As A former student of the Duhaney Park Primary School, I can tell you that the students there are smart. I do not believe that a 10-year-old girl will wander from the school compound just like that.

She should know her address, telephone number or at least one classmate's number and should be able to ask for help or direction. Not to mention the fact that this 10-year-old has school books which have the home address and a telephone number. So, the wandering story does not wash.

If I should find a child wandering, as an adult, common sense kicks in. I would call the police, or the school. There is no story under the sun a child could give me to let me take the child home and keep her for two whole days - even if I were to see belt scars and burn marks.

Utterly ridiculous

The fact of the matter is, this is somebody's child and no one has the right to keep a child without parental knowledge and/or consent, whatever the situation. It is agony as a mother to see the time going by and your child is not at home; you don't know where to turn, what to do.

To suggest that some person is doing me a favour by taking my child is ridiculous.

I am, etc.,

PAMELA PITTER

ttripple_p@yahoo.com