Madeline Mccann

[Zacs-Master]

Interesting opinion in the pub tonight.....
If MM was found, and was in a happy family environment, would it be right to have her reunited with her family, or would it cause more trauma?

[jeffa]

I think it would depend on the circumstances of how she came to be in this happy family environment.

[Prudie]

What a dilemma and the topic of several TV movies, there's a particularly good one with Michelle Pfeiffer. How could you decide, Solomon's choice.

[Zacs-Master]

Jeff's, but if she was happy.....regardless of how she came to be there?

[jeffa]

If the new family were the ones who abducted her then I can't see any way that she could remain with them, especially if one or more of them came to be imprisoned for the abduction.

[ummmm]

Back to her family.

They'd need to have professional help but def back to the family.

Through the press they have it documented that they've been doing everything they possibly can to find her. That might make it easier for her to come to terms with.

[Zacs-Master]

So you would be prepared to risk her suffering psychological harm by putting her through a wrenching change in her circumstances?

[pixie373]

It should be about what's best for the child (legally, anyway), so i imagine the family would be scrutinised and she would be left if she was safe and happy. I would be reluctant to return her to parents that left a 3year old and two 2 year olds alone.

[Zacs-Master]

Pixie at last a sensible opinion.

[ummmm]

I would be reluctant to leave her with a family that didn't get her legally.

[Zacs-Master]

So you would put legalities ahead of a child's happiness?

[pixie373]

I think the problem is, that as adults, everyone is obsessed with how the parents feel. We can imagine and empathise. The important person is Madeleine and whatever is best for her. I very much doubt more upheaval would be in her best interests.

[ummmm]

I'm imagining it was my child.

[Zacs-Master]

I agree ann. But it wasn't a popular view earlier this evening.

[Zacs-Master]

Sorry, pixie ( not ann)

[Ellipsis]

Leave her with the kindly child abductors ... Sensible?!

Obviously she should go back to her parents. She's their daughter. They may not be the best parents in the world, but there are a lot worse.

[Zacs-Master]

Even if she's happy?

[Prudie]

In reality it seems highly unlikely that if she were alive and living in a family that they don't know who she is and where she's from..

[Psybbo]

Pixie, I look at the face of her mother in so much pain, I can't imagine how awful that is and I believe that the child will have memories of her previous happy life

[Zacs-Master]

I'm not sure what point your making Prudie.

[pixie373]

That's exactly what i mean, ummmm. We imagine ourselves in the parents' position. It's incredibly selfish to put parents above what's best for the child. She may have been in a new home, with other brothers and sisters for 7 years now.