|
|
|
|
The parents of Madeleine McCann have spoken of the “information void” they have
felt after Portuguese detectives failed to update them on investigation of
their daughter’s abduction for more than a week.
Kate and Gerry McCann, who is 39 today, will tonight travel to Germany and then on to the Netherlands to promote the international search
for their daughter following her abduction 33 days ago from their Algarve holiday
apartment.
Before leaving Portugal
the couple hope to meet detectives for the first time in 12 days to receive
details about the investigation.
They are expected to appear on the BBC’s Crimewatch
programme tomorrow night to appeal for information from holidaymakers who were
in Praia da Luz when Madeleine disappeared or who
know who took her.
The secrecy surrounding the Portuguese police inquiry means that Crimewatch can not include its usual reconstruction of
events, detailed timings or even a picture of an eye-witness description of the
man the McCann's believe stole Madeleine.
The couple from Rothley, Leicestershire, have not had any briefing directly
from Portuguese officers since May 24 and are relying on information passed to
them via British police. A meeting planned with Portuguese police officials
fell through last week.
Mr McCann said: “We have had periods of information voids. And that naturally
leads us to speculate about what has happened or hasn’t - or could been
happening. And that really doesn't help Kate and I. So as much information as we can get is a good thing.”
The consultant cardiologist told Fox News that the couple understand that
Portuguese laws on judicial secrecy meant the police are unable to give them
details of all leads and suspects in the investigation.
“I would say that the flow of information now is better than it was at the
beginning, but there is a lot of information, particularly in relation to leads
and suspects which we are not given and have not been done so because of
operational reasons,” said Mr McCann.
The couple do not want to be seen openly criticising the Portuguese authorities
but have previously expressed “frustration” at a three week delay in issuing
the description of a man they are convinced abducted their daughter. A public
appeal for information was only made following the intervention of Gordon
Brown, the Prime Minister in waiting.
The family spokesman said: “They are very happy with the level of co-operation
they are receiving both from the Portuguese authorities via the British police
but they are always keen to have further meetings to be updated as often as
possible.”
The stress of searching for Madeleine has left Mr McCann with no idea of time -
even forgetting his own birthday today.
“Frankly I had forgotten it was my birthday, it is insignificant as far I am
concerned. I cannot even think about it,” he said.
When asked what the family did last year to celebrate the day he said: “I
cannot think about that either.”
A source close to the family said: “It is an indication of how normal life has
effectively been put on hold. He had honestly forgotten it was his birthday
until I reminded him. He was genuinely puzzled and had to think about it.
“It was Kate who remembered that it was. They have almost lost a sense of the
days and this has become their sole preoccupation - finding Madeleine.”
The McCanns have led the campaign to raise awareness of their daughter across
Europe and North Africa.
They will tonight fly in a private jet to Berlin
for meetings tomorrow (Wednesday) with political and charity figures before
flying to Amsterdam
for a similar series of events on Thursday. They hope to meet with the Brigitte
Zypries, the German Justice Minister, who last month
used Madeleine’s abduction as an example of the need for closer cross-border
cooperation in the fight against child pornography and abuse.
Ms Zypries told a meeting of the Group of Eight’s
security and justice ministers: “We simply have to assume that this was done by
a gang that passes on these children for exploitation.
“So we have to make sure that the necessary protection measures and the
necessary exchange of data ... takes place so that we can
investigate such cases more quickly and also prevent such cases.”
If the Minister is not available because of the meeting of G8
leaders, the McCann’s hope to meet Klaus Wowereit,
the influential mayor of Berlin.
Mr and Mrs McCann have decided not to take their two-year-old twins, Sean and
Amelie, with them, on their latest visit even though they will be away from the
Algarve
two nights.
Their family spokesman said the children would stay with Mr McCann's sister
Trish Cameron and her husband Sandy as they have done for the past two trips to
Rome and Madrid.
“It is a stable loving environment for them here,” he said. “Their welfare is
the most important thing - it is too much for them at their age.”
Plans are being put in place for a final trip to Rabat
in Morocco,
possibly as soon as Sunday.
The couple feel Morocco is
an important place to go because of its proximity to Portugal. Several ferries a day
leave from Tarifa in Spain, about three hours drive from
Praia da Luz, and for the crossing to Tangiers takes
just 35 minutes.
Morocco
has surfaced repeatedly in the hunt for Madeleine with a reported sighting of a
little girl seen with a couple. Interpol and Leicestershire police investigated
the claims and are thought to have ruled it out.
But Mrs McCann is said to be particularly interested in visiting the north African country.
“She is very keen to go there,” a family source said. “She feels it is very
important because if you only focus on the European mainland you are missing
out on a potentially important piece of the jigsaw.”
|
|
 |
|
