[Margaret Pilkington]

Well, Less....you are entitled to your point of view (as we all are)....and your observations may be right.....but like katex, I have seen children on the continent kept up until all hours......and they become over tired and fractious. Not a holiday for the parents or the children....well, not a relaxing one anyway. Maybe such young children should not be taken on european holdays.....maybe they would have been at much the same risk in this country too.
However you cut it, this family will never be the same again......even if the child is returned unharmed......the mother and father will never let them out of their sight again.