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Kate and Gerry McCann: We can't face giving each other Christmas presents
Last updated at 18:52pm on 23.12.07Kate and Gerry McCann will not be giving each other presents on Christmas Day.
They have agreed it would be inappropriate to celebrate between themselves when they spend the day at Kate's parents in Liverpool.
They have told friends they cannot face Christmas at home in Rothley, Leicestershire, although they have bought their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie gifts and have decorated a tree in yellow tinsel, the colour of a safe homecoming.
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Kate and Gerry have made a Xmas appeal for their missing daughter Madeleine and will not be exchanging gifts this year as it does not feel appropriate
Gerry's sister Philomena said: "Nobody has been talking about Christmas. We just want it to pass. Even mentioning the word feels terrible.
"I'm sure Kate and Gerry will do something special for the twins but we have agreed that none of the adults in the family are buying Christmas presents for each other."
Kate's father Brian Healy, 67, added: "Kate wishes it wasn't Christmas."
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Madeleine McCann in the video from last Christmas... she has been missing since May 3rd
Gifts have been coming to the family home from strangers all week. Cardiologist Gerry received a huge box of children's toys on Friday while at work at Glenfield hospital in Leicester.
Some will be kept for Madeleine's return, while others will be sent to an orphanage in Belarus.
Kate and Gerry have also issued a video appeal for information, in which Kate tells Madeleine: "We all miss you so much. Be brave, sweetheart. Our only Christmas wish is for you to be back with us again."
Meanwhile, a British paedophile is under suspicion over Madeleine's abduction, according to UK police sources.
Soon after Madeleine vanished, Portuguese detectives were sent details of 52 known sex offenders with links to the Algarve.
All but one have been eliminated from the investigation - but the man's identity has not been revealed.
The information was supplied by the Child Exploitation and On-line Protection Centre, whose specialist staff arrived in Portugal within days of Madeleine's disappearance.
Reader views (9)
To those of you commenting along the lines of "Get these people out of the paper now!"- Why have you pressed an internet link to read this page about these people you apparently don't want to read about?
I guess the irony (and stupidity) of your comments must escape you?
- Katie, Scotland
Keep Madeleine in the public eye! The parents are doing what they think is best to find their daughter. I for one no matter why or how she went, will offer my support. I would hate to be in a situation where a child of mine were missing. There is a lot of nasty remarks out there, but I can hold my head up and know I supported two parents who have lost a child.
- Jacqui, Wales UK
As long as there is no proof against them, but they remain "official suspects", they deserve a place in the newspapers.
- Alex, Heidelberg, Germany
"Sinbad" : I would never, never leave one (or 2, or 3 or more) of my little children alone in a room with the door to the street left unlocked. That is the basic problem.
Also, "Sinbad" : I would answer any and all questions the police asked me rather than decline to answer and run away. We all have great sympathy with dear little Madeleine, but many of us have extreme difficulties understanding her parents.
- Monica Masters, Cheshire
No more about the McCanns PLEASE! If they want to say anything, then they should go to Portugal and answer the police's 40 questions. I don't like the McCanns at all, but I have full sympathy for their poor missing child.
- Billy Smatt, Exeter
May God forgive you people for your horrible comments.
I take it if one of your children was stolen, you would just say hey ho these things happen.
If you dont like the McCanns, dont read the newspapers.
- Sinbad, England
Sure everyone will sympathize with the parents of a lost child but it might be better if the McCanns kept a lower profile and did the only thing that appears to be missing, answering the Police questions.
- Ck, England
Oh please, what a charade.
- Jon, London
Get these people out of the paper NOW!
- Trunk, US
