Fritzl's family break silence

The family of Austrian dungeon pervert Josef Fritzl have spoken out for the first time, thanking the public for its support.

Fritzl confessed last month to keeping his daughter in a dungeon below his home for 24 years and fathering seven children with her.

The daughter, Fritzl’s wife, and six surviving cellar children have hand written a poster which has been put up in the centre of their hometown of Amstetten.

They expressed that public sympathy is helping them make it through this difficult time and that one day they hope to lead normal lives.

Most are currently recovering from their ordeal in a psychiatric clinic.

The poster also contains individual messages inside the outlines of their hands from Friztl's wife Rosemarie (who signs herself grandma); her daughter Elisabeth, 42, who suffered countless rapes by Fritzl, and her children: Stefan 18, Lisa 16, Monika 14, Alexander 12 and Felix, five.

Elisabeth's eldest daughter Kerstin is still seriously ill in hospital. Her collapse in the dungeon led to the scandal being exposed.

The poster reads: "We, the whole family, would like to use this occasion to thank you all for your sympathy with our circumstances. Your compassion helps us very much to cope with this difficult time and shows us that there are also good and honourable people.

"We hope that a time will come for us in which we will find ourselves back into normal life again.

In the hands: "Stefan: I miss my sister. I am happy to have freedom and my family. I want sun, fresh air and nature.

"Alexander: I wish for freedom, strength and the sunshine. I miss the fire brigade, school and my sister Kerstin.

"Oma (grandma) : I want to be able to live in peace with my children with strength and the help of God. I miss my dear friends and my freedom.

"Elisabeth: Wishes: The recovery of my daughter, Kerstin. The children's love. Protection of the family. People with hearts and understanding.

"Lisa : Wishes: Health. That everything will be good. Love. Good Fortune. I miss: Kerstin, school, friends, nature.

"Felix: To walk about, to drive in a car, to play ball, to swim, to play with children, friendship, to walk in the meadow.

"Monika: Wishes: Kerstin becomes healthy. A lot of love. That everything will be over quickly. I miss: The fire brigade, music school, friends, school, Kerstin."