Madeleine McCann's sister has delivered a public statement as she marked the 16th anniversary of the disappearance.
As part of the poignant 16th anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, sister Amelie lit a candle as she joined her parents and other wellwishers. Later on she said: "It’s nice that everyone is here together but it’s a sad occasion.
A group of people gathered in the village of Rothley, Leicestershire to show support for Kate and Gerry, whose three-year-old daughter Maddie had gone missing in Portugal in May 2007. Among them was Amelie, with long blonde hair and dressed casually in navy leggings, trainers and a cream puffa jacket.
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She was warmly welcomed by the locals and supporters at the informal prayer gathering, along with Kate and Gerry. However, it was noticed that her twin brother Sean was not present.
Kate’s friend Fiona Payne, who was one of her "Tapas Seven" pals on the fateful holiday in Portugal, was also seen in the crowd. During the event, Amelie lit a candle for her sister and other missing children at the war memorial.
Adorning the black railing were pictures of Maddie, and a lantern of hope still glows around the clock in her memory. The gathering was a touching tribute to Maddie and a reminder that she has not been forgotten, 16 years after her disappearance from Praia da Luz in Portugal.
Mum Kate McCann was dressed in black jeans and a blue jacket as she joined in prayers at the event. However, neither she nor Gerry addressed the crowds directly. Kate’s close friend, Fiona, who is a doctor, read a touching poem by Emily Dickinson called “Hope is the thing with feathers” and later was seen warmly embracing the grieving mum.
The Rev. Rob Gladstone, vicar of the local parish church, led the prayers and spoke to the 70-strong crowd of supporters. He said that they had gathered to show their concern and love for Madeleine and for all young children who have been taken from their families against their will. He also encouraged them to keep up hope and to pray for a renewal of strength, even after such a long time.
Amelie, accompanied by her friend Georgina, joined in repeating mantras that were read out by various individuals in the crowd. These included: "Never never give up", "leave no stone unturned", "don’t forget about me" and "still missing, still missed."
Kate and Gerry hold onto the hope that Maddie, who would now be almost 20 years old, might still be alive. Kate’s uncle, retired head teacher Brian Kennedy, who attended the event, said that Kate and Gerry were deeply moved by the number of people who turned up to show their support: "After all these years people still assemble - some come every tine and some are new and we are very grateful."
Brian lives in the same village with his wife Janet, who addressed the gathered supporters: "16 years without someone and still not knowing where they are is a very long time. Even if it was bad news, in some ways, would give us some closure.
"But with no closure there is still hope."
Police forces in Germany are adamant that Maddie is dead, and have subsequently been trying to charge their prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who was revealed back in 2020 as their prime suspect for Maddie's kidnap and "no body" murder.
It has come to light that Brueckner, a convicted pedophile, may not be brought to trial for his alleged involvement in the high-profile disappearance of Madeleine McCann, due to a legal technicality pertaining to the jurisdiction of foreign courts - this applies to both the Maddie case and other unrelated alleged sex offenses.
Brueckner, aged 45, is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for the rape of an American tourist in Praia da Luz, the Portuguese resort where Maddie went missing in May 2007. Despite being a leading suspect in the case, he has consistently denied any involvement in her abduction.
This world-famous missing child mystery has yet to see any suspects charged.
British Police recently requested an increase in funding from the Home Office for the continuation of their investigation, known as Operation Grange, which has already cost taxpayers £13 million. Their request is set to be approved by a Special Grants committee, reports the Mirror.
Maddie was taken just nine days before her fourth birthday whilst she was sleeping alone with her younger twin siblings, Amelie and Sean. At that time of her disappearance, her parents had been dining in a nearby tapas restaurant.
Dad Gerry, a heart doctor, and mum Kate, a GP who is now a medical worker with dementia patients, both aged 45, have been previously quoted as saying: "We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace."
As Brueckner is still being investigated, the couple they have stated: "All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice."
The couple have previously said: "We are grateful for the ongoing work and commitment by the British, German and Portuguese police. It is this combined police effort which will yield results and bring us those answers."
Julie Wendell, a Polish girl, caused further distress to Kate and Gerry by claiming through various online posts worldwide that she is their missing child. Despite receiving negative DNA test results and despite her family's denials, she continues to insist that she is Madeleine, even though there is a year's difference in age between them.
Kate and Gerry had earlier posted a message on the official Find Maddie website, saying their daughter was "still very much missed" and they "await a breakthrough" in the police hunt for her.
They wrote: "Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction. Still missing...still very much missed. It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel.
"The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. Thank you to everyone for your support - it really helps."
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