In the true sense of the phrase, Kate, Gerry and the twins are victims of crime, the crime being that Madeleine has been abducted (yes I know people will disagree with this personal conclusion).
Aside from the how the press or PJ behaved, Madeleine remains missing and not where she should be, and that is with her family. For me, the crux of this are they victims stems from those who are of the opinion that neither Kate nor Gerry should have their sympathy. This normally starts because of their belief they neglected the children, it is then somewhat compounded by their personal belief that they had some involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. If one believes purely that they had some hand in it, then they, I can only assume, take some satisfaction and justification when they rally on Madeleine's family and seek to criticise and attack them. One cannot typically extend empathy or sympathy to someone who one despises utterly with hatred and contempt. Therefore it is very easy for some with great fortitude and bluster to disagree obsessively that Kate or Gerry can ever be victims.
Very much agree with this too, TS.
And also want to add that Madeleine's parents are also very much the victims if Madeleine is no longer alive. In that case, Madeleine, hopefully, is at rest. The parents however continue suffering.
Layers of suffering plague the McCanns: grief for their daughter, feelings of guilt, and the artificial sufferings layered further upon them via the media and through the ' helpers' such as phoney detectives who have failed them in their search. A tragic state of affairs.
