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Cash raised to search for missing Madeleine McCann could run out
within three months, according to the family's spokesman.
The Find Madeleine fund, set up by the youngster's parents, Kate
and Gerry, is down to £500,000 and could be gone by March or April,
according to the family's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell told the Leicester Mercury that the McCanns, both 41
and from Rothley, were "not fretting" about their dwindling reserves,
but were considering how they could top up the sum to maintain their
efforts to locate their daughter in the new year.
Donations flooded in after Madeleine vanished from the family's
apartment in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia de Luz in May 2007.
More than £2m was sent in by well-wishers in the 10 months after
she went missing, but donations have tailed off.
At the same time, spending has continued on teams of private
investigators hired to locate her, as well as publicity to keep the case
in the public eye.
Mr Mitchell said: "Essentially the fund is healthy – there is
still about £500,000, which is what we expected.
"Having said that, it is diminishing and at the current rate of
spending it will be gone somewhere around March or April. However,
nobody is fretting about that."
Mr Mitchell said the fund's directors would hold talks with
wealthy supporters of the McCanns early next year, including Scottish
double-glazing tycoon Brian Kennedy.
He said: "It will be entirely down to those supporters, including
Mr Kennedy, to decide if they wish to continue.
"Kate and Gerry may consider some active fund-raising, which is
something they have not had to do yet."
Mr Mitchell said the cash would have run out already had it not
been for sizeable libel payments won from several British newspapers for
false stories printed about the couple.
Further cash – thought to be about £1m – could come from a
continuing libel action against Portuguese policeman Goncalo Amaral, who
was involved in the early investigation of the disappearance.
He has published a book and DVD, called The Truth Of The Lie,
which contain claims that Madeleine is dead.
Mr Mitchell said: "It is true that there may be some money at the
end of that (the Amaral libel case). If there is, it will go directly
into the fund.
"Kate and Gerry have always said, however, that they have never
gone into a legal action for monetary reasons.
"They have done it to stop people like Mr Amaral saying hurtful
things that could have a harmful effect on their efforts to find
Madeleine. Even if the money were to run out tomorrow, the search would
not end. Kate and Gerry will not give up.
"The money does, of course, help and they are thankful for the
support they have had."
Last week, the McCanns issued a fresh plea for information as
they prepared for a third Christmas without Madeleine.
The family said: "There will be a spare place at the Christmas
table again this year. If you know anything, do the right thing and help
us fill it."
www.findmadeleine.com |
