Madeleine McCann's parents share heartbreaking update on 17th anniversary of daughter's disappearance

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Madeleine McCann's parents share heartbreaking update on 17th anniversary of daughter's disappearance


Madeleine McCann vanished on May 3, 2007, when her family were holidaying in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, Portugal and her parents have maintained their hopes of finding her since

ByBradley JollyNews Reporter
07:28, 3 May 2024UPDATED07:32, 3 MAY 2024

Madeleine McCann's parents say their daughter's "absence still aches" in a touching social media post.

The post, published on the 17th anniversary of the girl's disappearance, reads: "It's 17 years since Madeleine was taken from us. It's hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief. Whilst we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the 'living in limbo' is still very unsettling. And the absence still aches.

"Your support continues to encourage us and bolsters our strength to keep going. We know the love and hope for Madeleine and the will to find her, even after so many years, remains, and we are truly thankful for that. Thank you again for remembering Madeleine and all missing children."

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10 mins ago

Disappearance Of Madeleine McCann: 17th Anniversary
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155 views Streamed live 3 hours ago
We visit the scene!!
On the anniversary of the dissappearance of Madeleine McCann 17 years ago the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] team visit the area of PDL

Craig attends the new book launch and press conference by a former detective who has hidden his identity until today in Portugal!

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McCann Case | 17 Years Later

209 views May 3, 2024
Today marks 17 years since the disappearance. A staggering £13 million plus has now been spent on the McCann case, in comparison, a mear £2,500 is spent on other missing cases in the UK

Did the family and friends meet for prayers in Rothley today?

Madeleine McCann's parents Kate and Gerry fail to attend prayer vigil on 17th anniversary of her disappearance - as young Polish woman who insists SHE is Maddie attends and demands a DNA test to prove she's 'not a liar'

By TRACEY KANDOHLA
PUBLISHED: 22:50, 3 May 2024 | UPDATED: 01:00, 4 May 2024

The parents of [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] failed to attend a prayer vigil tonight on the poignant 17th anniversary of her disappearance - as a young Polish woman who insists she is Maddie bizarrely turned up.
Kate and Gerry were said by a family member to be away at a secret location on a 'much needed' long weekend break.
A message from them was read out during an informal gathering of friends and well wishers and they apologised for not being present. 
Read by vicar the Rev. Robert Gladstone from the local parish church, it started: 'Good evening, we are sorry that we cannot be with you tonight but we thank you for coming together and wanting to share your hope for Madeleine and other missing children.
'It's 17 years since Madeleine was taken from us. It's hard to even say that number without shaking our heads in disbelief.' 
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Madeleine McCann disappeared aged three from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal
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Echoing words they they had posted earlier on social media they added: 'Whilst we are fortunate in many ways and able to live a relatively normal and enjoyable life now, the 'living in limbo' is still very unsettling. And the absence still aches.' 
The unexpected visitor Julia Wendell, 22, known as the 'Maddie faker', accompanied by a friend Robert Zyla, listened on intently, clutching a letter she had desperately hoped to give to the McCanns.
She later told of her 'disappointment' that they hadn't been present, and said of her mission, and having travelled over from [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], that she had one question for them.
Speaking after the 45-minute service, she said: 'I am Madeleine McCann. I have never stopped believing it and I have come here because I want to ask Kate and Gerry to do a DNA test.
'They haven't done one to prove I am not their daughter.' She added: 'No I am not crazy. I am not a liar.'
Her presence later became known to family members and church representatives.
A crowd of 50 packed into the Baptist Church in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire - the informal gathering held inside and not outside the war memorial, as usual, because of heavy rain.
Among them were Kate's uncle, retired head teacher Brian Kennedy and his wife Janet, who read verses.
Mr Kennedy said: 'Each time we hope this annual occasion will be the last. The search for Madeleine continues.'
Adults and children then lit candles in Maddie's memory, and prayers were said.
Supporters also read out mantras including 'Never give up', 'don't forget about me,' 'still missing, still missed' and 'all children are precious.'
The McCann's are clinging onto a glimmer of hope that their daughter, who would now be aged 20, nearly 21, could still be alive.
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Members of the congregation gather during the service on Friday, which was not attend by Kate and Gerry McCann 
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Ms Wendell claims she wanted to hand a letter to the McCanns and appeal for a DNA test 
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Madeleine McCann, who disappeared aged 3 in 2007, will turn 21 this month
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The latest public anniversary gathering comes at an awkward time as the prime suspect in Maddie'e disappearance, Christian Brueckner has gone on trial in for horrific, unrelated sex offences.
German police are convinced Maddie is dead and have been intent on charging prime suspect Brueckner - sensationally named nearly four years ago - with her kidnap and 'no body' murder.
The convicted paedophile is currently on trial in his native Germany for five unrelated rapes and sex offences, three involving minors.
Brueckner, 47, is also serving a sentence for the rape of an elderly American tourist in the same resort of Praia da Luz Maddie was snatched from.
Mr Kennedy - Maddie's great uncle - said he was 'encouraged by people turning on an extremely unpleasant rainy night.'
He said: 'Kate and Gerry have gone away, they didn't tell me where and I didn't ask, and it is a bit of a clash.
'But they work very hard and they needed a break very much.'
Gerry, 55, is a renowned heart doctor while former GP Kate, 56, is now medical worker.
It is not known if they have taken their 19-year-old twins Seam and Amelie away too.
Mrs Kennedy later went to greet Julia, hearing a visitor from Poland was present, but not realising she was an impersonator.
She said: 'Please help me to meet Kate and Gerry. I am very disappointed they are not here.'
She handed over a letter, which was taken by the vicar, and they assured her they would pass it on.
Julia became infamous last February after she insisted she was the missing British toddler in spurious posts on social media with her username '@IamMadeleineMcCann'.
But s he was persuaded to take a DNA test and the results proved conclusively that she had no relation to Madeleine.
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Accompanied by a friend Robert Zyla, Wendell listened on intently at the vigil clutching a letter she had desperately hoped to give to the McCanns. Pictured during a BBC interview
She then revealed she regrets making the claims online after she received torrents of abuse and death threats in the wake of her headline-grabbing stunt.
But tonight she insisted: 'I am Madeleine McCann, and I'll prove it.'
British Police have just been granted new funding of nearly £200,000 by the Home Office to keep their investigation, codenamed Operation Grange, going.
So far Scotland Yard's 13-year inquiry, which officers are still treating as a missing person case, has cost the taxpayer a staggering £13.2 million.
A Home Office spokesperson has confirmed: 'Ministers have approved a request to provide up to £192,000 for Operation Grange in 2024-25 in line with our Special Grant processes.
'The total figure is just under £13.2 million since 2011.'
Maddie disappeared from a holiday apartment in the popular Algarve resort of Luz while she was left sleeping alone with her toddler twin siblings.
At the time her parents were dining with pals in a nearby tapas restaurant whilst carrying out regular half-hour checks on the children.
The McCans have previously said: 'We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace.'
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Strange how a Polish girl with obviously strong Mental Health problems can be allowed into the U.K. to disrupt a Church service?

Did she come in on a Rubber dinghy?
Or did she Fly in under the Radar?

I can see why Kate and Gerry wanted to avoid her at all costs.

Or was this all another ‘cunning ploy’ to avoid a new book hurtling toward a ‘House of Cards’?

Is that Marianna Spring in the last picture?

Yes, that"s her.  She made a BBC radio series recently, "Why do you hate me". 

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 We discussed it here.

I suspect the McCanns will face fresh heartbreak all over again with the release of this new book:

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Field cams, eh? 
By the way, have the McCanns been found now? 

Are the 'Rothley Bottom Trumpet Orchestra' in full swing yet?