THE parents of
Madeleine McCann today demanded an
independent review into the youngster's disappearance.
They launched a petition calling for support for their lobbying of both
the UK and Portugese governments for action.
Three and a half years after Madeleine went missing Liverpool-born
Kate and husband Gerry McCann said they have had enough of 'fluffy
worthless words'.
Mr McCann said: 'Essentially for the last three-and-a-half years the
authorities have not been doing anything proactive to help Madeleine.
'That is despite our best efforts to encourage them to do so.
'I don't think it's right that the onus should fall on us, the
authorities really should be doing more.'
Mrs McCann added: 'I don't want to be appeased and that's what I feel
we're getting at the moment.
'We need action, I don't need fluffy worthless words. We need somebody
to do something.
'Madeleine is still missing, she's a little girl, her abductor is still
out there, so by not carrying on we are putting other children at risk.
I think more needs to be done.'
The couple have met former home secretaries Alan Johnson and Jacqui
Smith, as well as current Home Secretary
Theresa May,
to discuss the issue and
to ask for a review of the case.
Mrs McCann said when they met Mr Johnson, who commissioned a 'scoping
exercise' by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre to see
if a review would be helpful, they felt they were making progress, but
now did not even know if the report had been read.
Madeleine was three when she went missing from her family's holiday flat
in
Praia da Luz
in the Algarve on May 3, 2007, as her parents dined with friends nearby.
Portuguese police launched a massive investigation with the support of
British officers, but the inquiry was formally shelved in July 2008
without reaching any firm conclusions about her fate.
Private detectives employed by the McCanns are still investigating the
case and as well as the petition, the couple are appealing for continued
financial support for the official Find Madeleine fund, as it stands the
fund will run out in spring 2011.
Mr and Mrs McCann said they had not given up hope and spoke of their
frustration at a lack of help from the authorities.
Mrs McCann said: 'Children do get found years down the line.There's no
evidence that Madeleine is not out there alive.
'It's just heartbreaking to think that nothing is getting done other
than what we are having to do, other than our small team.
'Obviously a small team has limitations. If we had a review, if we had
help from the authorities, the chances of finding Madeleine would be
much greater I think.
'We deeply believe it will take us that step closer to finding
Madeleine.'
A Home Office spokesman said:
'The British authorities will maintain a dialogue with the Portuguese
and continue to liaise with Madeleine's family. |