Sharon Osborne Says Madeleine McCann Abduction Due To ‘Insane’ Parenting

Sharon Osborne is receiving backlash from friends of Kate and Gerry McCann after calling them “insane” for leaving Madeleine alone in the resort apartment while they enjoyed dinner with friends. Osborne brought up the McCanns in a discussion involving leaving young children unsupervised while they sleep for even brief moments. The TV star said that the abduction of Madeleine McCann is a cautionary tale of “insane” parenting decisions that put children in harm’s way.

The Daily Record reports that Sharon Osborne is in hot water with some McCann family supporters after revealing that she believes Kate and Gerry McCann were “insane” for leaving Madeleine alone in the resort room the night of her alleged abduction. During a segment of The View, Osborne discussed the idea of leaving young children alone while they slept. The talk show star says she would never leave her children alone while they slept even to leave the home for a few minutes. She notes that too many things could go wrong in that brief moment away.

Sharon Osbourne blames Gerry and Kate for Madeleine McCann disappearance https://t.co/taPtUW1BfR pic.twitter.com/F35vFDv5xb

— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) May 21, 2016

Sharon then pointed to the Madeleine McCann abduction in Praia da Luz, Portugal, as proof that it was never a good idea. Osborne called Gerry and Kate’s decision to leave Madeleine alone in their holiday apartment at night completely “insane.” She says that even though the parents were only 150 feet away, the case is proof that things can go incredibly wrong behind closed doors.

“I will tell you a very quick story. There was a husband and wife on holiday in Portugal. They left their baby in the room sleeping, sleeping while they went to dinner in the restaurant. While they were in the resort their baby was taken. And it is like, ‘Oh but we can see everything that is going on’ and it is, like, insane.”

Following the statement, a family friend of the McCanns says the comments were uncalled for and hurtful. The friend notes that Sharon does not have all the facts and that Gerry and Kate did not believe their children were in any danger when they left to go to the tapas restaurant with friends approximately 150 feet from their first-story holiday apartment. The friend notes that the family was on holiday with other friends and that they took turns checking on the children every 30 minutes. The adults say they had full view of the apartment the entire time they dined.

The friend notes that Sharon’s comment was based on “ignorance” and that it was disappointing to hear on such a highly-watched television program.

“It’s very ­disappointing when someone with such a high profile makes this sort of ­ignorant, ill-informed comment. She should think about the effect it could have on Madeleine’s brother and sister, as well as the wider family. Kate and Gerry have never forgiven themselves and this should not have been aired in a random way, as it ­apparently was. It’s based on ignorance of the true facts. While she’s entitled to her view she should keep it to herself.”

Sharon Osbourne sparks fury after branding McCanns ‘insane’ for leaving Madeleine alone https://t.co/NI7IUpa9LV pic.twitter.com/soyaaYriKE

— Evening Standard (@standardnews) May 22, 2016

The McCanns have admitted that they suffer with extreme guilt for leaving their daughter alone that night. However, they say they had no indication at the time that they were placing their daughter in any danger. In fact, they say since they were only 150 feet away from the apartment door and could see the apartment the entire night, they never felt like the children were in any form of danger.

“It goes without saying that we now bitterly regret it,” Cardiologist Gerry has also said. “Who’s thinking about child abductions in a little sleepy out-of-season tourist resort? It never entered our minds. We felt very safe — it was a family resort. At home you put your kids to bed and go off and do things about the house and garden and don’t think about it. We were checking on our kids only metres away. After, we were consumed with guilt. But we can’t change it.”

What do you think about Sharon Osbourne’s statement that the McCanns were “insane” for leaving Madeleine alone in the Portugal holiday apartment?

[Image by Dan Kitwood / Getty Images]