From Empathy to Suspicion: Britain Reacts to New Twist in Maddie Case

LONDON, Sept. 13, 2007 — -- In the five months since Madeleine McCann's disappearance last May, media attention and public support have been relentless. Gerry and Kate McCann's persistence in searching for their daughter has garnered them the empathy of families and celebrities around the globe, who made appeals, distributed flyers or made donations to the Madeleine Fund. (The fund now stands at more than $2 million.)

But since the Portuguese police announced last weekend that Kate and Gerry McCann were officially being designated as suspects in the case, they went from brave victims to possible murderers in the eyes of the public. A chilling swirl of suspicion led by the press has now strained their campaign.

"Did You Kill Her by Accident?" titled the Daily Mirror on Sunday. "Maddie's Hair in Car Boot" led the Daily Mail on Wednesday. As the cameras turn their lenses from Madeleine to her parents, there is a sense among some in the British public of having been tricked. Her baby boy in her arms, Seema Arun told ABC News how the Portuguese police mishandled the investigation. "Why wasn't there an investigation into the parents earlier," she asked. "Why do it now?"

Although the police have been heavily criticized for their shortcomings in the investigation, the press is now sharing the blame. On Monday, BBC Radio 5 Live, one of Britain's most popular morning shows, was forced to abandon a debate on the case after the station was flooded by calls of virulent criticism. "I do not support the BBC helicopter following them all the way home whilst the reporter camped on their front lawn tells me how hard it must be putting up with all the media attention," was one of the comments posted on Radio 5 Live's Web site.

The BBC was not the only network to welcome the McCanns back to England from Portugal. A horde of cameras and satellite trucks was awaiting them in their hometown of Rothley, Leicestershire. In a half day's time, the small village found itself under siege, and the villagers made their disapproval known by shunning reporters. "The press did have the goodwill of the people here," Percy Hartshorn, chairman of Rothley Parish Council, told the London Times, "but it's going fast."