Police seeking couple who entered McCann Apt to comfort crying Madeleine

[AnneGuedes]

You hear a child's crying, more than crying, sobbing "daddy" or whatever, it doesn't stop, you hear no adult voice, don't you knock at the door ? If no one answers, don't you try the door ? If the door is open, don't you get scared and decide you better act, opening a bit, risking your head and calling "is anybody there?" ?
Sometimes calling the authorities is too late or more embarrassing for the parents. A child can be in a dangerous situation.
My nephew (both parents are doctors) was crying so much calling Mummy, Daddy (who were close to him) that the neighbour downstairs called the police...

[registrar]

SY have not mentioned anything about two people entering apartment 5a on the 2nd May to comfort Madeleine.

I would have thought that if someone had given a statement about seeing this couple entering 5a on the evening before Madeleine was abducted,   we would have heard about it by now.

I am not taking this article seriously until SY themselves report it.

Agree.  Surely if this couple were that concerned they would go to Reception and report it.  I don't know of anyone who would dream of going into a stranger's apartment to soothe a crying child.

Ditto - call reception or the cops - hell even hit the fire alarm button if in desperation

Go in and check for yourself? - never in a million years - your own life could be destroyed in an instance - but the child might not even be at any risk.

[John]

I suppose it depends on the circumstances as every situation is different.  If the crying was in some isolated chalet one might be tempted to knock loudly and ask if everything was ok and if the door was unlocked possibly venture in slightly calling out if anyone needed help.  It all comes down to common sense in such a situation.

If it was the situation as at the Ocean Club I would go immediately to reception and have them communicate with the registered tenant.  I would insist that they did it as a matter of some urgency.  I would probably then watch from a distance to ensure someone was summoned.

[Benice]

You hear a child's crying, more than crying, sobbing "daddy" or whatever, it doesn't stop, you hear no adult voice, don't you knock at the door ? If no one answers, don't you try the door ? If the door is open, don't you get scared and decide you better act, opening a bit, risking your head and calling "is anybody there?" ?
Sometimes calling the authorities is too late or more embarrassing for the parents. A child can be in a dangerous situation.
My nephew (both parents are doctors) was crying so much calling Mummy, Daddy (who were close to him) that the neighbour downstairs called the police...

To begin with Anne there is nothing unusual in hearing a child cry from behind any closed doors as you are passing by.     There are any number of perfectly legitimate reasons - and because you hear a child crying you don't automatically assume they must be on their own.   In fact if I heard a child calling Daddy, I would assume Daddy was there!

IMO You would have to be standing there for a very very long time before you started to wonder if everything was OK.    So for what reason would anyone want to stand outside 5A - even for a couple of minutes?  There is nothing there.

Makes no sense to me.   I think the story is nonsense.

[Joanne]

Benice-I agree, i think it is nonsence this whole tale.

If the tapas was as close as claimed (and if they could see the patio door as claimed, then the people who went into the apartment could be seen and also see the people at the tapas) and people were trapsing back and forth to check on their kids, then how did the couple enter the apartment unseen (if the other door was locked)? Does it not highlight the the issue of they couldn't really see the apartment from the tapas? It was further away than they thought? Wouldn't the people entering have heard the people at the tapas and shouted to them 'Who's is this flat does anyone know? Surely if and I say if because I'm not convinced anyone did enter the flat, it opens a whole new can of worms or is it a case of 'Oh, so thats why the kids were crying and Maddie asked why we didn't come' or it confirms that Mrs Fenn did indeed hear crying for a long period outside? I live in a block and to establish where noise is coming from, all you have to do is go outside if you want to know whats occuring.

[registrar]

I suppose it depends on the circumstances as every situation is different.  If the crying was in some isolated chalet one might be tempted to knock loudly and ask if everything was ok and if the door was unlocked possibly venture in slightly calling out if anyone needed help.  It all comes down to common sense in such a situation.

If it was the situation as at the Ocean Club I would go immediately to reception and have them communicate with the registered tenant.  I would insist that they did it as a matter of some urgency.  I would probably then watch from a distance to ensure someone was summoned.

In the interest of debate and not being facetious  John,

now you've been to reception - reported a child(ren) was/were crying full pelt in an apt.

And then the receptionist tells you '37b? they cry every night - it's no big deal'

Where would you go from there?

[DCI]

Benice-I agree, i think it is nonsence this whole tale.

If the tapas was as close as claimed (and if they could see the patio door as claimed, then the people who went into the apartment could be seen and also see the people at the tapas) and people were trapsing back and forth to check on their kids, then how did the couple enter the apartment unseen (if the other door was locked)? Does it not highlight the the issue of they couldn't really see the apartment from the tapas? It was further away than they thought? Wouldn't the people entering have heard the people at the tapas and shouted to them 'Who's is this flat does anyone know? Surely if and I say if because I'm not convinced anyone did enter the flat, it opens a whole new can of worms or is it a case of 'Oh, so thats why the kids were crying and Maddie asked why we didn't come' or it confirms that Mrs Fenn did indeed hear crying for a long period outside? I live in a block and to establish where noise is coming from, all you have to do is go outside if you want to know whats occuring.

Joanne,

How could they enter the apartment unseen? When someone reports, they saw them enter. Madeliene is a bright child, she would have said if anyone had been in that apartment, I'm sure!

Why didn't this couple the Express interviewed, last week, mention any of this on the 5th May 2007

I have my own thoughts on where the crying story came from! And I don't think it was Mrs Fenn!

[Benice]

Benice-I agree, i think it is nonsence this whole tale.

If the tapas was as close as claimed (and if they could see the patio door as claimed, then the people who went into the apartment could be seen and also see the people at the tapas) and people were trapsing back and forth to check on their kids, then how did the couple enter the apartment unseen (if the other door was locked)? Does it not highlight the the issue of they couldn't really see the apartment from the tapas? It was further away than they thought? Wouldn't the people entering have heard the people at the tapas and shouted to them 'Who's is this flat does anyone know? Surely if and I say if because I'm not convinced anyone did enter the flat, it opens a whole new can of worms or is it a case of 'Oh, so thats why the kids were crying and Maddie asked why we didn't come' or it confirms that Mrs Fenn did indeed hear crying for a long period outside? I live in a block and to establish where noise is coming from, all you have to do is go outside if you want to know whats occuring.

The apartment block where they were all staying was right opposite them across the pool.  And they could all see their own apartments - even if 5A was not as visible as the others.  Wasn't there a comment by one of the group - that they could see the Paynes walking around in their apartment from the Tapas restaurant - on the 3rd?

I think pyschologically speaking - that fact made them feel very safe.  In fact safer than if they had been sitting in a place which might have been nearer -  but where they had no view of their block at all.    (If you see what I mean.)

[ferryman]

DCI:

How could they enter the apartment unseen? When someone reports, they saw them enter. Madeliene is a bright child, she would have said if anyone had been in that apartment, I'm sure!

And to anticipate a possible response to that: The McCanns would scarcely have said if someone had entered the apartment, now. would they?

The answer is that they would not have mentioned crying at all, now, would they? ...

[DCI]

DCI:

How could they enter the apartment unseen? When someone reports, they saw them enter. Madeliene is a bright child, she would have said if anyone had been in that apartment, I'm sure!

And to anticipate a possible response to that: The McCanns would scarcely have said if someone had entered the apartment, now. would they?

The answer is that they would not have mentioned crying at all, now, would they? ...

My thoughts exactly, lol.

It seems the McCann's were too honest, for their own good.

[registrar]

Benice-I agree, i think it is nonsence this whole tale.

If the tapas was as close as claimed (and if they could see the patio door as claimed, then the people who went into the apartment could be seen and also see the people at the tapas) and people were trapsing back and forth to check on their kids, then how did the couple enter the apartment unseen (if the other door was locked)? Does it not highlight the the issue of they couldn't really see the apartment from the tapas? It was further away than they thought? Wouldn't the people entering have heard the people at the tapas and shouted to them 'Who's is this flat does anyone know? Surely if and I say if because I'm not convinced anyone did enter the flat, it opens a whole new can of worms or is it a case of 'Oh, so thats why the kids were crying and Maddie asked why we didn't come' or it confirms that Mrs Fenn did indeed hear crying for a long period outside? I live in a block and to establish where noise is coming from, all you have to do is go outside if you want to know whats occuring.

The apartment block where they were all staying was right opposite them across the pool.  And they could all see their own apartments - even if 5A was not as visible as the others.  Wasn't there a comment by one of the group - that they could see the Paynes walking around in their apartment from the Tapas restaurant - on the 3rd?

I think pyschologically speaking - that fact made them feel very safe.  In fact safer than if they had been sitting in a place which might have been nearer -  but where they had no view of their block at all.    (If you see what I mean.)

I see what you mean and agree fully with your assessment - depending on what photos one uses - 'some'
of 5a could be seen from the Tapas bar - combined with the fact that Luz is the most tranquil holiday resort I've ever encountered - that might have lured the doctors to take a 'calculated risk'.

Doesn't excuse their behaviour in any way, shape or form (it certainly wouldn't have been my behaviour) - but might make it more plausible. 

[Joanne]

Benice-I agree, i think it is nonsence this whole tale.

If the tapas was as close as claimed (and if they could see the patio door as claimed, then the people who went into the apartment could be seen and also see the people at the tapas) and people were trapsing back and forth to check on their kids, then how did the couple enter the apartment unseen (if the other door was locked)? Does it not highlight the the issue of they couldn't really see the apartment from the tapas? It was further away than they thought? Wouldn't the people entering have heard the people at the tapas and shouted to them 'Who's is this flat does anyone know? Surely if and I say if because I'm not convinced anyone did enter the flat, it opens a whole new can of worms or is it a case of 'Oh, so thats why the kids were crying and Maddie asked why we didn't come' or it confirms that Mrs Fenn did indeed hear crying for a long period outside? I live in a block and to establish where noise is coming from, all you have to do is go outside if you want to know whats occuring.

Joanne,

How could they enter the apartment unseen? When someone reports, they saw them enter. Madeliene is a bright child, she would have said if anyone had been in that apartment, I'm sure!

Why didn't this couple the Express interviewed, last week, mention any of this on the 5th May 2007

I have my own thoughts on where the crying story came from! And I don't think it was Mrs Fenn!

The Mccanns claimed they could see the patio doors from where they sat in the tapas, if someone got into the apartment, clearly they couldn't or they weren't looking.
Benice is right, it felt safe psycologically.
I think this whole tale is nothing more than that, it's only just emerged after all this time and isn't in the original case files-or at least if it was, I have never seen it, I'd have thought if it was right, the pj's, the private investigators, the media et al would want it publishing it straight away and it got it out there to be honest.

[debunker]

I see what you mean and agree fully with your assessment - depending on what photos one uses - 'some'
of 5a could be seen from the Tapas bar - combined with the fact that Luz is the most tranquil holiday resort I've ever encountered - that might have lured the doctors to take a 'calculated risk'.

Doesn't excuse their behaviour in any way, shape or form (it certainly wouldn't have been my behaviour) - but might make it more plausible.

You really must learn to separate fact from opinion. It would excuse their behaviour for a lot of people. You may feel like that, others may feel differently quite justifiably. Stop assuming the whole world shares your prejudices.

[Joanne]

And the same applies to you, not everyone thinks they're entirely innocent either in all of this and just because it doesn't suit your agenda you don't need to run to their defense every two minutes, you still continue to display the behaviour you accuse everyone else of doing and you show no signs of letting up, even though you have been told time and time again. I'm not asking you to accept my opinion but I am entitled to it and I will show it.

[registrar]

Is it permitted to report hypocrisy as well?

Up to admin - I suppose