We will not give up, vows father of missing girl

THE father of missing Madeleine McCann yesterday vowed his family will leave “no stone unturned” in the search for their daughter.

On the eve of Madeleine’s fourth birthday, Gerry McCann said he and his wife, Kate, were grateful for the support they have received from around the world.

Among that flood of goodwill was a TV appeal recorded by former England football captain David Beckham and broadcast in Spain yesterday.

Speaking just a few metres from where his daughter was snatched more than a week ago, Mr McCann said the Portuguese police are determined to find her. He said he had seen at first hand the resources being poured into the investigation.

He said: “We are doing absolutely everything to assist the police with their investigation and will leave no stone unturned in the search for our daughter Madeleine.

“We are very grateful for all the efforts and offers of support that we have had from home and from around the world.

“We have been moved by the enormous willingness of people to do all they can to help find Madeleine.”

Eight days after Madeleine was snatched from their Portuguese holiday apartment in the Algarve village of Praia Da Luz, police said the search would end soon.

Volunteers have been told by police, who are organising the search, police teams were being stood down.

However, police are reported to have two suspects and the McCanns might have been shown pictures of them during a visit to a police station in Portimao yesterday.

Mr McCann remained at the police station until the early hours yesterday as officers examined their holiday complex.

The newspaper Correio da Manha also reported two people who had been staying at the Ocean Club apartments near the McCanns were questioned.

It said police sniffer dogs had picked up a trail from Madeleine’s apartment to another one occupied by some Britons who left around the time of her disappearance.

Meanwhile, three British people, possibly two women and a man, are believed to have been taken in by police for questioning yesterday.

Earlier yesterday a businessman offered a reward of £1 million (€1.46m) for information leading to the return of Madeleine.

Stephen Winyard, 57, who lives in Monaco, said he was moved to come forward by photographs of Madeleine’s distraught parents. The owner of Scottish health spa Stobo Castle said: “When I saw their faces, I felt frustrated that no one else had yet come forward offering a substantial reward, and so felt compelled to do so myself.”

It was not the first reward to be offered in the case. On Saturday, a colleague of Madeleine’s mother offered a £100,000 (€146,000) reward.

John McCann, an uncle of Madeleine, told Newstalk 106-108FM that he and his family are missing Madeleine terribly.

Speaking to Orla Barry on her Life! programme, Mr John McCann said the search is “a rollercoaster ride” for Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry.

“It’s very difficult. I’m tired in Glasgow and I’ve got half the pressure that Gerry and Kate have got so it is difficult for them, but they have got real determination about them and that’s why they are so admirable ... every day they get out there, they get on the phone, they get on email, they are talking at various conferences ... they’re brilliant.”

At St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow, hundreds of well-wishers queued round the block to join a vigil this evening for Madeleine.

The service was organised by her uncle John McCann who read out an email from the three-year-old’s parents to family, friends and colleagues in the church.

The message from Mr and Mrs McCann said: “We remain confident that Madeleine will be found soon and your prayers and efforts will bring this about.”

John McCann urged others do what they could, telling those at the vigil: “Remain hopeful, keep your prayers coming.

“Prayer is powerful, but the most powerful type of prayer is action.

“Please, get involved in any way you can, any way you know how, to bring Madeleine back.”

There were also words from family friend Paul Macintyre who paid tribute to the strength of Gerry McCann.

He said Madeleine’s father was “so positive, so determined” to do everything he could to assist police.

There were many children at the service, including girls of Madeleine’s age who wore yellow ribbons in their hair. Others wore them tied around their wrists.