Dastardly and heinous? That's a bit harsh as even the PJ suggested only that MM had a fatal accident.
How do you love and cherish a child? Take her on holiday and see her only at mealtimes? Leave her alone with her siblings every night while you go out with your friends? That's not how most people do it, despite claims to the contrary.
I wouldn't put my children in a crèche, but I wouldn't call people who do unloving to their children either.
I have friends who put their children in a kids club when I went on holiday with them, actually the children wanted to join in with the other children, who were putting on shows where we were staying.
The McCann's had had one holiday that year already where they had gone to Ireland and by the look of it Madeleine and the twins had had a lovely time there, they went to the beach and paddled in the sea.
So their trip to Portugal could have been a holiday where the parents would get a bit of 'me time' indeed they were having tennis lessons. I don't see anything wrong with that, the parents worked hard they deserved some me time I think.
The children were not unhappy going to the crèche, believe you me if any of my children didn't want to go somewhere you would hear all about it. I haven't read anything to suggest the children cried when they were taken there, as a matter of fact Kate says herself that Madeleine asked to go back to the crèche after their trip to the beach.
The kids clubs by the sound of it did a lot of activities with the children to keep the happy and occupied. Children love other children and they love playing with other children, they went to the beach and even went on a boat, would they have gone on a boat if they hadn't gone to the crèche?
Some parents leave their children with grandparents to go off for a break by themselves is that being unloving and not cherishing your children?