as they can? Wouldn’t it be a blessing if this really did turn out to be a breakthrough piece of evidence resulting in Maddie’s discovery? But something inside me believes it would surely have come out sooner if it was truly significant. After the recent news on the film idea, I’m just beginning to think that any story, no matter how tangental or relevant or helpful, is being viewed as better than no story. I can believe that some within the press especially may think like that but I really do hope that those most closely involved haven’t come to the same conclusion. Is it just me becoming unsettled by all this?

pp