Daily Express: How holiday nanny delivered surprise news on Maddie's birthday

Madeleine McCann: How holiday nanny delivered surprise news on Maddie's birthday

MADELEINE MCCANN's nanny, Cat Baker, who looked after her while she was on holiday, delivered some surprising news to Kate and Gerry on their daughter’s fourth birthday, Kate recalled in her book.

By Callum Hoare
PUBLISHED: 18:30, Wed, May 8, 2019

Madeleine McCann disappeared on the evening of May 3, 2007, from Apartment 5A of the Ocean Beach resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal. The youngster vanished just nine days before her fourth birthday while her parents ate dinner just metres away at a Tapas restaurant and her siblings Sean and Amelia slept. What followed was arguably the greatest missing-person case in history, with investigators still unsure of her whereabouts 12 years on.

Madeleine McCann disappeared on the evening of May 3, 2007, from Apartment 5A of the Ocean Beach resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal.

Kate McCann detailed during her book “Madeleine: Our daughter's disappearance and the continuing search for her” how the family still tried to celebrate their daughter’s birthday while on holiday.

She wrote in 2011 how John Hill, the Praia da Luz complex manager, arranged for the McCann family to get some privacy on May 12, 2007.

It reads: “John Hill had arranged for us all – Gerry, Sean, Amelia and myself to spend the day at a private villa, but we didn’t know what to do really.

“We couldn’t let the day go unmarked and we wanted to celebrate Madeleine on her birthday whether she was with us or not, but nothing felt right.

“It was good to be away from the Ocean Club and the media circus, and the kids enjoyed themselves.

“But Madeleine’s absence hung heavily over everyone else.”

Kate went on to explain how the employees at the apartment complex tried to pick up their mood.

She added: “The staff had brought over stacks of food for us and the men had organised a barbecue with wine and beer.

"We ate mostly in silence, concentrating on the kids.

“I couldn’t eat much and alcohol was completely off my agenda.

“There was no cake – Gerry did attempt a toast, but he was visibly upset before choking up.”

However, Kate detailed one surprising aspect of the day, when Madeleine’s former nanny broke some bad news to the group.

She continued: “After attending a special Mass for her at the church early in the evening, we were visited in the apartment by Cat [Baker], Madeleine’s nanny at Mini Club.

“She had some news for us – she and some of her colleagues were being sent to another Mark Warner resort in Greece.

“None of them wanted to leave, and to this day, we do not fully understand the decision.

“We think it may have been made for logistical reasons – after Madeleine’s abduction, guests with bookings at the Ocean flub were being offered alternative destinations.

“But from our point of view, it meant the removal of a key witness from Praia da Luz."

In March, controversial Netflix series “The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann” was released in a bid to learn more about the 12-year case.

However, Kate and Gerry do not see how it will help bring their daughter home.

A statement on behalf of the couple argues that the show could actually hinder police investigations.

It reads: "We did not see – and still do not see – how this programme will help the search for Madeleine and, particularly given there is an active police investigation, it could potentially hinder it.

"Consequently, our views and preferences are not reflected in the programme.

"We will not be making any further statements or giving interviews regarding this programme."

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1124293/madeleine-mccann-netflix-disappearance-holiday-nanny-cat-baker-maddie-birthday-spt
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