Branson presses friends to donate to McCann fund

VIRGIN chief Richard Branson voiced faith yesterday in the embattled parents of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann, whom he said have faced “trial by innuendo” in the Portuguese press.

The comments came after Branson pledged £100,000 (€144,000) for a legal fund to defend Kate and Gerry McCann, who are suspects in their daughter’s disappearance in southern Portugal.

“I trust them implicitly and I can’t think of anyone I know who’s had a worse time,” said the entrepreneur. “I wouldn’t have got involved if I didn’t feel good about them. I want to make sure they have the chance for their side of the story to be fairly told if they ever go to court, particularly in Portugal where they’ve already been tried by innuendo in the media.

“It’s going to be tough for them to get a fair trial and they need all the help they can get.”

The McCanns strongly deny any role in the disappearance of Madeleine, who vanished from her bedroom in an apartment in the southern Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3. The pair, both doctors, were with friends at a restaurant just metres away.

Branson added that he was pressing other wealthy people to contribute to a legal fund for the McCanns.

“I’m speaking to several people and hopefully there’ll be others helping with the legal costs,” he said. “One or two have already committed on an off-the-record basis.”

Yesterday, the McCann family appointed a new official spokesman, former BBC journalist Clarence Mitchell.