2:15PM, Oct 13, 2009
Sky Real Lives spoke to Lorraine Kelly about her series: Missing Children - Lorraine Kelly Investigates
What made you want to get involved with this series?
As a mother I can think of nothing worse than your child to go missing and for you never to know what has happened to them. The feelings of grief, guilt and even anger are horrific. I wanted to find out how on earth parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends cope with such heartbreak.
I also wanted to draw people’s attention to cases that have not been solved and to re examine them and to even jog people’s memory. Most of the parents I spoke to are convinced their children are still alive - and they spend every hour of every day with hope in their hearts.
What have you learnt from the experience?
I have learnt a lot, especially about the human spirit and about the love parents have for their children. It was a very moving and difficult series to do. I was close to tears at times, but these are stories that need to be told. I was also very impressed at the work of the charities who try to help bereft parents and runaways.
Did you find anything out that was particularly shocking or that you didn’t know before?
I was deeply shocked at the number of young people, especially teenagers, who go missing every year. These vulnerable young people run away for all kinds of reasons - some to escape horrific abuse, others because they feel misunderstood or want to rebel. For those who come from homes where their parents love them, communication has broken down, and they feel that as more time passes they can’t go back. What they don't realise is that their parents just want to know they are safe - a phone call, a text, a letter - anything!!! If they did go home, the sense of relief would override any recriminations.
You have been quite vocal in your defence of Kate and Gerry McCann. Why do you think so many people are suspicious of them?
I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for Kate and Gerry McCann. I can't begin to imagine how they have suffered and they have been so brave in their battle to find their daughter. No one knows better than them how stupid it was to leave their kids alone that night, but what a price they paid. I think the way they have been vilified is appalling and inhumane. They will never rest until they find Madeline and they can never really have any peace until they know what happened to their little girl. It is a living hell.
Of the children that do get found, what is the main cause for their disappearance?
There are as many causes as there are reasons for disappearance. The vile pervert who abducts, molests and kills a child is thankfully, extremely rare. Young children can wander off in the blink of an eye and thankfully most are located safe and well, but some are not and in this series we investigate cases of toddlers who seem to have vanished into thin air. Teens can be escaping an unhappy home life, bullying at school or feeling that they can't talk to anyone about their problems.
Can we, the general public, do more to prevent children disappearing or merely contribute towards assisting the search when they have already gone?
I think there is a real reluctance these days to become involved if we see a lost child on their own (or a child being taken away). I think we need to be watchful and vigilant and if we do suspect something is wrong we need to act. It’s better to be shouted at by an irate parent, rather than risk a child being harmed. In a shopping arcade alert a security guard, call the police or someone in authority and join forces with other concerned passers by to try and intervene. Be calm though. Make sure you have a good description of the child and as much information as possible. Regarding teenagers - always keep the lines of communication open and look out for big changes in behaviour. Make sure your kids can talk to you about anything, whether it is bullying, sexuality or problems with schoolwork. Always let them know that no problem is so bad that it would mean them having to leave home. We can't wrap our kids in cotton wool and we do them no good to be over protective - it is a matter of common sense.
What would you like viewers to take away from this programme?
These are real stories of real people’s lives and I want viewers to realise what it has been like for all of those who have suffered the pain of a missing child. I also want them to think more about what they could do to help them.
As a mother how has meeting the families within the series affected you?
I found this a very tough but very rewarding experience. The interviewees were all so open, honest and brave. They told their stories with real emotion and no matter whether their child had gone missing months, years or decades ago the raw pain was all too evident. It made me realise how lucky I am not to have gone through such sheer hell.
