Attempted abduction of a British child on Costa de Almeria, Spain.

[John]

By whom?

For incidents in Almeria involving British citizens the police (Guardia Civil) have to inform the British Consulate in Malaga.

[ShiningInLuz]

I read this topic, thought about it, and deliberately decided to leave it alone until we had some comments.

Now that we have, how about a question?

The article writer is Paul Britton of the Mirror.  Try role-playing this journalist for a few moments.

Shaun Kennedy is the father of the child.

When/where/how did reporter Mr Britton get in touch with dad Mr Kennedy?  I am curious because I can't for the life of me see how Mr Britton would become aware of this unless Mr Kennedy contacted the Mirror.

There are other bits that jar with me - a 6ft 3 man needing to drag a 4 year old - alleged friction burns on the child's ankle, but only in a place that does not come into contact with the carpet - and Mr Kennedy able to overcome 6ft 3 man sufficiently to rescue the child, whilst suffering a bloody face - a bloody face that looks fine to me in the photo.

Question 2 if you are role playing Mr Britton.  Who should Mr Britton have called for confirmation of this story?  And why didn't he?

[mercury]

And now the sensational Daily Star version which has to associate the incident with Maddie.

Maddie was not in a lift with her parents, she was left alone by her parents for stretches of time, pathetic

[mercury]

I read this topic, thought about it, and deliberately decided to leave it alone until we had some comments.

Now that we have, how about a question?

The article writer is Paul Britton of the Mirror.  Try role-playing this journalist for a few moments.

Shaun Kennedy is the father of the child.

When/where/how did reporter Mr Britton get in touch with dad Mr Kennedy?  I am curious because I can't for the life of me see how Mr Britton would become aware of this unless Mr Kennedy contacted the Mirror.

There are other bits that jar with me - a 6ft 3 man needing to drag a 4 year old - alleged friction burns on the child's ankle, but only in a place that does not come into contact with the carpet - and Mr Kennedy able to overcome 6ft 3 man sufficiently to rescue the child, whilst suffering a bloody face - a bloody face that looks fine to me in the photo.

Question 2 if you are role playing Mr Britton.  Who should Mr Britton have called for confirmation of this story?  And why didn't he?

Is it really that hard to accept that certain people can plant stories/change them
The mccanns paid half a million out of their (well not theirs exactly)  fund to be n the front pages for at least a year by bell pottinger, they also used the fund to pay mitchell to represent them in a good light

This story may have nothng to do with them and all to do with other hangers on IF its supposed t be cnnected to the mccanns and ther campaign to make themselves seem  innocent
Btw in which they have utterly failed hook lne and sinker

[Brietta]

I read this topic, thought about it, and deliberately decided to leave it alone until we had some comments.

Now that we have, how about a question?

The article writer is Paul Britton of the Mirror.  Try role-playing this journalist for a few moments.

Shaun Kennedy is the father of the child.

When/where/how did reporter Mr Britton get in touch with dad Mr Kennedy?  I am curious because I can't for the life of me see how Mr Britton would become aware of this unless Mr Kennedy contacted the Mirror.

There are other bits that jar with me - a 6ft 3 man needing to drag a 4 year old - alleged friction burns on the child's ankle, but only in a place that does not come into contact with the carpet - and Mr Kennedy able to overcome 6ft 3 man sufficiently to rescue the child, whilst suffering a bloody face - a bloody face that looks fine to me in the photo.

Question 2 if you are role playing Mr Britton.  Who should Mr Britton have called for confirmation of this story?  And why didn't he?

Perhaps the reporter was reading trip adviser?

The hotel has responded to each review with the exception of the one describing the alleged incident.
Were it inaccurate, surely a spokesperson for the hotel would have indicated that or had the website remove it?

How do you know the reporter didn't confirm the information he was given?

[ShiningInLuz]

Perhaps the reporter was reading trip adviser?

The hotel has responded to each review with the exception of the one describing the alleged incident.
Were it inaccurate, surely a spokesperson for the hotel would have indicated that or had the website remove it?

How do you know the reporter didn't confirm the information he was given?

Last line of your post.

The article tells of no contacts other than the Kennedy's.

[Brietta]

Last line of your post.

The article tells of no contacts other than the Kennedy's.

A spokesperson for the holiday company is quoted in the article, saying it is a matter for the Spanish police.  That suggests the reporter contacted Thomsons for confirmation.  Surely they would have phrased the reply in a different way if there was any doubt about the veracity of what had happened?

I also think the fact that the hotel spokesperson neither responded to the trip adviser comment or had it removed is indicative that the incident did occur.

It remains to be seen what the motivation would be for the parents publicising such an event when a single phone call from someone in authority to the Spanish police would blow the story out of the water were it untrue.
I suppose stranger things have happened, but unless it was their fifteen minutes of fame I can't see what they had to gain were that the case.

[ShiningInLuz]

A spokesperson for the holiday company is quoted in the article, saying it is a matter for the Spanish police.  That suggests the reporter contacted Thomsons for confirmation.  Surely they would have phrased the reply in a different way if there was any doubt about the veracity of what had happened?

I also think the fact that the hotel spokesperson neither responded to the trip adviser comment or had it removed is indicative that the incident did occur.

It remains to be seen what the motivation would be for the parents publicising such an event when a single phone call from someone in authority to the Spanish police would blow the story out of the water were it untrue.
I suppose stranger things have happened, but unless it was their fifteen minutes of fame I can't see what they had to gain were that the case.

What hotel spokesperson?  The reporter did not contact the hotel.

[Alfie]

Shining-In-Luz, are you suggesting that this whole story is a fabrication, and that these people are actors?

[Brietta]

What hotel spokesperson?  The reporter did not contact the hotel.

I have made it plain that I refer to the comments made in the holiday reviews featured in the Trip Advisor site, where people tell of their holiday experience and give ratings.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g644309-d260683-Reviews-Best_Sabinal-Roquetas_de_Mar_Province_of_Almeria_Andalucia.html

All holiday experiences good, bad or indifferent have been responded to ... with the exception of the one giving the warning about the child allegedly being dragged from the lift by a stranger.

For example:-
BestHotels2016, Gerente at Best Sabinal, responded to this review
Dear aidanbr, Thank you very much for having chosen Best Sabinal for your leisure days. Thank you for the appreciation on our services and staff. We are working in an improvement plan for the facilities for next year. We look forward to your next visit at your home away from home in Roquetas. Kind regards, Best Sabinal **** Management Team

[jassi]

I have made it plain that I refer to the comments made in the holiday reviews featured in the Trip Advisor site, where people tell of their holiday experience and give ratings.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g644309-d260683-Reviews-Best_Sabinal-Roquetas_de_Mar_Province_of_Almeria_Andalucia.html

All holiday experiences good, bad or indifferent have been responded to ... with the exception of the one giving the warning about the child allegedly being dragged from the lift by a stranger.

For example:-
BestHotels2016, Gerente at Best Sabinal, responded to this review
Dear aidanbr, Thank you very much for having chosen Best Sabinal for your leisure days. Thank you for the appreciation on our services and staff. We are working in an improvement plan for the facilities for next year. We look forward to your next visit at your home away from home in Roquetas. Kind regards, Best Sabinal **** Management Team

Maybe the hotel is checking with police and others to find out exactly what did happen before responding.

[Brietta]

Maybe the hotel is checking with police and others to find out exactly what did happen before responding.

Hmmmm  &%+((£.

Nope, I've given that some thought.
It was stated that the alleged  incident was reported to hotel reception who called the police.  Maybe a quick check of CCTV and phone records would suffice.

In the meantime ... no comment to correct an erroneous statement which is potentially very bad for business???

Don't really think so.

[Alice Purjorick]

Why do we think there was no visit to a police station?

[jassi]

Any mention of this in the local Spanish press?

[sadie]

Any mention of this in the local Spanish press?

Yep.   Roquetas de Mar, is on the Costa del Almera.  Written in the English speaking newspaper there.

http://www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/news/on-euro-weekly-news/costa-de-almeria/139630-father-fights-off-man-trying-to-kidnap-his-young-son#comments



Roquetas de Mar where the attempted abduction took place.
 
© Benjamín Núñez González - Wikimedia


 
Father fights off man trying to kidnap his young son


 
  John Smith       Costa de Almería        29 June 2016
   

DURING a holiday in Spain with his wife and four-year-old son, Urmston, Greater Manchester resident Shaun Kennedy was horrified to find himself having to battle a stranger who was trying to abduct his son Chase from a lift in the hotel in which they were staying.

It appears that the burly stranger got into a lift that the two were in and started to strike up a conversation with the young boy. Then as the lift doors were about to close, he grabbed hold of the toddler and pulled him out of the lift with Shaun following.

They grappled on the floor and then Shaun who in the process received some injuries was able to grab hold of his son and ran off with him whilst the assailant made his escape.

The police were called but although they made some attempt at trying to find the distinctive abductor, they were unsuccessful and left without even inviting Shaun to the police station to make a formal complaint.

Happily Chase was unhurt except for some carpet burns on his leg although he has had some problems with sleeping.