Aisling Symes, 2, (Body Found)10-05-09 Henderson, New Zealand

[annalyzer]

Missing toddler: Stolen-to-order scenario considered

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1255052267/482/2949482.jpg
MISSING: Police hold grave concerns for two-year-old Aisling Symes.

By CLIO FRANCIS, DAVID GADD and TOM FITZSIMONS
Last updated 08:41 09/10/2009

Police hunting for missing toddler Aisling Symes have not ruled out the possibility she could have been stolen to order.

Nothing has been seen of the bright and bubbly two-year-old since Monday night when she was last seen with an Asian woman who was holding a dog on a lead.

Aisling's disappearance from her deceased grandparents' Longburn Rd home in Henderson has sparked one of the biggest police hunts for years.

But after three days of searching police have found no sign of the toddler and investigation head Inspector Gary Davey said today it was looking increasingly likely she had been kidnapped.

He could not rule out that she may have been stolen to order.

"That is a possibility. What I am trying to do is to convince the public to keep an open mind."

He said if she was taken to order it would be a very, very rare occurrence.

"We don't have any evidence to suggest any scenario. Some are more likely than others.

"For example abduction is more likely than her wandering off, given the thoroughness of our search."

It was also a possibility she had been a hit-and-run victim where the driver had panicked and taken her away.

Mr Davey said search and rescue experts believed after studying the creek near her family's house, the rainfall, and the water flows, it was "highly unlikely" she would have been swept down the creek before the police began their intense search of the area.

He said the mystery Asian woman seen with Aisling about 5.30pm on Monday had still to be identified and there was still a possibility she had no idea of the search or the grief of the parents, Alan and Angela Symes.

Davey said at a press conference yesterday that despite a comprehensive search of the area: "We cannot locate Aisling."

Sitting alongside the parents, he made a direct appeal to anyone who might have snatched Aisling.

"Police are still hopeful that she is alive and being cared for and I'm talking to that person ... I just would like to say to whomever may have Aisling out there, the sole focus of the police at the moment is to have Aisling returned safely ... We hope that you come forward and leave her in a safe place so that she can be found."

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1254973732/655/2945655.jpg
EMOTIONAL PLEA: Alan and Angela Symes said the last few days had been the most harrowing of their lives.

Mr Davey said officers were also continuing to profile "people of concern" in the area. More police were joining the inquiry to work on this.

Police had also received 111 calls of sightings of Asian women with babies, after police appeals to the woman in her 30s who was walking her dog when she spoke to Aisling in Longburn Rd.

As police struggle for leads, fear of more snatches is beginning to haunt other parents.

"It will have a tremendous impact ... everything you do now you will be holding on to your children tightly," said the head of the local community board, Elizabeth Grimmer, a grandmother of two. "Children just aren't going to be able to run freely and us feel safe ..."

Ad Feedback In the parents' first public appeal, Mr Symes, a former search and rescue worker and security guard, described the past four days as "the most harrowing of our lives" and said the couple had not slept.

He read from a prepared statement, pausing midway to compose himself, while his wife buried her head in his shoulder.

"We feel like we're barely existing, surviving every moment not knowing where Aisling is," he said. "Is she near us or has she been moved far away? Is she being treated well, things like has her nappy been changed ... these thoughts churn through us as we huddle close as a family and we try to wait to find out if there is anything."

As the couple left the briefing room, police hurriedly shut the door as Mrs Symes broke into wracking sobs.

A child psychology expert said Aisling would now be distressed if she had been abducted.

Canterbury University associate professor Lianne Woodward, said: "She could be very unsettled and irritated, her sleep might not be very good, there might be some crying."

The effects of such a trauma would depend on how long it took for her to be returned, she said. "If she's reunited with her parents soon, there's much less concern. But if it goes on, or there's been abuse, then the concern grows."

An abductor could care for Aisling by doing "the basics" – feeding and cleaning her – but she needed her parents for her emotional wellbeing.

A families commissioner, Christine Rankin, said parents needed to take extra care.

"Until we know if someone is out there that is a danger, absolutely, the more vigilant they are the better. I don't think there's any room to be casual about this at all."

But Waitemata police communications manager Kevin Loughlin said: "There is no additional reason for parents to be concerned with their children at this time.

"We are dealing with a missing persons inquiry. We haven't even identified any individual or person or factors around that."

Prime Minister John Key urged anyone with information to come forward. "Our hearts go out to the family, we are very concerned about her welfare and we hope for a speedy and successful return of the little girl."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2946437/Parents-living-hell-as-hunt-for-Aisling-enters-fifth-day

[FoolsGold]

I'm surprized that a Border Collie was not more protective.

Although the toddler may have simply wandered off, I have doubts of the Asian woman, particularly since she has not come forward.

Why parents don't affix bells or bracelets, I've no idea.

Det. Inspector in charge of the case has announced reasonable confidence that the child is not in the immediate area and that it is more likely than not that the child was abducted, a very rare crime in New Zealand a country with only five missing but unrecovered children in fifty years.

[annalyzer]

Parents speak

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602187&gallery_id=107776

[sarahhod]

October 9, 2009

Abduction fears for missing toddler Aisling Symes

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00625/symes385_625949a.jpg
(NZPA/NZ Police )
New Zealand toddler Aisling Symes, who has been missing since Monday


Police investigating the disappearance of the two-year-old daughter of an Irishman living in New Zealand fear she may have been abducted after she vanished from a family home four days ago.
Two-year-old Aisling Symes was last seen just before 5.30pm (local time) last Monday at her late grandparent’s house near her family home in West Auckland. She disappeared while playing in the empty house which was being cleaned by her mother Angela.
Mrs Symes said Aisling disappeared in a split second while she was cleaning taps in a laundry. “I turned off the hot tap, looked behind me, she was there watching what we were doing,” the distraught mother told New Zealand’s TV3 earlier today. “I turned off the cold tap, looked behind me and she was gone. It was that fast … In the time it took just to turn off a tap, she was gone.”
Aisling’s disappearance sparked one of New Zealand’s biggest search and rescue operations with up to 140 police officers scouring the area near where she disappeared, including drains and roadways.

After exhausting the area and finding no trace of the missing child, New Zealand police are now treating Aisling’s disappearance as an abduction and have appealed for an Asian woman, who was seen walking her dog near the house at the time the toddler went missing, to come forward. However, despite the help of Korean, Cantonese and Mandarin translators working closely with police, the woman has not been identified.
Sixty officers are now investigating Aisling’s abduction and her photograph has been distributed nationally throughout New Zealand. The high-profile nature of her disappearance in New Zealand bears similarities to that of British girl Madeleine McCann, who went missing while on a family holiday in Portugal in 2007, and whose photograph was published around the world.
Auckland City police Inspector Gary Davey told The Times that police have not ruled out that Aisling may have been abducted as part of a ‘stolen to order’ ring and have alerted New Zealand customs and immigration officers to ensure the toddler is not taken out of the country.
“We don’t really have any evidence of what happened to Aisling,” Inspector Davey said.
“So we’ve got to keep an open mind. We can’t rule that out 100 per cent, so we have to look at the most likely scenarios and if we’re talking about an abduction, we need to keep our minds open as to whether it was done on purpose. We have alerted (customs officials) just in case someone tries to remove her from the country.”
Mr and Mrs Symes, who have another daughter, Caitlin, 5, said they were “barely surviving” without Aisling.
“These recent days have proved to be the most harrowing of our lives - no sleep and barely surviving," Mr Symes, who immigrated to New Zealand from Stradbally in Co Waterford 18 years ago, said yesterday.
"Not knowing where Aisling is - is she near us, or has she been moved far away? Is she being treated well? Things like, is her nappy being changed? These thoughts hurtle through us and still we huddle close as a family and try to wait to find out if there's anything."
Police are now urging whoever has Aisling to deliver her to a safe place, such as a hospital in the Auckland region.
"Our primary aim is to have Aisling returned to the safety of her family as soon as possible," Inspector Davey said.
"Aisling hasn't been seen since about 5.15pm on Monday the 5th of October and, as every hour passes, her family, friends, Police and members of her community become increasingly distressed.
"If she was returned safely to a safe place the chances of her survival are greatly improved. In short, if anyone knows where she is or who she is with, they need to return her to where she belongs or they need to contact us on 0800 4 2475 464."
The description of the Asian woman has led to many false sightings around Auckland. Yesterday a parks officer from Auckland City Council stopped an Asian woman who was walking with a European-looking child who bore a striking resemblance to Aisling in a park. Police were called and determined the child was not the missing toddler after holding up a photo next to the girl’s face.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article6867590.ece

[sarahhod]

Another day dawns on search for Aisling

Published: 4:34AM Saturday October 10, 2009
Source: Newstalk ZB


http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/news2009/police/missing_asiling_symes_2.jpg ONE NewsAisling Symes

As another day dawns in the hunt for missing Auckland toddler Aisling Symes, border patrols remain on high alert for sightings of the little girl.
Police increasingly believe the two year-old was abducted after wandering from a property in Henderson on Monday night (http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/concern-grows-missing-toddler-3048560) .
Police still have not heard from the Asian woman who was seen with Aisling shortly before she disappeared.
A customs spokesman says they were alerted at an early stage about the police investigation and pictures of the little girl have been plastered both in public areas and customs offices at airports.
He says the job for customs officials is largely one of keeping their eyes and ears open for anything - or anyone - suspicious.
Meanwhile, police continue to urge whoever has the missing toddler to drop her off at a safe place.
The mother of Aisling turned her back for a moment to turn off a washing machine tap and then the little girl was gone.

In an interview on Close Up Angela says she can't help but but think about what she could have done differently.
She says Aisling was there, she turned off a washing machine tap, turned around and her daughter was gone.
She says the family has been overwhelmed by the support they have received from their community in the search for Aisling.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/another-day-dawns-search-aisling-3065410

[sarahhod]

When the nightmare started - mother tells

4:00AM Saturday Oct 10, 2009

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/AngelaSymes_300x200.jpg
Angela and Alan Symes say hope is the only thing keeping them going. Photo / Sarah Ivey




Photos (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602403&gallery_id=107748) The search for Aisling Symes (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602403&gallery_id=107748) (13 pics)
Video (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602403&gallery_id=107776) Aisling Symes' parents emotional plea (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602403&gallery_id=107776) (3:35)

Related links:

'Just look after Aisling', toddler's parents message to abductor (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602018)
Missing toddler: 'If you have any information, come forward' - father (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602049)
Toddler's lookalikes spark calls to police (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/?objectid=10602176)
Missing toddler: Police reject offer of reward (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/?objectid=10602265)
Hospital favoured as drop-off point for missing toddler (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/?objectid=10602283)
Captors urged to deliver girl to hospital (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/?objectid=10602396)



Angela Symes pulled up at her childhood home in Henderson on Monday afternoon with her mind on the job.
About a year after her parents' passing, the family had decided to put the house on the market and the new owners were moving in that weekend.
A washing machine left in a flat within the house on Longburn Rd had to be checked.
About 4pm, with daughters Aisling, 2, and Caitlin, 5 - who were rugged up against the icy conditions, the younger girl clutching a new Pooh Bear - she went inside.
The sisters went down to the creek to play with the ducklings in an area where mum could keep an eye on them through the window. The protective family dog was also on guard.
Popping in and out over the next hour, the girls chatted with their mum and played games.
Then Caitlin decided she wanted to help. Aisling, who had always been fascinated by anything mechanical, happily watched.
But the washing machine was not spinning properly. It was full of water and too heavy to move, so Mrs Symes decided to disconnect it.
The young mother fiddled around at the back with Caitlin and reconnected the hot tap, then turned to check on her toddler.
Aisling's big blue eyes, which were developing "a bit of tawny gold", gazed up at her. Now for the cold tap. Again, Mrs Symes turned to check. The toddler looked on, fascinated.
A bit more tightening at the back, then turn again ...
Empty space.
Utter panic.
"And then she was gone, she was just gone," said Mrs Symes yesterday, four harrowing days later.
Neighbour Cherie Tahitahi heard the screams.
Said Mrs Symes: "I was like, 'Where's Aisling?' and ran out, up and down the road and couldn't see her."
She and Mrs Tahitahi - with her husband Darren and their sons Jarrod, 9, and Troy, 7 - scoured the street and rising creek. The rain was teeming down and it was bitterly cold.
After 15 minutes of frantic searching - "we were running around like headless chickens" - Mrs Symes dialled 111.
Police arrived in minutes and the nightmare that was to become Angela and Alan Symes' lives began.
For the next 48 hours, 100 officers and volunteers combed the area for a glimpse of Aisling's little green parka, her blue jeans with embroidered flowers or her white tennis shoes.
As the stream rose, so too did concerns she had slipped in.
The search was suspended, police satisfied she wasn't there.
Police have talked fruitlessly to several Asian women fitting the description of a woman seen with Aisling.
Meanwhile, Alan and Angela Symes - whose red eyes and drained faces tell the tale of their sleepless week - are left "clinging to hope".
"That's all that is keeping us going," said Mr Symes yesterday, his arm drawing his wife in tight.
The grief-stricken father makes a final plea: "We don't know where she was taken, we don't know the state of mind of the person who took her.
"We certainly hope Aisling is being looked after. Please drop her off somewhere safe."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602403

[packy]

It would seem that by now the Asian woman would come forward if she was not involved. Prayers for little Aisling to be found soon.

[sarahhod]

Echoes of Madeleine McCann as Irish child Aisling Symes, 2, abducted in New Zealand

International search underway for toddler

By KELLY FINCHAM
, IrishCentral.Com Editor


Published Friday, October 9, 2009, 8:55 AM
Updated Friday, October 9, 2009, 9:35 AM


Vanished: International search underway for 2-year-old Aisling Symes who was kidnapped in New Zealand



Watch / Parents heartbreaking appeal / Click here
(http://www.irishcentral.com/multimedia/video/video_selection/?videoID=d306940215571&videoTitle=Parents%20heartbreaking%20appeal%20for% 20missing%20toddler%20Aisling)


An international search is underway for Irish toddler Aisling Symes who was snatched in New Zealand (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=New+Zealand) this week.
Devastated parents Alan and Angela Symes (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=Angela+Symes) made an emotional appeal for the safe return of their two-year-old daughter who disappeared Monday.
Alan Symes (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=Alan+Symes), from County Waterford (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=County+Waterford) in Ireland (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=Ireland), said: "We're really stressed and grieving. We don't understand how this could have happened.
"There are no clues - little Aisling could be just a few streets nearby or she could be on the other side of the country by now.
The toddler was playing with her five-year-old sister Caitlin in the Auckland (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=Auckland) neighborhood of Henderson (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=Henderson) when she went missing.
Poignantly, a neighbor has since reported that she heard Aisling - whose family nickname is Splashling - giggling at some ducklings.
Aisling was wearing blue jeans embroidered with flowers and a green jacket when she was last seen.
Her father Alan said the past few days have been "the most harrowing of our lives."
"No sleep. It's been like we're barely existing, surviving every moment not knowing where Aisling is," he said.
"Is she near us? Is she being treated well?"
New Zealand police say they want to talk to an Asian woman in her 30s who was seen talking to Aisling before she disappeared.
Aisling's uncle, David Ball (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=David+Ball), said the family was struggling to keep going. He said Alan was "typically a stoic Irishman" but "he has been breaking down a lo."
The case eerily echoes the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=Madeleine+McCann) who disappeared in May 2007 while on holiday with her family in Portugal (http://www.irishcentral.com/topics?topic=Portugal).
Madeleine has never been found and her disappearance highlighted fears that international kidnappers may have grabbed her.

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/International-search-for-kidnappers-as-Irish-child-Aisling-Symes-2-abducted-in-New-Zealand-63844767.html

[sarahhod]

Updated at 12:20pm on 10 October 2009

Dozens of police staff continued to search on Saturday for missing Auckland toddler Aisling Symes.


The number of police on the investigation has been boosted to 60 and inquiries are being made across West Auckland.
The two-year-old was with her parents who were tidying up a property on Longburn Road in the suburb of Henderson when she disappeared about 5.30pm on Monday.
An extensive search of the area has failed to find any trace of her. Police say with each day that passes, it is looking increasingly likely that the girl has been abducted.
Police are still looking for an Asian woman seen with the girl on Monday afternoon.
Mandarin radio station Radio Chinese Voice in Auckland is preparing to increase its coverage of the disappearance in the hope of helping find the woman.
Officers are also working through a list of Asian women that have been put forward by the public.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Inspector Gary Davey, says there had been no updates overnight on Friday and police were continuing to profile people and note suspicious activity.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/10/10/1245cd858110

[sarahhod]

'Sightings' come to nothing as police search for Asian woman

By CAITLIN MCBRIDE

Friday October 09 2009

As the search for missing two-year-old Aisling Symes continues in New Zealand, police are particularly interested in making contact with an Asian woman who was seen speaking to the child prior to her disappearance.
Police have issued another appeal for the woman to come forward.
The search for the mystery woman was heightened yesterday when police received a call from a city official saying they spotted an Asian woman walking around with a girl who they said bore a "striking resemblance" to Aisling.
The woman is in her 30s, about 165cm tall, with a medium build, long straight black hair and was reportedly wearing a black crew-neck top with three-quarter length sleeves, three-quarter length blue jeans, black leather sandals and black socks.
Yesterday, a girl was seen walking with a similar woman in the Auckland Domain and she looked so like Aisling Symes that police held a photo of the missing girl next to her face to rule her out.
An Auckland City Council parks officer spotted a woman and child yesterday afternoon and became concerned that the little girl was Aisling. He said the four other workers in the gardens agreed she looked similar so he called the police.
It was one of several false sightings of the tot reported.

http://www.herald.ie/world-news/sightings-come-to-nothing-as-police-search-for-asian-woman-1909687.html

[sarahhod]

Police release video of missing girl

5:32PM Saturday Oct 10, 2009

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/symes_300x20011243.jpg
Toddler Aisling Symes has now been missing for six days. Photo / Supplied




Video (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602445&gallery_id=107776) Aisling Symes' parents emotional plea (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602445&gallery_id=107776) (3:35)
Photos (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602445&gallery_id=107748) The search for Aisling Symes (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10602445&gallery_id=107748) (13 pics)

Related links:

Police boost numbers in Aisling search (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/?objectid=10602410)



Police searching for missing Auckland toddler Aisling Symes today released "heartbreaking" footage of the tot dancing.
The two-year-old has been missing for five days, disappearing about 5.15pm last Monday from outside her deceased grandparents' home in Longburn Rd, Henderson. Police strongly suspect she has been abducted.
"While it is heartbreaking footage to see given the current circumstances, we feel it humanises Aisling even more than a still photograph can and shows her in other clothes to that which she has been seen in on posters and in the media over the past five days," Inspector Gary Davey said.

>> Click here to view footage of Aisling Symes (http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/news/aisling-symes-missing-movie.wmv)

About 60 police were investigating Aisling's disappearance but Mr Davey admitted that the most recent sighting of her was still that of her with an unidentified Asian woman walking a black and grey medium-sized dog in Longburn Rd last Monday.
Staff were working tirelessly, he said. Several "people of interest" had been profiled by the intelligence section and suspect team but there was no "strong information that might lead us directly to Aisling".
Mrs Symes told a press conference yesterday she had been inspecting a washing machine with Aisling and her elder daughter, Caitlin, five, in tow.
"I turned off the hot tap, looked behind me and she was there watching what Caty and I were up to.
"I turned off the cold tap looked behind me and she was gone - that fast."
She leapt out the door screaming out Aisling's name, but there was no trace of her.
"I just can't believe that she moved so quickly. In the time it took just to turn off a tap, she was gone."
Mrs Symes had a message for her daughter's abductor.
"She's not a doll. She's somebody who loves her parents, her family, her sister, her pets. She belongs with us. She needs to be back with us.
"We miss her terribly and no matter what reason you took her, whatever you're going through, look what you're putting her through, look what you're putting us through."
Meanwhile, the parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann expressed their sympathy to Aisling's family.
Doctors Gerry and Kate McCann had conveyed their best wishes to Alan and Angela Symes for the safe return of Aisling, the British Press Association reported.
Madeleine McCann disappeared in May 2007 just days short of her fourth birthday from a holiday flat in Portugal as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant. Despite a massive worldwide hunt she has never been found.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602445

[sarahhod]

Footage of missing toddler

10 October, 2009 - 16:55


Nearly six days of trauma at the disappearance of their two year-old daughter Aisling is taking its toll on the Symes family and they, along with neighbours in Longburn Rd, have asked for some privacy today.
In a further effort to jog people's memories of possible sightings of Aisling, Police have uploaded 10 seconds of footage of Aisling dancing at a family home recently, onto the Police website, http://www.police.govt.nz/news/features/aisling.
Anyone who may have seen her since Monday, October 5 at 5.15pm, is strongly urged to call the 0800 4 AISLING - 0800 4 2475 464.
"While it is heartbreaking footage to see given the current circumstances, we feel it humanises Aisling even more than a still photograph can and shows her in other clothes to that which she has been seen in on posters and in the media over the past five days," Inspector Gary Davey said.
"Staff are working tirelessly again today on several phases of the investigation into Aisling's disappearance and our last confirmed sighting is still the one on Longburn Rd when seen with an Asian woman who had a dog with her.
"While several people of interest have been profiled by the intelligence section and suspect team, we have not had any strong information that might lead us directly to Aisling."
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz (http://www.police.govt.nz/)

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/21241.html

[sarahhod]

THE head of a major search for a two-year-old Irish girl who disappeared in New Zealand on Monday has admitted the toddler may have been kidnapped to order.
Read more: http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/toddler-may-have-been-kidnapped-to-order-103029.html#ixzz0TWkKYZMl

[sarahhod]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqsAIMkKVnI

[sarahhod]

Aisling’s sister holds the key

VITAL SECONDS: Little five-year-old Caitlin may have seen suspect Asian woman snatch girl away


http://www.independent.ie/multimedia/archive/00396/symes_g_396286t.jpg
Angela and Alan Symes appeal for help.Photo: Getty Images




Police release video as search intensifies (http://www.herald.ie/national-news/police-release-video-as-search-intensifies-1910266.html)


By Caitlin McBride

Saturday October 10 2009

The older sister of missing child Aisling Symes (2) may hold the key to the toddler's disappearance.
Caitlin (5) has been questioned twice in the past four days by New Zealand police who hope she may have seen or heard something.
The girls' uncle, David Ball, told the Herald: "Caitlin had a special interview with a child specialist. She did very well. My eldest daughter went with her to offer her support.
"All of us have been already been spoken to, they need to go with any leads they have."
The news comes on the heels of the revelation that the witness who last reported seeing Aisling was in fact, a child.
Mr Ball said that following the child's statement, police have focused their investigation on an Asian woman who was seen talking to the tot before her disappearance.
"She was seen by another child witness. They said the woman was following Aisling and it was the last reported sighting of her.
"They still haven't found the woman but the testimony is quite strong and the witness is very reliable, the focus is now being put on this Asian woman.
"Police have guaranteed their confidence in the accuracy of the witness," he continued.
Although Caitlin is very young, her family said she was coping quite well given the circumstances. "She's doing quite good, she is only five and it's difficult for her to comprehend, but she has already been interviewed twice and did well."
There have been a significant number of reported sightings from members of the public claiming they spotted Aisling since the Asian woman became a person of interest.
"There haven't been any sightings yet. Just people thinking that they've seen her, we are still hoping and praying.
"The community in West Auckland have been incredible trying to find her. When you are walking down the street, you see 200,000 pairs of eyes looking for Aisling.
"This is uncharacteristic for the area, it's just a mystery. Even the mayor was on the streets talking to people and putting up posters," he said.
Praise
Mr Ball went on to praise the local police department for their hard work in search of the missing girl.
Little Aisling has been the focus of international headlines since her disappearance on Monday while her mother Angela was cleaning out the home of her late parents in the suburb of Henderson.
The sisters were helping their mother with the clearing out. Angela was checking out an old washing machine at the property and when she turned around she found Aisling was gone.
Mrs Symes immediately raised the alarm when she realised her daughter was missing and a huge search ensued.

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/aislingrsquos-sister-holds-the-key-1910256.html

[sarahhod]

Police: We have no leads on Aisling

By LEIGH VAN DER STOEP and ESTHER HARWARD - Sunday Star Times Last updated 05:00 11/10/2009
[/URL]

http://inl-images.adbureau.net/inl/accipiter/images/AE1.gif (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2952116/Police-We-have-no-leads-on-Aisling#share)
As the search for missing Auckland toddler Aisling Symes enters its seventh day, police have admitted they have no strong leads, and have renewed pleas for those connected to her disappearance to come forward.
New "heartbreaking" footage of Aisling, two, dancing in her family home was released last night in the hope it might encourage anyone with information to contact police.
"While it is heartbreaking footage to see given the current circumstances, we feel it humanises Aisling even more than a still photograph can," the officer in charge of the investigation, Inspector Gary Davey, said.
"While several people of interest have been profiled by the intelligence section and suspect team, we have not had any strong information that might lead us directly to Aisling."
Davey has urged Aisling's captors to deliver her to a safe place, preferably a hospital in the Auckland region. "Our aim is to have Aisling returned safely to her family... Please return her."
Aisling's parents, Alan and Angela Symes, were yesterday too fragile to talk to media. A spokesperson said: "They have had a bit of a difficult morning."
The new low in what has been described as a week of living hell for the Symes family came as they would have learned that, six days into their little girl's disappearance, police had no promising lines of inquiry. Davey said the family was being kept up-to-date with police operations.
A family spokesperson told the Star-Times that Aisling's parents, along with family members and close friends, spent most of yesterday huddled at their West Auckland home, close to the phone, waiting for news.
Meanwhile, the parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann expressed their sympathy for the Symes family. Four-year-old Madeleine disappeared in May 2007 from a holiday flat in Portugal, as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant. Despite a massive worldwide hunt she has never been found.
Aisling vanished last Monday about 5.15pm from her deceased grandparents' house in Longburn Rd, Henderson. She was last seen with an Asian woman walking a medium-sized black and grey dog. The woman has not come forward, and police believe Aisling has been abducted. Her disappearance sparked a large-scale police hunt by a team recently bolstered to 60 officers.
Davey said that entering the seventh day of the search and beyond into the new week, his team would be completing area canvasses and following up on a list of "persons of interest".
"What we're doing at the moment is we're really working through our persons of interest that have come up from our profiling of suspicious people and information from members of the public that have been calling in."
Yesterday a police van set up outside nearby Lincoln Rd Pak'n Save saw a steady stream of people coming forward. One police officer manning the van told the Star-Times about a dozen people had come forward in three hours. Police were following up on each bit of information and people should not think any detail too trivial to pass on.
In a statement to the Star-Times, Gerry and Kate McCann said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Aisling and her family. We wish Aisling's parents the strength and support they'll be needing at this most painful time and we join them in hoping for Aisling's safe and speedy return. We urge anyone who has any information about Aisling to come forward to the local police as soon as possible and end this family's suffering."
The Symes were grateful for the McCanns' wishes, a spokesperson said.

[url]http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2952116/Police-We-have-no-leads-on-Aisling (http://www.stuff.co.nz/about-stuff/advertising-feedback/)

[annalyzer]

Aisling footage released by police

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/aisling-footage-released-police-3065716/video

[sarahhod]

Boy fled stranger danger

BY JONATHAN MARSHALL - Sunday News Last updated 08:36 11/10/2009
[/URL]
A man tried to snatch a 10-year-old boy just half a kilometre away from where Aisling Symes vanished two days later, Sunday News can reveal.
The boy's story has emerged as police announce the investigation into Aisling's disappearance is to be further boosted by additional police staff.
The schoolboy was approached by a man in his 30s two days before two-year-old Aisling's disappearance, Sunday News has learned. He offered to buy him sweets as he shopped in the Discount Food Mart, on Rathgar Rd, Henderson.
"I asked the shop person the price of the candy and, when she said $4, the man asked if he could pay for me and said I could go along with him. It made me feel weird,'' the boy said.
He ran screaming from the store, which is close to where two-year-old Aisling went missing from her late grandparents home in Longburn Rd last Monday.
The boy's mum, who is desperately concerned for Aisling, said: "It could have been anyone's kid and even ours. I always tell my son not to go off on his own but he doesn't listen.
"From what has happened in the last week in this area it is going to make me a lot more careful.
"I didn't like hearing about what happened in the shop with my son. Who knows if the guy was joking but my son did the right thing."
Police questioned the boy on Thursday and again last night for several hours.
Police spokesperson Noreen Hegarty downplayed the incident. She said police believed the man hadn't made any attempt to "abduct" or "lure" the boy away from his family.
She said police were not seeking the man. Asked why police then interviewed the boy's parents, Hegarty said they had to "take everything that comes to this investigation seriously".
The boy, who Sunday News has agreed not to identity, was in the superette around 12.30pm last Saturday while his mum and aunt were in Creative Cutz hairdressers nearby.
"I was by the candy and the guy came up to me and gave me a really strange look and started talking to me," the boy said.
He was concerned that the stranger, who described as about 33, Maori or Pacific Islander, wanted to buy him candy.
"That made me worried," said the schoolboy.
"Suddenly I ran out of the store screaming for my mum as I thought he wanted to kidnap me.
"I was scared, pretty scared. The man then got in his car and drove off and I told mum not to look at him in the face."
The brave lad knew he had to run away from stranger danger. "I've been told that if someone wants to give you something or take you anywhere you just say `no' and get away," he said.
The boy's family reported the incident to police after learning of Aisling's disappearance.
Harrison Williams, the owner of Creative Cutz hairdressing, has also been spoken to by police. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2952498/Boy-fled-stranger-danger#share)
Aisling's parents Angela and Alan, who have another daughter Caitlin, five, have been made aware of the suspected abduction near Angela's deceased parents' home. Angela was cleaning the vacant house when Aisling wandered off.
Police said last night that "several people of interest have been profiled by the intelligence section and suspect team".
The investigation into the disappearance of Aisling is to be further boosted by additional police staff.
Already about 60 police are engaged in trying to locate Aisling, who went missing about 5.15pm last Monday outside her deceased grandparents' home in Henderson.
Inquiry head Inspector Gary Davey said today those numbers would be increased again today and tomorrow.
He said police were continuing with an area canvas today and were still searching for a breakthrough in the case.
They were working through a list of persons of interest and through reports of suspicious activity, from information supplied by members of the public.
Aisling was last seen with an unidentified Asian woman who was walking a black and grey medium-sized dog in Longburn Rd. Police have still not traced her.
Inspector Gary Davey, heading the six-day-long hunt for Aisling, would not comment on the superette incident. He said in a statement: "We have not had any strong information that might lead us directly to Aisling."
Security guard Alan, who emigrated from Ireland 20 years ago, told Sunday News that the last 24 hours had been the most "difficult of the last week".
"We had a very unsettled night. The wait is so painful," Alan added.
"As time goes on it gets so much harder, but we are not giving up on our little girl. We never will."
Angela broke her silence on Friday.
"She belongs with us. She needs to be back with us."
In England, the parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann expressed their sympathy with the Symes family.
Madeleine disappeared on holiday in Portugal in May 2007, just days short of her fourth birthday, while her parent dined at a nearby hotel.
Despite a massive worldwide hunt, she has not been found.
Mr and Mrs McCann said their thoughts and prayers were with Aisling and her family.
"We wish Aisling's parents the strength and support they will be needing at this most painful time, and we join them in hoping for Aisling's safe and speedy return," they said in a statement.
"We urge anyone who has any information about Aisling to come forward to the local police as soon as possible and end this family's suffering."

[url]http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2952498/Boy-fled-stranger-danger

[FoolsGold]

Perhaps some sort of surveillance cameras in the area recorded this incident.

This is ofcourse bad news since the previously mentioned possibility of "stolen to order" would be of doubtful utility.

[sarahhod]

Personal please for Aisling

The head of the police team investigating the disappearance of Aisling Symes has made a personal plea for her return

11 October 2009

The head of the police team investigating the disappearance of Aisling Symes has made a personal plea to whoever may have her.

Inspector Gary Davey wants the person who has the two year-old or anyone who knows where she is or who knows what has happened to her, to call him.

Inspector Davey says while the person might be scared or intimidated by police activity over the past week, they should not be. He says they just want to know where Aisling is.

Inspector Gary Davey can be contacted on 0800 424 75 464.

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=106064&fm=newsmain,nrhl

[annalyzer]

Photos of LE searching the creek

http://www.nzpaimages.co.nz/events.php?event_id=8874&show_all=0&page_no=0

[downunder]

Aislings body has been found.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602845

[packy]

Thank you, Downunder, so sorry to hear this and it does appear that it is Aisling although according to your link they have not confirmed it yet.

Mr Davey said it was too early to say how the child got in the drain or how long it had been there.

Police have spoken to the family.

"The immediate scene has been condoned off and treated as a crime scene," he said.

"I know you've got a lot of questions and so do I."

Mr Davey said the body had not yet been identified as Aisling Symes.

[sarahhod]

Body found in hunt for Aisling

By CLIO FRANCIS - Stuff.co.nz


Last updated 22:53 12/10/2009
http://static.stuff.co.nz/1254877351/917/2940917.jpg http://static.stuff.co.nz/1254787777/915/2934915.jpg


http://static.stuff.co.nz/1255340915/177/2957177.gif
MISSING: The investigation into the disappearance of Aisling Symes has entered its second week.

http://static.stuff.co.nz/images/icon_map.gif (http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/lightbox/national/crime/2957178/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=528&width=635)Aisling search intensifies (http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/lightbox/national/crime/2957178/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=528&width=635)



Aisling Symes home video (http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/lightbox/national/crime/2955848/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=560&width=640)


http://file.stuff.co.nz/1255308955/850/2955850.jpg (http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/lightbox/national/crime/2955848/?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=560&width=640)

LATEST: Police have found a child's body, believed to be that of Aisling Symes, after searchers dug behind a west Auckland property near where the two-year-old went missing a week ago.
Inspector Gary Davey said it was with "tremendous sadness" that he could confirm police had discovered the body of a child in a drain just after 8pm this evening.
He said it was too early to confirm if it was Aisling and how long the body had been there.
"I know you have a lot of questions and so do I," Mr Davey said.
"Over the next few hours and days we will work through those questions."
Speaking with tears in his eyes Mr Davey said the property, about 200 metres from Aisling's deceased grandparents, had now been cordoned off and was being treated as a crime scene.
Police staff from the investigation are with the Symes family tonight.
At 10.30pm tonight more than 100 people at the scene, some with small children, holding candles and huddled in blankets. Leah Hayes said the discovery of the child's body "made her feel physically sick. "I was hoping for a happy ending. It's just so sad."
An address in Pomaria Rd, which backs on to the property has also been under police guard.
Fire officers and police spent the evening digging land located down a long driveway off the Pomaria Rd address, which backs on to a creek and neighbours Aisling's grandparents' house in Longburn Rd.
The area had been covered with tarpaulin and was being searched by around 15 police officers under lights.
It is understood police had also searched a septic tank at the back of the section.
Earlier around 200 people gathered outside the property where the sound of heavy machinery had been heard and a helicopter had been hovering nearby.
Family members who attended a church service this evening praying for Aisling's safe return, were also called away. Aisling's parents were not in attendance.
Firefighters had been working since about 6pm on the Pomaria Rd address.
Aisling disappeared a week ago from the front yard of her deceased grandparents' west Auckland home. She was watching her mother, Angela, and five-year-old sister Caitlin fix a tap on a washing machine when she wandered away.
A police search team scoured a three kilometre radius around the house for nearly 48 hours but failed to find any trace of Aisling.
The last confirmed sighting of her had been at 5.15pm last Monday in Longburn Rd, Henderson, in the company of an unknown Asian woman who was walking a dog.
Late this afternoon British peer Michael Ashcroft offered a reward of $50,000 for information on the missing toddler.
It is not known whether this reward offer had any connection with tonight's discovery.
Police staff on the inquiry had been increased to 70.
Last week police said after an intensive search of the area around the Longburn Rd home of her deceased grandparents, they were convinced she was not in the area.
Aisling's father said the past week has been "one very long bad day".
A Facebook site set up by Symes family member Christina Bartle had more than 12,000 members last night.
Mrs Bartle, whose husband is Aisling's cousin, said Aisling's parents had been overwhelmed by the messages of support.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2953153/Body-found-in-hunt-for-Aisling

[sarahhod]

So very very sad. Looks like a tragic accident at the moment.

What hell Aisling's family and friends must be going though.

God Bless them all.

Thanks downunder for letting us know.

[packy]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602785


The Mayor of Waitakere Bob Harvey has confirmed to the NZ Herald a body has been found near the Henderson property where two-year-old Aisling Symes went missing.

Earlier, neighbours reported a drainage crew inspecting a storm water line near the property with a camera.

A police camera crew has just entered the crimescene.

More at link

[sarahhod]

Aisling police find body next door

By CLIO FRANCIS and DAVID GADD - Stuff.co.nz

Last updated 05:00 13/10/2009


The body of two-year-old Aisling Symes was found in a drain last night near the home she was last seen at eight days ago.
The body, which was discovered in a drainpipe under a Henderson property shortly before 8pm last night, was removed from the scene in a silver hearse shortly after midnight and taken to Auckland Hospital mortuary.

A post mortem examination will be carried out at 9am this morning.

The area where she was found is under guard and a scene examination will continue today.
Inspector Gary Davey confirmed a child's body had been found just before 8pm. "It is with tremendous sorrow that I report the finding of this young child."
"It's too early to tell how she got there," Mr Davey said.
Police were speaking with Aisling's parents Alan and Angela last night and the family said last night that police had told them the body was Aisling.
Police are due to hold another press conference at 8am this morning, when more details will be released.
Family members had attended a prayer vigil for the missing toddler yesterday evening as police were digging up a property that backs on to the home from where she disappeared.
Firefighters with concrete cutters spent several hours working in Longburn Rd in Henderson, West Auckland, next-door to the home where the two-year-old was last seen.
Police were searching a creek area at the back of the properties about 8.30pm. Searchers were huddled under bright lights near a blue tarpaulin between two neighbouring houses, near the creek bank.
Several homes had been cordoned off and a helicopter was hovering above the property last night.
Family members and friends were at a prayer vigil at the nearby Ranui Baptist Church.
Family left during the service after they were approached by church officials. It was reported that Aisling's parents, Angela and Alan Symes, arrived at the search later.
Family member Christina Bartle wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to Aisling that she had phoned family members at the prayer vigil to tell them of the developments. "I'm so scared, I have never felt so worried in my whole life," she wrote. "I don't know how we will cope if it's bad news."
Police spokesman Kevin Loughlin confirmed six police units were working in the Longburn Rd area. However, he said there had been no new developments and that the increased activity was just part of the continuing investigation.
A crowd of more than 100 gathered outside, including the new owners of the house from which Aisling walked away.
She disappeared from the home of her late grandparents about 5.15pm on October 5, when her mother turned her back briefly.
Police initially thought she had wandered off, but then said it was likely she had been abducted.
Earlier yesterday, British peer Lord Ashcroft, the man instrumental in the return of the stolen Waiouru Army war medals, offered a $50,000 reward for Aisling's safe return.
He made the offer after the launch of anonymous tipline Crimestoppers.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2957294/Aisling-police-find-body-next-door

[packy]

:1222423:

The press conference may tell us whether they think it's an accident or foul play.

My condolences to Aisling's family.

[Pandabear]

How very sad. My sympathy goes out to the family of this child. :1222423:

[annalyzer]

13 Oct 2009 4:44 p.m.

Autopsy Finds Aisling Symes Drowned

An autopsy has found that Aisling Symes, whose body was found in a drain after she went missing over a week ago, drowned.

Inspector Gary Davey says he can't comment on the specific details of the autopsy, but there is no evidence of injury.

Aisling's body has now been released to her family.

Meanwhile, members of Aisling's family say the loss of the toddler is unbearable, but there is some resolution in the sense she has been found.

Two family members have spoken to journalists at Henderson Police Station, on behalf of the dead toddler's grieving parents Allan and Angela Symes.

They expressed their thanks to the community and spoke of the immense grief Aisling's parents are feeling.

http://www.bigfm.co.nz/News/Autopsy-Finds-Aisling-Symes-Drowned/tabid/55/articleID/4929/cat/1/Default.aspx

[lalema]

:1222423: RIP beautiful little Aisling! Prayers for the family.

[sarahhod]

Aisling: Police wanted to bring her home to her family



Aisling Symes: Your condolences (http://www.3news.co.nz/Aisling-Symes-Your-condolences/tabid/423/articleID/125256/cat/64/Default.aspx)


Aisling: post mortem results consistent with drowning (http://www.3news.co.nz/Aisling-post-mortem-results-consistent-with-drowning/tabid/423/articleID/125215/cat/64/Default.aspx)


Aisling's family says she is 'safe in heaven' (http://www.3news.co.nz/Aislings-family-says-she-is-safe-in-heaven/tabid/423/articleID/125121/cat/64/Default.aspx)


'Dodgy' drain comes under scrutiny by neighbour (http://www.3news.co.nz/Dodgy-drain-comes-under-scrutiny-by-neighbour-/tabid/423/articleID/125157/cat/64/Default.aspx)


Post mortem to be carried out on body of young girl (http://www.3news.co.nz/Post-mortem-to-be-carried-out-on-body-of-young-girl/tabid/423/articleID/125093/cat/64/Default.aspx)


Sadness at body's discovery gives way to criticism of police (http://www.3news.co.nz/Sadness-at-bodys-discovery-gives-way-to-criticism-of-police/tabid/423/articleID/125099/cat/64/Default.aspx)


TVNZ psychic slammed for 'exploiting' family's grief (http://www.3news.co.nz/TVNZ-psychic-slammed-for-exploiting-familys-grief/tabid/423/articleID/125143/cat/64/Default.aspx)


Tue, 13 Oct 2009 6:06p.m. By Melissa Davies

A week ago last night, almost exactly to the hour, police had searched the very same manhole in their hunt for missing Henderson toddler Aisling Symes. There was no sign of her at that stage, although they were not able to see all the way down the drain.

Aisling was found in a storm water pipe that runs below a manhole in the drive of a house at number five Longburn Road.

The pipe is 375 millimetres wide – big enough for a two-year-old to fit in. But questions remain about how exactly she wound up in there.


Police have today confirmed results of a post mortem on Aisling are consistent with drowning.

Waitakere Area Police Commander Inspector Gary Davey says it is more likely than not Aisling was there from the start.

Police believe her death is an unfortunate misadventure, but can not rule out other possibilities at this stage.

A stream of grieving strangers arrived at Longburn Rd today to pay their respects to the little girl, but no one is hurting more than Aisling’s family – her parents were too distraught to talk today.

“No words can describe Angela and Alan’s pain and anguish,” Alan Symes cousin Wymond told the press conference.

The Symes have been living a nightmare since she disappeared last Monday. That night a searching police officer noted the manhole cover to a stormwater drain on the driveway next door – it was ajar by just eight to 12 centimetres.

Police say the officer lifted the lid which weighed approximately 20kgs, and checked the drain within minutes of arriving.

“It was daylight, he was able to see there was no body in there, he called out, and did not hear anything other than running water,” Mr Davey said.

The officer was then asked to help search the creek at the back of the property. He returned to the manhole 15 minutes later and climbed down with a torch, but could not see or hear anything.

“Which would indicate if she was in there at that stage she had moved down past that, and as we know all the drains will face downhill – it would have been impossible for her to turn around if she was crawling,” Mr Davey told the press conference this morning.

“It was raining at the time, there was water in the drain – whether that was washing her down or whether she was crawling down, we simply don’t know.”

Yesterday police asked the council to search the drain with cameras. It found several blockages, so a digger was called to cut the drain open.

Aisling’s body was recovered around 8pm last night.

Mr Davey says last night’s discovery has had a big impact on the police team investigating Aisling’s disappearance, but this is not the outcome they had hoped for.

“We wanted to find Aisling, and bring her home to her family,” he said.

“Aisling's death is devastating for her family and for everyone who knew and loved her. Police, along with other members of the community, are deeply saddened," he said.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Aisling-Police-wanted-to-bring-her-home-to-her-family/tabid/423/articleID/125239/cat/64/Default.aspx

[sarahhod]

Aisling post mortem rules out foul play

View Video (http://www.3news.co.nz/Aisling-post-mortem-rules-out-foul-play/tabid/368/articleID/125270/cat/64/Default.aspx)

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 9:53p.m.


Aisling Symes drowned. The post mortem results following the discovery of the toddler's body last night deem to rule out any foul play.

Two-year-old Aisling went missing from 7 Longburn Rd in West Auckland last Monday evening.

Next door at number 5 there is a manhole cover to a storm drain that was not properly closed. It drops to a stormwater drain that goes down to the local creek at the back of the property. Thirty-six metres down that drain from the manhole is where Aisling's body was found.

Police searched the pipe three times before eventually making their grisly discovery.

The investigation into Aisling's disappearance had been running for almost exactly a week to the hour, when a policeman's hunch led them to her body.

"The drain had a history of blocking," says Inspector Gary Davey. "We just weren't happy with that part of the search, so we decided to use different techniques, and even the cameras didn't reveal Aisling."

But they perservered. It was only after police - with the assistance of the fire service - dug up part of the drain behind a house in Pomaria Rd that they discovered the toddler.

An officer discovered the manhole cover's lid about 10cm ajar on the night she went missing.

"It was daylight," says Mr Davey. "He was able to see there was nobody in there. He called out and did not hear anything other than running water."

Today police were back on the scene. It is easy to see how Aisling may have fallen in, as it was raining at the time.

Police will probably never know how Aisling got into the drain, but her family are relieved they now know what happened to her, saying they now have a sense of "resolution".

Police will hold a review of their investigation. Comments made a week ago by the officer in charge came back to haunt him today.

"Police are confident that Aisling is not within the search boundaries, given our parameters," said Mr Davey then.

It turns out the parameters were almost certainly right, but the decision to stop searching the immediate area was not.

"I believe the police on the night did everything they could to find her, and I'm also sure that we wouldn't have been able to save her," says Mr Davey.

But they would have saved her family from a tortuous seven days of waiting and wondering what had happened to their toddler.

Questions are being asked about the role of Waitakere City Council in the tragedy.

Shaky amateur footage supplied to 3 News shows large volumes of water caused the manhole lid to come off.

Water would then flood the lawn.

Neighbours say it happened so often they phoned the council, but nothing was done.

http://www.3news.co.nz/Aisling-post-mortem-rules-out-foul-play/tabid/423/articleID/125270/cat/64/Default.aspx

:1187603408.CR.Mothe

[FoolsGold]

I truly think such a review should focus on the decision making process. Start with the immediate area. See an attractive nuisance and obvious potential perilous situation ... and all they did was a cursory search of it initially?

[sarahhod]

Aisling's funeral to be held on Friday

5:51PM Wednesday Oct 14, 2009
By Yvonne Tahana, James Ihaka and Andrew Koubaridis

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/A_111009splAISLING8_300x20040873.jpg
Aisling's body was recovered yesterday morning. Photo / Supplied




Photos (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107841) Detailed reconstruction of deadly drain (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107841) (3 pics)
Video (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107837) Why it took so long to find Aisling (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107837) (3:16)
Video (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107835) Footage of overflowing drain at 5 Longburn Rd (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107835) (0:39)
Video (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107834) Police 'deeply saddened' by Aisling discovery (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107834) (1:33)
Photos (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107823) Police search uncovers child's body (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107823) (27 pics)
Video (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107821) Body found in search for Aisling Symes (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107821) (0:54)
Photos (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107748) The search for Aisling Symes (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10603161&gallery_id=107748) (29 pics)


The funeral for west Auckland toddler Aisling Symes will be held on Friday.
The service at the Ranui Baptist Church, where the family worship, will be lead by Pastor Russell Watts.
Aisling's parents Angela and Alan Symes have, through police, said the service will include family tributes and music in memory of their cherished little girl.
The funeral will be followed by a private cremation service for Aisling.
Acting Chief Coroner Garry Evans has opened an inquiry into the two-year-old's death.
It will eventually lead to an inquest into the cause and circumstances of her death.
Aisling's body was found in a stormwater pipe about 8pm on Monday night, 36m from a manhole cover at 5 Longburn Rd, Henderson. She had been missing for over a week.
Aisling was with her mother at 7 Longburn Rd, the home of her deceased grandparents, when she disappeared.
Waitakere City Council has been meeting today to discuss issues around the concrete pipe drain in which the west Auckland toddler drowned.

Locals have criticised the council for not acting on complaints the cover over a manhole on the drain would be lifted by torrents of water during times of heavy rain.
Last night police spoke to the Asian woman they wanted to contact over Aisling's disappearance, but say they are satisfied she is unable to help them.
The woman was a central figure during the week-long investigation into the toddler's disappearance.
After initial searches proved fruitless, it was feared Aisling had been abducted.
Yesterday police still wanted to speak to the woman, despite Aisling's body having been recovered, and a post mortem examination revealing she died by drowning.
Inspector Gary Davey today said police found the woman last night.
"We've talked with her overnight and are satisfied she's unable to help us further," he said. "I'm unable to provide specific comment on the woman's discussions with us but she is no longer part of our inquiries relating to Aisling's disappearance."
The drain in which Aisling was found had been the subject of four complaints to the Waitakere City Council, and at least one person raised safety concerns after a build-up of water blew the manhole cover off.
The drain, which is 37.5cm wide and runs at a depth of 1.4m, feeds into Lincoln Stream behind Longburn Rd.
Police found the manhole cover dislodged during the initial search for Aisling, but it was too heavy for her to have lifted.
Inspector Davey yesterday said the decision to re-check the pipe was made in a review of the investigation, which was at a dead-end.
More than a metre of soil had to be excavated and obstructions cleared before Aisling's body was found.

Mr Davey said it would have been impossible for her to turn around in the drain.
One west Auckland drainlayer - who did not want to be named - told the Herald he immediately thought about the manhole cover after hearing Aisling's body had been recovered.
He said he had raised concerns about it with the Waitakere City Council a year ago, after making a closed-circuit TV inspection of the stormwater line.
"It's an old lid that should have been replaced ages ago. When we came across that we let the council know. They pop up in bad stormwater."
Sonya Carrington, a former tenant at 5 Longburn Rd, said the main reason she moved was "because I didn't want my kids down that drain".
Waitakere Mayor Harvey last night told Close Up he was now aware of the four previous complaints, but did not know what action had been taken.
"I feel disappointed more than angry. I don't think it's a time for anger."
He said he was surprised the people concerned about the drain had not mentioned it to the police during the search.

Waitakere City Council spokesman Wally Thomas said the city had received a complaint on September 11 that the manhole cover had lifted off.
Workers found large willow tree roots in the drain and began "the process of deciding how best to go about removing them".
Asked if that decision was made before Aisling went missing, Mr Thomas said: "No, sadly, not."

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