Mystery remains: why was she left alone?

The view from the Irish press

'Not just here in Luz, but everywhere, that news of the details of that night has travelled. There has been criticism of the McCanns for leaving three small children alone in a strange apartment while they socialised with friends.

"In Portugal, we absolutely adore children," said another local. "We just cannot get our heads around the fact that these small babies were on their own in a town where children are always welcome, no matter what time of night or day."

I tell her that in a documentary due to be screened this week on ITV, Kate McCann is understood to explain that they would have used a baby-listening service had one been available, but because there wasn't they decided instead to leave the children alone and make regular checks on them.

"There was a babysitting facility and an evening creche available, why didn't they use that," she asks.

I have no answer for her, being totally unable to comprehend the McCanns' actions with regard to the welfare of their children.'

The Irish Independent sunday May 4