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Kate and Gerry McCann have said they will not use money from the Find Madeleine
campaign to fund their legal defence.
The news came as trustees of the fund - which has raised more than £1m - were
about to hold a special meeting to discuss whether the money could be used to
pay the couple's legal bills.
The cash was pledged to help find the missing four-year-old, and there are
legal questions over whether it can be used to help the parents.
But a Sky News source close to the family stressed: "They will not seek to
use the money to fund their legal bills."
He spoke out shortly before the McCanns left their home in Rothley,
Leicestershire, for a short trip to a nearby park.
Gerry McCann drove the family's turquoise Volkswagen people carrier while his
wife sat in the middle seat in the back, in between the twins.
The couple are facing mounting costs after being named suspects in relation to
Madeleine's disappearance in Portugal
on May 3.
They have appointed top lawyers in case they are charged by Portuguese police.
Esther McVey, a director of the Madeleine Fund, said the trustees meeting was
going ahead despite the couple's statement.
The fund's website said one of the objectives of the fund is to "provide
support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine's family".
"What we are discussing is what does 'support' mean," Ms McVey
explained. "This is the only thing on the agenda and this is a special
meeting."
Julian Young, a criminal lawyer, told Sky News Online he did not think the
McCanns could use the fund to pay their legal bills.
He said: "The money collected on behalf of the McCanns was to assist them
in finding their daughter and not for the provision of personal legal advice.
"The people who gave money did so to help find a child, not to sort out
their legal problems." |
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