A child abducted yet nobody thought to phone the police immediately?

[j.rob]

Would you call the police if you were close to the victim, equipped with a phone and physically fit or would you offer to do it ?

I think the only point I was really trying to make it that given that Jane Tanner thinks she saw Madeleine being carried away by the abductor, I would have thought that the minute Jane learned that Madeleine was missing she would have got onto her phone and called the police. Why hang around waiting for reception to do it? That would simply delay the process.

Yes, there have been quite a few occasions when I have called the police on behalf of other people if they were too distressed or panicky, for instance. But even if the McCAnns were in too much of a panic, then their friends could still have called.

[j.rob]

Still, if Smithman has anything to do with it, one can see why there was a delay in calling the police - until well after 10pm.

[John]

I think the only point I was really trying to make it that given that Jane Tanner thinks she saw Madeleine being carried away by the abductor, I would have thought that the minute Jane learned that Madeleine was missing she would have got onto her phone and called the police. Why hang around waiting for reception to do it? That would simply delay the process.

Yes, there have been quite a few occasions when I have called the police on behalf of other people if they were too distressed or panicky, for instance. But even if the McCAnns were in too much of a panic, then their friends could still have called.

I agree, I know what it is like to lose sight of a youngster when abroad and how a blind panic sets in.  But there were several professional medical doctors in that group yet not one of them had the brains to phone 112. 

[j.rob]

All these pesky witnesses. If it wasn't for them, the Tapas story might ring true.

Indeed. Although I think the Tapas story still has more holes in it than a colander.

What is extraordinary is that some people can just never, ever, accept that they got something wrong or made a mistake.  Rather than admit it, they will try to blame everyone else, rather than accept any responsibility. Taken to an extreme this type of behaviour is most definitely on the spectrum of personality disorder.

[John]

For some reason the tapas group did not feel they could trust the restaurant staff and that is something which has always bothered me.  I have read through all the staff statements and in virtually every case they were in a state of confusion as to what was really going on.  It was as if they were being treated as aliens or even worse, suspects?

I get the distinct impression there was some snobbery going on here.  The  Portuguese restaurant and bar staff, many of whom spoke English, would only have been too willing to help if only someone had asked them properly.

[stephen25000]

I get the distinct impression there was some snobbery going on here.

I would suspect the tapas group looked down on the employees.

It is not a rare characteristic of people in certain professions who think they are superior to others.

[jassi]

Indeed. Although I think the Tapas story still has more holes in it than a colander.

What is extraordinary is that some people can just never, ever, accept that they got something wrong or made a mistake.  Rather than admit it, they will try to blame everyone else, rather than accept any responsibility. Taken to an extreme this type of behaviour is most definitely on the spectrum of personality disorder.

You've also got to look at their occupations - almost all doctors plus a lawyer - two professional groups that never admit they are at fault.

[j.rob]

I agree, I know what it is like to lose sight of a youngster when abroad and how a blind panic sets in.  But there were several professional medical doctors in that group yet not one of them had the brains to phone 112.

Yes indeed. But of course that does beg the question that perhaps they CHOSE not to phone 112, for their own reasons, until later. Once the alarm had been raised (and the timings here are suspicious) it was only a matter of time before the police would arrive on the scene.

But it's a bit rich for the McCanns to criticize the delay in police arriving when they had chosen not to call them immediately, or get their friends to call them. In her book Kate claims that Jane Tanner immediate reported her sighting to the police when she heard about Madeleine's disappearance.

I would like to see the mobile phone records for this. That would mean that Jane Tanner called the police just after 10pm.  Yet the first call to the police is logged as being later than this.

[j.rob]

You've also got to look at their occupations - almost all doctors plus a lawyer - two professional groups that never admit they are at fault.

Now we are getting somewhere! Yes, I think that this is a key factor in this case. Absolutely key. Not just in terms of never admitting being at fault, but also in other aspects of the case. The reputation management and so on.

[Cariad]

To suggest that the McCanns who had previously lived in Holland for a year did not know the European emergency number 112 is quite frankly laughable.

In a real emergency you just dial the number and make yourself understood as best you can. If that is not successful then take the trouble to involve reception.

I forgot that! Yes, if you live somewhere for a year, there really isn't any excuse not to know.

[AnneGuedes]

I forgot that! Yes, if you live somewhere for a year, there really isn't any excuse not to know.

So did I.  I was chosen as the single European emergency number in 1991 and was supposed to be in effect within five years.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/02/world/02iht-number.html?_r=0

[VIXTE]

To suggest that the McCanns who had previously lived in Holland for a year did not know the European emergency number 112 is quite frankly laughable.

In a real emergency you just dial the number and make yourself understood as best you can. If that is not successful then take the trouble to involve reception.

I wouldn't remember that in the case of a stressful situation.
The most logical call in a holiday complex would be to call the reception.

[AnneGuedes]

I wouldn't remember that in the case of a stressful situation.
The most logical call in a holiday complex would be to call the reception.

So why didn't they call the reception number (indicated on the flat's board) ?

[VIXTE]

You wouldn't remember the emergency number in an emergency? What planet are you on? They lived in holland for a year and had also travelled in Europe a number of other times. They are also doctors so you would think emergency numbers would register with them more than others.

Sorry but you're talking utter garbage!

There are different numbers in different countries.. I experienced change of these numbers several times in my lifetime in different countries I lived in..

They sent Matthew Oldfield to the reception.. this is at least what I think or I read happened.

[AnneGuedes]

They sent Matthew Oldfield to the reception.. this is at least what I think or I read happened.

Like in stone age. He went and didn't obtain the simple thing he was asked to..
Once more : their national emergency number would redirect the caller to the 112 of the host country.