I think there is a reality inherent in the vanishing without a trace of two little girls from places which are very close to each other ... not forgetting the crimes committed in surrounding areas against little girls while their parents slept oblivious under the same roof.
Not apples or oranges or even elephants ... the comparison involves two little girls whose vanishing in time and place must surely be considered of some relevance and be at least worthy of consideration as being connected.
Perhaps I should drop in to the forum a link to the top 15 unsolved murders in the UK. The first two were from Fulham. Possibly this makes Fulham the crime capital of the UK, but somehow I doubt it.
Let me tell you two real life stories from life here on the Algarve.
Story 1. I was walking down Primary School Street in Luz, presumably to check out something about the Smith sighting. As I passed the primary school, a small child started up a conversation with me. From behind the school perimeter fence, which he was climbing up like a monkey.
It is easy to tell if children are Portuguese, on sight, and he was. Equally, it is easy to tell if people are non-Portuguese, so the little boy 'clocked' me instantly, and we had a short exchange, all in fluent English.
Primary school. He spoke to me in high quality English. He recognised me as non-Portuguese.
Story 2 is much more recent. We have a primary school in our village, and a church. As far I could tell, neither was in active use. However, when I took my grandchildren around for an 'adventure' the primary school was stuffed with people. Behind the perimeter fence, the playground was buzzing with football, kids on scooters. At the entrance to the school, perhaps 20m away, there is a patio. The parents were sitting there, eating, drinking, conversing.
My grandson had been mithering because he had no friends to play with. Now we welcome his Portuguese friends into our property.
ANALYSIS
Cipriano v Madeleine?