I can't see how encouraging the media to keep pictures of Madeleine on the front pages and in the public eyes for as long as possible should have hindered the police in their investigations.

The publicity campaign brought up all sorts of false sightings which wasted a lot of police time. The parents themselves have said that this waste of time was one of the disadvantages of their campaign but that they didn't know what to do for the best.

Also the police have said that the presence of the media in Praia da Luz did get in the way of their investigations as it got in the way of everybody who was trying to live a normal life there.

Also, it was a reporter who decided that there was something strange about Robert Murat.

The reporting has indeed hindered the police investigation.

Guest, Victor has every right to express his views. I don't find anything offensive about anything he has said.

Posters on this thread have been very careful about how they have worded criticisms of the family.