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Hunt for Madeleine takes parents to Germany

HOMEPAGE BLOGS NEWS REPORTS INDEX PHOTOGRAPHS NEWS JUNE 2007
Original Source: TIMES: 04 JUNE 2007
From Times Online
June 4, 2007
David Brown in Praia da Luz
 
The parents of Madeleine McCann have spoken of the “information void” they have felt after Portuguese detectives failed to update them on investigation of their daughter’s abduction for more than a week.

Kate and Gerry McCann, who is 39 today, will tonight travel to Germany and then on to the Netherlands to promote the international search for their daughter following her abduction 33 days ago from their Algarve holiday apartment.

Before leaving Portugal the couple hope to meet detectives for the first time in 12 days to receive details about the investigation.

They are expected to appear on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme tomorrow night to appeal for information from holidaymakers who were in Praia da Luz when Madeleine disappeared or who know who took her.

The secrecy surrounding the Portuguese police inquiry means that Crimewatch can not include its usual reconstruction of events, detailed timings or even a picture of an eye-witness description of the man the McCann's believe stole Madeleine.

The couple from Rothley, Leicestershire, have not had any briefing directly from Portuguese officers since May 24 and are relying on information passed to them via British police. A meeting planned with Portuguese police officials fell through last week.

Mr McCann said: “We have had periods of information voids. And that naturally leads us to speculate about what has happened or hasn’t - or could been happening. And that really doesn't help Kate and I. So as much information as we can get is a good thing.”

The consultant cardiologist told Fox News that the couple understand that Portuguese laws on judicial secrecy meant the police are unable to give them details of all leads and suspects in the investigation.

“I would say that the flow of information now is better than it was at the beginning, but there is a lot of information, particularly in relation to leads and suspects which we are not given and have not been done so because of operational reasons,” said Mr McCann.

The couple do not want to be seen openly criticising the Portuguese authorities but have previously expressed “frustration” at a three week delay in issuing the description of a man they are convinced abducted their daughter. A public appeal for information was only made following the intervention of Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister in waiting.

The family spokesman said: “They are very happy with the level of co-operation they are receiving both from the Portuguese authorities via the British police but they are always keen to have further meetings to be updated as often as possible.”

The stress of searching for Madeleine has left Mr McCann with no idea of time - even forgetting his own birthday today.


“Frankly I had forgotten it was my birthday, it is insignificant as far I am concerned. I cannot even think about it,” he said.

When asked what the family did last year to celebrate the day he said: “I cannot think about that either.”

A source close to the family said: “It is an indication of how normal life has effectively been put on hold. He had honestly forgotten it was his birthday until I reminded him. He was genuinely puzzled and had to think about it.

“It was Kate who remembered that it was. They have almost lost a sense of the days and this has become their sole preoccupation - finding Madeleine.”

The McCanns have led the campaign to raise awareness of their daughter across Europe and North Africa.

They will tonight fly in a private jet to Berlin for meetings tomorrow (Wednesday) with political and charity figures before flying to Amsterdam for a similar series of events on Thursday. They hope to meet with the Brigitte Zypries, the German Justice Minister, who last month used Madeleine’s abduction as an example of the need for closer cross-border cooperation in the fight against child pornography and abuse.

Ms Zypries told a meeting of the Group of Eight’s security and justice ministers: “We simply have to assume that this was done by a gang that passes on these children for exploitation.

“So we have to make sure that the necessary protection measures and the necessary exchange of data ... takes place so that we can investigate such cases more quickly and also prevent such cases.”

If the Minister is not available because of the meeting of G8 leaders, the McCann’s hope to meet Klaus Wowereit, the influential mayor of Berlin.

Mr and Mrs McCann have decided not to take their two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie, with them, on their latest visit even though they will be away from the Algarve two nights.

Their family spokesman said the children would stay with Mr McCann's sister Trish Cameron and her husband Sandy as they have done for the past two trips to Rome and Madrid.

“It is a stable loving environment for them here,” he said. “Their welfare is the most important thing - it is too much for them at their age.”

Plans are being put in place for a final trip to Rabat in Morocco, possibly as soon as Sunday.

The couple feel Morocco is an important place to go because of its proximity to Portugal. Several ferries a day leave from Tarifa in Spain, about three hours drive from Praia da Luz, and for the crossing to Tangiers takes just 35 minutes.

Morocco has surfaced repeatedly in the hunt for Madeleine with a reported sighting of a little girl seen with a couple. Interpol and Leicestershire police investigated the claims and are thought to have ruled it out.

But Mrs McCann is said to be particularly interested in visiting the north African country.

“She is very keen to go there,” a family source said. “She feels it is very important because if you only focus on the European mainland you are missing out on a potentially important piece of the jigsaw.”

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