Kate McCann has asked those reporting on the disappearance of daughter Madeleine, in the run-up to the tenth anniversary, to ‘have a conscience’.
The mother-of-three issued a statement on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page, sharing her insights as the heart-wrenching milestone approaches.
“There is no easy way to say it, describe it, accept it. I remember when Madeleine first disappeared, I couldn’t even begin to consider anything in terms of years…I couldn’t go there. And now, here we are…Madeleine, our Madeleine – 10 years,” she wrote.
She went on to describe the milestone as ‘a horrible marker of time, stolen time’.
Madeleine was just three years old when she disappeared from the apartment her family was staying in while holidaying, in Praia da Luz in Portugal, on May 3 in 2007.
Ever since, Kate and her husband Gerry have found themselves under scrutiny, particularly in light of the fact that they had left the tot in the apartment alone, except for her younger twin siblings.
Reflecting on the controversy that has followed them, Kate wrote: “We are bracing ourselves for the next couple of weeks. It's likely to be stressful and painful, and more so given the rehashing of old 'stories', misinformation, half-truths and downright lies which will be doing the rounds in the newspapers, social media and 'special edition' TV programmes.”
She went on to share a specific urging to media outlets reporting on the 10-year anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance.
“I truly hope that those reporting on the 'story' over the next couple of weeks will have a conscience. Even if little consideration for Gerry and me is shown, they will at least bear in mind the effect such unfounded and unwarranted negativity could have on our other children - and of course Madeleine,” she added.
This quote is particularly relevant at this time, just days after an Australian TV show covering Madeleine’s disappearance appeared to point the finger back at the McCanns once again.
On Channel 7’s Sunday Night Show, an American criminal profiler named Pat Brown suggested that Madeleine’s disappearance may have been the result of an accident, neglect or abuse.
It has since emerged that Brown is suing the network for defamation, on the grounds that she never specifically linked her claims to the McCanns.
Kate McCann chose to remain positive in her statement, insisting that she is ‘grateful’ for the ‘active police investigation’ into her daughter’s case.
