The
purpose of this site is for information and a record of Gerry McCann's
Blog Archives. As most people will
appreciate G M deleted all past blogs from the official website.
Hopefully this Archive will be helpful to anyone
that is interested in Justice for Madeleine Beth McCann. Many
Thanks Pamalam
Our visit to the
European Parliament on Thursday (10th) was the culmination of
several months work. Kate and I presented a written declaration
(see news and support) to the parliament asking for the
introduction of an EU wide missing child alert system based on
the US AMBER alert system. The AMBER system has been incredibly
successful in rescuing abducted children. France has adopted a
similar system in the last 2 years, which has been activated 5
times with all children being recovered alive.
An EU wide AMBER type system has widespread support. The EU
commission presented draft guidance (written in conjunction with
Missing Children Europe) on the introduction of such a system.
In Lisbon in October last year the proposal got the informal
support of the 27 member states home office/justice ministers.
We presented the declaration to MEP's, answered questions and
then held a press conference- our first public speech since
returning from Portugal. For the declaration to be taken up we
need 51% of (the 785) MEP's to sign the declaration in the next
3 months. We would urge everyone to lobby their MEP's to sign
the declaration.
The day went extremely well although we were naturally asked
questions about the Portuguese investigation, which are very
difficult to answer for us, as we have had no direct dialogue
with the Portuguese police. We were dismayed to learn that
excerpts from our early witness statements were leaked to a
Spanish TV station. These were taken out of context and there
can be no doubts were designed to undermine our credibility. One
has to question why these were leaked on the day when the media
attention was huge and who benefits from such a leak? One thing
for certain is that it does not help to find Madeleine. We would
certainly welcome an independent inquiry as to where the leaking
of such sensitive information, contrary to judicial secrecy
laws, has come from
Kate and I arrived back from
Washington yesterday. We went primarily to visit the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to learn
more about the implementation of their national AMBER alert
system (child rescue alert). The whole experience was very
positive. The staff at NCMEC is the most experienced in dealing
with missing and abducted children anywhere in the world.
The AMBER alert system should be used in the most serious child
abduction cases (usually by strangers, when the child is
considered at risk of serious harm) to recover the child as
quickly as possible. The alert is based on the realisation that
galvanising the local community can play a huge role in finding
missing children. Last year alone 68 children, and almost 400 in
total since its? implementation, were recovered safely as a
direct result of the AMBER alert. In 16 cases the abductor
released the child safely when hearing the AMBER alert. We
strongly feel that Europe should have a similar integrated child
rescue alert.
Our visit to Washington and meetings with other relevant
European organisations will be shown on a documentary to be
screened by ITV on the 30 April. The programme will focus on the
campaign to introduce a European version of the AMBER alert.
There will of course be massive media interest in Madeleine's
disappearance at this time, if she remains missing, and we hope
that the programme is shown in most European countries and
further afield.
During our Washington visit we were also very encouraged to hear
that, in NCMEC's experience, the younger the child at the time
of abduction the less likely that child will be seriously
harmed. Such information makes us believe even more fervently,
in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that Madeleine can
be found safe and well
I think everyone must have heard
the news today that Express Newspapers have published front page
apologies to Kate and me and agreed damages of ?550,000 which
will be paid in to Madeleines Fund. It gives us no joy that we
had to take such action- we would rather have not had to put up
with such distasteful, grotesque and blatantly untruthful
coverage. Nevertheless we hope todays events will act as a
springboard in advancing the search for Madeleine. The money
will be used to aid the investigation.
To read our full statement, please see the News and Press
Releases in the News and Support section.
Date Released: 19/03/2008 20:52:00
Statement from Madeleines Fund Board of Directors
'The directors of Madeleine's Fund welcome the settlement of
Gerry and Kate's complaint against Express Newspapers, in
particular the front page apologies for the grossly defamatory
stories that were consistently published in recent months and
the agreement reached on substantial damages.
It has been a great additional burden for Gerry and Kate to be
repeatedly vilified in sections of the press. Such coverage was
also a diversion for our campaign to find Madeleine.
We hope that such public apologies will not only bring some
comfort to Gerry and Kate, but that they will re-emphasise the
need for a renewed focus on the campaign.
The ?550,000 damages from Express Newspapers will now be used
fully within the stated spirit and aims of Madeleine's Fund.
The purpose of the Fund is to support Gerry and Kate
specifically in the search for Madeleine and her abductor(s).
The Fund will, therefore, continue to work to gather information
to assist them in achieving their aim of bringing Madeleine
home. We would, once again, urge any member of the public who
still feels they may have useful information to come forward
with it without delay
We are pleased that Express Newspapers have today admitted the
utter falsity of the numerous grotesque and grossly defamatory
allegations that their titles published about us on a sustained
basis over many months.
The exceptional publication of these apologies, together with
today's statement of full apology in open Court before Mr
Justice Eady, was the only just and proper response by Express
Newspapers following our complaint. We also wish to place on
record our thanks to Adam Tudor, from Carter Ruck. Today's
result simply could not have been achieved without him
Express Newspapers, rightly acknowledge that we are innocent of
all allegations that we may have been involved in Madeleine's
abduction and WE would like to reiterate that there is
absolutely no evidence that Madeleine is dead or has been
seriously harmed.
We embarked on this course of action reluctantly, indeed with a
heavy heart, as we did not wish the pursuit of it to become a
distraction from our sole aim ? finding Madeleine. Indeed, as
long ago as last autumn our lawyers approached Express
Newspapers and urged them to show greater restraint in their
reporting ? requests which went utterly unheeded.
The distress all this has caused members of our wider family, at
a time of great emotional turmoil for them, was also a major
factor in our action. Their pain over the loss of Madeleine has
been compounded by having to witness the irresponsible and
libellous reporting that we have successfully challenged today.
As a part of our settlement, Express Newspapers have also agreed
to donate ?550,000 to the Fund that was established to help find
Madeleine. We feel it is entirely appropriate that the search
for Madeleine will now benefit directly out of the wrongs
committed against us as her parents.
We hope that the Portuguese authorities lift our arguido status
in the very near future so that everyone can focus on finding
our beautiful little girl, Madeleine.?
Kate and I heard
the totally heart-warming news today that Shannon Matthews has
been recovered safely. We are delighted for her family and hope
and pray that Shannon has not suffered too much during the last
24 days.
Although the circumstances may be different, finding Shannon
alive does give Kate and me renewed optimism. I am reminded of
Ernie Allen's ( the president of NCMEC) words: 'until you know
who has taken Madeleine and why, you cannot give up hope'. We do
not know who has taken Madeleine or why, and there is certainly
no indication
that Madeleine has been seriously harmed. Of course we will not
give up hope. Someone somewhere knows where Madeleine is.
Kate and
I heard the totally heart-warming news today that Shannon
Matthews has been recovered safely. We are delighted for her
family and hope and pray that Shannon has not suffered too much
during the last 24 days.
Although the circumstances may be different, finding Shannon
alive does give Kate and me renewed optimism. I am reminded of
Ernie Allen's ( the president of NCMEC) words: 'until you know
who has taken Madeleine and why, you cannot give up hope'. We do
not know who has taken Madeleine or why, and there is certainly
no
Day 316:
14/03/2008 -
Friday
1st version
Date and day Gerry used Day 314: 12/03/2008
Kate and I
heard the totally heart-warming news today that Shannon Matthews
has been recovered safely. We are delighted for her family and
hope and pray
that Shannon has not suffered too much during the last 24 days.
Although the circumstances may be different, finding Shannon
alive does give Kate and me renewed optimism. I am reminded of
Ernie Allen's ( the
presidentof
NCMEC) words: 'until you know who has taken Madeleine and why,
you cannot give up hope'. We do not know who has taken Madeleine
or why, and there is
certainly no
indication that
Madeleine has been seriously harmed. Of course we will not give
up hope. Someone somewhere knows where Madeleine is.
Day 315:
13/03/2008
Thursday
No Update
Day 314: 12/03/2008
Wednesday
No Update
MARI LUZ Day 313
MISSING PEOPLE
Day 302-313
MARBLE ARCH
Day 302-313
Day 313: 11/03/2008 - Tuesday Kate and I were so sad
to learn that Mari Luz's body had been found. This is the news
that at any parent of a missing child dreads and a situation we
desperately hope that we never have to face. We deeply
sympathise with her family and pray they remain strong and in
time are able to find peace.
We would like to thank everyone who continues to send us
messages of support, encouragement and of hope. All of our
family have been traumatised by Madeleine's abduction and
continued absence and the tremendous support we have received
has undoubtedly helped us enormously over the last 10 months.
Tomorrow there is a march in London starting opposite Western
Marble Arch synagogue at 10am to petition for more support for
the families of missing people who are left behind. The march
has been organised by two mothers whose sons are missing and
will be attended by representatives of the charity Missing
People and families of those who have relatives missing.
It has been a relatively quiet
week for us. We did hear from the UK police that the French have
officially ruled out the reported sighting of Madeleine in
Montpellier. It is disappointing that it took so long,
particularly after the widespread coverage the reported sighting
received in the media.
Today Kate and I met with representatives of two UK charities
involved in missing and abducted children. Missing People is the
largest UK non-governmental organisation involved in this area
and a member of Missing Children Europe. The introduction of a
Europe wide child alert system is strongly supported by both
organisations. Missing People have also applied to run the 116
00 number, which has been reserved throughout the EU as a
missing child hotline. Missing People were responsible for
displaying Madeleine's image on Marble arch, along with 2 other
missing children last summer. It was heartening to hear today
that one of those children was recovered as a direct result and
the other has also been successfully returned to his family.
PACT (parents and abducted children together) is a much smaller
organisation founded by Catherine Meyer. PACT is positioned
primarily as an advocates for change in how missing children
cases are handled and identified very early how poorly data on
missing and abducted children are collected. PACT would like to
see a national centre in the UK similar to NCMEC in the USA. It
was uplifting to see how Catherine has maintained her passion,
drive and commitment to try and make effective changes even
after ten years of campaigning. Kate and I will work with the
various non-governmental organisations to influence the policy
makers who decide these important decisions.
