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15
FEBRUARY 2016 |
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SUN |
By ANTONELLA
LAZZERI 00:01, 15 Feb 2016 |
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I’m convinced my Maddie is
still in the Algarve despite
worldwide sightings, says
Kate McCann |
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Nearly 9 years after she was
abducted, missing girl’s mum
claims daughter wasn’t taken
far from Portugal’s Praia da
Luz resort
KATE McCann yesterday said
she is convinced whoever
snatched Madeleine from the
Algarve resort of Praia da
Luz never took her far.
She said: “That’s where she
last was and I don’t think
she’s been taken a million
miles from there.
“I’ve always said Praia da
Luz is the place where I
feel closest to her.”
In the nine years since
three-year-old Madeleine was
abducted from the family’s
apartment on 3 May 2007
there have been thousands of
“sightings” of her
worldwide.
There have also been many
theories that she was rushed
out of Portugal to be sold
to a childless couple. But
Kate believes Madeleine
probably never left the
country.
She said she and husband
Gerry have learned from
their years of research that
abducted children are
generally not taken far.
She said: “It’s all only
speculation, but we’ve
learned that’s usually the
case.”
Kate, 47, is spearheading a
two-week drive to get a
million people in the UK to
register for free Child
Rescue Alerts. The Royal
Mail-funded scheme sends
appeals to phones, computers
and tablets when a child
goes missing.
She believes if CRAs had
been around in 2007
Madeleine may have been
found safe and sound within
hours.
Kate said: “It’s nearly nine
years and that’s so
ridiculous and so
unbelievable. You think,
‘Gosh that could have been
hours, or a day’.
“If enough people had been
mobilised and galvanised
early then who knows what
the outcome would have
been.”
Madeleine’s 13th birthday is
in May. And Kate said in her
mind’s eye she jumps from
seeing her as she was when
she vanished — to seeing her
as she would be today.
She said: “Nine years. Time
just goes too quickly. It’s
the quiet times that are
tough. Times when you are
thinking about her — or
something related to her.”
Scotland Yard’s
investigation into
Madeleine’s abduction has
been scaled down. But Kate
and Gerry will continue to
search for her.
She said: “The urge to look
for Madeleine absolutely
hasn’t changed at all. You
hear all the time about
people who have been missing
for years being found. There
have been so many cases like
that.
“We will never give up. You
couldn’t settle if you
thought about giving up. I
want an end, an answer.
Whatever that it is.”
Sign up and you may save a
child
TO register and receive
alerts just text HERO and
your postcode to 85080.
It’s estimated only around
six alerts a year are likely
to be sent when cops believe
the life of a missing child
is in imminent danger.
Registration costs a
standard network text
message rate. At
www.childrescuealert.org.uk
it is completely free to
sign up.
If you receive an alert do
exactly what Kate says and
“be the eyes and ears of a
search”.
If you see or hear anything
suspicious phone the number
given on the text.
Kate says: “If it turns out
you are wrong it doesn’t
matter, but if you are right
it could save that child’s
life.”
The system works with
assistance from Groupcall, a
technology firm owned by Sir
Bob Geldof.
Sir Bob said: “Many readers
of The Sun have already made
a real difference - over
315,000 people have already
joined the search.
“But we need all of you to
get involved.
“We need people in every
corner of the UK to register
on their phones. You could
be a hero.” |
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MIRROR |
00:19, 15 FEB 2016 UPDATED
07:11, 15 FEB 2016BY PAUL
HOOPER |
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Madeleine McCann's mum Kate
believes her daughter is
still alive in the Algarve |
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She is convinced Madeleine
never went far from the
Praia da Luz resort where
she was snatched in 2007 -
despite thousands of
reported sightings of her
around the world
Kate McCann has revealed she
believes missing daughter
Madeleine is still alive in
the Algarve.
She is convinced Madeleine
never went far from the
Praia da Luz resort where
she was snatched on May 3
2007 - despite thousands of
reported sightings of her
around the world.
Launching a campaign to get
a million people to sign up
for missing child alerts,
Kate said: “Praia da Luz is
where I feel closest to her.
“That’s where she last was
and I don’t think she’s been
taken a million miles from
there.”
As well as the scores of
apparent sightings , other
theories on the tot’s
disappearance include that
she might have been rushed
out of Portugal and sold to
a childless couple.
But Kate, 47, said that her
and husband Gerry’s years of
research has taught them
that kidnapped children are
not usually taken far away.
“It’s all only speculation,
but we’ve learned that’s
usually the case,” she said.
Kate is heading up a
two-week drive to get a
million people in the UK to
register for free Child
Rescue Alerts (CRAs).
The scheme, funded by the
Royal Mail, sends appeals to
phones, computers, and
tablets when a child
vanishes.
Kate thinks if the scheme
had been around back in 2007
then Maddie, aged three at
the time, may have been
found within hours.
“It’s nearly nine years and
that’s so ridiculous and so
unbelievable,” she said.
“You think ‘gosh that could
have been hours, or a day’.
“If enough people had been
mobilised and galvanised
early then who knows what
the outcome would have
been.”
With Maddie’s 13th birthday
approaching in May, Kate
said: “Nine years. Time just
goes too quickly. It’s the
quiet times that are tough.
“Times when you are thinking
about her - or something
related to her.”
Despite Scotland Yard’s
probe into Madeleine’s
abduction being scaled down
, her parents insist they
will continue to search for
her.
Kate said: “The urge to look
for Madeleine absolutely
hasn’t changed at all.
“You hear all the time about
people who have been missing
for years being found.
“We will never give up. You
couldn’t settle if you
thought about giving up.
“I want an end, an answer.
Whatever that is.”
To register and receive
Child Rescue Alerts, text
HERO and your postcode to
85080.
Only about six alerts per
year are likely to be sent
when police believe the life
of a missing child is in
immediate danger.
Registration costs a
standard network text
message rate.
It is free to sign up at
www.childrescuealert.org.uk |
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MAIL |
By EMMA GLANFIELD FOR
MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 02:20, 15
February 2016 | UPDATED:
09:20, 15 February 2016 |
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Kate McCann says she is
convinced Maddie is still
alive and was not taken 'a
million miles' from Praia da
Luz because resort is where
she 'feels closest to her'
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Kate McCann said she
believes her missing
daughter Maddie is still
alive
-
47-year-old believes her
daughter was not taken
'million miles' from
resort
-
Madeleine McCann
disappeared from Praia
da Luz apartment in May
2007
-
Despite thousands of
potential 'sightings',
youngster has never been
found
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Kate McCann believes her
missing daughter Madeleine
is still alive and is not a
'million miles' from the
Algarve resort of Praia da
Luz where she was snatched
nine years ago.
The 47-year-old
mother-of-three said the
Portuguese resort is where
she 'feels closest' to
Maddie, who disappeared from
the bed of her holiday
apartment on May 3, 2007 at
the age of three.
Speaking ahead of Maddie's
13th birthday, Ms McCann
said: 'Praia da Luz is where
I feel closest to her.
That's where she last was
and I don't think she's been
taken a million miles from
there.'
The youngster disappeared
from her holiday apartment
as her parents Kate and
Gerry, from Rothley,
Leicestershire, dined with
friends just yards away.
Since Maddie vanished, every
possible theory has been
explored, including that she
was kidnapped by a
paedophile, killed during a
botched burglary and her
body dumped, snatched by
traffickers and sold to a
childless couple and that
she wandered out of the
apartment and died in a
tragic accident.
Despite almost 9,000
potential 'sightings', the
youngster has never been
found and last year Scotland
Yard announced it would be
winding down the £10million
investigation to find her.
The Met has cut the number
of officers working on the
case from 29 to four, after
running out of leads to
follow having probed 60
suspects and investigated
more than 650 paedophiles.
Despite the cutbacks to the
investigation, Ms McCann
said she and her husband
believe their daughter is
still very much and alive
and 'probably never left the
country'.
She said her years of
research into missing people
cases had taught her that
kidnapped children are
usually not taken very far
away.
'It's all only speculation,
but we've learned that's
usually the case,' she
said. |
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THE HUNT FOR MADDIE IN
NUMBERS
40,000 documents from United
Kingdom and foreign law
enforcement agencies looked
1,338 statements taken and
1,027 exhibits.
7,154 actions were raised
and 560 lines of inquiry
identified.
60 persons of interest.
650 sex offenders have also
been considered
8,685 potential sightings of
Madeleine around the world.
200 emails a week and around
7,000 responses to appeals
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Her comments came as she
launched a campaign to get a
million people in Britain to
sign up for missing child
alerts
The Royal Mail-funded scheme
sends appeals to phones,
computers and tablets when a
child goes missing.
Ms McCann believes her
daughter may have been found
within hours had the Child
Rescue Alerts been around
when she disappeared in
2007.
She said: 'It's nearly nine
years and that's so
ridiculous and so
unbelievable. You think,
'Gosh that could have been
hours, or a day'.
'If enough people had been
mobilised and galvanised
early then who knows what
the outcome would have
been.'
Despite Scotland Yard's
investigation into her
missing daughter being
scaled back, Ms McCann said
she and her husband – who
also have twins – will
'never give up'.
She said: 'Nine years. Time
just goes too quickly. It's
the quiet times that are
tough. Times when you are
thinking about her — or
something related to her.
'The urge to look for
Madeleine absolutely hasn't
changed at all. You hear all
the time about people who
have been missing for years
being found. There have been
so many cases like that.
'We will never give up. You
couldn't settle if you
thought about giving up. I
want an end, an answer.
Whatever that it is.'
Last year, British
detectives returned to
Portugal with sniffer dogs
and sifted through scrubland
on their hands and knees -
1,000ft from where Maddie
vanished nine years ago.
They also used radar
scanners that could
penetrate to depths of up to
13ft (four metres) at
several but found no trace
of her.
Since joining Portuguese
detectives in the hunt for
Maddie, the Met's
investigation team has taken
more than 1,338 statements
and collected 1,027 exhibits
raising 560 lines of
inquiry.
There have also been more
than 30 international
requests to countries asking
for work to be undertaken on
behalf of the Met.
To register for Child Rescue
Alerts, text HERO and your
postcode to 85080.
It is estimated that about
six alerts per year are
likely to be sent when
police believe the life of a
missing child is in imminent
danger.
Registration costs a
standard network text
message rate.
It is free to sign up at:
www.childrescuealert.org.uk
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TIMELINE: HOW THE DESPERATE
HUNT FOR MADELEINE HAS
UNFOLDED
2007
May 3 - Kate and Gerry
McCann, from Rothley,
Leicestershire, leave their
three children asleep in
their holiday apartment in
Praia da Luz in southern
Portugal while they dine
with friends at a nearby
tapas restaurant. Nothing is
amiss when Mr McCann checks
on the youngsters just after
9pm, but when his wife goes
back at about 10pm she finds
three-year-old Madeleine
missing.
September 7 - During
questioning of Mr and Mrs
McCann, detectives make them
both "arguidos" - formal
suspects - in their
daughter's disappearance.
2008
July 21 - The Portuguese
authorities shelve their
investigation and lift the
"arguido" status of the
McCanns and Robert Murat.
2011
May 12 - Mrs McCann
publishes a book about her
daughter's disappearance, on
Madeleine's eighth birthday.
Scotland Yard launches a
review of the case after a
request from Home Secretary
Theresa May supported by
Prime Minister David
Cameron.
2012
April 25 - Scotland Yard
detectives say they believe
Madeleine could still be
alive, release an
age-progression picture of
how she might look now as a
nine-year-old, and call on
the Portuguese authorities
to reopen the case, but
Portuguese police say they
have found no new material.
2013
July 4 - Scotland Yard
confirms that it has
launched its own
investigation into
Madeleine's disappearance
two years into a review of
the case. It has "genuinely
new" lines of inquiry and
has identified 38 people of
interest, including 12
Britons.
October 14 - Mr and Mrs
McCann take part in a fresh
appeal for information about
Madeleine's disappearance,
as police release an e-fit
of a man they believe could
have been carrying her
towards the sea at around
10pm on the night she
vanished.
October 17 - Scotland Yard
says it has received more
than 2,400 calls and emails
following television appeals
in the UK, Holland and
Germany. Around another
1,250 calls were made to
studios in the three
countries.
October 24 - Portuguese
police confirm that a review
of their original
investigation has uncovered
new lines of inquiry, and
reopen the case.
November 27 - Sir Bernard
Hogan-Howe said British and
Portuguese police should
join together as one team in
their investigations.
2014
January 29 - British
detectives fly to Portugal
amid claims they are
planning to make arrests.
March 19 - Detective chief
inspector Andy Redwood says
police are looking for a
lone intruder who sexually
abused five girls during a
series of break-ins at
holiday homes in the
Algarve.
March 20 - The Prime
Minister has said he is
willing to step in if the
British investigation into
the disappearance is held up
by delays in the Portuguese
legal system.
June 3 - Sniffer dogs and
specialist teams are used to
search an area of scrubland
close to where Madeleine
went missing.
2015
September 16 - The
Government has disclosed
that the investigation into
the disappearance of
Madeleine has cost more than
£10 million.
October 28 - Scotland Yard's
investigation into the
disappearance is cut from 29
officers to four. |
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GUARDIAN |
Press Association Monday 15
February 2016 07.52 GMT |
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Madeleine McCann was
probably not taken far,
mother says |
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Kate McCann says Praia da
Luz, where three-year-old
disappeared in 2007, is
‘where I feel closest to
her’, and she will never
give up hope of finding her
Kate McCann has said she
believes that her daughter’s
kidnapper did not take her
“a million miles” from the
Algarve.
Three-year-old Madeleine
McCann disappeared from the
family’s holiday apartment
in Praia da Luz in Portugal
in May 2007.
Her mother, who is an
ambassador for the charity
Missing People, said her
research had led her to
believe that abducted
children were not usually
taken far from the scene.
She told the Sun: “That’s
where she last was and I
don’t think she’s been taken
a million miles from there.
I’ve always said Praia da
Luz is the place where I
feel closest to her.”
McCann, 47, of Rothley,
Leicestershire, said she and
her husband, Gerry, would
never give up hope of
finding Madeleine.
“The urge to look for
Madeleine absolutely hasn’t
changed at all. You hear all
the time about people who
have been missing for years
being found. There have been
so many cases like that.
“We will never give up. You
couldn’t settle if you
thought about giving up. I
want an end, an answer.
Whatever that it is.”
She said child rescue alerts
– a scheme of early warning
messages that she helped to
launch – could have
mobilised people at the time
of Madeleine’s
disappearance.
Since 2011 the Metropolitan
police has been assisting in
the Portuguese investigation
into Madeleine’s
disappearance. The McCanns
have previously praised the
“meticulous and painstaking
work” of detectives, and
have again offered thanks to
the police. |
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SYDNEY_HERALD |
February 15, 2016 - 3:44PM |
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Madeleine McCann's mum and
British authorities vow to
keep looking |
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London: Kate McCann believes
her daughter Madeleine's
kidnapper did not take her
"a million miles" from the
Portuguese resort she was
snatched from.
Madeleine McCann was just
three when she disappeared
from the British family's
holiday apartment in May
2007.
Since 2011, UK police have
been helping in the search
for clues as to what
happened to the youngster,
and officers visited the
holiday resort in 2014.
The British Home Office said
in June that the
investigation had cost the
British government £10
million ($20 million), and a
further £2 million was
budgeted for the year ahead.
Kate McCann vowed she and
her husband Gerry would
"never give up" hope of
finding their daughter.
The 47-year-old, who is an
ambassador for charity
Missing People, said her
research had led her to
believe abducted children
were not usually taken far
from the scene.
"That's where she last was
and I don't think she's been
taken a million miles from
there," she said. "I've
always said Praia da Luz is
the place where I feel
closest to her..
"The urge to look for
Madeleine absolutely hasn't
changed at all. You hear all
the time about people who
have been missing for years
being found – there have
been so many cases like
that.
"We will never give up. You
couldn't settle if you
thought about giving up. I
want an end, an answer –
whatever that is."
She said Child Rescue
Alerts, a scheme of early
warning messages she helped
launch, could have
"mobilised" people at the
time of Madeleine's
disappearance.
PA |
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SKY
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08:43, UK,
Monday 15
February 2016 |
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Madeleine's Mum
In Bid To Save
Missing Children |
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Kate McCann
joins Stephen
Fry and Bob
Geldof in urging
people to sign
up to a service
to help find
missing
youngsters.
Madeleine
McCann's mother
has called on
members of the
public to sign
up to a scheme
designed to save
the lives of
missing
children.
Kate McCann, 47,
is among several
high-profile
figures taking
part in a
two-week
campaign to
promote Child
Rescue Alerts.
The nationwide
service, also
backed by Bob
Geldof and actor
Stephen Fry,
sends out free
alerts to
registered
members of the
public when a
child goes
missing or their
life is thought
to be at risk.
Mrs McCann said
that if a
similar system
had been in
place when
three-year-old
Madeleine went
missing from the
family's holiday
apartment in
Praia da Luz in
Portugal in
2007, it is
possible she may
have been
found.
"If enough
people had been
mobilised and
galvanised early
then who knows
what the outcome
would have
been," she told
The Sun.
She said that
her research
over the years
had led her to
believe that her
daughter's
kidnapper did
not take her far
from the
Algarve.
"That's where
she last was and
I don't think
she's been taken
a million miles
from there. I've
always said
Praia da Luz is
the place where
I feel closest
to her.
"The urge to
look for
Madeleine
absolutely
hasn't changed
at all. You hear
all the time
about people who
have been
missing for
years being
found. There
have been so
many cases like
that.
"We will never
give up. You
couldn't settle
if you thought
about giving up.
I want an end,
an answer.
Whatever that it
is."
Fry is the face
of the Child
Rescue Alerts,
appearing in
adverts and
posters as a
comic book
version of
himself.
As part of the
two-week
campaign,
adverts will
appear in
shopping
centres, the
London
Underground and
railway stations
across the UK.
The system,
which first
became available
to the public in
2014, is run by
the National
Crime Agency,
the charity
Missing People
and the
education
technology
company
Groupcall, which
was co-founded
by Geldof.
Promoting the
alerts earlier
this year,
Geldof said they
were a
"no-brainer".
"If your child
went missing and
their life was
in immediate
danger you would
want to get the
message out in
minutes," he
said.
"If you care
about children's
safety please
sign up today at
childrescuealert.org.uk."
To receive the
alerts, which
are funded by
the Royal Mail
and People's
Postcode
Lottery, members
of the public
can register for
geographically-targeted
texts, emails or
app
notifications.
:: To register
and receive text
alerts, text
HERO and your
postcode to
85080, sign up
online at
childrescuealert.org.uk
or download the
app. |
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STAR |
By Jack Fenwick
& Margi Murphy /
Published 15th
February 2016 |
|
Maddie is still
in the Algarve,
claims mum Kate |
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KATE McCann is
convinced that
whoever snatched
Madeleine from
their apartment
in Praia da Luz
did not take her
far.
Madeleine was
just three when
she disappeared
from a holiday
apartment in
Praia da Luz,
Portugal, in
2007.
And in those
nine years there
have been
countless
so-called
"sightings" of
the tot around
the world.
But Kate, 47,
firmly believes
Maddy could
still be in
Portugal.
“I’ve always
said Praia da
Luz is the place
where I feel
closest to her.
“That’s where
she last was and
I don’t think
she’s been taken
a million miles
from there," she
told The Sun.
Kate and husband
Gerry McCann
have learnt from
years of
research that
abducted
children are
usually not
taken far.
She said: “It’s
all only
speculation, but
we’ve learned
that’s usually
the case.”
Kate is leading
a two-week drive
to get a million
people in the UK
to register for
free Child
Rescue Alerts.
The scheme sends
messages to
phones,
computers and
tablets when a
child goes
missing.
She believes
that Maddy could
have been saved
by the alerts if
they had existed
in 2007.
“If enough
people had been
mobilised and
galvanised early
then who knows
what the outcome
would have
been,” she said.
Although the
Scotland Yard
investigation
into Maddy's
disappearance
has been scaled
down the McCanns
will continue to
search for their
daughter.
The Home Office
said in June
that the
investigation
had cost £10
million, with a
further £2
million budgeted
for the year
ahead
Kate said: “I
want an end, an
answer. Whatever
that it is."
To register and
receive alerts
just text HERO
and your
postcode to
85080 |
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16
FEBRUARY 2016 |
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17
FEBRUARY 2016 |
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SUN |
EXCLUSIVE By
ANTONELLA
LAZZERI 12:44,
17 Feb 2016 |
|
Kate McCann:
'The twins know
all about her
disappearance
and they want
Maddie back' |
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KATE McCann and
husband Gerry
have told their
twins
"everything"
about Maddie's
disappearance
and say their
children want
their sister
back.
Despite growing
up without her,
Kate, 47, said
Amelie and Sean,
now 11, still
remember Maddie
and talk about
her often.
Since Maddie
went missing in
May 2007 from
the family's
holiday
apartment in the
Algarve resort
of Praia da Luz,
the couple have
strived to keep
their other
children in the
loop.
Speaking
exclusively to
The Sun, Kate
explained: "The
twins are doing
really well.
"They’ve grown
up essentially
without
Madeleine,
knowing their
sister is
missing and they
want her back.
"They are up to
date, they know
everything, they
know if we are
meeting police.
"There is
nothing kept
from them."
Kate, from
Rothley,
Leicester,
admitted the
twins don't tend
to talk about
moments with
their sister now
as much as they
did nearer the
time Maddie
disappeared but
said they
haven't
forgotten her.
She added: "They
still raise
money at school
for the Find
Madeleine Fund
which is great."
Kate also
revealed how she
and Gerry have
kept Maddie's
room exactly as
it was when she
went missing and
she remains a
strong presence
in their house.
She explained:
"Everything is
the same and
she’s in as many
photos at home
as [the twins]
are."
Kate told how
her family have
been "completely
amazed" by the
fact Maddie,
whose 13th
birthday is in
May, is still so
much in the
minds of the
public despite
being missing
for so long.
She said the
"outpouring" of
support has kept
them going over
the past nine
years.
This week Kate
launched a two
week campaign in
The Sun to get a
million people
to sign up to
receive free
text alerts when
a child goes
missing or is
believed to be
in imminent
danger.
The Child Rescue
Alert campaign
encourages
people to sign
up by texting
the word HERO
and their
postcode to
85080.
It is run by
charity Missing
People in
partnership with
the National
Crime Agency and
education
technology
company
Groupcall.
So far more than
330,000 have
pledged their
support for the
campaign.
Kate said: "I’m
literally
begging people
to stop, take a
minute and send
a text. We WANT
a million sign
ups.
"If it turns out
you are wrong it
doesn’t matter,
but if you are
right it could
save that
child’s life."
Registration
costs a standard
network text
message rate.
Sign up free at
www.childrescuealert.org.uk |
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MAIL |
By JOSEPH CURTIS
FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED:
14:31, 17
February 2016 |
UPDATED: 17:46,
17 February 2016 |
|
Kate McCann says
she 'keeps
nothing' from
her twins about
the hunt for
missing daughter
Madeleine and
has told them
all about the
night she
disappeared |
| |
-
Kate McCann,
47, said
twins 'up to
date' about
search for
Madeleine
-
Amelie and
Sean, now
11, still
want her to
return,
according to
the mother
-
Mrs McCann
and husband
Gerry remain
committed to
finding
eldest child
-
Madeleine
went missing
from holiday
home in
Portugal in
2007
|
|
The parents of
Madeleine McCann
have told her
brother and
sister
'everything'
about her
disappearance,
according to her
mother Kate.
Mrs McCann, 47,
said her twins
Amelie and Sean,
now 11, still
want their
sister back
after she went
missing from the
family's holiday
home in the
Algarve,
Portugal, in
2007.
She added she
and husband
Gerry have kept
their eldest
daughter's room
in the same
condition as it
was when she
vanished.
Speaking to The
Sun, Mrs McCann
said: The twins
are doing really
well. They've
grown up
essentially
without
Madeleine,
knowing their
sister is
missing and they
want her back.
'They are up to
date, they know
everything, they
know if we are
meeting police.
There is nothing
kept from them.'
She added the
twins don't talk
about Madeleine,
whose 13th
birthday is in
May, as much as
they did when
she went
missing, but
still raise
money at school
to support the
efforts to find
her.
Mrs McCann and
husband Gerry,
of Leicester,
have led an
eight-year
campaign to keep
the search for
the youngster
going since she
went missing
while they were
on holiday in
Praia da Luz,
Portugal in
2007.
She thanked the
public for all
their support
over the years
which she said
'kept them
going'.
The couple have
also recently
launched a
campaign with
charity Missing
People and the
National Crime
Agency to help
find missing
children or flag
up when
youngsters are
in danger.
As previously
reported, they
say they have
not lost hope in
finding their
daughter,
despite the
resources put
into the search
being scaled
back by police
last year.
Scotland Yard
announced in
October it was
dramatically
cutting the
number of
officers in the
probe, known as
Operation
Grange, from 29
to four.
At the time of
the
announcement,
the family's
spokesman said:
'Should the need
arise for a
private
investigation to
be resumed, [Mr
and Mrs McCann]
have made sure
they have enough
money left in
Madeleine's
fund.'
The operation,
launched in 2011
at the request
of David
Cameron, has so
far cost upwards
of £11m
Detectives said
they have
investigated 60
suspects and
looked at 650
paedophiles as
well as almost
9,000 sightings
of the girl
since she was
abducted.
A total of 60
people were
considered as
more serious
suspects but her
kidnapper has
not been found.
Last year
British
detectives
returned to
Portugal with
sniffer dogs and
sifted through
scrubland on
their hands and
knees - 1,000ft
from where she
vanished eight
years ago.
They also used
radar scanners
that could
penetrate to
depths of up to
13ft (four
metres) at at
least three
sites but found
no trace of her.
It is not known
exactly when
Operation Grange
will officially
end, but a
spokesman for
the Met recently
said: 'While
there remain
lines of
inquiry, the
vast majority of
work by
Operation Grange
has been
completed. |
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18 FEBRUARY 2016 |
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LEICESTER
MERCURY |
By AlanThompson
| Posted:
February 18,
2016 |
|
Missing
Madeleine
McCann's twin
brother and
sister told
'everything'
about her
disappearance |
| |
|
The twin sister
and brother of
missing
Madeleine McCann
have been told
"everything"
about her
disappearance
and want their
sister back, mum
Kate has
revealed.
Speaking in The
Sun, Kate, 47,
from Rothley
said despite
growing up
without her,
Amelie and Sean,
now 11, still
remember Maddie
and talk about
her often.
Since Maddie
went missing in
May 2007 from
the family's
holiday
apartment in the
Algarve resort
of Praia da Luz,
she and husband
Gerry have kept
their other two
children
informed at
every step.
Kate - who's
backing the
Child Rescue
Alert campaign
to help track
down missing
youngsters -
told The Sun:
"The twins are
doing really
well.
"They've grown
up essentially
without
Madeleine,
knowing their
sister is
missing and they
want her back.
"They are up to
date, they know
everything, they
know if we are
meeting police.
"There is
nothing kept
from them."
She admitted the
twins don't tend
to talk about
moments with
their sister now
as much as they
did nearer the
time Maddie
disappeared but
said they
haven't
forgotten her.
She added: "They
still raise
money at school
for the Find
Madeleine Fund
which is great."
Kate also
revealed how she
and Gerry have
kept Maddie's
room exactly as
it was when she
went missing and
she remains a
strong presence
in their house.
She explained:
"Everything is
the same and
she's in as many
photos at home
as [the twins]
are."
Kate told how
her family have
been "completely
amazed" by the
fact Maddie,
whose 13th
birthday is in
May, is still so
much in the
minds of the
public despite
being missing
for so long.
She said the
"outpouring" of
support has kept
them going over
the past nine
years.
This week Kate
launched a two
week campaign in
The Sun to get a
million people
to sign up to
receive free
text alerts when
a child goes
missing or is
believed to be
in imminent
danger.
The Child Rescue
Alert campaign
encourages
people to sign
up by texting
the word HERO
and their
postcode to
85080.
It is run by
charity Missing
People in
partnership with
the National
Crime Agency and
education
technology
company
Groupcall.
So far more than
330,000 have
pledged their
support for the
campaign.
Registration
costs a standard
network text
message rate.
Sign up free at
www.childrescuealert.org.uk |
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19
FEBRUARY 2016 |
|
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SUN |
EXCLUSIVE by
ANTONELLA
LAZZERI 00:01,
19 Feb 2016 |
|
'Never
forgotten': Kate
McCann reveals
she still gets
messages from
all over the
world 9 years
after Maddie
vanished |
| |
|
MADELEINE
McCann’s parents
say they still
get messages
from all over
the world
telling them
people “haven’t
forgotten” their
missing
daughter.
Mum Kate said
she and husband
Gerry, both 47,
were amazed by
the continuing
support from
total strangers
— and that it
kept them going.
She said: “This
Christmas we got
hundreds of
cards saying,
‘We haven’t
forgotten her’,
‘We’re still
looking’. It’s
staggering.
"The four of us
all sat down
together and
opened them.
"It was just
such a positive
experience.
“They were from
America, Russia,
Japan — there
was even one
from Trinidad
and Tobago.”
Madeleine, then
three, vanished
from a Portugal
holiday
apartment in
2007.
Kate, of
Rothley, Leics,
is appealing to
get people to
sign up to
receive free
Child Rescue
Alerts.
Run by charity
Missing People,
they are sent if
a kid goes
missing or is
feared abducted.
People can
simply text the
word HERO and
their postcode
to 85080. |
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20
FEBRUARY 2016 |
|
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|
SUN |
By ANTONELLA
LAZZERI 11:53,
20 Feb 2016 |
|
Kate McCann: 'I
physically can't
rest without
knowing where
Maddie is' |
| |
|
KATE McCann said
she can never
feel 'at peace'
without knowing
what happened to
her daughter.
The mum of
missing
Madeleine, who
disappeared nine
years ago from
the family's
apartment in the
Algarve resort
of Praia da Luz,
told how she
feels in an
eternal state of
'limbo'.
Speaking
exclusively to
The Sun she
said: "All
parents of
missing children
will say the
same thing.
"You just can’t
rest without
knowing, it’s
just that
permanent state,
often it’s like
a physical
thing, limbo, a
feeling, just
not at peace."
She added: "When
I go to church,
although that
was a comfort,
it’s actually
tough as well
because it is
time to reflect.
"But I’m not
saying that’s
wrong.
"You do have to
make yourself go
there sometimes
because
otherwise it’s
all bottled up."
Kate, from
Rothley,
Leicester, said
she feels Maddie
is still in the
Algarve as
that's the place
she feels
"closest" to her
daughter.
The mum-of-three
explained she
has learnt to
cope better with
the agony of not
having Maddie
with her family.
She admitted:
"Gerry was
always better
than me from the
beginning at
jumping into a
box and getting
on with other
things, focusing
on other stuff.
"It just took me
longer really,
although I can
do it now and
sometimes I hate
myself doing
that, it doesn’t
feel right, but
I know it’s a
positive thing.
"The first
couple of years,
if something
came into my
head I couldn’t
stop it, I just
couldn't.
"But now,
‘Bang!’ I close
the lid.
"It’s better to
close it and
move on.
"I think it’s a
survival thing
but it takes
different times
to kick in for
different
people."
Kate said the
outpouring of
support they
have received
from the public
since Maddie,
whose 13th
birthday is in
May, disappeared
in 2007 has
really helped
them.
She is acutely
aware her
daughter
remaining in the
public eye for
so long has
given her family
comfort and hope
other families
with missing
loved ones
haven't had.
This is the
reason she is
now throwing her
weight behind a
new two-week
campaign
launched in The
Sun this week.
The Child Rescue
Alert campaign
aims to get a
million people
to sign up to
receive free
text alerts when
a child goes
missing or is
believed to be
in imminent
danger.
People can
register by
texting the word
HERO and their
postcode to
85080.
It is run by
charity Missing
People in
partnership with
the National
Crime Agency and
education
technology
company
Groupcall.
So far more than
330,000 have
pledged their
support for the
campaign.
Kate said: "I’m
literally
begging people
to stop, take a
minute and send
a text. We WANT
a million sign
ups.
"If it turns out
you are wrong it
doesn’t matter,
but if you are
right it could
save that
child’s life."
Registration
costs a standard
network text
message rate.
Sign up free at
www.childrescuealert.org.uk. |
|
|
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|
MAIL |
By JOSEPH CURTIS
FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED:
16:24, 20
February 2016 |
UPDATED: 17:12,
20 February 2016 |
|
I can't rest
without knowing
where Maddie is,
says Kate McCann
as she reveals
she still feels
'in limbo' nine
years after he
daughter's
disappearance |
| |
-
Kate McCann
'cannot
rest' until
she finds
out what
happened to
Maddie
-
The
47-year-old
said she
feels 'in
eternal
limbo'
without her
daughter
-
Maddie went
missing at
family's
holiday home
in Portugal
in 2007
|
|
Kate McCann has
revealed she
feels in an
‘eternal state
of limbo’ over
the
disappearance of
her daughter
Maddie and will
never find peace
until she finds
out what
happened to her.
The
mother-of-three,
from Leicester,
and her husband
Gerry have been
searching for
their daughter
for almost 10
years after she
went missing
from their
holiday home in
Portugal in
2007.
Mrs McCann said
she has learnt
to cope better
with the pain of
not having her
eldest daughter
around but
‘cannot rest’
until she learns
the truth.
Speaking to The
Sun, she said:
‘All parents of
missing children
will say the
same thing. You
just can’t rest
without knowing,
it’s just that
permanent state,
often it’s like
a physical
thing, limbo, a
feeling, just
not at peace.’
She added:
‘Gerry was
always better
than me from the
beginning at
jumping into a
box and getting
on with other
things, focusing
on other stuff.
‘It just took me
longer really,
although I can
do it now and
sometimes I hate
myself doing
that, it doesn’t
feel right, but
I know it’s a
positive thing.’
As previously
reported, Mrs
McCann revealed
she and her
husband 'have
kept nothing'
about Maddie's
disappearance
from her brother
and sister,
twins Amelie and
Sean, now 11.
She said the
twins don't talk
about Madeleine,
whose 13th
birthday is in
May, as much as
they did when
she went
missing, but
still raise
money at school
to support the
efforts to find
her.
The McCanns have
led an
eight-year
campaign to keep
the search for
the youngster
going since she
went missing
while they were
on holiday in
Praia da Luz,
Portugal.
Mrs McCann
recently thanked
the public for
all their
support over the
years which she
said 'kept them
going'.
The couple have
also recently
launched a
campaign with
charity Missing
People and the
National Crime
Agency to help
find missing
children or flag
up when
youngsters are
in danger.
As previously
reported, they
say they have
not lost hope in
finding their
daughter,
despite the
resources put
into the search
being scaled
back by police
last year.
Scotland Yard
announced in
October it was
dramatically
cutting the
number of
officers in the
probe, known as
Operation
Grange, from 29
to four.
The operation,
launched in 2011
at the request
of David
Cameron, has so
far cost upwards
of £11m.
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21
FEBRUARY 2016 |
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23
FEBRUARY 2016 |
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26
FEBRUARY 2016 |
|
SUN |
By ANTONELLA
LAZZERI 00:01,
26 Feb 2016 |
|
Kate McCann and
Coral Jones
receive award
for dedication
to missing kids |
| |
|
Tragic mothers
honoured for
volunteering
time to missing
children and
their families |
| |
|
Tragic mothers
Kate McCann and
Coral Jones have
been given an
award for
putting aside
their own agony
to help other
families with
missing
children.
The two mums
were stunned to
receive the
Stephen Wynard
Award from the
Charity Missing
People at a gala
event attended
by Bob Geldof at
London's
BT
Tower this
week.
The award
recognises
people who,
“despite having
been affected
themselves,
volunteer their
time for free to
make a
difference for
all missing
children and
their families."
Both Kate and
Coral have been
supporting the
charity's Child
Rescue Alert
campaign, which
is aimed at
getting as many
people as
possible to
register to
receive free
text alerts when
a child goes
missing and is
believed to be
in imminent
danger.
Since Kate
launched the
campaign in
The Sun,
over 35,000
people have
signed up to the
system, bringing
the total number
in the UK to
over 350,000.
Receiving her
award Kate, 47,
from Rothley,
Leicestershire,
said: "Child
Rescue Alert is
all about
encouraging
communities to
recognise the
power they have
to help others
right on their
doorsteps.
“It’s heartening
that so many
communities of
neighbours,
schools and
colleagues have
registered for
this system.
“Child Rescue
Alert relies on
its ability to
reach a vast
number of
people, so we
need to spread
the word further
and get more
people signed
up. This is
where everyone
can help."
Coral, 44, whose
daughter April,
5, was abducted
and murdered in
October 2012,
was overwhelmed
by the award,
saying: “I’m
pleased to have
received this
award tonight. I
want to do as
much as I can to
make sure no
family
experiences the
pain we still go
through.
“I’ve worked
hard to try and
make sure that
if the worst
happens, other
families and
other children
will have the
chance that
April didn’t
have."
Bob Geldof is
co-founder of
Groupcall, which
provides the
technology
behind Child
Rescue Alert.
Sir Bob urged
Sun readers to
sign up to
receive the
alerts, saying:
“It’s a
no-brainer. If
your child went
missing and
their life was
in immediate
danger, you
would want to
get the message
out in minutes.
If you care
about children’s
safety, please
sign up today."
To register text
HERO and your
postcode to
85080.
Registration
costs a standard
network text
message rate.
Once registered,
it is then free
to receive Child
Rescue Alerts. |
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CHILD RESCUE ALERT SYSTEM
AWARDS BT TOWER IMAGES 24
FEB 2016 |
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