Madeleine fund 'not for legal fees'

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Kate and Gerry McCann have appointed top lawyers in Portugal and Britain after being named as formal suspects in their daughter's disappearance.

Speaking from the McCanns' home village of Rothley in Leicestershire, family spokesman David Hughes said: "They have decided not to seek to use those funds for their legal support."

Donations totalling £1,036,104.17 have so far been received for Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned, according to the official campaign website.

The fund - which for legal reasons is not a charity - has four objectives, one of which is "to provide support, including financial assistance, to Madeleine's family".

There was controversy about whether or not Mr and Mrs McCann would use money from the fund to pay their legal costs after it became clear police suspected them of involvement in her disappearance.

The board of the fund later met to discuss the issue. Director Esther McVey, who chaired the meeting, said the board would be legally entitled to pay the fees but had decided not to.

She said: "The board has been advised that the payment of Gerry and Kate's legal defence costs would be legally permissible, subject to conditions about repayment in the event of guilty convictions.

"The fund's directors realise there is not only a legal answer but recognise too the spirit which underlies the generous donations to Madeleine's fund which it is the directors' responsibility to steer.

"For this reason the fund's directors have decided not to pay for Gerry and Kate's legal defence costs. We stress that Gerry and Kate have not asked for those costs to be paid."