WEB-USERS have started a campaign for action against the parents of the
missing toddler Madeleine McCann.
A petition demanding social services investigate Gerry and Kate McCann for
neglect has already attracted thousands of signatures.
Four-year-old Madeleine went missing from her bedroom on 3 May as her parents
were eating in a nearby restaurant in the Portuguese town of Praia da Luz.
The petition has been started by Marilyn Baker at petitiononline.com.
It reads: "We the undersigned request that Leicestershire Social Services
fulfil their statutory obligation to investigate the circumstances which led to
three-year-old Madeleine McCann and her younger siblings being left unattended
in an unlocked, ground-floor hotel room.
"We ask that they do this to reflect an even-handed approach to the
important issue of child protection.
"We also wish to ensure that no parent will ever be able to evade
responsibility for the safety and welfare of their children by citing the
example of Mr and Mrs McCann, whose negligence is unreasonably being discounted
in the tidal wave of sympathy brought about as a consequence of their media
campaign."
So far the petition has attracted almost 2,000 signatures and has seen some
strong criticism of Gerry and Kate McCann.
One signatory, giving the name Sarah Fox, says: "The McCanns failed to
provide a duty of care to all three children and demonstrated a complete lack
of parental responsibility."
Another, named L O'Connor, says: "I am appalled that two doctors could
leave their precious young children alone in an unlocked apartment and in a
foreign country, while they went out for dinner, and then think they did
nothing wrong."
Ms Baker was last night unavailable for comment.
The McCanns flew back to Portugal
yesterday.
Last night Madeleine's aunt, Philomena McCann, 48, of Glasgow, said: "Gerry and Kate are
unaware of the petition. We haven't told them as they have enough to deal with.
At first I was very upset but now I just feel anger towards these people - from
all the support we have received they are certainly in the minority.
"They are just adding continued sadness to the whole family. One sick
individual has even taken to e-mailing me through the petition every day.
"These people all say how concerned they are for Maddy's welfare. I just
wish they would channel their energy more effectively."
• Debbie Clifton, 33, of Cannock,
Staffordshire, who allegedly posed as a bogus charity collector claiming to be
raising money to help find Madeleine McCann, appeared before magistrates
yesterday charged with theft. She was remanded until 18 June. |
