IT'S not much to ask – either of the authorities or,
initially, of us as individuals.
The family of
Madeleine McCann, who has now been missing for three and a
half years and who has been badly let down by a shocking excuse for a
police
investigation,
is making a very straightforward request.
A request it really shouldn't have to be making.
If you go to www.findmadeleine.com you will find a link to another
website (www.ipetitions.com/petition/
madeleinemccann_case_review/) which
carries the following words . . .
"We call on the UK and Portuguese authorities to conduct an independent
and transparent review of all information in relation to the
disappearance of Madeleine McCann."
The reader is asked to back this statement by signing the online
petition, which was launched last Wednesday and, by yesterday, had
received around 30,000 signatures.
That Madeleine's parents,
Kate and Gerry,
even had to contemplate taking
such action is a sad indictment of what has – and, more importantly,
hasn't – happened, both here and in Portgual.
They have spoken often of leaving no stone unturned in their own
attempts to find their daughter – it's just a terrible pity that the
powers-that-be have not had the same attitude, nor displayed the same
determination.
The family's own investigation team is continuing to review all the
available information, but it still doesn't have access to all of the
information that the UK and Portuguese authorities have.
There is a simple remedy to this – either present ALL the information to
the McCanns or, better still, the authorities should do the jobs they
have been trained to do and should be expected to do.
Shockingly, says Gerry McCann, "for the last two years and three months,
no police force has proactively been doing anything to help us find
Madeleine."
And, he adds: "Crucially, there has been no formal review of the
material held by the police authorities."
We can only hope that common sense and common decency now prevail and
the family gets the review that it deserves – having so quickly garnered
the support from the public it deserves.
The message to the authorities couldn't be clearer – don't allow any
more time to pass.
To sign the online petition go to http://bit.ly/Maddiepetition |