Gerry's 3rd Trip Home / Kate's 1st Trip Home *

Date	Brief overview of events
12 July 2007	London Gerry flies to London alone to meet with the British police. At night he attends the National Police Federation Annual Bravery Awards and receives a standing ovation.
13 July 2007	London Still in London, Gerry spends a large part of the day at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre to learn more about their role. It seems likely that it was on this visit that Gerry collected the CEOP manuals that were seen later in the PJ video, taken in the McCanns' Vista Mar Villa residence, in August 2007.
14 July 2007	Yorkshire Kate returns to the UK for the first time since Madeleine's disappearance, with twins Sean and Amelie - she is accompanied from Portugal by Michael Wright (husband of her cousin Anne-Marie Wright), who was returning to the UK for the christening of his own children. Gerry, Kate and the twins attend the baptism in Skipton, Yorkshire, where they stand as Godparents to the Wright's two children.
15 July 2007	Return to PDL Gerry, Kate and the twins return to Praia da Luz on an early morning flight. Gerry's mum and sister return with them.

Madeleine's Father Cheered By Police, 13 July 2007

Madeleine's Father Cheered By Police Sky News

Updated: 14:18, Friday July 13, 2007

The father of missing Madeleine McCann has received a standing ovation at an awards ceremony for Britain's bravest police officers.

Gerry McCann thanked officers for their help in the search for his four-year-old daughter and urged them not to give up the hunt.

He wiped away tears after a poignant video of his daughter was shown at the Police Bravery Awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

He said he and his wife Kate were now fully aware of the police's "sterling work".

Madeleine was snatched from her bed as she slept in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3.

Mr McCann told his audience: "Over the past 10 weeks Kate and I have been reminded of what a wonderful job you do.

"The role of our forces is often not appreciated until you really need their help.

"Kate and I would like to thank all of the police officers in the UK that were involved in the operation to find Madeleine for their sterling work."

He also praised the Portuguese police and other forces in countries where Madeleine has supposedly been sighted for their "commitment and co-operation".

Mr McCann said: "It's been 70 days since Madeleine was snatched from her bed as she slept. Each of those 70 days has been unbearable for her family. No child should be separated from its family in such a way."

He once again praised the "support and kind words" he and his family have received from members of the public, adding: "We will not give up and we will not stop searching for her."

Madeleine McCann's father meets abduction experts, 14 July 2007

Madeleine McCann's father meets abduction experts The Scotsman (article no longer available online)

Sat 14 Jul 2007

THE father of Madeleine McCann yesterday met child abduction experts in the UK to learn about criminal profiling techniques being used in the search for his daughter.

Gerry McCann visited the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) in London as part of a short trip to the UK.

CEOP has been playing a high-profile role in the investigation into Madeleine's abduction, providing crucial expertise to Portuguese detectives.

The organisation launched a mass trawl of holiday snaps gathered from members of the public who were in the Algarve around 3 May, the time of Madeleine's abduction, checking bystanders' features against biometric facial maps of known offenders.

Dr McCann said today: "We believe that the police are doing everything in their power to find our daughter.

"Today, I found out more about some of the techniques used to profile abductors of children.

"Kate and I hope this will help us understand more about investigations."

Maddy's mum is in Britain, 16 July 2007

Maddy's mum is in Britain Daily Mirror

Martin Fricker in Praia da Luz

16/07/2007

KATE McCann has returned to Britain for the first time since her daughter Madeleine vanished.

GP Kate flew back with her twins Sean and Amelie, two, and met husband Gerry. They were godparents at a christening in Skipton, North Yorks, on Saturday.

Kate said: "Gerry and I wanted to be there, to take part and to support our godchildren on one of the most important days of their lives.

"I am sure every mother in the world will understand that it was heartbreaking for me to be with our family, yet not be with Madeleine."

A friend said: "It was very tough for Kate going back to England without Madeleine. It is something she hoped she would never have to do."

Kate did not go back to her home in Rothley, Leics, but flew to Portugal yesterday afternoon.

Prime suspect Robert Murat is set to be quizzed by detectives again this week. Maddy has been missing for 74 days.

Madeleine's mother returns to Britain for first time since abduction, 16 July 2007

Madeleine's mother returns to Britain for first time since abduction Daily Mail

Last updated: 12:15, 16 July 2007

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann returned to Portugal today following a short trip back to the UK.

Kate and Gerry McCann had attended the baptism of two of their godchildren in Skipton, north Yorkshire, yesterday.

Mr McCann had flown to Britain on Thursday to attend meetings with UK police officers and speak at the Police Federation's annual dinner.

The cardiologist also met with child abduction experts at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) in London, to learn about criminal profiling techniques being used in the search for his daughter. Mrs McCann travelled to Yorkshire from Faro on Friday.

Of her brief journey home, Mrs McCann said: "Yesterday was an emotional day. We were reunited with family to celebrate welcoming two children into the Catholic faith.

"Gerry and I wanted to be there, to take part and to support our godchildren on one of the most important days of their lives.

"But, I am sure every mother in the world will understand that it was heart breaking for me to be with our family, yet not be with Madeleine.

"Gerry and I have returned to Portugal to continue the search for our daughter Madeleine."

The McCanns arrive back in Portugal after their trip home

The couple have based themselves in Portugal since their four-year-old daughter was snatched from her bed at a holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia de Luz 73 days ago.

Last week, Robert Murat, the only official suspect in the case, was questioned again by Portuguese police. Officers brought together close friends of Madeleine's parents and Murat to discuss discrepancies over what happened on the night the little girl was taken, a spokesman said.

The three friends, who were on holiday with the McCanns when the four-year-old was abducted in May, flew back to Portugal to meet police.

Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa, spokesman for the Policia Judiciaria (PJ), said Mr Murat and the McCanns' friends came together at the PJ headquarters in Portimao on Wednesday.

"I know they have been brought together in the same building," he said. "I know they have been discussing some differences between the things they said about the night Madeleine disappeared."

Expatriate Mr Murat, 33, who was formally named as a suspect on May 15 and remains an "arguido", spent two days being re-interviewed by police.

Kate McCann returns home for christening, 17 July 2007

Kate McCann returns home for christening Telegraph

By Fiona Govan

Last Updated: 2:53AM BST 17 Jul 2007

The mother of missing Madeleine McCann made an emotional journey back to Britain at the weekend for the first time since her daughter was abducted in Portugal on May 3.

Kate McCann, 38, of Rothley, Leics, has repeatedly said that she did not want to return home without the missing four-year-old, but made the trip back to attend a family christening.

Yesterday on her return to Portugal, where the family are now based, she described the visit as "heart-breaking" but important. "Saturday was an emotional day," she said.

Mrs McCann travelled to England with her two-year-old twins, Sean and Amelie, and was re-united with her husband Gerry, 39, who was in London meeting police involved in the investigation.

Mr McCann, a consultant cardiologist, also met child abduction experts at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

Speaking about the christening Mrs McCann said: "Gerry and I wanted to be there, to take part and to support our godchildren on one of the most important days of their lives. But, I am sure every mother in the world will understand that it was heart-breaking for me to be with our family, yet not be with Madeleine.

"Gerry and I have returned to Portugal to continue the search for our daughter."

Robert Murat, 33, the only formal suspect, faces further questioning by Portuguese police this week. "I have had no help from the British authorities. They do not seem to care what happens to me," he said.

"I can see no light at the end of the tunnel."

	Gerry's blogs
12 Jul 2007	It is ten weeks since Madeleine was abducted and every day has been incredibly hard for our family. No child should be separated from their family in such circumstances. The overwhelming messages of support, thoughts and prayers really help us stay strong. Somebody, somewhere knows where Madeleine is and it may take a single phone call for her to be found. We will not give up searching for her. I came to London today to meet with the British police and will go to the Child Exploitaion and Online Protection Centre tomorrow to learn more about their role. As I have said previously we want to work closely with the police and child welfare organisations to help us keep awareness of Madeleines and other childrens disappearance high. I was also invited to attend the National Police Federation Annual Bravery awards tonight. The work of the police is often taken for granted until you really need them. It was a humbling experience to see and meet so many officers who have shown such outstanding bravery in the line of duty and protecting us all. It was a fantastic opportunity to thank officers from all over the country who have been involved with the investigation to find Madeleine. The vast majority of those that I managed to speak to are, like us, very optimistic that we will find Madeleine safe and well.
13 Jul 2007	Spent a large part of the day at the Child Exploitation and Online Protecetion (CEOP) headquarters in London. The work they are doing in the prevention and detection of child exploitation is fantastic and I have no doubt they are world leaders in many aspects of their work. The statistics of child abduction in the UK, both attempted and sucessful cases, are stagggering with over 1000 reported cases in 2003/4 and the figures show a year on year increase. The scale of the problem is much larger than Kate and I ever imagined and worryingly there does not appear to be reliable statistics for many countries in Europe. Clearly a lot of work has to be done to tackle this growing problem. Kate and I believe that someone, somewhere knows something about Madleines abduction. The events of recent weeks and the high profile of Madeleine reassure us that when the key piece of information comes in, to any law enforcement agnecy, it will be treated seriously and fed into the inquiry quiickly and actioned.
14 Jul 2007	Kate, the twins and myself attended a family baptism today in Yorkshire where we stood as Godparents. At the end of the short service, which was lovely, prayers were said for Madeleine. It is the first time Kate has been to the UK since Madeleine disappeared but we wanted to support our family the same way they have supported us over the last ten weeks and it was great to see so many family members together. We have also taken a huge amount of strength from our faith and of course the messages of support and prayers for Madeleine from people of all faiths around the world.
15 Jul 2007	Travelled back to Portugal today on an early morning flight. It was heartening to see various posters of Madeleine up at all the check-in desks especially with the busy holiday season underway. The flight itself was quiet for Kate and I as the twins fell asleep shortly after take-off. My mum and sister have also come out to for a few days so we managed to see a lot of family this weekend.

Kate's diary

12 Jul 2007

I hate the person who took my Madeleine—the same one who has caused all this trouble, who made us feel worthless and mistrustful and mainly who has frightened my beautiful Madeleine. I will never forgive that person/those people for this. Never.

Today I washed the Cuddle Cat. I was hoping not to have to do it until Madeleine returns, but it was now quite dirty and smelly, unfortunately without the smell of Madeleine on it. XX

Help bring Madeleine home, 18 May 2007

Help bring Madeleine home Craven Herald

By Jenny Speak

8:00am Friday 18th May 2007

THE distraught Skipton relations of abducted four-year-old Madeleine McCann have urged everyone, especially holidaymakers, to do everything in their power to help bring her home.

Anne-Marie Wright is the cousin of Madeleine's mum, Kate.

The four-year-old was snatched from the family's holiday apartment in Praia Da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal, on Thursday May 3, sparking an international police investigation.

Mrs Wright said the little girl's abduction had rocked the whole family.

She said she had last seen Madeleine in February when she, her mum Kate, dad Gerry and two-year-old twin siblings, Amelie and Sean, came to stay in Skipton from their home in Leicestershire.

Mrs Wright said: "We had a lovely time with them and the children all get on particularly well. Our children, Katie and Patrick, love Madeleine, Sean and Amelie. We went to Aireville Park, went swimming, went to Hesketh Farm Park, walked along the canal towpath to look at the Rosie and Jim barge. Madeleine is a big Rosie and Jim fan."

The Wright family first heard of Madeleine's disappearance in the early hours of Friday May 4, when Mrs Wright's mum, Sheila Cowell, called with the news.

Mrs Wright's husband, Michael, then drove another relative to join Madeleine's grandparents in Liverpool and then went out to Portugal to help with the search.

Mr Wright is still in the Algarve and is keeping his wife and children informed of developments in the investigation and how Mr and Mrs McCann are coping.

Mrs Wright said: "It's all been very emotional and upsetting. Some days he said they are really focused and coping and getting things done and other days they are devastated."

She said she had spoken to Mrs McCann on the phone on Sunday.

"It was just really difficult and the conversation you don't want to ever have with anybody. She just seemed very numb.

"I just asked how she was coping and talked to her about the massive support there is.

"Ever since this happened people have been coming up to me - there's a really strong feeling - and everybody has been saying their thoughts are with them."

Mrs Wright said the whole family had been glued to the television for news of Madeleine.

"It's upsetting to see people who you know and love on the television. You have to pinch yourself. It's just bizarre."

She added: "They are a delightful family and Kate and Gerry are kind, caring, devoted parents.

"It makes you wonder why something as horrible as this can happen to such good people.

"Everyone in our family desperately wants Madeleine back with her mum, dad, brother and sister."

Mrs Wright said the family was trying to spread the word about Madeleine's abduction as far and wide as possible and urged people to go to the sky.com/news website to print off posters.

She said: "It would be particularly useful to expand the reach of the publicity to other countries in Europe and North Africa.

"We are asking people to think of contacts they may have who would be able to display the poster in areas accessed by the public.

"Prime locations would be banking halls, post offices, ATM locations, large retail outlets such as garages and supermarkets, public transport, trains, buses, taxis etc."

Madeleine's parents, who are both doctors, have also set up a trust which will accept donations to fund the search for their daughter. Details can be found at www.findmadeleine.com

More Maddy 'sightings' as world marks 50th day of abduction, 23 June 2007

More Maddy 'sightings' as world marks 50th day of abduction Yorkshire Post

By Fiona Evans

23 June 2007 11:05 AM

TWO more witnesses came forward yesterday to report seeing missing Madeleine McCann in Malta as the 50th day of her abduction was marked around the world.

Maltese authorities revealed they had received details of 11 separate possible sightings of the four-year-old, dating back as far as May 27, but so far their investigations had come to nothing.

The reports differ on where the young girl was seen and who was with her, some witnesses saying she was with a man and others with a woman.

Maltese police said a full-scale investigation was under way and officers had been stationed at ports to check people leaving the country.

Yesterday police received two reports of sighting including one from Ray Roberts, from Anglesey, North Wales. He said he saw a girl in the north-eastern town of Sliema wearing what he said was a jet black wig being told: "Get up little girl" by an Arab-looking man.

Madeleine was snatched from her bed in her parents' holiday flat in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3.

Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley in Leicestershire, said they were still waiting for the "vital breakthrough" in the search for their daughter as they released 50 green and yellow balloons, each with a photograph of the missing girl, in Praia da Luz.

The scene was repeated at nearly 300 locations across Britain and around the world including Argentina, the United States, Singapore, Australia and Afghanistan.

At Water Street Community Primary School, Skipton, pupils released 50 yellow balloons.

Madeleine's 12-year-old second cousin Katie Wright summed up the sense of global goodwill with a moving prayer ahead of the launch at the school, where her brother Patrick is a pupil.

She told the parents, pupils and staff: "Where there is good in the world, let this good unite. Where there is strength, let us be as giants in the face of darkness. Where there is hope, let our hearts long for Madeleine's return."

Kate McCann's cousin Anne-Marie Wright, 43, from Skipton, who keeps in daily touch with the McCanns, said the couple were kept "buoyed up" by events like the balloon launch in Skipton.

She added: "It helps them to know there's lots of support and there are things that can be done locally to keep Madeleine in the public eye. People here have been wonderful."

Mrs Wright, who has been to Portugal twice to support the McCanns, said: "The main thing is to keep the awareness going. If people are travelling, please take the posters. None of us have given up hope."

Madeleine's 73-year-old great aunt Sheilah Cowell watched in Skipton as children's balloons filled the sky.

Headteacher Jean McCrickard said: "This is a tragic situation for all concerned and every parent's worst nightmare.

"We hope that this venture today brings some hope and comfort to Madeleine's family and we will continue to keep them all in our prayers."