British police commence ground searches and digs in Praia da Luz.

[stephen25000]

Spaniels are relatively small, and intelligent.  But I've got a very clever Pug if they want to borrow it.

No need.

The other spaniels did their jobbthe first time.

[Alfred R Jones]

It now appears that the UK police doing the searching from South Wales, who took part in the April Jones case, are using SPANIELS in their searches.

Oh the irony.

In what way is that ironic?  Let us not forget that poor April was abducted and murdered, and her body never found. 

[stephen25000]

In what way is that ironic?  Let us not forget that poor April was abducted and murdered, and her body never found.

I wasn't referring to that.

I was referring to Mr. Grime.

Do keep up.

[icabodcrane]

In what way is that ironic?  Let us not forget that poor April was abducted and murdered, and her body never found.

The irony,  I believe,  is the apparent confidence the police have in the dogs that Gerry McCann described as  'incredibly unreliable' 

[pathfinder73]

A cordoned off area to be checked.

[Alfred R Jones]

A cordoned off area to be checked.

So this is the sort of sun-baked, hard ground we think could be dug with bare hands, deep enough to hide a child's body is it?

[Wonderfulspam]

So this is the sort of sun-baked, hard ground we think could be dug with bare hands, deep enough to hide a child's body is it?

If I was desperate to hide a kids body, I reckon I'd give it a go.

[jassi]

You'd probably start with an existing hole, or at least a depression in the ground.

[Brietta]

So this is the sort of sun-baked, hard ground we think could be dug with bare hands, deep enough to hide a child's body is it?

I've had a look at the photographs of the area to which Heriberto supplied a link. 
My immediate thought was that the allegations which have been made are sheer nonsense when one thinks how dark this area must be in the night.
IMO it would be physically impossible for a stranger to locate, navigate, successfully bury a child's body then return to base without breaking sweat.

[Alfred R Jones]

You'd probably start with an existing hole, or at least a depression in the ground.

Which you'd just happen upon in the dark I guess...

[jassi]

I've had a look at the photographs of the area to which Heriberto supplied a link. 
My immediate thought was that the allegations which have been made are sheer nonsense when one thinks how dark this area must be in the night.
IMO it would be physically impossible for a stranger to locate, navigate, successfully bury a child's body then return to base without breaking sweat.

You are assuming that this burial took place immediately following Madeleine's disappearance.  This may not have been the case.

[pathfinder73]

So this is the sort of sun-baked, hard ground we think could be dug with bare hands, deep enough to hide a child's body is it?

Of course not but maybe you can provide me with a photo of that same area in May 2007 to see if there was anything on top of that ground? Maybe a big pile of rubble was once there. Don't judge it on how it looks now.

[Mr Moderator]

If it was a planned abduction by someone on foot the perpetrator most probably had a site already prepared, all he would have to do is fill it in and cover it.  To reach today's area of activity all Smithman had to do was to go down the steps and turn right but that in itself would have brought him into contact with other patrons from the bars nearby.  The choice of this 5 acre area of scrubland is puzzling?

[patb]

Just to clarify your last statement, are your suggesting that the alleged abductor went almost directly from the apartment to the pre-prepared site or that there was a longer time gap between the alleged abduction and the visit to the pre-prepared site? My gut reaction is that either scenarious just dont add up
And just to add to that, is anyone aware of any recorded examples of where a child has been abducted by a stranger, killed and disposed of so close to the original location?

[carlymichelle]

elsewhere     people     have said the  ground  is too hard    for   digging  well the police are now digging!!!