Martin Brunt
The McCanns say all they want is the Home Office to persuade the
Portuguese authorities for a joint review of all the evidence. They
believe it would justify a new investigation into their daughter,
Madeleine’s, disappearance. Why do you think that isn’t being done?
Gerry McCann
Right at the minute we don’t know why it its not being done…
Kate McCann
Its a good question isn’t it?
Gerry McCann
We’ve asked…
Kate McCann
I mean, as you’d be aware reviews are done of all major investigations
in this country anyway. So they are obviously felt to be of benefit.
So you do have to ask the question, why then, what is the block in doing
a review of Madeleine’s situation?
Martin Brunt
But when you asked the Home Secretary that, two months ago, what did she
say?
Kate McCann
Well we don’t often get answers to be honest. I mean there’s a lot of
words but nothing concrete.
Martin Brunt
An independent report on the Madeleine case was commissioned by a
previous Home Secretary. The author, Jim Gamble of the Child
Exploitation and online center delivered the report this summer to the
new government and its believed he recommends a detailed review but the
Home Office won’t tell the McCanns what’s in the CEOP report.
Gerry McCann
I don’t see any reason why the contents of that report should not be
made available to us. We’ve been very clear all along the way that
we’ll only divulge information if and when its valuable to the search
and the government know that we have kept lots of information, erm,
quiet. So I don’t see, even if there is sensitive elements within it,
why we shouldn’t be given it. As Madeleine’s parents I think it is
wrong.
Martin Brunt
Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from the family’s rented
holiday apartment in Portugal in May 2007. The Portuguese police
abandoned their investigation fifteen months later without any evidence
of what happened to Madeleine. Today her parents are launching an
online petition for support in their campaign for more government help.
Gerry McCann
We are asking the people who elected the government to petition them to
do more. They are not doing anything proactive. Madeleine’s a British
citizen. She’s innocent. She’s vulnerable and our government should be
doing more to find her.
Martin Brunt
Your hope, belief that Madeleine is still alive is as strong as ever?
Kate McCann
Well the hope’s definitely there. I mean it has to be, you know. With
nothing to the contrary, you know, Madeleine’s still out there and
alive, you know, and to give up on her, just, I mean I can’t get my head
round that really, how a government or authorities can do that. We
certainly can’t give up on her.
Martin Brunt
The McCanns say its scandalous that they and their small team of
investigators are the only ones still looking for Madeleine. Martin
Brunt for Sky News in Leicestershire. |