Alive when taken. Kidnapper put cuddle cat on ledge then picked her up.

Alive when taken
Exclusive Madeleine: 100 Days of Hell
Kidnapper put cuddle cat on ledge then picked her up.
The blood spots in apartment are not hers say cops
The Sunday Mirror
12 August 2007
Lori Campbell in Praia da Luz

Missing Madeleine McCann's favourite pink Cuddle Cat toy was taken from her arms as she slept and placed beyond her reach by her kidnapper. That is why police are certain Madeleine was snatched while she was asleep - and was NOT killed or injured in the holiday apartment.

When her mum Kate, 38, tucked Madeleine into bed, the four-year-old was cuddling the toy - but it was later found placed on a ledge that Madeleine could not have reached.

There is also further "concrete evidence" that Madeleine was still ALIVE when she left the holiday apartment. Her kidnapper had a window of just five minutes to strike - from when dad Gerry last checked on the children until family friend Jane Tanner saw a man carrying away a child she is sure was Madeleine wrapped in a blanket. The new revelations rubbish reports in Portuguese newspapers yesterday that she was murdered or died in an accident inside the villa.

However, local police Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa admitted for the first time that Madeleine could be dead. He said:

"In the past few days there have been some developments and some clues that have been found that could point to the possible death of the little child. But until this moment we are waiting for lab results of the evidence collected and all lines of inquiry are open."

Now, the Sunday Mirror can give a true picture of what happened when Kate found her daughter missing. We can reveal:

Police have specific evidence from the apartment that she was still alive

Madeleine was kidnapped as the toy she had fallen asleep with was left on a ledge placed too high for a child to reach

There was a window of less than five minutes for a kidnapper to pounce - not enough time to kill her and clean up

Police do not believe blood found in the apartment was Madeleine's as it was not consistent with signs of a struggle

The patio doors were unlocked but the intruder used the window to escape with Madeleine as the shutters were forced up.

We can also reveal that devastated Kate was reduced to tears several times by the aggressive questioning of Portuguese police this week. And yesterday the parents were hit by further cruel claims in Portuguese papers linking them to Madeleine's disappearance on May 3.

But our dramatic information confirms Madeleine was most likely to have been abducted by a stranger who had watched the family's routine for up to four days. And it shows Portuguese police from the beginning have had firm evidence Madeleine was still alive when she was taken from the ground-floor apartment.

The McCanns were told in a secret meeting with police within days of Madeleine going missing what this evidence is.

They have been unable to discuss it publicly in case it jeopardises the investigation - and have even been banned from telling close friends or family.

Kate has refused to say where she found the Cuddle Cat toy when she returned to the villa in Praia da Luz at about 10pm to find her daughter's bed empty.

But she has hinted the bedroom was left in such a way that she knew almost instantly Madeleine had been kidnapped.

Our police source said:

"When Kate tucked Madeleine up in bed earlier in the evening, she had the toy tightly in her arms as she did every night. So Kate was terrified when she spotted it had been left in a place too high for her to reach. Kate also noticed the window was wide open and the shutters jammed up. It was because of these things that she had no doubt Madeleine had been kidnapped and she ran out to scream for help."

The Sunday Mirror has been told there was a window of opportunity of less than five minutes from the last time Gerry checked on their child to the reported sighting by family friend Jane of her being carried away by a man.

Our source said: "Although there has been much speculation about a 'lost hour' in which Madeleine could have been taken, it was actually less than five minutes. The kidnapping must have been meticulously planned. Police found no fingerprints or DNA on the Cuddle Cat or in the room, indicating the intruder wore gloves.

There was so little time that whoever took Madeleine must have been watching the family closely for several days so they knew exactly when to strike.

"Kate and Gerry left Madeleine and the twins Sean and Amelie alone every evening of their week-long holiday to eat dinner 50 yards away and followed the same routine of checking on them. The kidnapper would have known this."

The patio doors at the back of the apartment were left unlocked so Kate and Gerry could check on the children easily. But police are unsure if the intruder used them to slip in or if the shutters to the window were forced open from outside.

Sniffer dogs flown over to Portugal last week by British police were taken into the apartment and found specks of blood missed in an initial search.

The results of DNA tests are expected this week but detectives are convinced it does not belong to Madeleine because if it was fresh, it would have been spotted when they first scoured the apartment.

But that has not stopped the Portuguese media leading a hurtful smear campaign against Kate and Gerry which reached a new low with the suggestion Madeleine was killed inside the apartment and that Kate was somehow involved.

The spiteful rumours forced Kate and Gerry to insist they would not be bullied out of Portugal. But yesterday there were more cruel accusations as they marked 100 days since Madeleine disappeared.

Portuguese newspaper Sol alleged the toddler died in the apartment before her parents went to dinner. It says British sniffer dogs picked up traces of her corpse and signs she was moved. An "unnamed specialist" told the newspaper:

"For the dogs to detect a body, it would have to stay in place where it died for a minimum of two hours."

The report also alleged the McCanns' silver Renault Scenic hire car may have been used to get rid of Madeleine's body. A McCann spokesman yesterday dismissed the allegations as "complete nonsense".

   

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Lori Campbell, Madeleine McCann, News of the World, Ross Hall

PJ forced to investigate abduction track

PJ forced to investigate abduction trackAugust 12, 2007
José Carlos Marques

Alipio Ribeiro, national director of the Judicial Police received a telephone call from John Buck, the British ambassador in Portugal, on the night Madeleine disappeared from the Ocean Club, May 3.

GOOGLE TRANSLATION:

At about 23:00, about two hours after he was involved the child's disappearance, Alipio Ribeiro had to stop a private dinner to hear the diplomat. The phone call was the first sign that the British were very interested to follow closely the action of the PJ and push towards the abduction investigations.

"The PJ has lost too much time investigating the abduction," said a source close to the CM research. The pressure of British diplomacy will only be slowed when they arrived in Portugal British police officers who supported the redirection of research for the hypothesis of murder. The biological evidence found in the apartment were decisive to change the course of the investigation, or at least for the PJ to admit publicly that change.

The decision to deepen the hypothesis of the death of the child at the Ocean Club - and the consequent re-evaluation of the testimony of Maddie's parents and friends of the couple - was taken into account the views of the British police.

The interview Olegario Sousa - the chief inspector of the Judiciary which has served as a spokesman for police in this case - given yesterday to the BBC and ITN television was agreed with these agents.

The choice of these two television channels was motivated by outrage that the British police themselves felt in the Algarve on the objections that have been made by the British press to the PJ. The BBC and ITN have treated the case with more coolness and impartiality, reason for their privileged access to the interview.

Olegario Sousa admitted for the first time in public the possibility of Madeleine being dead. A position that leaves the McCanns in the center of investigations, a situation that has been managed 'with tweezers' by Portuguese police.

The couple has relied on the help of powerful friends. The former spokesman for the McCanns, Clarence Mitchell, who organized the trips of Maddie's parents to several European countries, is currently adviser to Gordon Brown, the current British prime minister.

Brown supported the cause of Maddie from the beginning, because that is not alien Jill Renwick, a friend of the couple's longtime neighbor John Brown, brother of the British prime minister. According to The Guardian, Jill approached John on the street, and this he brought the message to the brother.

SUPPORT

Father Haynes Hubbard, who celebrated his homily yesterday in Praia da Luz, has expressed its support for the McCanns in the decision to stay in Portugal: "If it were my daughter, I would not leave here." Hubbard stressed that the ceremony served to make Kate and Gerry feel that "we are with them in their grief."

"WE WILL NOT GIVE UP"

"We will not give up looking," he said Gerry, voice breaking, during the homily held yesterday morning in the church of Praia da Luz, which marked the hundred days after Madeleine's disappearance. The girl's parents could not hide the emotion in the religious ceremony celebrated in English and chaired by Anglican priest Haynes Hubbard.
Kate and Gerry intervened twice each, confessing that they are living the "darkest days" of their lives, but have faith in the return of her daughter. At the end were applauded by dozens of people. Inside and outside the church.

SPOKESMAN ADMITS THE JUDICIAL DEATH OF CHILD

The spokesman for the Judicial Police in the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has admitted in an interview on BBC public television, the possibility that the girl was dead. Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa also ensured that the child's parents are not suspects, are victims and witnesses.

Source close to the McCann family said that "after a tough week, it was nice" Gerry and Kate hear from official sources that are not suspects. But the couple said nothing about whether her daughter was dead. The parents said in recent days, the police presented no evidence to that effect them. "Portuguese law does not allow to put everything on the table, even for the people involved," cautioned the inspector told the BBC.

The spokesman says PJ "developments occurred in the last days and found some clues that may point to the possible death of the child." It adds that all lines are open and that laboratory tests are awaited. "But this line [the child's death] is now taking place with greater intensity," concluded the inspector.

BBC interview

"We have found clues that might point to the child's death" Olegario Sousa

"We are waiting for test results to the evidence gathered." Olegario Sousa

"All lines are open. But it is now taking place with greater intensity. "Olegario Sousa

"The couple is not suspected. They are victims because they lost their daughter, and they are witnesses in the case." Olegario Sousa

THE CASE SEEN IN ENGLAND

'DAILY MAIL'

This paper points out that when the parents of Maddie mark the hundred days of his disappearance, the chief inspector and spokesman PJ, Olegario Sousa, said in an interview to British television, admitted for the first time that Maddie may be dead.

SKY NEWS

In addition to statements of the chief inspector of the PJ, Sky News is a photographic montage about one hundred days of the girl's disappearance. In Glasgow, where is the natural father of Maddie, a song was played at the opening of the international festival of flute.

'THE TIMES'

Gerry, Maddie's father, said he had no doubt about the friends that were and are with him and Kate in Praia da Luz Gerry's statements follow on from the interrogation of him, his wife and friends were subjected by PJ stresses The Times.

'DAILY MIRROR'

"Show us the proof" is the title of this newspaper article, which states that the parents of Maddie asked the Judicial Police for them to reveal the evidence they have collected and that lead them to believe that the girl is dead. "Prove to us that she is dead."

NOTES

MOTHER ASKS PRAYERS

"Please keep Madeleine in your thoughts and prayers," urged the girl's mother. Kate prayed a Hail Mary and thanked the support of the community.

JUDICIAL AND JOURNALISTS

In his homily was only made a speech in Portuguese. Served to ask God to bless "the efforts and dedication" of the Judicial and "enlighten the media."

MADDIE REMEMBERED IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

There were many players in the Premier League who used sweaters with little Maddie's face on the opening day of the race. George McCartney (West Ham) was one of them.


ORIGINAL PORTUGUESE:

PJ forçada a investigar pista de rapto
Alípio Ribeiro, director nacional da Polícia Judiciária, recebeu uma chamada telefónica de John Buck, embaixador britânico em Portugal, na noite em que Madeleine desapareceu do Ocean Club, a 3 de Maio.
12 Agosto 2007
José Carlos Marques / P.M.

Por volta das 23h00, cerca de duas horas depois de ter sido participado o desaparecimento da criança, Alípio Ribeiro teve de interromper um jantar privado para ouvir o diplomata. O telefonema foi o primeiro sinal de que os ingleses estavam muito interessados em acompanhar de perto a acção da PJ e a empurrar as investigações no sentido do rapto.

“A PJ perdeu demasiado tempo a investigar o rapto”, contou ao CM fonte ligada à investigação. A pressão da diplomacia inglesa só terá abrandado quando chegaram a Portugal agentes da polícia britânica que apoiaram o redireccionamento da investigação para a hipótese de homicídio. Os indícios biológicos encontrados no apartamento foram decisivos para mudar o rumo do inquérito, ou, pelo menos, para a PJ admitir publicamente essa mudança.
A decisão de aprofundar a hipótese da morte da criança no Ocean Club – e a consequente reavaliação dos depoimentos dos pais de Maddie e dos amigos do casal – foi tomada tendo em conta a opinião dos polícias ingleses. A entrevista que Olegário Sousa – o inspector-chefe da Judiciária que tem servido de porta-voz da polícia neste caso – concedeu ontem às televisões BBC e ITN foi concertada com estes agentes.

A escolha destes dois canais televisivos foi motivada pela indignação que os próprios polícias ingleses no Algarve sentiram em relação às acusações que têm sido feitas pela imprensa britânica à PJ. A BBC e a ITN têm tratado o caso com mais frieza e imparcialidade, razão pela qual foram privilegiados no acesso à entrevista.

Olegário Sousa admitiu pela primeira vez em público a hipótese de Madeleine estar morta. Uma posição que deixa os McCann no centro das investigações, situação que tem sido gerida ‘com pinças’ pela polícia portuguesa.
O casal tem contado com a ajuda de amigos poderosos. O primeiro porta-voz dos McCann, Clarence Mitchell, que organizou as viagens dos pais de Maddie a vários países europeus, é hoje assessor de Gordon Brown, o actual primeiro-ministro britânico.

Brown apoiou a causa de Maddie desde o início, facto a que não é alheio Jill Renwick, amiga do casal de há longa data, ser vizinha de Jonh Brown, irmão do primeiro-ministro britânico. Segundo o ‘The Guardian’, Jill abordou John na rua, e este fez chegar a mensagem ao irmão.
APOIO
O padre Haynes Hubbard, que celebrou ontem a homilia na Praia da Luz, manifestou o seu apoio ao casal McCann na decisão de permanecer em Portugal: “Se fosse minha filha, eu não sairia daqui”. Hubbard frisou que a cerimónia religiosa serviu para fazer sentir a Kate e a Gerry que “estamos com eles na sua dor”.

"NÃO IREMOS DESISTIR"

“Não iremos desistir de a procurar”, garantiu Gerry, de voz embargada, no decurso da homilia realizada ontem de manhã na igreja da Praia da Luz, que assinalou os cem dias sobre o desaparecimento de Madeleine. Os pais da menina não conseguiram esconder a emoção na cerimónia religiosa, celebrada em língua inglesa e presidida pelo padre anglicano Haynes Hubbard.

Kate e Gerry intervieram duas vezes cada um, confessando que estão a viver “os dias mais difíceis” das suas vidas, mas têm fé no regresso da filha. No final foram aplaudidos por dezenas de pessoas. Dentro e fora da igreja.

PORTA-VOZ DA JUDICIÁRIA ADMITE MORTE DA CRIANÇA

O porta-voz da Polícia Judiciária no inquérito ao desaparecimento de Madeleine McCann admitiu, em entrevista à televisão pública britânica BBC, a possibilidade de a menina estar morta. O inspector-chefe Olegário Sousa garantiu ainda que os pais da criança não são suspeitos; são vítimas e testemunhas.

Fonte próxima da família McCann disse que, “após uma semana difícil, foi simpático” Gerry e Kate ouvirem de fonte oficial que não são suspeitos. Mas o casal nada comenta sobre a possibilidade de a sua filha estar morta. Os pais disseram, nos últimos dias, que a polícia não lhes apresentou provas nesse sentido. “A lei portuguesa não permite colocar tudo em cima da mesa, mesmo para as pessoas envolvidas”, ressalvou o inspector à BBC.
O porta-voz da PJ diz que “nos últimos dias aconteceram desenvolvimentos e foram encontradas algumas pistas que podem apontar para a possível morte da criança”. Acrescenta que todas as linhas estão em aberto e que são aguardados testes laboratoriais. “Mas esta linha [morte da criança] está agora a verificar-se com maior intensidade”, conclui o inspector.

ENTREVISTA À BBC

"Foram encontradas pistas que podem apontar para a morte da criança” Olegário Sousa

“Estamos à espera de resultados de análises às provas recolhidas.” Olegário Sousa

“Todas as linhas estão em aberto. Mas está agora a verificar-se com maior intensidade.” Olegário Sousa

"O casal não é suspeito. São vítimas, porque perderam a filha, e são testemunhas no caso.” Olegário Sousa

O CASO VISTO EM INGLATERRA

'DAILY MAIL'

Este jornal destaca que, quando os pais de Maddie assinalam os cem dias do seu desaparecimento, o inspector-chefe e porta-voz da PJ, Olegário Sousa, em entrevista às televisões britânicas, admite, pela primeira vez, que Maddie possa estar morta.

SKY NEWS

Além das declarações do inspector-chefe da PJ, a Sky News faz uma montagem fotográfica acerca dos cem dias do desaparecimento da menina. Em Glasgow, de onde é natural o pai de Maddie, foi tocada uma música na abertura do festival internacional de flauta.

'THE TIMES'

Gerry, pai de Maddie, afirma não ter dúvidas sobre os amigos que estiveram e estão com ele e Kate na Praia da Luz. As declarações de Gerry surgem na sequência do interrogatório a que ele, a mulher e os amigos foram sujeitos pela PJ, sublinha o ‘Times’.

'DAILY MIRROR'

“Mostrem-nos a prova” é o título do artigo deste jornal, que refere que os pais de Maddie pediram à Polícia Judiciária para lhes que revelarem as provas que recolheram e que os levam a crer que a menina esteja morta. “Provem-nos que ela está morta.”

NOTAS
MÃE PEDE ORAÇÕES
“Por favor, mantenham Madeleine nos vossos pensamentos e orações”, pediu a mãe da menina. Kate rezou uma ave-maria e agradeceu o apoio da comunidade.
JUDICIÁRIA E JORNALISTAS
Na homilia foi apenas feita uma intervenção em português. Serviu para pedir que Deus abençoe “o esforço e a dedicação” da Judiciária e “ilumine os mass media”.
MADDIE LEMBRADA NA PREMIER LEAGUE
Foram muitos os jogadores da Premier League que utilizaram camisolas com o rosto da pequena Maddie na jornada inaugural da prova. George McCartney (West Ham) foi um deles.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Ambassador John Buck, BBC, Clarence Mitchell, Gordon Brown, Madeleine McCann

Kate's plea: Please stay with us now

Kate's plea: Please stay with us now
Madeleine: 100 Days of Hell
The Sunday Mirror
12 August 2007
Lori Campbell

Kate and Gerry McCann yesterday attended a poignant service of prayers for Madeleine to mark 100 days since she went missing.

The couple, who arrived holding hands for the somber service at the tiny church in Praia da Luz, both wore the Portuguese colours of hope - yellow and green - and "Look for Madeleine" wristbands.

Scores of wellwishers gathered at the whitewashed Nossa Senhora da Luz church as the McCanns closed one of the most difficult weeks since Madeleine went missing.

Some locals stirred up by Portuguese press reports have begun to criticise their constant presence in the resort and a car parked opposite the church had a message in the window saying "Circus go home".

During the hour-long service, Kate thanked local people for their support and asked them to stay with her and her husband as they continued their "journey of hope" for their "precious" daughter.

The service - themed as "100 Days of Hope" - included prayers for Madeleine and other missing children as well as short addresses by both the McCanns.

Her voice breaking with emotion and still clutching Madeleine's favourite Cuddle Cat toy, Kate McCann said: "I would like to welcome you all here today to join us in some special prayers for Madeleine and all children who suffer around the world at this moment.

"As you are aware, it is 100 days now since our little girl was taken from us. Every day feels so hard without Madeleine. I could talk all day about how wonderful, how precious Madeleine is, but suffice to say we all miss her so much and our lives aren't complete without Madeleine.

"Please stay with us as we continue our journey of hope and please keep Madeleine in your thoughts and prayers."

Her husband struggled to hold back tears as he thanked the local community for its "overwhelming support". He said: "We have not given up hope that we will be reunited with her. We will not stop looking for her until she is found." Many families with youngsters attended the service, which was drawn up with children in mind and included the hymn Away In A Manger. Members of the congregation lit candles and placed them on the altar.

In the McCanns' hometown of Rothley, Leicestershire, relatives and friends marked yesterday's grim milestone with a quiet vigil at the local Catholic church.

Meanwhile, Madeleine's grandmother Eileen McCann said rumours of her daughter's involvement in her disappearance were "obscene".

She said anyone who knew the couple would be horrified. "The idea of Kate or Gerry being involved is ridiculous," she said. "They love those children more than they love themselves."

Stars from the worlds of rugby, football and horse racing yesterday urged people at major sporting events around the UK to continue looking for Madeleine. In one of many shows of solidarity, Robbie Keane led out the entire Spurs team wearing Madeleine t-shirts for their game at Sunderland. And at Twickenham a video was shown at half-time of Jonny Wilkinson and other England stars giving their support to the hunt for Madeleine.

'We won't stop looking until Madeleine is found'

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Lori Campbell, Madeleine McCann, Ross Hall

Grieving mother of lost daughter prays 'every day' for Madeleine

11 August 2007
Irish Independent

The grieving mother of a child who disappeared without trace 30 years ago has revealed that she prays every day that Madeleine McCann, who vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal exactly 100 days ago, will be found alive and safe.

Ann Boyle, whose daughter Mary went missing in 1977, knows more than most what English couple Kate and Gerry McCann are going through. But she said they must soon face the heartwrenching choice that she and her husband had to make all those years ago.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Donegal, Joe Peoples, Madeleine McCann, McCann pub, St Johnston

Drogheda family hit out over Madeleine case clue coverage

8 August 2007
Drogheda Independent

A Drogheda family who may hold vital clues as to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have hit out at media distortion of evidence that they have given to Portuguese police. Maple Drive man Martin Smith, his wife and his children had just left the Kelly bar, which is located approximately 400 metres from the McCanns' apartment at the Ocean Club between 9.50-10pm on the night Madeleine disappeared. They returned to Ireland the next day, and because the reported abduction times didn't originally match, they never had cause to examine their journey that night.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Madeleine McCann, Robert Murat, Smith sighting

Livid..and very hurt

8 August 2007 
Mirror
Martin Fricker
Rumours and Lies - Dad's fury at claims over his girl's disappearance.

Gerry McCann could barely contain his anger and pain yesterday at outrageous suggestions he and wife Kate could be responsible for the death of daughter Madeleine. In an extraordinary development, sources told the Portuguese press that investigators had "definitely abandoned" the theory that Madeleine, four, was kidnapped. Instead, it was claimed, police believe the youngster died in her bedroom "as a result of negligence or murder".

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Forensic Science Services, Madeleine McCann, Robert Murat

Irishman in new Maddie probe lead

7 August 2007
Evening Herald


Expat Mr Smith was leaving a bar in the resort with his family at about 9.50pm when he saw a man carrying a small child past the church in the centre of the town. It was about 20 minutes after Madeleine is believed to have been snatched from her bedroom 500 metres away. Mr Smith said the man was walking close to the flat of Sergei Malinka, a 22-year-old Russian web designer who had worked for suspect Robert Murat. He described the man as being about 5’ 7” tall, and wearing beige trousers, with the clothes on his upper body obscured by the child he was carrying.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Leicestershire Police, Madeleine McCann, Robert Murat, Smith sighting

Madeleine police hunt man seen carrying a small child to the beach

7 August 2007 
The Times
David Brown


* Body is feared to have been thrown into sea

* Search finds nothing at official suspect's home

A man seen taking a small girl towards the beach at Praia da Luz on the night that Madeleine McCann disappeared from her holiday apartment is being sought by detectives in the Algarve.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Madeleine McCann, Robert Murat, Smith sighting

POLICE RETURN TO SUSPECT'S HOME IN HUNT FOR TODDLER

POLICE RETURN TO SUSPECT'S HOME IN HUNT FOR TODDLER
Olga Craig in Praia da Luz
6 August 2007
New Zealand Herald


Ten policemen, two of them believed to be British, have begun a renewed search of the Portugal home of Robert Murat, the chief suspect in the kidnap case of Madeleine McCann.

The officers yesterday began clearing undergrowth and cutting down trees at Casa Liliana, the home Murat shares with his mother, Jenny.

The property is metres from the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz where Madeleine was abducted on May 3.

The search is expected to last up to four days.

Murat, 33, has always said he is innocent, insisting he was at home with his mother on the evening Madeleine was taken.

The renewed search came as Belgian police said they were carrying out DNA tests on a milkshake bottle and straw used in a cafe in Tongeren, 130km from Brussels, by a girl who may have been Madeleine.

A little girl matching her description was seen with a couple who drove off in a black Volvo soon after being served by a waitress who suspected the child was Madeleine.

Police have issued an identikit picture of an unshaven, buck-toothed man, aged around 40, who was with an English-speaking younger woman.

Another witness, a child therapist, said the couple were acting strangely and the child seemed nervous.

``It was obvious that the couple were not her parents,'' she said.

The woman telephoned police but the three left before officers arrived.

Kate and Gerry McCann are in Spain highlighting the three-month anniversary of their daughter's disappearance.

They say they have been hurt by recent speculation that their relationship is crumbling under the stress of searching for Madeleine.

In Praia da Luz, police remained silent over why they were again searching Murat's home. Last month he was interrogated again by detectives who claim his original statement has inconsistencies.

``'We have reached a phase in the investigation where we are trying to evaluate everything,'' one Portuguese police source said. ``We are going through all the interviews, facts and clues - with the help of British profilers - to ensure nothing has been missed or left out. At the moment there is still only one suspect.''-Telegraph Group additional reporting, Observer

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Ambassador John Buck, Madeleine McCann, Robert Murat

We're so desperately sorry we left you

We're so desperately sorry we left you;
Code Madeleine; NOW Campaign;
Interview; Kate McCann
5 August 2007
The News of the World
Ross Hall

Kate's secret regret. In an emotional, tear-filled interview, Maddie's mum delivers a message to her little girl

Heartbroken Kate McCann sobbed last night as she spoke fully for the first time of her anguish and regret at leaving her daughter alone on the night she vanished.

In her first solo newspaper interview an emotional Kate, her eyes red and puffy from the endless sleepless nights, admitted: "We're just so desperately sorry to Madeleine that we weren't there.

"Even now, every hour I still question myself, 'Why did I think that was safe?'

"I do feel regret, and I've gone through all of my life saying I never want to have any regrets. But you can't not regret something like that."

As mum-of-three Kate, 38, spoke she repeatedly broke down, gripping tightly on to Maddie's favourite pink Cuddle Cat toy.

Asked what she would tell her missing daughter if she could, Kate said: "I'd tell her we love her. She knows we love her very much. She knows we're looking for her, that we're doing absolutely everything and we'll never give up."

In a heart-rending twist, Kate revealed four-year-old Maddie's last words on the evening she was snatched from their Portuguese holiday apartment, Thursday May 3, telling her mum she'd just had the happiest day of her life.

Fighting back tears Kate said: "We used the Kids' Club and Madeleine had a ball.

They did swimming, went on a little boat, went to the beach, did lots of colouring-in, face-painting, tennis. She was so happy.

"That night before she went to bed she said, 'Mummy, I've had the best day ever.

I'm having lots and lots of fun.'

"She had a little dance prepared for me for the Friday-they'd been working on it for days."

Her voice dropping to a whisper, Kate sobbed: "I don't know what it was-I never got to see it."

Since Maddie was snatched, GP Kate and her hospital doctor husband Gerry, along with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, have remained in Praia da Luz to be near the search. Kate's voice breaks as she relives the gut-wrenching moment as she walked into the room and realised Madeleine was gone.

"There were about 20 seconds of disbelief where I thought, 'That can't be right'," she said. "Then there was panic and fear. I was screaming her name, it was just total fear.

"I never thought for one second she'd walked out. I knew someone had been in the apartment because of the way it had been left.

"There wasn't a shadow of a doubt in my mind she'd been taken. That's why the fear set in. Then you go through the guilt phase straight away.

"I can't describe how much I love Madeleine. If I'd had to think for one second, 'Should we have dinner and leave them?' I wouldn't have done it.

"It didn't happen like that, I didn't have to think for a second, that's how safe I felt.

"Maybe it was because it was family friendly, because it felt so safe. That week we'd left them alone while we had dinner.

"There's no way on this planet I'd take a risk, no matter how small, with my children."

She added: "This has touched so many people. I've had so many letters from mothers, really kind words.

"People have said, 'Kate, we've done this a hundred times over ourselves. Why would you for one minute think something like that would happen?'

"It's not like we went down to the town or anything. People have said to me, 'You're the unluckiest person in the world'-and we are.

"That night runs over and over in my mind and I'm sure people will learn from our mistake, if you want to call it that.

"But it's important not to lose sight of the fact we haven't committed a crime.

"Somebody has. Somebody's been there. Somebody's been watching. They took our daughter away and we can't lose sight of that." Pausing for a moment to choke back the tears, Kate continued: "How can someone do that to a child? I've just got to keep focused and positive."

Despite their young age, Mad-eleine's little brother and sister repeatedly ask about her.

"They know she's not there and miss her," said Kate. "They talk about Madeleine's things and if they get biscuits they say, 'One for Sean, one for Amelie, one for Madeleine.'

"When we went back to the UK for a family baptism there was an empty seat on the plane and Sean said, 'That's Madeleine's seat.' That caught me.

"The hardest thing wasn't being in the UK, it was to be with such close family and for Madeleine not to be there. I knew how much she'd have loved it.

"Amelie asked me afterwards, 'Where's Madeleine? I miss my big sister.'

"I don't know where that question came from, it could have been because it was a family day.

"I can be doing OK and then something like that catches me in the throat.

"Despite her small size, Madeleine just has this huge presence. She brings a lot of joy."

Occasionally Kate does allow herself to think of the worst-case outcome but she tries to remain focused and is sure she will see Madeleine again. Welling up, she said: "I still have moments of panic and fear.

"It's not as intense and unrelenting as the first five days. Now, obviously we have hope and it's important to hold on to that.

"I do go back to those dark moments. It would be abnormal never to touch on them.

I do feel panic and fear when I'm thinking about Madeleine. But it doesn't help her. It's important to channel those emotions into something positive."

Next Saturday is the 100th day since Madeleine was taken, and it will be an emotional milestone for the family. "I'm still hoping that we're not going to get there," added Kate.

"Every day I'm hoping we won't get to the next day without Madeleine. It's been a long time. But we have to keep going for her.

"We haven't talked about staying here for ever, we're just not looking that far ahead."

But Kate admitted she doubts she'll ever be able to return to the family home in Rothley, Leicestershire, because of the memories.

"I can't bear the thought of it," she confessed. "At the moment we feel happier staying here, closer to the investigation.

"We don't know where Madeleine is, we don't think she's in the UK but there's nothing to say she's any further from there than she is from here. It's a gut feeling. I'm aware there are probably things that would be easier at home, but at the moment this is the right thing for us.

"We've had so much support, mothers can empathise with me. Speaking now, on my own, is a way of saying thank you. They've given a bit of themselves to me.

"We've got three beautiful children. Madeleine is irreplaceable. I want her back.

We just have to wait and see what life has in store for us."

Continue Reading... Labels: 2007, Lori Campbell, Madeleine McCann, News of the World, Ross Hall