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Press hindered Maddy search, says McCann
Paul Waugh10 Mar 2009
The father of Madeleine McCann lambasted the media today, claiming that he and his family had been the focus of the most sensationalist and "damaging reporting in the history of the press".
Gerry McCann told MPs that coverage by the press and broadcasters had undermined the search for his daughter because they assumed - without evidence - that she was dead.
Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, southern Portugal, on 3 May 2007, while her parents dined with friends nearby.
Despite a huge police operation and publicity worldwide, she has not been found. In March last year Express Newspapers agreed to pay the couple £550,000 in libel damages over false claims that they were responsible for their daughter's death.
Mr McCann told the Culture, Media and Sport select committee how he and his wife, Kate, felt that within days of their daughter's disappearance, the "speculative" coverage by the media was "not at all helpful to us".
He said the family had decided to engage with the media because they believed publicity could help provide information on Madeleine's whereabouts, but Mr McCann said he was convinced that some stories had been "blatantly made up" by journalists. He said when the couple were declared "arguidos" or formal suspects, there followed a "free for all" from the British press.
"Madeleine I believe was made a commodity and profits were to be made. The worst stories that were printed in this country were based on articles that had been published in Portugal." Mr McCann insisted financial gain was what drove the newspapers' interest rather than the interests of his daughter and the family.
"The most damning thing of all of this and the most damaging aspect of the coverage, which Kate and I cannot forgive, is the presentation that there is a substantial body of evidence that Madeleine is dead. When there is no evidence to suggest she has been seriously harmed," he said.
"If you portray that a missing child is dead and people believe she's dead without due evidence, then people stop looking," Mr McCann added.
Reader views (6)
For me it was just a relentless and hysterical bombardment of inescapable Maddy Mania that could never be stopped.
Very sad the girl is missing. A more subdued approach would have been wiser.
- Robert, richmond bc, 11/03/2009 21:49
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The parents' relentless search must go on. Shame on the media for obstructing the potential return of Madeleine to her parents!
- Igazi Hazug, Budapest, Hungary, 11/03/2009 17:39
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I suggest that the British press get hold of copies of the police files and help the McCanns sift through all the information. Surely with all the great minds working in the media they should be able to look at all the available evidence and help to find out what happened to that poor little girl? The McCanns and the media working together to discover the truth.
- Bazza, London, 11/03/2009 10:18
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Madeleine and her parents have been through so much since 3 May 2007. I still believe that she can be found. She is out there somewhere, all it needs is one telephone call to end this heartbreaking story. Please keep looking - Madeleine has been missing for far too long, she needs to come home.
- Jean, knutsford, cheshire, 10/03/2009 23:59
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I for one will never stop 'looking' .....the McCann family are part of my consciousness now . I hope with all my heart for a positive resolution.
- Lynn, cheshire, 10/03/2009 22:40
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i agree whole heartly with the macanns. the british press especially should have supported the macanns, pressed the portugese officials and continue now to keep the beautiful face of madeline in the press so people contiue looking for her, perhaps to make-up they could offer a large reward afterall a dear sweet child is still missing. people please pray for her safe return soon!
- Ferzana, peterborough, 10/03/2009 21:13
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