Where Is Madeline McCann ?

[Rasputin]

Critics don't help Hunt for tot

By The Sunday Sun


I am horrified that people are writing anonymous letters to various national tabloids criticising the parents of Madeline McCann.

I cannot understand the mentality of those who say they were in the restaurant with the McCanns and "saw that they never actually left the restaurant to check on the children". Tell me, what help is this kind of letter to anyone?

Why on earth are people getting hung up on this?

I think people like this are forgetting what actually matters here and that is the fact that Madeleine is missing.

No one deserves to have their child taken from them.


So for me then to read the letter by Jenny of Northumberland claiming that she doesn't feel sorry for the McCanns was absolutely atrocious . . . how could anyone make such a statement?


My personal thoughts are that none of this helps anyone . . . unfortunately in this world there are some sick people who will take any opportunity to snatch their chosen child.


Have people forgotten the recent event where the poor little girl was taken from her bath in the Tyneside house whilst her mother was in the next room?


Should we be berating her for leaving her child? I don't think so. And what about 15 years ago, when the little boy playing on his Grandmother's patio and was taken within the couple of minutes whilst she popped into the house?


At times like this, we should be praying for parents like the McCanns and not trying to apportion blame.


JANE TAYLOR, Newcastle.


While the vast majority of people would agree that the only blame in this case rests with the person or persons responsible for snatching Madeleine, the devastating consequences of her being left alone by her parents has stimulated debate about what is and isn't acceptable when it comes to childcare.

'Duped' by Lib Dem swap councillors


The Lib Dems who defected only three days after being elected beggars belief.


All had nomination papers signed by no fewer than 10 people who supported them.


Brian Corbett said: "If I felt people felt they'd been duped and that they were not being represented in the best way, I would look at my situation."


I would say: "Come on Brian, they have been duped! Everyone is talking about it . . . you just don't seem to believe it."


I am always wary when people say "Independent" as I am unsure if they mean the UK Independent Party or just Independent on their own.


If UKIP, then they will follow a totally different manifesto to the Liberal Democrats. If Independent on their own, they don't have any clear view of which way to go. In other words, it is their own personal view and not that of the people.


PAUL HARRISON, Hexham, Northumberland.


All the councillors concerned seemed to acknowledge that "with hindsight" they should have stood as Independent candidates, and many of the electorate who voted them in as Lib Dems will indeed be feeling duped.


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No right to take life


I read Ken Oxley's article about Frank Lund, who was found guilty of murder after helping his wife to kill herself.


He wrote: "I'm broadly in favour of euthanasia.


For those struck down with incurable diseases, surely the right to a dignified death - and to be able to choose the time and manner of that death - is a basic human right."


I am curious, where do we find the "basic human right" code? As a Christian, I have no right to kill or ask to be killed. People who are depressed qualify for euthanasia and assisted suicide and even those who are simply "bored with life" have had their death hastened legally.


The guidelines only protect the doctor, never the patient.


I agree that too many patients are suffering needlessly, but do you know why?


Do you know that 95per cent of pain can be relieved, but it is not so much the physical pain that is driving patients to choose to have their lives ended as it is the suffering.


I am 100 per cent opposed to euthanasia. I am a chronic pain patient who is fortunate to have good pain management.


I know exactly what it feels like to want to die.


Before my pain was properly managed, I cried out many times "I just want to die!" But I never yearned for suicide, nor for my death hastened . . . only for the pain to end, or at least be relieved.


A leading psychiatrist recently told me he has "never met anybody who wanted to be dead".


All they really wanted was for their life to change - to be given some hope.

[Rasputin]

Woman Riddled with Guilt for Not Saying She May Have Seen Madeline Being Carried Off

A close friend of the family saw a little girl being carried off. She noticed the "distinguishable" pyjamas and a blond child but did not think to say anything. Madeleine McCann was taken from her bed on May 3rd at the Algarve resort town of Praia Da Luz. [SN reported]

After the 4-year-old was discovered missing, the friend tried to tell the police what she saw but they seemed to be unconcerned. She has now returned to the UK downhearted and kicking herself for not reacting at the time.


Two hundred UK radio stations have pledged to keep people's attention to the situation, playing a special version of the Simple Minds song Don't You Forget. Some alleged sightings have been reported, such as Jose Francisco, 72. He said that he had seen a couple with a young child behaving strangely.

[Rasputin]

Madeline McCann Parents Begin World Tour with Visit to Pope

LONDON - The parents of Madeline McCann will launch the European leg of their world tour with a visit to Pope Benedict on Wednesday, Mojo magazine announced in the "Scene & Noted" section of its website today .

Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter went missing on May 3 after they had left her and her twin siblings alone in the McCanns' vacation apartment in Portugal while Mr. and Mrs. McCann went out to dinner, are hoping their high-profile appearances with religious and civic dignitaries, as well as a number of performances in support of the Rolling Stones, will keep the missing four-year-old’s image in the public eye and thereby increase her chances of being found.

The Keep Hope Alive 2007 tour will touch down in a variety of venues from large open-air theaters like St. Peter’s Square to more intimate, clublike settings. After their appearance with the pope—a last minute replacement for Bono—the McCanns are expected to make stops in Germany, Spain, France, and the Netherlands before joining the Rolling Stones in Belgium for an appearance in Werchter Park on June 5.

Dashiell Lawrence, Great Britain’s Foreign Office liaison and former road manager for Queen, is helping the McCanns to plan their tour and to deal with sniping from critics, many of whom feel the McCanns are “one-miss wonders” seeking to turn their daughter’s disappearance into their own ticket to ride.


“Sure Katie and The Ger will be traveling by private jet and staying at four- and five-star hotels on this tour,” said Mr. Lawrence, “but when you’ve earned the kind of off-the-chart celebrity that they have, you can’t fly commercial or stay at budget lodges or go out to dinner without being mobbed. Besides, ordinary restaurants remind them too much of their daughter, and they don’t need that distraction on their first world tour.”

Mr. Lawrence promised that the McCanns will try to keep ticket prices down at the stops on the tour where they are the headliners so that “the little people, if you'll pardon the expression, who have been with them from the start” can afford to see them. He noted, however, that the McCanns had no control over prices for the Rolling Stones appearances, “which often approach a child’s ransom, if you’ll pardon the expression.”

A source close to the tour said the McCanns will jet home each day to their base on the French Riviera as often as their schedule allows so their other children, two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, will

[donsaeid]

[donsaeid]

The Pope blesses photo of missing Madelein


The Pope today blessed a photograph of Madeleine McCann and gave comfort to the parents of the four-year-old who was abducted in Portugal nearly four weeks ago.

Pope Benedict took hold of Kate and Gerry McCann's hands at this morning's general audience in St Peter's Square, and appeared to offer consolation to them.

The meeting with the Holy Father lasted for little less than 30 seconds, during which Mrs McCann spoke emphatically to him while her husband bowed and kissed his hand.

Mrs McCann said: “It was very emotional but it was a very positive experience really, it has been very helpful to us. He was very kind, he said he would pray for us and our family and continue to have faith for us.”


The Pontiff has been closely following the couple’s search for their daughter following her abduction 27 days ago from their Algarve Holiday apartment.

Mr and Mrs McCann, both 38, had struggled to control their emotions as they sat in the front row of the General Audience in St Peter’s Square.

At one point, an English-speaking priest issued a prayer on behalf of the Pope: “In a special way his blessing goes to your children and your loved ones.”

His words proved too much for the McCanns, who broke down in public for the first time since their daughter was abducted from the bedroom of their Algarve holiday apartment. They wiped back the tears with their heads bowed.

Throughout the 90 minute ceremony Mrs McCann clutched the pink Cuddle Cat soft toy which Madeleine had carried everywhere.

She frequently looked down at the picture of her daughter - the portrait photograph which has been used in the main appeal and seen around the world - which the Pope was to bless during their meeting.

Mr McCann comforted his wife, slipping his arm around her waist and squeezing her shoulder. A Catholic priest accompanying them also hugged and comforted her.

Speaking at a press conference at the British Embassy in Rome afterwards Mrs McCann said: “It was a very emotional but very positive experience. It has been very important to us.”


Mr McCann spoke of his nervousness and sense of privilege at meeting the Pope, which he and his wife believe will have a "huge bearing" on Madeleine's safe return.

"In ordinary circumstances it would be a highlight for any Catholic to come and meet the Pope. For us, it is saddened by the realisation that our daughter is still missing," said Mr McCann, a consultant cardiologist.

"It was more personal than I could have imagined. The recognition was immediate looking at Madeleine’s photograph. His thoughts and words were more more tender than we could have hoped, and will sustain us during this most difficult time.”

Mrs McCann, a locum GP, has been reticent about talking to the media, leaving her husband to take the lead in the interviews which have helped maintain the publicity about their daughter.


“At the end of the day this is for Madeleine,” she said. “I do not like talking about this publicly but you have got to put your own feelings aside."

Mrs McCann said it was difficult when their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie ask about their big sister. The twins are being cared for by relatives in Portugal, the first time the couple have both left them overnight.

“They talk about her and say ’look, there is Madeleine’s bag’ or say ’there is a picture of Madeleine’. Amelie said ’back soon’ again today, and she will be.

“But really, it would be harder if they were a couple of years older, they don’t really have a concept of time at the moment.”

One of the most difficult things is trying to decide whether to tell the twins about why their sister is not at home.

Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothely, Leicestershire, will this week be seeking advice from a British child psychologist on what to tell Sean and Amelie.

Mrs McCann, who was wearing a rosary, said: “It is a difficult one, we do not want them to be upset about what has happened but we don’t want them to forget her.”

Her husband said: “The fact is that she could just walk back through the door. But as the days go on it becomes worse, it just becomes more difficult. We just have to decide what is best.”


Mr McCann described the feeling of not knowing where Madeleine was as one of the hardest.

“We’re still in the middle of a race and we do not know how long it is going to be," he said. “I do not know how we will have changed but I think it is fair to say we will never be the same again.”

Mr McCann described the first few days after Madeleine’s disappearance as similar to going through a bereavement, but worse because there is still a sense of uncertainty.

“When Madeleine went missing it started off with us thinking in terms of minutes until we found her. Then minutes became hours, days and now weeks,” said Mr McCann.


“The first 48 hours was akin to having a bereavement. It was as though Madeleine had died. It was anguish, despair, guilt, helplessness all falling into one.

“But it is different to a death, where you grieve and try to move on. Madeleine is not dead. We have been thrown into an ongoing trauma, an ongoing crisis of the unknown.”

They said that the most frustrating moment for them had been the fact that the police investigation was not under their control, but said that it was ongoing and very active.

“One evil act with the abduction of Madeleine seems to be generating so much good, and we seem to be at the receiving end of that good will and wishes. It has restored my faith, and my faith in humanity as much as anything else,” said Mr McCann.

Mrs McCann admitted: “The first 72 hours was the worst time for both us. It was very hard at that point to get away from all the dark places. As time goes on, with all the support we have had and the prayers we have had, it really does give us strength and hope.”

Mrs McCann explained why the couple believed the visit to the Vatican was so important for the international campaign to find Madeleine.

Mrs McCann sid: “We get a lot of strength and hope from our faith, from the support we have had and I am sure it has given us a huge lift.

“This is more than a single girl who is missing, people are doing so many things to help and that faith has really helped us, there is no doubt about that.”

The couple said that they had no plans to return to Britain as yet. They will continue to be based in the Portuguese beach resort of Praia da Luz, as they embark on a whirlwind trip of European and North African capitals to publicise their hunt for their daughter.

The impact of the couple's efforts could be seen in St Peter's Square, where hundreds of others in the crowd mirrored Mrs McCann in wearing the yellow and green ribbons in their hair that have become the symbol of the international campaign to find Madeleine.

[donsaeid]

VISIT FIND MADELEINE and Show your support

GO HERE

[Rasputin]

Pope Blesses Parents Of Girl Abducted In Portugal

VATICAN CITY The parents of the British girl who was abducted in Portugal while the family was on vacation have now turned to Pope Benedict XVI for help.

Madeline McCann, 4, was abducted while her parents were having supper during their holiday trip on May 3. Today, her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, met with the Pope, who blessed the grieving family. The McCanns gave the pontiff a one of the last taken photographs of Madeline -- a cell phone video image that showed her being happy and excited as the family left for the vacation.

The audience was the latest effort by the McCann's to raise awareness of the case.

"We understand many different possible scenarios here, but we must believe, do believe .. and get Madeline back and with us," said Gerry.

Since her abduction on May 3rd Madeline had her fourth birthday. Her picture has been circulated throughout Europe, a campaign that has helped her parents cope.

"I think certainly the first 72 hours really were the worst time for both of us. It's still hard at this point to get away from all the dark places," said Kate.

As important as faith is, the couple said, they drew even more strength from the outpouring of public support. "The Catholic faith has given us strength, but it has restored my faith in humanity as much as anything," said Gerry.

Added Kate: "So much goodness up there but it's really evident and it's really helped us."

And that, along with prayers, and a few brief seconds of cell phone video, are all that the McCann's have for now.

[Rasputin]

Madeline McCann parents come to Madrid

The couple are keeping their daughter Madeline in the news. She vanished from a Portuguese hotel room four weeks ago

The parents of the missing British youngster, Madeline McCann, Kate and Gerry McCann, are in Spain today continue to keep the case of their daughter in the media.

Madeline went missing from an unattended hotel room in Portugal last month, and the Portuguese police say they have no clues to the disappearance.

The parents come to Madrid after a trip to the Vatican to meet with the Pope.

They will meet with the Spanish Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba<7b>, at their own request, so they can pass on details of the case to the Spanish authorities.

Several meetings are also planned with Spanish organisations which are specialists in the disappearance of children, and the couple are to appear on Spanish television.

After Madrid the couple moves on to Berlin and Morocco.

[Rasputin]

Madeleine's parents seek support in Spain

"We are here to ask the Spanish public for help and we really are imploring for that help because we feel it is possible that Madeline was moved from Portugal, possibly into Spain," Gerry McCann said.

The parents of 4-year-old Madeleine McCann took their campaign to find her to Spain on Friday, where they met with a government minister and issued an appeal for help.

Madeleine disappeared on May 3, when her parents left her and her 2-year-old twin siblings in their hotel room while they dined at a restaurant in their hotel complex in Praia da Luz, a resort town in Portugal's Algarve region.

Since then, parents Kate and Gerry McCann have launched an international campaign with the aid of celebrities such as soccer star David Beckham and J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, in the hope of finding the girl. The couple had a brief meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday.

Gerry McCann said they traveled to neighboring Spain in an effort to prompt anyone who might have any information to come forward.

"We are here to ask the Spanish public for help and we really are imploring for that help because we feel it is possible that Madeline was moved from Portugal, possibly into Spain, although we are not certain of that," he said at a news conference.

"We do realize that there are other families in Spain that have had similar experiences, particularly the young boy Yeremi from Gran Canaria and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and any other family that are in a similar situation to us," he said.

He was referring to Yeremi Jose Vargas Suarez, a 7-year-old who vanished in March in the Canary Islands and remains missing.

"We do feel that these type of disappearances should be considered in a pan-European fashion, the same way that other European Union movement of people is considered," McCann said.

He added: "I would like some reassurance in Spain that there has been some proactive investigation regarding Madeleine's disappearance."

"I think it is at least worth exploring the possibility that Madeleine's disappearance should not be considered in isolation and in the context of other disappearances in the Iberian peninsula, even the Canary Isles as well," he added.

Look into my eyes

The couple unveiled a poster with the now-familiar face of Madeleine and bearing an appeal for information in Spanish. They sat in front of a large billboard showing Madeleine's face and giving the emergency services number 091. Across the top of the billboard were the words "Mirame a los ojos", or "Look into my eyes."

The father said the couple was heartened by the work being done by the children's' ombudsman in Madrid and an association against child pornography, who he said had distributed Madeleine's image and publicized the child's disappearance.

The McCanns, who arrived in Madrid late Thursday, met privately with Spain's Interior Minister, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, after the press
conference but declined to speak to reporters afterward. The ministry would not comment either.

Saying they do not plan to return to Britain without their daughter, the parents also plan trips to Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco. The couple are believed to feel these countries are important because they are either close to the Algarve or have a population which travels to southern Portugal for holidays.

Last week, Portuguese police announced they were searching for a white man aged between 35 and 40, who was wearing a dark jacket and light beige trousers and who was possibly carrying a little girl on May 3 in Praia da Luz.

[Rasputin]

Madeline McCann Search Continues In Spain

Madeline McCann Update: Madeline McCann, the now 4-year-old British girl that went missing from Portugal on May 3rd, may be in Spain.

Her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann remain confident that they will find their little girl.

While in Spain the McCann's plan to meet with government officials and are appealing to the public for help in their search for Madeline.

Gerry McCann said at a news conference, "We are here to ask the Spanish public for help and we really are imploring for that help because we feel it is possible that Madeline was moved from Portugal, possibly into Spain, although we are not certain of that."

The McCann's met with Pope Benedict XVI last Wednesday. The Pope blessed the picture of the little girl and offered prayers for her return.



Portuguese police have been inundated with false tips, due to the reward monies being offered.

An international campaign is underway to find Madeline with the aid of celebrities such as David Beckham (soccer star), J. K. Rowling (author), Richard Branson (Virgin companies) and Simon Cowell .

[Rasputin]

Mystery DNA found in Madeleine's bedroom in Portugal

DNA from a mystery sixth person has reportedly been found in the bedroom in Portugal where Madeleine McCann was abducted.

The Portuguese police, Policia Judiciara (PJ), have handed the sample to the national forensic laboratories, the Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal, according to local newspaper 24 Horas.

It does not match the DNA of Mr and Mrs McCann or their three children, the paper said.

Neither does the DNA match that of the only named suspect in the case, property developer Robert Murat, the paper added.

It quoted a source from the laboratory who said: "There is a new suspect, there is DNA which does not correspond to the family.

"It is an important step in the investigation but the truth is that the DNA collected does not have a name.

"In other words we cannot make any connection between the material collected and the suspects which we already have."

The newspaper said the DNA would be compared to all the evidence gathered by the PJ to see if a match could be found.

But, the source continued: "This does not mean that Robert Murat could not be incriminated but there is a person who was in the room who as yet it is not possible to identify.

"There are a lot of things already concluded but there are a lot of things still to do."

[Rasputin]

Madeleine McCann Hunt Moves to Spain

Madeleine McCann, the British girl that went missing on May 3 from Portugal, may be in Spain, her mother and father believe. The parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, remain optimistic that they will find their daughter and have taken their campaign to find her to Spain, where they met with a government minister and issued an appeal for help.


Madeleine McCann Hunt Moves to Spain

Gerry McCann said they traveled to neighboring Spain in an effort to prompt anyone who might have any information to come forward. “We are here to ask the Spanish public for help and we really are imploring for that help because we feel it is possible that Madeline was moved from Portugal, possibly into Spain, although we are not certain of that,” he said at a news conference.

***

He continued, " "We do realize that there are other families in Spain that have had similar experiences, particularly the young boy Yeremi from Gran Canaria and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, and any other family that are in a similar situation to us," he said. He was referring to Yeremi Jose Vargas Suarez, a 7-year-old who vanished in March in the Canary Islands and remains missing.

"We do feel that these types of disappearances should be considered in a pan-European fashion, the same way that other European Union movement of people is considered," McCann said. He added: "I would like some reassurance in Spain that there has been some proactive investigation regarding Madeleine's disappearance.

"I think it is at least worth exploring the possibility that Madeleine's disappearance should not be considered in isolation and in the context of other disappearances in the Iberian Peninsula, even the Canary Isles as well," he added.

***

Last week, Portuguese police announced they were searching for a white man aged between 35 and 40, who was wearing a dark jacket and light beige trousers and who was possibly carrying a little girl on May 3 in Praia da Luz.

Parents Kate and Gerry McCann have launched an international campaign to find the girl with the aid of celebrities such as soccer star David Beckham and J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. The couple had a brief meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday, the Associated Press notes in a report.

[Rasputin]

Lord's Day should be chainsaw free

cannot for the life of me figure out why people have to use chainsaws on Sunday. Not only is this The Lord's Day but it should be a day for people to enjoy and relax in peace and quiet. I can understand using a chainsaw if it was dire necessity such as cleaning up after a storm, but otherwise I can only surmise these people would rather do their shopping and fishing Saturday and leave menial tasks for Sunday.

Summers are too short to have to listen to that kind of racket on a day of rest. I, for one, would like to sit outside and enjoy listening to birds, traffic, anything but chainsaws and hammers!

In order to be seen as environmentally friendly, some grocery stores are offering extra 'points' to customers who bring in cloth bags for their purchases.
But wait a minute, bags only qualify if they have a grocery store logo on them. So, is it the environment, or self promotion, that is the focus here? Silly question when I think about it.

The kidnapping of Madeline McCann is very tragic and has received worldwide attention, even an audience with the Pope. These professional parents left their children unattended while they dined approximately 50 metres away. If the same thing happened to us common folk, would we have the world's sympathy at our doorstep? We probably would be charged with child abandonment and our remaining children placed under supervision of Children's Aid.

Enough already! OK, North Bay Nugget, we know your true colour - red. It's time for this paper to put aside its preferred colour and report federal and provincial news equally.

Will someone please explain to me why we are selling a known toxin to our First Nations people at cut-rate prices? We don't sell them liquor or beer at cheap prices. Why sell them tobacco cheap? They will have every right to bring legal action against the federal government in future for compensation due to the damage done to their health.

Notice to the various unions holding up the construction progress on the new hospital. Be aware that you have lost most of the public's support for your causes in recent years. You will soon have lost it all, even among the older generation which used to believe in worker job protection and fair wages for your members. You younger brothers out there; stand up to your union bosses before they have gone past the point of no return playing on the support of Joe Citizen. Wake up and smell it boys. Times have changed.

[Rasputin]

MISSING Madeleine McCann's family this week thanked the Irish communities in Britain and Ireland for their support in the search to find the missing four-year-old.

It came as the hunt continued for the four-year-old a month after she was snatched from a holiday apartment in Portugal.

The abducted girl's grandmother spoke to the Irish Post this week about the family's last holiday together in Co. Donegal over Easter.

Much of Eileen McCann's family hail from Dungloe in the north west of Ireland and her late husband John is originally from St Johnson in Co. Donegal.

The 67-year-old - who is Madeleine father Gerry McCann's mother - said: "Fortysix of the family met in Dungloe at Easter including Madeleine, her parents Gerry and Kate and the couple's twins for a get-together.

"Because we're all scattered in England and Scotland we decided to have a reunion over there.

"It was absolutely brilliant. It was such a happy occasion for everyone. We're such a close family and for this to happen two months later is just unthinkable.

"We're all really heartened by the messages of support from Donegal and all over."

Since Madeleine McCann's disappearance communities have come together to pray and show support for the Leicester-based family.

Following a special vigil Mass in Dungloe parish priest Father Seamus Meehan said: "We will pray for wee Madeleine McCann and her family.

"It is a terrible thing that has happened. It is difficult to understand. We will all pray for the family and for Madeleine during this time. At this point we will pray that she will be found and that she will be safe and well.

"Everybody has heard about this story and our hearts go out to the family.

"Prayer is a powerful thing. We will also pray for all parents who have had children taken from them in the past."

Churches here in Britain have also been rallying behind the McCanns and their story has touched many parishioners' hearts.

Father Bert Bromley from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Kilburn in London said: "We are constantly keeping her in our everyday prayers at Mass for starters. There is a photograph of her in the church at all times which parishioners placed to pray beside.

"And of course we are very concerned about her parents and we pray especially for all who have had children who are in that sort situation.

"People in our parish are extremely conscious of being family people themselves and having children."

Father John Williams from the Liverpool Parish Church believes that prayer keeps hope alive.

He said: "I can assure you that prayers are offered for Madeleine every day - both in the daily prayer evening prayer and in the daily mass.

"I think the plight of Madeleine is making people more aware of the power of prayer. "An old lady just came out of church and she has travelled here having been to a prayer vigil last evening at the Catholic church where Madeleine was baptised.

"She asked me to continue to pray for Madeleine McCann and I said we do every day.

"The woman was convinced that prayer would bring her home.

"There is a great sense of hope attached to our prayers - as prayer is a very important part of Christians lives."

Madeleine McCann was abducted over a month ago from her parents' rented holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on the evening of May 3.

The McCanns are said to be convinced that their daughter is outside Portugal and are prepared to leave Praia da Luz and travel around Europe to boost efforts to find Madeleine.

Appeals have also been issued at major sporting events including the FA Cup final and Epsom Derby and stars including Manchester United soccer player Christiano Ronaldo have issued their own pleas for help in the search.

Grandmother Eileen said: "Gerry and Kate said that they just can't think of coming home from Portugal.

"For them it would be like giving up and they are not prepared to do that yet. "If they packed and went home now then that would be a desperate sign that they'd never see Maddy again."

[Rasputin]

Police call off search for clues at apartment

The holiday apartment from which Madeline McCann was abducted is to be handed back to its owners after Portuguese police said there was no chance of finding further clues.

The two-bedroom apartment on the Ocean Club complex in Praia da Luz has been sealed off by police and regarded as a crime scene since Madeleine disappeared from the front bedroom five weeks ago.

But by yesterday afternoon police had removed the tape and portable station that had sealed off the ground-floor apartment. The only sign of Madeleine’s abduction was the red fingerprint powder on the shutter of the bedroom where she had been asleep and the yellow bows and wilted flowers tied to the gate.

Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa of the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) said: “Everything that we could do there has already been done. All the fingerprints and the traces to define the DNA have already been collected.” Altpio Ribeiro, national director of the PJ, said: “The PJ are seriously investigating this case. It could take time, more or less, but we continue in the Algarve even if our presence is not noticed.”

Mr and Mrs McCann had expressed “frustration” at the early stages of the police investigation but have since praised efforts of Portuguese officers.

Mr McCann said: “We have no doubts of the desire of the Portuguese police to find Madeleine. We have witnessed their efforts first-hand and they are working harder than Kate and I.”

However, the couple have acknowledged that they have found it difficult understanding the cultural differences between policing in Portugal and Britain.