A Hope for Innocence

by Mike

When the Madeleine McCann first broke in May there was widespread interest as to the whereabouts of the four-year old. After the apparent situation could have happened to any parent on holiday and with that a close bond was formed between those who have young children of empathy and sympathy.

Fast forward to the present and you be led to believe that that sympathy is fading fast after recent revelations. Coming from a media background, I understand how easy it is for people to switch off, after a certain amount of time and not think about certain issues as much as they did when the story first appeared in their conscious. The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002 showed that.

I think it can be very difficult to maintain a news story that is in the public interest for as long as the McCann story has. I think society cares less about the news and the issues that should be focused on more and look more at celebrity stories which hold little value. I guarantee that Britney Spears’ so called ‘disaster’ of a comeback at the MTV awards was talked about more then the weekend revelations of the McCann’s.

When such an amount of time has passed since a disappearance, the authorities start to take less of an interest as well. If they can find the person guilty of the crime quickly after the story breaks then they have done their job (sometimes I feel they find and charge someone to appease the public) but the longer it goes on the less effort is put it. That is obvious really since there are many crimes to be dealt with and, as has been shown in Ireland, not enough resources to deal with it.

I really and truly hope that the McCann’s have nothing to do with their daughter going missing. Situations and circumstances are always going to play a part in life no matter what but you would hope that if they did have something to do with her disappearance that they would do the decent thing and come forward and admit it.

Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr seemed to take some pleasure from appearing on television while the ‘search’ for Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman took place. It seemed sick and twisted to me, but maybe that comes with the mentality.

As I say I hope it is not the case this time around. God willing they will find that girl unharmed. The sooner that the story can get away from being fodder for the media and minor celebrity status for all those surrounding the McCann’s, spokespersons included, the better.

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 and is filed under Pain and suffering, Thoughts & Questions, Views on News.