Of course they weren’t checking the kids as often as they said they were, they cooked all that up after madeleine went missing to make it seem less bad that they were all leaving their kids every night on holiday. They either did no checks at all until the one where Madeline was gone, or they checked a lot less frequently than they made out. I can imagine they started off with the ‘best’ of intentions of doing frequent checks, but once the drinks start flowing you inevitably lose track of time. Should have just sucked it up and let the kids sit with them of an evening.
I’ll never be able to understand why, after Madeleine had woke the night before, was crying to the point where she could be heard from upstairs neighbours, and had asked her parents why they didn’t come, they continued to leave those children again the next night. Surely hearing that your child was scared and worried would be enough for you to realise that leaving them alone in an unlocked apartment probably isn’t the best idea. It’s not like it was a one off either, they left those kids every night of that holiday, lots of people seem to think it was a one off but no, they spent next to no time with them during the day and then left them alone at night. What was the point in even bringing the children? They could have all clubbed together to hire a nanny who looked after the kids in one apartment at night or used the night crèche, or took them to the restaurant with them. So many possibilities especially as they seemed to all be fairly well off.
I don’t have the faintest idea what happened to madeleine, I don’t trust the parents never have and I’ve always got the impression they are hiding something. I don’t think she was taken from the apartment as there doesn’t seem to be any evidence to suggest that, the shutters that were ‘forced’ open were not touched by anyone other than k&g. But she could have woke up, wandered off and been snatched on the street, or fallen into a well/hole. I do know that it wouldn’t have happened if her parents had shown more care and attention. If they had had a patient come up to them at work who told them that they have been leaving their kids alone at night to go for a meal at the restaurant down the road but it’s ok because they pop back regularly to check on them, they would have been reported to social services by them. They would have been trained in safeguarding, they know what is appropriate and what isn’t. I bet they had arrogant that “it will never happen to me” attitude because they’re middle class and wealthy, well look who paid the ultimate price for their shoddy parenting and blasé attitude to raising their children. I hope they carry that guilt around with them for the rest of their lives it’s the least they deserve.