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The parents of missing Madeleine McCann today thanked supporters for
their help, saying they will move into 2012 with ‘renewed energy and
continued hope’.
In a message on the Find Madeleine website, Kate and Gerry McCann said:
'It's Christmas - again. A time of mixed emotions for our family and
many others in similar positions around the world. A time to hold
together.'
They added that they had ended the year on a positive note, with the
launch of the Government’s Missing Children and Adults’ Strategy earlier
this month
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The McCann
parents continue their desperate search for new information,
mentioning that Christmas is a particularly hard time for
those with missing children |
Still, the distressed parents appealed for new information, imploring:
'Do you hold the missing piece of the puzzle?'
And last week, Spanish private detectives claimed to have handed
Scotland Yard ‘important leads’ in the search for the couple’s daughter.
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'It's
Christmas - again. A time of mixed emotions for our family
and many others in similar positions around the world. A
time to hold together.' |
Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family’s
holiday flat in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007 as her parents
dined with friends nearby.
Writing on their website today, Mr and Mrs McCann said:
‘Thank you to all our supporters for your help throughout the year and
for remaining united with us in our longing and determination to find
Madeleine.
'Our search for Madeleine and the Metropolitan Police review of the case
are progressing well.
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Gerry and
Kate McCann of Leicestershire lost their daughter Madeline,
4, in Praia de Luz, Portugal in May 2007 (pictured). They
have fought to find her since |
In addition, this December saw a landmark event for the protection of,
and support for, missing children and their families left behind.
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A police
handout of Madeleine from December 2007 |
‘The Government’s Missing Children and Adults’ Strategy aims to reduce
the number of people who go missing; to protect the missing whilst they
are away, and to give families access to support, similar to victims of
crime.
They said the strategy followed 12 months of campaigning by individuals
and organisations such as the charity Missing People.
‘Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign and influenced this
significant development,’ their message added.
‘This Christmas, please keep Madeleine and all missing loved ones and
their families in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
‘The support you give enables us to move into 2012 with renewed energy
and continued hope.’
Last week, Spanish private detectives claimed they had handed Scotland
Yard up to eight ‘very important leads’ in the search for Madeleine.
Sources said four Metropolitan Police officers held talks with Barcelona
firm Metodo 3, which investigated her disappearance on behalf of the
family.
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Kate and
Gerry McCann at the High Court in London last month. The
pair thanked supporters and asked for continued 'thoughts
and prayers' |
Investigator Francisco Marco Fernandez told Spanish TV officers had
travelled to Spain to pick up around 30 boxes of documents.
A Scotland Yard spokesman refused to confirm the meeting took place and
family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: ‘Kate and Gerry will simply not
be commenting whilst the Metropolitan Police review of Madeleine’s case
is under way.
‘They remain pleased that the Met team is continuing its work and that
progress is being made.’
The Metropolitan Police force has said there would be no limits in its
re-examination of the search.
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Madeline's
parents welcomed the Government's new Missing Children and
Adults' Strategy and thanked those who campaigned for it |
Police have travelled to Portugal three times in connection with the
fresh review and a total of 30 people are now working on the force’s
Operation Grange.
The review prompted criticism when it was launched in May, with
politicians expressing concerns that it would divert resources from
other crime victims.
It was sparked after a request from Home Secretary Theresa May supported
by Prime Minister David Cameron.
Portuguese detectives, helped by officers from Leicestershire Police,
carried out a massive investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance.
But the official inquiry was formally shelved in July 2008 and since
then no police force has been actively looking for the missing child. |
