I think the point being missed here is that the McCanns made a 'conscious' decision to place their very young infants at risk
Not at risk of abduction, certainly ( that was so obscure a possibility that any parent could be forgiven for not even considering it )
Not even at risk from accident, perhaps ... there is a possibility that the McCanns were ignorant of such dangers and did not consider them either
But they were certainly aware that they were leaving their very young children at risk of waking up alone, frightened, crying, and distressed
It was that 'awareness' that lead to them checking at half hour intervals, afterall ... to see if their children were crying
And that's what they refuse to acknowledge when they claim they 'did nothing wrong' .... that they wilfully, and with forethought, considered that the risk of their their infants waking up, feeling frightened and distressed was worth it
... for a night out with their mates
For once, I have to disagree with you, Icabodcrane.
Not even at risk from accident, perhaps ... there is a possibility that the McCanns were ignorant of such dangers and did not consider them either Both the McCanns were doctors, one was a GP. The chances that they, and especially she were / was ignorant of the possible danger of accidents is very very remote, considering this would have ben part of the training and the chances that Kate McCann had had a child patient attending A&E for an accident in the home very high. (There are 60,381 licensed doctors on the GP Register, whereas "each year more than 1 million children age under 15 are taken to accident and emergency (A&E) after being injured in or around the home. Many more children are treated at home by their parents, carers or GP." -
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/accidents-to-children-in-the-home/pages/introduction.aspx So the chances that Kate McCann, in particular, did not know about accidents to children in the home , quite apart from plain common sense, are remote.
In addition, if she knew of any patient on her list leaving children in this way she would be expected to report it to the relevant authorities and attend any subsequent case conferences. So I really cannot buy ignorance of the possible dangers (adding that with stone floors, as in Portugal, and on relatively unfamiliar territory, the dangers would be greater)