Day 1280: 03/11/2010 Wednesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

NOVEMBER 2010

 

Day 1280: 03/11/2010 Wednesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Updates Wednesday, 3rd November, 2010 

It is exactly three and a half years since our daughter Madeleine was so cruelly taken from us. Three and a half years without her seeing her brother, her sister, her Mummy, her Daddy or her best friends.  

 

We are still searching for her. Our small team continues to review all available information, even though we STILL don't have access to ALL of the information that the UK and Portuguese authorities have. Our team has interviewed hundreds of witnesses, received over 1000 calls, dealt with over 15,000 emails and maintained a computerised database of all information they have received. Despite the difficulties resulting from lack of official assistance, they 'follow up' all new leads to try and get fresh information into the investigation.

 

It is incredible to think that for the last two years and three months NO police force has proactively been doing anything to help us find Madeleine. Crucially, there has been NO formal review of the material held by the police authorities - which is routine practice in most countries, and especially when a key piece of the 'jigsaw' may have been overlooked.

We have tried in vain to get the authorities to play their part but our requests have seemingly fallen on deaf ears. It is simply not acceptable that they have, to all intents and purposes, given up on Madeleine. We need the authorities to do more.

 

However we know we are not alone. We have the tremendous support of family, friends and of course you the public. A lot of this support comes in the form of people saying to us 'if there's anything we can do, just let us know or 'I'd like to help but I don't know how'. To these people, and indeed yourself, my plea is simple:

 

We need your support to continue to lobby the British and Portuguese Governments to undertake a joint or independent review of Madeleine's case.

 

 

How can you do this' Simply visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/madeleinemccann_case_review/ today and sign the petition to call on the UK and Portuguese authorities to conduct an independent and transparent review of all information in relation to the disappearance of Madeleine. And in turn, please spread the word and encourage as many others to do the same. Together we can, and will pull all of the loose ends of Madeleine's case together and find her.  

Thank you. 

 

 

Looking for our daughter is not without significant cost. 

Another way you can show your support is by continuing to help us fund the search for Madeleine.

 

To carry on searching for Madeleine and to ensure that the process has continued in a meaningful and proactive way, we have been able to utilise the generous donations paid in to Madeleine's Fund by the general public, libel damages paid to ourselves and our friends and money raised through a variety of fund-raising efforts. The fund has allowed;

 

• Our investigation team of ex-police officers to operate and conduct enquiries in the UK, Portugal and further afield. 

• A Portuguese assistant/translator.  

• A 24 hour telephone line with translators to receive information from the public

 

• Media liaison in Portugal and the UK to ensure that we convey the simple factual messages: there is absolutely no evidence that Madeleine has been physically harmed; we must keep looking for her and those who took her.  

• Awareness campaigns in Portugal, Spain and further afield.

 

• Website hosting and development and social network site campaigns to raise awareness through the internet 

• A part-time campaign coordinator 

 

If Madeleine's Fund remains as it is, with the current rate of expenditure, it will run out in Spring 2011. This would essentially mean that any kind of proactive search for Madeleine would cease. So again we need your help. If you can,

 

please consider donating to Madeleine's fund.

·         £1 pays for the multi-lingual call centre availability for 1 hour

 

·         £2 per month pays for 12 travel packs that are distributed to holidaymakers going all over the world

·         £10 pays for 1000 posters that are translated and distributed across the world.

 

·         £25 pays for the access to a 24 hour multi-lingual telephone service for 1 day

 

·         £50 pays for the running costs of investigation office (and staff) for 2 hours

 

·         £420 pays for 10,000 multi-lingual prayer cards for Madeleine, with photograph and contact details 

 

Someone knows what has happened to Madeleine. We simply need to reach that person. We need to obtain that key piece of information, that 'missing piece of the jigsaw'. One call may be all we need to find Madeleine and who took her.

 

Our little girl is now seven years old; innocent, vulnerable and waiting to be found. Please, please sign the petition and help us to find her. 

 

On behalf of my family, thank you. 

Gerry

Day 1038: 06/03/2010 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann. Statement March 5th 2010

MARCH 2010

 

Day 1038: 06/03/2010 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Statement March 5th 2010

 

Events this week have yet again been incomprehensible and particularly upsetting.

 

On Tuesday, the Public Prosecutor in Portugal released a large number of documents (relating to the investigation to find our daughter Madeleine) to the British Media, following their request for access. Disclosing such information publicly greatly jeopardises the search for Madeleine and puts witnesses and innocent members of the general public at risk (as well as causing them great anxiety). Release and publication of information in this manner also potentially compromises future investigations. It is difficult to see how anyone benefits from this week's actions.

 

 

 

It is imperative that the Authorities take responsibility for sensitive and confidential information. We, together with the general public, need assurances that this will not be allowed to happen again. Equally, we need absolute assurances that all credible information and leads will be investigated.

 

 

 

We also urge each individual working for the media to consider their own personal responsibility - to put commercial interests aside occasionally and to bear in mind the potential consequences of their actions, especially when people's lives and well-being are at risk.

 

 

 

Our own investigators have acted professionally and with complete integrity. We are eager to encourage anybody who has any information which may relate to Madeleine's abduction to contact our investigation team directly by phone (0845 838 4699 or 800 814 028), by email (http://www.investigation@findmadeleine.com/) or via the P.O box address given on the website. Information may be given anonymously via each route. 

 

We are incredibly grateful to all those who continue to support us in our search for Madeleine. During weeks such as these, it is invaluable to know that we are not facing this difficult journey alone

 

Day 988: 15/01/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann: Court Case (Injunction) in Lisbon 14th January 2010

JANUARY 2010

 

Day 988: 15/01/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann 

 Court Case (Injunction) in Lisbon 14th January 2010

 

We are currently in Lisbon for the trial to determine whether the injunction against Mr Amaral's book and DVD should remain in place. This trial is about whether the book is a true reflection of the official judicial process in to Madeleine's disappearance and whether its contents damage the ongoing search for Madeleine, her siblings and our reputations.

 

Mr Amaral's book and DVD contains some information from the PJ files but there is a lot in the files which is not in Mr Amaral's book. Hence it is highly selective and therefore biased. Mr Amaral's book contains his opinions rather than fact. His opinions differ from the findings in the PJ file. The conclusions of the latter are: 1.there is no evidence that Madeleine is dead and 2. there is no evidence that Gerry or I are involved in Madeleine's disappearance. This is very different to the theories and conclusions of Mr Amaral. It is logical and common sense that spreading these theories as Mr Amaral did (and continues todo) damages the search to find our little girl. If the general public (and the Portuguese people in particular) are bombarded day in and day out with such theories, this will eventually 'colour' their understanding and judgement -lies and inaccuracies become fact. If people subsequently believe that Madeleineis dead and that we are involved in her disappearance then they will not look for Madeleine, will not consider any suspicions about others which they may have and will not come forward with information. We consider this highly detrimental to the search for Madeleine.

 

There are few points which have been raised in the last few days which I would like to address specifically:

 

 

Abduction theory: For us, there is only the abduction theory possible because we were not involved in Madeleine's disappearance and we know Madeleine did not wander off by herself. It is obvious and right that the police should consider other theories initially.

 

 

The window: I described to the police officers exactly what I found that night, as it was and is highly relevant and I knew that every little detail could be helpful in finding my daughter which is our only aim. The window which is a ground floor window was completely open and is large enough for a person to easily climb through it. Whether it had been opened for this purpose remains unknown. It could of course have been opened by the perpetrator when inside the apartment as a potential escape route or left open as a 'red herring'

 

 

The dogs: We realise that the behaviour of the dogs was the turning point in the investigation for the PJ. The use of dogs has proved to be problematic and unreliable in previous cases

 

 

(please refer to the Jersey ?Haut de La Garenne' case and other research published about their use and reliability). It is vital to note that alerts by such dogs are classified as intelligence rather than evidence, as police officers familiar with their use will verify. These alerts must be supported by forensics in order to be used as evidence. The results of the forensic examinations did not identify any blood or Madeleine's DNA. To suggestor use the dogs? reactions as evidence is simply wrong and abusive. 

 

The proposed reconstruction: The suggestion of a reconstruction of our movements and other key witnesses at the crime scene and/or surrounding area in the early days following Madeleine's abduction was declined by the PJ as 'not usual' for Portugal. When the PJ finally requested a reconstruction to take place in 2008, Gerry and I were still arguidos and as such would have attended for a reconstruction. Some key witnesses (including some of our friends)declined to attend the planned reconstruction as they were not convinced of the aims and usefulness of it. In particular, as the reconstruction was not to be shown to the media (and hence the general public), they did not feel it would help to find Madeleine. Had the intention been to show it to the general public, it may have 'jogged' memories and encouraged people to come forward with information. It should be added that other key witnesses were not invited to attend. 

 

Our team is confident that the injunction will remain in place because none of thewitnesses thus far have been able to prove in court that Mr. Amaral's right to express his opinion is superior to the rights of our family to peace, respect and protection of reputation, and above all, the right to continue the searchfor our daughter Madeleine effectively and without hindrance. As has been made clear this week, Mr Amaral's ‘thesis' is not supported by any evidence. The search for Madeleine must go on until we find her and bring her abductor(s) to justice. 

 

Kate McCann

 

 

 

 

Day 872: 21/09/2009 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 872: 21/09/2009 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann  

[Date Kate used September 13th 2009] 

At the start of August this year, our investigators appealed to the general public for more information following a credible account by a witness. This related to a lady acting suspiciously in Barcelona on the 7th May 2007 in the early hours of the morning. Our investigators received approximately 1000 emails and phone calls following this appeal and have been busy working through this information. Thank you to everybody who passed information on to our team.We would like to encourage anyone who may still have potentially relevant information to come forward. It is important to note that although the witness thought that the woman in question may have had an Australian accent, it ispossible that this may not be the case.

 

At the end of August, we learnt of the discovery of JayceeLee Dugard, 28 years after she was abducted at the age of 11. There was nothing new here for Gerry and me, as we have been told of many cases of missing children who have been found years after they were taken from their families. It is important though, as it emphasises yet again how vital it is to never give up on missing children and how criminal and unjust to assume they are no longer alive. A missing child cannot be expected to find their way home, we need to find them. It is tragic and heartbreaking to think of the life which has been stolen from Jaycee and her family. We hope and pray that they will be able now to find the happiness and peace that they all deserve.

 

Last week, a judge in Portugal decided to pass an injunction against Goncalo Amaral's book and documentary in which he insists that Madeleine is dead and implies that Gerry and I were somehow involved in her disappearance. Nothing can be more soul-destroying for a parent than for somebody to 'write off' your missing child (for whatever reason) without any evidence to support such a theory. The anguish and torment that we have suffered as a result of Mr. Amaral's unfounded claims and actions has been immense, compounding the pain and sadness we feel every day without Madeleine in our lives. Madeleine deserves so much more than treatment like this. She is still missing and we will never give upon her.

 

It is important to remember that the good people far outweigh the bad, even though those with cruel intentions can bring you down. Every day we still receive a small bundle of supportive letters to our home and kind messages via the website, as well as positive words from passers-by. After a ‘not so good' day, it is this kindness and solidarity that lifts us up and keeps us going. To those people, we are so grateful and we will never forget the great benefit of simple human kindness.Thank you from all our family.

Day 826: 06/08/2009 Thursday. Madeleine McCann - New Information Appeal over “Australian" Woman

AUGUST 2009


Day 826: 06/08/2009 Thursday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Updates: Madeleine McCann - New Information Appeal over “Australian" Woman

Link

A witness has come forward to give the investigators currently searching for Madeleine McCann new information about a suspicious incident that took place in Barcelona in the early hours of May 7th 2007 - just over 72 hours after Madeleine was abducted whilst on holiday in Praia da Luz in Portugal.  

 

The 41-year-old British witness was attending a party with a group of other men in the area of the Port Olimpic Marina in Barcelona. It is a busy location that is popular with both tourists and local people. The group had been visiting a number of bars and restaurants in the marina area on the evening of the May 6th 2007 and into the early hours of May 7th 2007.  

 

At around 2.00am on May 7th, the witness became aware of a well-dressed woman, who he describes as appearing agitated. She was seen in the area of the El Rey De La Gamba restaurant-bar for some ten minutes, walking up and down. 

 

 

The witness got up and walked towards the woman and had a short conversation with her. This conversation was potentially significant to the investigation. However, for strict operational reasons, the investigators will not be divulging any details of what was said to the witness. 

 

It is as a result of this conversation that the investigators now want to trace the woman, who they believe to be possibly Australian.  

mf...

 

Following the conversation the woman sat down in another nearby bar. A further person from the same party group also saw her there. At this bar the woman had a heated discussion with someone in what seemed to be fluent Spanish.

The woman was last seen walking away in the direction of a local hospital and the more distant ferry and cruise ship terminals.

 

The woman is described by the principal witness as follows:  

White  

Aged 30 to 35 years  

Slim build  

Short brown hair  

Approximately 5"2 tall  

Wearing expensive looking blue jeans and a jersey top, possibly pastel colour 

Her build equated to a size 10 dress size.

 

The witness described her as "a bit of a Victoria Beckham look-a-like". She spoke English with what the witness has described as "possibly an Australian" accent.  The investigators now hope the international media, in particular Australian and Spanish broadcasters, will help to distribute the attached e-fit of the woman, which has been prepared by a police artist, as widely as possible.

 

The British witness does not wish to be identified publicly. The investigators have already conducted some preliminary inquiries in the vicinity of the Port Olimpic

 

Marina and are continuing to liaise with relevant police forces where necessary.

 

Anyone who may know the woman should contact the Madeleine McCann investigation team on +44 845 838 4699 or via the Madeleine McCann investigation email address: investigation@findmadeleine.com