-- Gerry and Kate McCann speak to Lorraine
Gerry and Kate McCann speak to Lorraine ahead of the seven year anniversary of their daughter's disappearance and on progress made by the Met investigation.
- "For us for life is defined by pre and post the abduction
- This time seven years ago everything was as great as it could be.
- On wanting more progress on the investigation - time rolling on for us is still painful and living in limbo of not knowing is horrible .
- Couple call for a joint investigation between the Met and Portuguese police
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Kate and Gerry McCann joined Lorraine this morning two days ahead of the seven year anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter Madeline. Speaking to Lorraine Kelly the couple explained the progress made on the case since the Met Police began their investigative review and the information that there had been a series of crimes during that time, involving children in the Praia Da Luz area.
Gerry McCann explained; I think the progress with the Met investigative review has been really quite impressive and one of the things we were asking for was for all the information to be reviewed and we've had updates on Crimewatch and fresh appeals and literally senior detectives told us that hundreds of people have come forward and what they have identified now is that there has been a whole series of crimes against young children, British families, in the Algarve by people breaking into apartments and they are potentially linked and that's really important information obviously. We'd really like to thank all those people who came forward - we know that for the families, that can be really difficult, for children who have been traumatised and many of these cases go back years so we'd really like to thank them. But it is really building up a picture of what was going on in and around Praia Da Luz immediately preceding and after Madeleine being taken so we're really encouraged by it.
Seven years on since Madeleine disappeared the McCann's explained they still feel there are things that need investigating that could lead to their daughter being found.
Gerry said;
Obviously when Madeline was first taken that was the only thing we could think about and that was the hardest by far, but there are different scenarios and we've seen a whole load of cases of children being recovered after long time being abducted and held. Obviously Madeline was very young so
Kate added;
Of course we don't know that any of these cases are linked to each other or to Madeline but I think it's common sense that if something like that stands out it needs to be investigated.
Gerry continued;
For me the key thing is that even though it is seven years on, there are still lots and lots of things that still need investigating and lines of enquiry that need to be followed. And I suppose while we know that there are lines of enquiry that haven't been bottomed out then, we just want to get on with it and get it done, it doesn't matter so much how long it takes, we've just got to get it done
Lorraine went on to ask the couple where they get their strength from. With Gerry saying, I get mine from Kate , Kate added; I think from each other, from our children, from our family and friends and Gerry interspersed, And we've had unbelievable support, not just those close to us, but the public support has been amazing
Kate told Lorraine how she does think back to life seven years ago saying;
Even last week for example 27th April, I was thinking this time seven years ago, everything was as great as it could ever be.
Gerry added;
I think for us life is defined by pre and post the abduction unfortunately. Leading up to Portugal, having had three very young children , and had a tough two or three years just full on and working etc and we were just coming through that life seemed good, really good. And it's different now, because Sean and Amelie are nine - they are really good kids, really happy, and they bring us a tremendous amount of joy, so it's very much we were a family of five and now we're functioning as a family of four.
Speaking about time moving forward, Kate told Lorraine;
The hard thing though, and maybe people think well it's seven years down the line...I guess and we have adapted, but still weeks and months rolling by is still incredibly significant for us, so whether Madeline had been found after a week, after six months, whether it's seven years and one week, that is better than ten years or whatever, so it is really significant. For us, we want the progress that has been made by the Met to continue on the ground in Portugal. I guess, in truth, we'd like them to work together ideally we want a joint investigation team so the work can be streamlined, bureaucracy is reduced and progress can be made much quicker because time rolling on for us is still painful and living in a limbo of not knowing is horrible, for all our family.
Talking about their son and daughter, the couple explained they keep Madeline very much within the family, Gerry said;
I think it does get harder as time goes on but we're very much so surrounded by photographs, they know that we are here today as usual the Police are investigating, so we keep them as informed as we can.
Kate explained to Lorraine why they continue with their fundraising saying;
I'm sure everybody understand that whenever something terrible happens, you want to believe that some good can come out of it and I believe that since Madeleine was taken, the charities work and all other families who have missing children, there has been some benefit because of the publicity and the awareness and if we can
