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We are one week in to the New Year and we can definitely say the
holiday period is well and truly over. Some of the media coverage today has been at its worst since Kate and I were declared
arguidos.
We can categorically deny that we are considering a movie about Madeleine’s disappearance. This is
simply untrue. We are approached by a huge number of media outlets regarding a myriad of projects, only a tiny proportion
of which we agree to. Each proposal is considered on whether it is likely to have a positive effect, either directly or indirectly
on the search for Madeleine. As stated today by Clarence, there was a preliminary discussion between a production agency and
a representative of Kate and I to discuss the possibility of a documentary about the issues we have faced since Madeleine
was abducted. Clearly Europe is a long way behind the USA in terms of its response when a child goes missing.
Kate
and I have opened all of the Christmas cards and many mass cards which have been for Madeleine. We would like to thank everyone
who has helped and supported us over the last eight months. We could not have got through this ordeal on our own and without
doubt, Madeleine needs all our help
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Fund Update
Statement from the Board of Madeleine’s Fund- Leaving No Stone Unturned 09 January 2008
BEGINS
‘There was a scheduled board meeting of Madeleine’s Fund today. We have reached a new longer- term phase in
the search for Madeleine and we have reviewed how effective our Fund has been in pursuing its objectives. We agreed to continue
our funding of the investigation to find Madeleine and we have decided to look at further media opportunities to support our
search. To that end, we have invited two new directors to replace the two who stepped down, for business and personal reasons,
We, together with Kate and Gerry McCann, extend our thanks to Esther and Phillip for their hard work and continuing support.
We welcome Edward Smethurst and Jon Corner to the board to lend their expertise in commercial law and media.”
ENDS
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It was no surprise for us to learn last night that the secrecy of
the files in to Madeleine’s disappearance is to be maintained for another three months. All of the arguidos retain their
status. We are extremely disappointed as we feel this uncertainty hinders the most important thing: searching for Madeleine.
We are utterly dismayed to read tonight further stories about a film that are simply untrue. Kate and I thought that
we had totally quashed such unfounded rubbish several days ago. At no point have we considered a movie about Madeleine’s
disappearance. Nor would we sanction another documentary purely about Madeleine’s abduction, as there is no new information
since the Panorama programme aired. We would consider a programme that would treat the serious issues we have faced since
Madeleine’s disappearance. Clearly Europe has a lot to learn from the US and there has to be change in practice and
legislation about how missing children are investigated. We will continue to campaign to effect change in Europe, in the hope
that it will become a safer place for our children.
I have now been back at work full-time for the last 10 days. I
would like to thank all of the staff at Glenfield Hospital, and the patients, for making this as easy as possible for me.
Kate and I remain very busy with the campaign, supported by friends, family and many ‘new’ friends! We are regularly
in contact with friends in Praia da Luz who continue to hold a vigil every week to pray for Madeleine. They are an amazing
group of people who continue to provide us with ‘força’ and ‘esperança’ (strength and hope).
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Kate and I were dismayed to learn today that a 5-year-old girl has
been missing from Huelva, in Southern Spain since Sunday evening. As many of you know, Heulva is approximately a 2 hour drive
from Praia da Luz and we went there in early August to publicise Madeleine’s disappearance. Hearing of the probable
abduction of Mari Luz Cortesa has brought many awful emotions flooding back. We hope and pray that Mari is quickly found and
returned safely to her family.
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Today we have released drawings of a man who needs to be eliminated
from the investigation to find Madeleine. A witness, Gail Cooper, who was holidaying in Praia da Luz shortly before we arrived,
saw him on several occasions. She found the man, who claimed to be collecting for an orphanage, very intimidating. After interviewing
Gail, our private investigators commissioned a forensic sketch by a FBI trained artist. The man has many similarities in looks
and clothing he was wearing to the description of the man given by Jane Tanner. Click Here to see the drawings.
The man Jane saw walking away from the apartments where we were staying was carrying a child, around 9.10pm on the
night Madeleine was abducted. Jane described pyjamas matching those Madeleine was wearing without knowing what she had on
that fateful night. We are convinced that this was when Madeleine was taken. Jane has been shown these sketches of the man.
She feels he has a strong resemblance to the man she saw on May 3rd.carrying the child away.
It is essential that
he be traced. We believe many people must know who this individual is. We appeal to anyone who knows him, or may have seen
him to contact our private investigators on +34 902 300 213 or investigation@findmadeleine.com. If you are this man please
make contact with the investigators or your local police. All of this information has been passed on to the Portuguese and
British police and Interpol has been informed. This man may have key information that will help us locate Madeleine.
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Statement from Kate and Gerry on the new look official Find Madeleine
website:
Message from Gerry and Kate
Our daughter Madeleine was abducted on 3rd May 2007 in Praia da Luz, Portugal, 9 days before her 4th birthday. She was
taken from our holiday apartment where she was sleeping with her younger brother and sister whilst we were dining 50 yards
away. Despite a massive investigation led by the Portuguese police and supported by the British police, we still do not know
who has taken her, why she was taken or where she is. In addition, private investigators based in Spain are now following
up any leads regarding Madeleine’s disappearance. ( Investigation page)
Since Madeleine’s abduction, we have learned a lot about missing children and child exploitation. The scale of the
problem is massive and worldwide. Although finding Madeleine will always remain our priority, we feel it is our duty to highlight
these problems as well as areas where legislation can be improved, in order to make the world a little safer for all children.
To achieve these aims we are working closely with the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Centre
for Child Exploitation and Online Protection and other non-governmental agencies throughout Europe (Investigation page). The Find Madeleine Campaign launched a new YouTube channel for missing children in August 2007 called ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ in conjunction with ICMEC and Google.
The support we have had from around the world has been amazing. We have no doubt that without all the good wishes, prayers
and efforts of so many people, our ordeal would have been so much harder. It has helped maintain our strength and hope, and
this together with support for the campaign, has helped the search for our precious Madeleine. We would like to take this
opportunity to thank everyone for their unconditional support and solidarity.
Madeleine is a beautiful little person. She was a very happy and much loved little girl. We believe there is a very good
chance that Madeleine is still alive. She deserves the love and security of her family. She needs to be back home with her
mummy and daddy, brother and sister.
Please keep Madeleine in your thoughts and prayers. And please – remain vigilant.
We will NEVER give up looking for Madeleine.
Thank you again for your ongoing support and kindness.
Gerry's blog:
We have launched the new website layout today. I hope you all like it and we are sure that you fill find it much easier
to navigate. The website was always envisaged as being the main portal to the find Madeleine campaign. If Madeleine remains
missing and as the media attention drops then the website will be instrumental in keeping people up to date. As you will see
a lot of work has gone in to extensively revising the content. Our whole family have unfortunately learnt an awful lot about
the problems of missing and exploited children.
Our priority will always be to search for Madeleine and whoever abducted
her. However we hope to work in coalition with the many excellent organisations in Europe and further afield to campaign for
change. The first goal will be to get an EU wide child alert system introduced with cooperation from all the relevant authorities
and law enforcement agencies.
Sean and Amelie turned three today. We hope and pray that they will never have another
birthday without Madeleine here. Despite the circumstances they really enjoyed their birthday ‘tea party’ today.
The twins love seeing all their extended family. There is no doubt that Sean and Amelie have made life for all of us a little
more bearable over the last 9 months.
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