Madeleine McCann’s parents will ‘never stop hoping’ of finding their daughter

Madeleine McCann’s parents will ‘never stop hoping’ of finding their daughter as they face 14th anniversary of her disappearance alone as Covid cancels outdoor prayer gathering

  • The remembrance for Madeleine McCann has been cancelled for a second time
  • It would have been held at Rothley churches on her milestone 18th birthday 
  • The then three-year-old Madeleine went missing in May 2007 in Portugal  

Madeleine McCann’s parents say they will ‘never stop hoping’ to find their daughter as they face spending the 14th anniversary of her disappearance alone, according to a close relative. 

Kate and Gerry McCann will remember their daughter privately after an outdoor prayer gathering was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic. 

But the couple are asking well wishers to come together remotely to remember and pray for Madeleine, just days before her milestone 18th birthday on May 12th. 

The family will remember Madeleine privately on her 18th birthday on May 12

Three-year-old Madeleine, known as Maddie, vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal’s Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007. She had been left sleeping alone with her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining in a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

Maddie’s great uncle Brian Kennedy has said the family have never stopped hoping. 

The family usually hold gatherings to mark Maddie’s birthday but, for the second time, they have had to cancel due to coronavirus.  

‘We have decided with the Rothley churches that once again we will not hold a general gathering at the Green, though we had been hoping to do so,’ Mr Kennedy, 81, said. 

‘We all consider that distancing would still be a problem if the usual numbers were to attend and we wouldn’t feel entirely happy about that. So each of the churches will do their own service over Sunday and Monday and make them available as widely as possible by streaming.

The then three-year-old Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007

 The then three-year-old Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007

‘It’s not perfect but the important thing is to remember the day as widely as possible.’

Former GP Kate, 53 and heart doctor Gerry, 52 would  normally attend the Sacred Heart Catholic church near their home with twins Sean and Amelie, now aged 16.

In the evening the family would walk a mile to the war memorial where many supporters congregate for the annual informal prayers. 

A candle still burns around the clock at Cross Green as a beacon of hope for the world’s most famous missing child.

The family cling onto hope that Maddie could still be alive until they can be  ‘shown incontrovertible evidence which proves that she is dead,’ ex family spokesperson Clarence Mitchell previously said.

British cops have requested new funding to carry on the £12.5m global search for Madeleine McCann which is set to be approved by the Home Office

British cops have requested new funding to carry on the £12.5m global search for Madeleine McCann which is set to be approved by the Home Office

British cops have requested new funding to carry on the £12.5m global search for her which is set to be approved by the Home Office. 

Convicted paedophile and rapist Christian B (Brueckner), 44, remains under investigation as the prime suspect in Maddie’s abduction.