Day 16 - 19/05/2007 Saturday

Day 16 - 19/05/2007      Saturday

Website Update at 19:18PM on 19th of May 2007

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Latest Update - ITV News

Madeleine parents believe she is safe

The parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann said they had taken "tremendous strength" from the "warmth and spiritual outpouring" from all around the world.

 

Gerry and Kate McCann issued a brief statement from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz 11 days after their little girl disappeared from their hotel room.

 

The pair said they were "fully supporting" the police investigation into their daughter's abduction and reaffirmed their belief that their daughter is safe.

 

Mr McCann said: "Until there is concrete evidence to the contrary, we believe Madeleine is safe and is being looked after".

 

Madeleine's mother also emphasised that the couple had no intention of returning to Britain from Portugal in the immediate future.

 

A British legal team has flown to Praia da Luz to help them and has launched a special "fighting fund" to help in the hunt for Madeleine.

 

A statement from the International Family Law Group, the firm instructed by the McCanns, said details of how people could make donations would be released within days.

 

A QC, Michael Nicholls, has also been instructed by the family as their determined battle to find Madeleine enters another week.

 

Madeleine's uncle John McCann, who lives in Glasgow but was in Praia da Luz last week, said the lawyers would play a liaison role and would not interfere with the criminal investigation.

 

A spokesman for the International Family Law Group said yesterday: "Gerry and Kate are very grateful for all the support and generous offers of help that they are receiving.

 

"Details of how contributions can be made to help get Madeleine back to the safety of her own family will be made available in the next couple of days."

 

The McCanns were among around ten British people who have been re-interviewed by police in recent days to clarify their statements.

 

This week some of the witnesses are expected to appear in court behind

 

closed doors to record their evidence before they go back to the UK. The McCanns themselves are not expected to be asked to take part.

 

The procedure, known as "memory for the future", means taped statements can be shown during a future trial so the witnesses do not have to return to appear in court.