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Mr McCann said it may have been an "act of
madness" |
The father of
Madeleine McCann has made a direct appeal to her
kidnapper to come forward and begged: “It is not too late to
do the right thing.”
Gerry McCann made the desperate plea as the police
investigation showed no sign of a breakthrough.
The cardiologist and his wife
Kate, both 39, are convinced
their four-year-old daughter was snatched from her
bed
in
the Algarve resort town of
Praia da Luz as they ate at a
restaurant nearby.
Writing in his daily blog, he insisted whoever was
responsible for her disappearance must be suffering guilt
and torment over what they have done.
The devout
Catholic said: “We do not know who has taken
Madeleine or why. Sometimes people do things for reasons
that even they cannot understand.
“An act of madness, an accident or sudden impulse can lead
to consequences that people may never have imagined or
intended.
“Faced with such a situation we believe any human soul will
ultimately suffer torment and feelings of guilt and fear.”
In a highly charged appeal, he said: “If you have done
something you regret, if you find yourself in a situation
you never intended, it is not too late to do the right
thing.
“Please come forward, return Madeleine, leave her in a place
of safety. At the very least, help us by letting us know
what has happened to our beautiful little girl.”
Throughout their high profile campaign to find their
daughter, the couple, from Rothley in Leicestershire, has
avoided making direct contact with her
abductor.
It has been
119 days since she disappeared and Mr McCann has
become increasingly frustrated by the apparent lack of
progress in the case.
Detectives in Portugal
are still waiting for the results of
DNA samples being analysed by the Forensic Science Service
in Birmingham.
Speculation about what may have happened to Madeleine has
been rife and several Portuguese newspapers have turned
their attention to the couple themselves.
The McCanns' spokeswoman
Justine McGuinness dismissed the
latest claim that Portuguese police are examining a syringe
and tranquillisers found in the family’s apartment.
She said: "I can categorically say the McCanns did not
have syringes or sedatives with them on holiday. They do not
use sedatives on their children."
Today will be another painful milestone for the family – it
should have been Madeleine’s first day at school.
A desk, coat peg and locker have been set aside for the
little girl at Bishop Ellis Catholic primary school in
Thurmaston, Leicestershire, in case she is found.
Headteacher Gail Neill will say a special prayer to remember
the missing girl.
She said: “We are deeply saddened that we cannot yet welcome
Madeleine. A place has been prepared here for Madeleine, in
exactly the same way as it has been for the other children.
“It will remain ready and waiting as we continue to pray,
along with her parents, in the hope of her safe return to
her family.”
The McCanns are expected to return to the UK in the next
couple of weeks after spending just over four months in
Portugal.
The lease on the villa they have rented in Praia da Luz runs
out in mid-September.
Family members, who have travelled back and forth to the
Algarve to help the couple, will help with the painful
transition.
Both parents have spoken of their pain at arriving in
Portugal as a family of five but leaving as a family of
four.
Mr McCann will return to work at Glenfield Hospital in
Leicester, while Mrs McCann will stay at home to look after
two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.
Spokeswoman Ms McGuinness said : “Kate’s priority at the
moment is to be a mother.” |
