Holly and Jessica – and the Irish children who are always at risk

In the course of the last awful fortnight, as we watched television and read newspapers to await with trepidation the fate of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, the only question pondered in this country was whether it could happen here.

Very definitely it could, and sensible parents have become more acutely alert as to the whereabouts of their young children.

Suddenly, children were being cherished as never before. Short of putting tracking devices on their ankles or wrists, and having them accompanied to the shops with at least two Alsatians, parents in this country drew parallels between their own kids and what happened to Jessica and Holly.