Madeleine's parents launch search ad blitz
Monday, September 17, 2007
KATE and Gerry McCann, who are formal suspects over the disappearance of their daughter in Portugal, have launched a new publicity campaign in Europe to help the search for the girl.
The move came as Richard Branson, the jet-setting Virgin boss, pledged £100,000 pounds ($303,287) for a legal fund to defend Madeleine McCann's parents, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.
Friends of the couple sought yesterday to shift the focus back onto the search for the British toddler and away from the McCanns, describing the 39-year-old mother as an exemplary parent who would never harm her children.
Newspaper speculation in Portugal and Britain has flown since Madeleine's parents were named as "arguidos" formal suspects in her disappearance on May 3 as the family were on holiday in southern Portugal.
The status means they can no longer speak about the police investigation.
According to the McCann family, Portuguese police suspect Kate McCann was involved in the accidental death of her daughter and both parents then tried to cover it up.
The McCanns strongly deny any role in the disappearance of Madeleine, who was three years old when she vanished from her bedroom in an apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz.
Gerry McCann, a hospital cardiologist, and Kate McCann, a family doctor, were with friends at a restaurant less than 150 metres away.
One friend, Linda McQueen, said it was unthinkable that either parent would have harmed their eldest child.
"Not at all, not a shadow of a doubt from anybody at all ever," she said.
"They are the most loving, caring, family-oriented couple that you could ever meet. They are absolutely fabulous. Those three children are the world to them.
"They had been up and down about with whether they could get pregnant and the in-vitro fertilisation and it was a dream come true. Kate always wanted a large family so it means the world to her. She is just a fabulous mum."
McQueen recounted Kate's reaction after Madeleine vanished. "I spoke to Kate at about 2.00 in the morning. We were texting back and forward. Kate was saying 'somebody's taken Madeleine'. She was just shocked and traumatised. She was frantic, trying to get everything going.'
Asked if the McCanns could cope if Madeleine were found dead, McQueen replied: "We are not even ready to go down that road."
Nicky Gill, another childhood friend, added: "I want people to know how Kate is and what she is like. To have these words said about her is just so unfair and hurtful."
The new £80,000 publicity campaign will consist of newspaper, television and billboard adverts primarily in Portugal and Spain. The blitz will be financed by Madeleine's Fund, the non-profit organisation administering donations for the search. The fund has received more than £1 million pounds. AFP
The move came as Richard Branson, the jet-setting Virgin boss, pledged £100,000 pounds ($303,287) for a legal fund to defend Madeleine McCann's parents, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.
Friends of the couple sought yesterday to shift the focus back onto the search for the British toddler and away from the McCanns, describing the 39-year-old mother as an exemplary parent who would never harm her children.
Newspaper speculation in Portugal and Britain has flown since Madeleine's parents were named as "arguidos" formal suspects in her disappearance on May 3 as the family were on holiday in southern Portugal.
The status means they can no longer speak about the police investigation.
According to the McCann family, Portuguese police suspect Kate McCann was involved in the accidental death of her daughter and both parents then tried to cover it up.
The McCanns strongly deny any role in the disappearance of Madeleine, who was three years old when she vanished from her bedroom in an apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz.
Gerry McCann, a hospital cardiologist, and Kate McCann, a family doctor, were with friends at a restaurant less than 150 metres away.
One friend, Linda McQueen, said it was unthinkable that either parent would have harmed their eldest child.
"Not at all, not a shadow of a doubt from anybody at all ever," she said.
"They are the most loving, caring, family-oriented couple that you could ever meet. They are absolutely fabulous. Those three children are the world to them.
"They had been up and down about with whether they could get pregnant and the in-vitro fertilisation and it was a dream come true. Kate always wanted a large family so it means the world to her. She is just a fabulous mum."
McQueen recounted Kate's reaction after Madeleine vanished. "I spoke to Kate at about 2.00 in the morning. We were texting back and forward. Kate was saying 'somebody's taken Madeleine'. She was just shocked and traumatised. She was frantic, trying to get everything going.'
Asked if the McCanns could cope if Madeleine were found dead, McQueen replied: "We are not even ready to go down that road."
Nicky Gill, another childhood friend, added: "I want people to know how Kate is and what she is like. To have these words said about her is just so unfair and hurtful."
The new £80,000 publicity campaign will consist of newspaper, television and billboard adverts primarily in Portugal and Spain. The blitz will be financed by Madeleine's Fund, the non-profit organisation administering donations for the search. The fund has received more than £1 million pounds. AFP
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