I seem to remember this woman getting an absolute slating in the press, and on this website for leaving her kids behind whilst she jetted off to Malaga. She's been recently sentenced (suspended jail term), but more information is now available on her situation immediately prior to her leaving. I think it's worth a look, and maybe offers an alternative perspective
And i'm not saying I agree with what she did, but there are shades of grey never presented at the time, as the media wanted to present a certain sensationalist image. This just points to a much sadder existance, of a woman who almost certainly did not receive social help that she needed, and just lost it. Are people happy with the sentence handed out by the courts?
it could happen to anyone i suppose just the fact that she ended up in malaga giving everyone the perception that she was out there having fun made the whole thing 1o times worse, do you think there would of been such an outcry if she had ended up n scotland?
who is looking after the sister now and why weren't they helping in the first place?
Having read the report I do feel a great deal of sympathy for her plight. She made a dreadful choice and it is clear she has regretted that ever since. It seems she would have benefitted enormously from some social care and possibly even a therapist to help her cope with her emotional state. I think the courts sentence is just and compassionate.
It's very sad all round and there are so many questions left unanswered like why didn't she ask the girls father for help, teenage children can be a handful, why was she looking after her sister and who was bringing the drugs into the house if her sister didn't get out of bed. Another instance of the breakdown of our society,I can't imagine what it is like not to have family or friends to lean on.
I heard her interviewed on Radio Four tonight, and it is clear that she just broke down and was unable to get the help she needed, and just ran away.
The media slant at the time did make it apear that she simply jetted off for a holiday, but it is clear that this was not the case, and that she was indeed mentally ill.
It does show how the media can portray a set of facts in a way that leads to unjustified condemnation by the public.