Madeleine McCann search cash boost slammed by mum of other missing girl who says ‘it’s not fair’

'WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER KIDS?'

Madeleine McCann search cash boost slammed by mum of other missing girl who says ‘it’s not fair’

Heartbroken Karen Downes, 53, said other missing kids - like daughter Charlene, who vanished in 2007 - are 'simply being forgotten'

THE mum of a missing schoolgirl has hit out at the Home Office after Scotland Yard's 11-year-search for Madeleine McCann was handed an extra £150k.

Heartbroken Karen Downes, 53, said other missing kids - like daughter Charlene, who vanished in 2003 - are "simply being forgotten".

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She fumed: "I feel very angry that other children - Charlene and so many others - are being forgotten.

"A child goes missing in the UK every three minutes. What about all those others who never come home again?"

Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry McCann have never given up hope their daughter, who disappeared in May 2007 from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal aged three, is still alive.

They were dealt a blow in September when funding for the investigation - dubbed Operation Grange - ran out - causing the police to apply for more money.

The government agreed to hand over an extra six months of funding for the project - which has already swallowed up £11.6million.

Meanwhile no trace has been found of Charlene, 14, since she was [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - despite huge publicity and a £100,000 reward.

Last year detectives finally released [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - after it lay unnoticed on police shelves for 13 years.

Two takeaway workers were acquitted of her murder in 2007 after a trial heard her body was chopped up and had "gone into kebabs".

Karen added: "If they are going to plough money into the search for Madeleine, then they should do the same for all the children who are missing.

"She didn’t even go missing in this country – it’s really a matter for the Portuguese police, and yet the money just keeps on rolling in for the search.

"There were reports that Charlene had been groomed and drawn into the sex trade which broke my heart. It was suggested in court that her body had been cut up and mixed into kebabs. It was horrific.

"It was during the trial that Madeleine McCann went missing and it was plastered all over the newspapers and the TV. It was a global story.

“I was devastated for her parents. But I also wondered why Charlene’s disappearance hadn’t had the same attention.

"If we’d had that kind of coverage, maybe she would have been found, before it was too late. I will never know.

“It just doesn’t seem fair on my Charlene.”

Karen has now written a book, ‘Sold In Secret’ which tells the full story of Charlene's disappearance for the first time.

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Last year detectives finally released [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - after it lay unnoticed on police shelves for 13 years.



Mind you, I reckon the video of Eddie and Keela is probably laying unnoticed on the MET Police shelves too.

To add insult to injury, Madeleine McCann disappeared from Portugal, the Portuguese police investigation has already cost it's own nation an inordinate sum from public funds.

Basically it's bugger all to do with the British police outside of playing the role of coordinator.  It makes their position untenable.

It's no wonder the families of lost souls are up in arms.  So sad.