should the Mcanns be prosecuted for abandoning there children?

Well, put it this way. If they had left their kids alone in the UK and they were killed in a house fire or similar accident, they would be prosecuted. As they were in Portugal and the laws are different, I'm not sure that they can be prosecuted.

One thing is for sure though, had they been a couple of unemployed people living on a council estate and gone over the pub 50 metres away and the same thing happened, they would be prosecuted, they would probably have to have police protection.

I'm afraid they'll have to cross that bridge when they come to it and of course it'll be up to the authorities involved. If the worse happens they are more likely to show more leniency, it is a very sensitive case of course, it might just rest on the outcome of this although you never know, public feeling could even sway this.

I think maybe they won't be prosecuted as they might take into account the distress that the parents have suffered already because of their negligence in leaving the children. I suppose the worry and embarrassment of prosecution will be nothing compared to the guilt they'll have to live with forever especially if the worse happens.

I personally don't know what to think, it does bother me that other people have been prosecuted or at least put on the at risk register for leaving children without adequate supervision, but of course every case is decided on it's circumstances. It must be taken into account though that the two other little ones were left too not just Madeleine, these two could have come to harm too, thank God they didn't.

Well never mind the pros and cons the main objective is of course that the child is found alive.

Whatever they've done, they are still living a nightmare albeit due to their own stupidity, I wouldn't want to have to live with that guilt for the rest of my life. I only hope what's happened will deter other parents from leaving they're kids alone and unsupervised, but you will always get the stupid people who think it'll never happen to them, but as the McCann's have found out, it does!!

Yes but jailtime not necessarily. I think they should have community service for a long long time serving in the poorest UK areas and offering free medical care, heavily fined, and cps watching their every move for several year, as well as lengthy parenting classes right aside other parents who have neglected their children especially the drug addicted mom who was high and left her child to fend or themselves.

Big bird...according to restaurant staff they never left the table and why do people keep forgetting that. They left a door unlocked. And I saw a ariel photo of the resort,,,there were photos of where their apt was which was facing a street and to me looking at how far the restaurant was and the location of their apt haunts me even more so. I cant remember the link but some other guy I forget his name posts alot on these questions ct maybe? He has the link for this photo and I just checked it is ct and maybe if you post a question he will tell you how to get to this forum that had this detailed ariel photo.

if the mcanns were the sort of people that lived on a council estate , liked a drink, had the odd tattoo ,in a low paid job or unemployed , you get the picture, i think they would be in jail now

Whether it is right or wrong, they broke no law in this country, so being charged in this country is a total impossibility!

It will be up to the Portuguese criminal justice system to decide if

A] Any of their country's laws have been broken

B]Would it be in the public interest to prosecute

So, all in all, they're free as the proverbial bird, to make the movie deals..........

*Bryan C* Of course 100% they should be prosecuted for leaving their 3 children while they went out on the pi$$ with their friends. One couple who should not be allowed children and that is the McCanns.

If they've broken Portuguese law, bloody right they should be prosecuted and the British Government shouldn't interfere!

For those that say they're suffering enough, the drunk driver who kills a close friend or relative would still be prosecuted and to those that say 1000's do it, that doesn't make it right.

Totally not, we all make mistakes, unfortuantely they may have to live with theirs the rest of their lives. They were only a short distance away & kept returning to check on the children, if they had not returned to check on them, if they had gone a fair distance away - then yes, but under the circumstances - no. Everyone should be focusing on supporting this family at a horrendous time not discussing prosecution.

Would i leave my child - No - but everyone is different, that doesnt mean they love their child any less than i do mine.

Yes. If you have children you need to watch them. It is a 24/7 exhausting job.

someone who is saying what probably most of us are thinking. yes, they left a minor to enjoy themselves, no excuses should be made it is a tragedy but you just don't do it. has news on the tv of children being taken by others or the rise in the amount of parents who don't let their children walk as little as 20 metres to school for fear of them being taken had any effect on them?