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Missing ... Madeleine McCann |
LAST week it happened again – another possible
sighting of missing Madeleine McCann and a new
flicker of hope.
There have been hundreds of them since the little girl went missing
more than five years ago.
This time, as The Sun revealed on Friday it was a German
businessman convinced he spotted her with a German
family on a holiday jet from Ibiza to Munich.
Tourist Frank Bode took a blurry snap of the youngster aboard the
resort’s airport transit bus. He claims that the
girl was British and did not seem to fit with the
family.
He immediately contacted “Find Madeleine” investigators in the UK
and Scotland Yard cops are now following up his
claims. While inquiries are still underway with this
latest possible sighting, so far all the other
“maybes” have ended with a crushing wave of fresh
pain for parents Kate and Gerry McCann as their
hopes are dashed once more.
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Snap ... on bus |
It may seem a cruel ordeal, but her parents and the
police know that no possible sighting — however
seemingly bizarre — can be dismissed.
In fact, according to former Met detective Ian Horrocks who served
in the kidnap and ransom squad, the longer Madeleine has
been missing, the MORE likely it is that sightings are
made.
He said: “It has previously been said, ‘Who is going to openly walk
out with the world’s most wanted child?’.
“This was clearly relevant in the days, weeks and months following
her abduction but, as time has gone by, whoever took
Madeleine is likely to be more confident about taking
her out in public.”
He added: “The reality is that none can be totally ignored, and all
need to be considered.
“Anyone who genuinely believes they have seen Madeleine should
immediately contact police.”
Madeleine vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Portugal
in May 2007, just days before her fourth birthday. She
would now be nine-years-old.
So far possible sightings have stretched as far and wide as Spain,
Britain, India, New Zealand and Australia. And the way
the McCanns deal with each one has become a
well-rehearsed routine.
They are given all available details of the sighting, and if a
photo has been taken they are sent a copy.
It is all part of the Met’s review of the case, which has so far
cost £2.5million.
Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has just asked the Government
for more cash to keep the search, including the probe of
possible sightings, underway.
He said: “We are still reviewing a lot of material.”
Meanwhile Kate McCann, 44, of Rothley, Leics, says it does not
matter how many years go by — she will always recognise
her beloved eldest child.
She once told me: “I know I would, I just know that if she came in
here now I would know it was her.” |
