re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

No more new on little maddie just saying what they said yesterday!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

im starting to think the worst now, shes been gone too long, nobody just "vanishes" like that, but i hope im wrong.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Said the same thing to the hubby last night, got a funny feeling this is not going to turn out happy! but lets hope we are wrong! 13 days is a long time!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...266028,00.html


looks like gorden brown has stepped in....should have said this days ago if you ask me

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

On sky news now a web site lauched its www.findmadeleine.com

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

This money is for -


The family of Madeleine McCann are to-day launching the Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturnedappeal. The funds will be used to help find Madeleine McCann, support her family and bring her abductors to justice. Any surplus funds will be used to help families and missing children in United Kingdom, Portugal and elsewhere in similar circumstances.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Hope this does not happen but if all leads go cold and they just don't think she is in Portugal any more then I would think that one day the Portugese police will say there's no more they can do,she could be anywhere in the world.In this case the money will be used to fund private detectives to continue with the search as the McCanns will not want to just give up.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

breaking news......
police searching new site in praia da luz!
police searching house of man who help robert murat set up website

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

My heart goes into my mouth every time I see breaking news now.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

A russian bloke has been taken away and a laptop and other stuff

Just been on radio lancs news at 9pm

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...266028,00.html

heres a link

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Me too.......

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Family statement at 3.30pm on sky news !

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

what was said in the statement at 3.30??....missed it!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...266279,00.html

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstor...name_page.html


A person says she has seen madeleine!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Hope that was a true sighting but she could be anywhere now.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I think that there are bound to be several 'sightings' now due to the large amount of money (2.5 million pounds) offered to anyone providing information that leads to Madeleine's safe return.It's very sad but some people will say say they've seen her in an attempt to get their hands on that money.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

the problem is with a little girl like maddy, she looks like alot of other little girls, im begining to think they are not gonna find her:(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Although our government have said they will do everything in their power to help to find Madeline McCann, they have decided not to give the trust set up in her name charitable status, thus meaning that thousands of pounds will go into Treasury coffers, instead of helping the cause. This is in the country that allows all private schools to have charitable status, and the tax breaks that come with it.

Disgraceful.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1814156.ece

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

garinda
ok the trust fund should not be taxed. but your point about private schools having tax breaks-whats wrong with that. they do a damn fine job in teaching kids i seem to remember you saying that your neices/nephews are being educated in private scools. am i right? so youre a hypocrite

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I dont think anyone will make it up Lilly as the money would only be given if they found her, so pretending that you'd seen her would be of no benefit.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

The trust can have charitable status if it applies to be a charity. It is not currently a charity from what I understand. Should it apply there is absolutely no reason why it would be refused a charity status. Once it becomes a charity it will then automatically have tax relief. If however, the trust decides not to apply to make it a charity then there is no reason why the government should arbitarily just award it tax relief. What the government has actually said is that it will not give it charitable status without it being a charity.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

if that is correct gayle, then its another shameful example of the crap we read in the press, also grego wish you were correct, but some sickos in society will try anything for their 5 mins of fame, and WILL give false info. everytime there is a murder anywhere theres usually 5/6 false confessions. perhaps you got to much faith in people?

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

How does that make me a hypocrite? I don't chose where my brother sends his children to school. Therefore my pointing out that private schools are seen as charitable institutions, when they educate the wealthiest in society, in relation to the fact that the Madeline McCann trust isn't too receive the same status, isn't hypocritical at all.

Simple. Perhaps you shoud have paid a little more attention in school yourself.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

As far as I understand it has applied, but has been turned down by HM Revenue and Customs already, because the fund isn't seen as 'for the wider public good'.





'In addition, the fund will not benefit from gift aid, a form of tax relief that allows charities to claim from the government an additional 28p for every £1 they receive in donations. And tax will have to be paid on all interest accrued by the fund.


Last night the Treasury refused to intervene, insisting it was the preserve of HM Revenue & Customs to decide tax liability.
The development will embarrass Gordon Brown who told Madeleine’s family last week he would do all he could to help on “a practical and a personal level”.


The decision on charitable status could hit the family’s efforts to trace Madeleine. Her parents Kate and Gerry are considering hiring a private investigator amid concern over the way police have handled the hunt. A FUND to finance the international search for Madeleine McCann will be forced to pay Vat and denied tax breaks worth tens of thousands of pounds after being refused charitable status writes Mark Macaskill.


The Madeleine fund has already received almost £80,000 from the public and businesses. Madeleine’s parents had hoped for charity status for the fund but were turned down by the Charity Commission because the money raised is not for the “wider public good”.


Instead, the fund has been registered as a company, which means it is liable to pay Vat at 17.5% on advertising costs and goods designed to raise funds, such as stickers. Charities are eligible for “zero rate” tax relief on such expenses.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

No, it has applied to the government to be treated as charitable status even though it's not a charity. It is a company and therefore eligible for tax. You can't be both things and yet they've asked the government if they can be an exception - why should they be allowed that?

As for VAT, they can claim VAT relief on other things instead. They'll be able to claim VAT back and other tax reliefs. You can't have it both ways.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

They were turned down as a charitable trust because of it being exclusively concerned with one child, Madeline.

Perhaps they need a 'grant getter' to explain if they changed the fund to be about all missing children, they may stand a better chance.;)

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Which actually isn't such a bad idea anyway. What's going to happen in a few months time when Madeleine is either found or the search is ended, the trust could then go towards other parents in the same situation. Thus, they'd be able to become a charity and problem solved.

As it happens though, they can probably get just as many tax breaks as a company than as a charity - just different ones.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

thats my view. from your viewpoint you find this issue simple. thats your view. perhaps your goodself should accept the fact that everbody has an opiion and yes it may differ from yours. no need to go back to school then.oh and not everyone who goes to private school is wealthy. i think your confusing private school with public school. on that basis perhaps i ought to think that you suffered from attention deficit order at school

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I'm not going to allow this thread to turn into an argument. I'm quite aware of the fact that private schools are called 'public schools' in this country, as I attended one myself, as did my father, and grandfather.

I think it's awfully nice of you to think that public schools, who are in the business of selling education, should receive the same charitable status and the benefical tax breaks that entails, as other children's charities Although I agree with private education in principle, I don't really classify public schools in the same bracket as the NSPCC, or children's hospices such as Darian House.

Public (private) schools are businesses. Charities which actually help children who are suffering, should be, and are, given the relevant tax advantages.

Simple. No hypocrisy, and I sincerely hope the money raised for Madeline McCann's fund benefits from the same tax rules in the future.

For God's sake, they aren't selling bloody ribbons to make a profit, it isn't a business. It's about raising awareness, and hopefully finding her safe and well.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

garinda
wasnt it yourself who introduced the topic of private schools as a comparison.
i havent tried ti hijack the thread thats just you assuming -as usual. oh bye the way there is a distinction between private and public school. the latter is usually the preserve of the wealthy and well connected. your trying to make out that public and private (school)are the same thing. thats why your trying to say that you went to public school to make it out in your own head that you were once a frock coat wearing Harrow boy. i dont think so you must have been privately educated at quegs or maybe if youre a women at westholme. hardly public school!!! you wish!!!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I also think it's disgusting that some sick people are jumping on the bandwagon, by producing non-offical websites about this poor child, that are making money by selling advertising space on them.:(

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1810536.ece

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Its three weeks today since Maddie was abducted and still no news of her, dont know how her parents are staying so strong:(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Neither do I.Their minds must be racing with wondering where is she?who's got her?Is she dead?Is she alive?If she is alive what's happening to her? And the worst thing is that they may never know the answers and will have to live like that for the rest of their lives.Just awful.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Amen, to that Rindy, no matter what the point of view let's hope that finding her safe and well, will be the eventual outcome.:)

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Police in Portugal say they are looking for a suspect seen carrying a child in the resort of Praia da Luz on the evening Madeleine McCann disappeared from her apartment.

He is said to be a white male, aged 35 - 40, of medium build. He was seen at 21.30 carrying a child on May 3.:confused:


shouldnt have this been told weeks ago??:mad:
surly they havent just got this info.....have they?

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Maybe its the way the police over there operate. Its easy for us to say they shoud be doing it this way and that basing it on how our own police forces operate. They must have there reasons or they might just have found out about it and they are following it up.

I believe that it sadley might be too late for a happy outcome to this unfortunate episode though a tiny part of me still holds out some hope being a parent myself.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Me too Spuggie .. if it were in UK we would have given up hope, but does seem to be more abduction for other purposes in other European countries .. so sorta' hope this is the case.

I had a weird thought, that as technology moves on, maybe a facility could be considered/developed whereby we could 'chip' our little ones, not exactly electronic tagging, (as we do our cars) to track them wherever they are. Of course, realise all the human right's side,etc., but seems a technical possibility to me.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

That crossed my mind too. After all you can tag pets. It might infact create more danger, if the persons responsible didn't want to be traced.:(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Yes, I know Garinda .. everything would have to be looked into for the safety of the child .. could create more bodily harm to destroy the chip by the offender, if you know what I mean, however, bet someone, somewhere is working on this, and think it will definitely be a futuristic possibility.

Hope not too late for little Maddy though .. she is so pretty and probably not an advantage in this case. Anyway, hope whoever has got her rots in hell.!!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

A friend of mine works for child social services (not entirely sure what it's officially called), we thought she'd be up in arms about chipping babies and young children but she actually was all for it. Her suggestion was that the chip would be positioned just under the skin and never in the same spot on a child that way no one would know immediately where to look.

My only problem with it is that the 'bad' people would just use metal detectors on the child and find where it was hidden.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

only problem I see with using these tags , they are only used for identification after the lost pet/child is has been recovered , don't think technology has been developed yet which enables power packs that small unlike tracking devices used on the ankle things

:( :(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Not talking about what is available now Steeljack .. can track a car though can't we? so already tracking devices are available, and maybe some sort of adaption can be finalised in the future.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Saw on tv this morning a company will put a chip which can be tracked by gps into clothing or a teddy, I can see lots of problems with this ie ditch the coat/teddy but you never know what will be available in years to come.
As for the new suspect, in most holiday resorts you will see parents carrying their children at that time of night ususally on their way back to their apt. Personally dont think she's in Portugal anymore, still hope they find her safe and well, how anyone can do this is beyond me.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Have refrained from comments so far but I can't help but blame the parents;I have read their articles in the papers and I am sure the guilt will never leave them,but it's something you just do NOT do. I have taken my child on holiday to Spain every year since she was 8 months old (now 11) and she has never been out of my sight ; on beaches,on funfairs,in pools etc. It's awful that this has happened and I really hope for a happy outcome.To be honest our kids are more at risk here in their own country than on holiday,but you let your guard down as soon as you get off the plane,hence you get robbed ,you get mugged and as we have now seen,even worse.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Hello i went to the church to night and iam still praying that they will find this little girl,may i say god bless and i hope she is found safely and i hope its not long

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Portuguese police say they have not found anything in a search of scrubland nine miles from where four-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing.
Officers said the line of inquiry had now been "discarded".

thank god for that!, lets hope they do find her alive

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

As they only started the search this morning it doesn't seem to have been as thorough as it would, perhaps, in this country. Of course I don't want them to find the child's body, I sincerely hope she is alive, but have they looked hard enough?

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I think the parents need to stop walking around smiling and laughing like theres nothing wrong. Theres looking hopeful and then theres looking like you are enjoying the publicity of your missing child all too much.

I think the only time ive seen them look upset recently is when that reporter suggested more and more people think it was them who did it. Where they really upset at the fact someone has the nerve to accuse them or where they upset in case someone found out the truth?

I hate to be cynical but there hasnt been much investigation into the family themselves and over here they'd be treated like the key suspects. I know they had dna samples and stuff to check them out but if the portugal police are being sloppy with the rest of the investigation, who's to say they didnt check them thoroughly?

That little girl isnt dead, she'll be somewhere still alive and it wont surprise me one bit if it ends up being something to do with them, if not, maybe they shouldnt be walking around laughing and joking like there little girls safe with them when police think she's in the hands of a network of paedophiles.

Would you be smiling at all if that was a possibility with your child? Doubtful.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Blazey, when someone you love dies, or disappears, you are devastated but you can't spend the rest of your life with a frown on your face and a tear in your eye. You go out into the world and smile, the tears are for private time. Life must go on, if only for the sake of other people, and sometimes it's quite acceptable to laugh even though your heart is breaking.

You must remember that this couple have 2 other small childen and they have to try to make life as normal as possible for them. I don't entirely agree with their way of going about publicising what has happened but I do understand their motivation. I'm quite sure they have not harmed their child, equally sure that life is now a nightmare for them, but would you have them do nothing but weep and tear their hair?

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Life must go on but she hasnt been gone that long. My friend died in december and I've still caught my self crying in public because certain things have reminded me about it.
I just think they are acting very unreasonable to say their childs been gone over a month and suspected to be held by a ring of paedophiles.

And making life as normal as possible for two young children is going home and sleeping in the safety of their own house, not being lugged around the world on a publicity campaign.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I was one of the people who initially crtiticised the couple's decision to leave the children in the apartment, and I stand by the fact that I haven't, and wouldn't, leave children in my care out of sight/earshot. I wouldn't even leave my passport or wallet on the bed in a locked holiday apartment whilst having dinner.

However I certainly wouldn't comment on how someone is supposed to act in this terrible circumstance. We are all different, and I'm sure if the parents sat inside a darkened room screaming and shouting, it wouldn't help them, or their cause of keeping this story in the public domain.

Sixteen years ago I had an eighteen year old cousin who was murdred at home in Bolton-le-Sands, Crimewatch reconstruction, the lot. It was a terrible time, especially for his grieving family. What was the hardest cross to bear wasn't the fact that his family had to be treated as suspects, but the fact that memebers of the public felt able to pass comment on how grief was shown, and that it might be seen as some sort of implication.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I am sorry about that, thats truly horrible.

But I also cant imagine that your family went campaigning to find the killer whilst laughing on tv, because its ridiculous. Theres a difference between having a smile and a laugh and skipping around the world acting like princess diana and trying to get celebrity status.

Theres enough children missing in our country alone, never mind the entire world yet we're being forced to watch this story day in and day out about the same. Whats so special about this one compared to the other millions? The only reason its on telly is for the controversy of what people think.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Nothing.

But I'd do anything, if it were my child, to keep the story hot in the media, in the hope that it might help find her. Laugh, smile, have my photograph taken, walk across hot coals, whatever it took.

If this is all they feel they can proactively do, I'll not criticise them for it.

Hiding away, and crying, and screaming, won't help find this child.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

That's an excellent point. Although truly a horrendous incident, I can't help wondering about all the good that the money they have raised could do for other missing children. The fund was over half a million last time I heard and rather than flying around in private jets, think of all the good that could have been done.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

You can't criticise the parents for the amount of money members of the public have sent in. Although according to the police it may have hindered the investigation, it's the public's response. I've never seen the parents appealing for cash, just publicity, which it is their right to do so.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

people act differently when showing their emotions, i know if it was my child i would not be able to go in front of people, i would be in bits!
and i seriously doubt the parents have anything to do with this!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Hmmmm.... where did I say that? I merely commented that more good could have been done with the money than swanning off around Europe. It could have been used to help other children, then at least some good could have come out of this mess.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Plus their uncle quit his job and became chairman of the charity so he conveniently gets a nice cut of the charitable funds.

The money should go towards private investigators then they dont need to keep complaining about portugals police force and complaining about them in the papers

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I am fortunate enough never to have had the horror of losing a child either by death or in this awful way but I did see my husband, who was a big strong man, die within 2 days from meningococcal septicaemia at the age of 55 - 11 years ago next week. Suffering from shock as well as grief, I couldn't function and didn't eat for a week, spending a lot of time with my head in my hands, sobbing. I had 3 grown up children and they got me through but I had to take stock and realize they were grieving too. None of them had had the chance to say goodbye to him and they were hurting too but they had put me first. I had to let them see that I was all right, for their sakes.

I laughed with them, after the funeral, when my husband's friends came back to the house. I felt like screaming but I didn't, I smiled. I went back to work and I put my "professional head" on, it helped, then I went home each evening and howled. It's what you have to do or you go mad. Though sometimes I couldn't stop the odd tear, I did my best not to cry when other people were around. Public grief is no more genuine than private grief.

I don't agree with the media hype the case has generated and I think the public has latched on to this in an unhealthy way, similar to when Diana died. I totally agree with those who point out that many other children have gone missing, and worse, without the hysteria that we have seen here. I don't, however, blame the McCanns for wanting to do everything they can in the belief that it will help. I felt guilty when my husband died because I hadn't called a doctor earlier, thinking he had gastric flu, the symptoms were identical. I can imagine how they must feel having left that child unattended, albeit only a few yards away. Whatever the outcome, that feeling of guilt will never leave them and is probably driving them to do things they might not, otherwise, do.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I quite agree. The money people have sent, unasked for by her parents, seems to be some way for people to assuage some sort of public guilt/grief, in the same way they did after Diana died.

Don't blame the parents for sending in this money. People chose to do so. They had, and have, every opportunity to other gift money to charities dealing with missing children etc.

If I was her father, and it meant using this money to publicise Madeline's disappearance, in the hope she may yet be found, I'd do it.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Says it all really.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Its like one circle of exploitation if you ask me. Its funny that theyre going round places where madeleine is going to stand out like a sore thumb.
How about touring places that have white children with blonde hair were her kidnappers would most likely take her to hide?
They arent going to be trying to hide a blonde haired girl in the middle of a coloured community are they?

They're exploiting madeleine going missing to pay for them to stay abroad rather than returning their other 2 childrens lives back to normal at home whilst the police do their work, and theyre exploiting good people by waving a charity in their face and making them feel like they should care about this one little girl.

They aren't completely wrong when they describe her as one in a million. One in a million of other lost children in the world. She isnt any more special than them and theres nothing that makes me think i need to donate to a charity to help find that one single missing child when there are charities to help focus on finding ALL missing children.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Your naiveity is almost funny, almost.

You never heard of hair dye?

I think the parents have been targeting countries with strong tourist links to that part of the Algarve, or places which will generate the most publicity, such as the Vatican.

Just a note. Since you've said you intend to study law in the future, the term 'colored' which you used, as been deemed offensive for at tleast the last thirty years, and might not go down to well in court.

Instead of criticising Madeline's parents, who have never pleaded for public money, and seem to be doing the only thing they can think of to help the search, why not go and do something proactive for another charity if you're so keen?

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

That sounds awfully cruel. Exploiting their daughter's disappearance in order to stay abroad? Could you really believe that? As a parent I can understand the need to feel close to where the child was last with them. I'm sure they would much rather be at home with all of their children than to have one of them disappear so they can exploit that as an excuse to stay abroad.:(


To every loving parent their own child is 'one in a million'. That's the special bond a parent has with a child. How could they describe her as anything less? :(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

i think i need glasses!, i cant believe some of the things said on ere!!

some people dont know what they are talking about!:(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I just hope she is found soon bless her. x

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

exactly mummiboo:), poor thing!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

The search for Madeleine has been taken to Spain and Morocco
Police in Malta say they are investigating possible sightings of Madeleine McCann, 50 days after she disappeared from a Portuguese resort.
A number of UK tourists have reported seeing a child resembling the missing four-year-old in the island's capital, Valletta, and the resort of Sliema.

One said he saw a couple with a girl, who appeared to be wearing a black wig.

Meanwhile, yellow balloons will be released in 50 countries to keep up vigilance in the search for Madeleine.

Superintendent Pierre Calleja said Maltese police had received a report last Sunday of a possible sighting.

"Subsequent to this report, a full scale police investigation and a magisterial inquiry were initiated," he said.

"These investigations are actively in progress and all possible avenues are being pursued."

A spokesman for Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, said they were not giving credence to the claims at this stage.

Kites and doves

Madeleine went missing from Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May.

Her parents, from Rothley in Leicestershire, will release 50 yellow balloons from the resort's beach today to mark the 50 days since her disappearance.

Supporters in countries including Ireland, Argentina, the US, Singapore and Australia will then follow suit.

In Afghanistan, campaigners will fly 50 kites emblazoned with pictures of the missing four-year-old, a report on the FindMadeleine website said.

And in California, 50 white doves will be released.

A message from the McCanns on the website said: "The objective is simple - after seven weeks missing, we must continue to ensure she is not forgotten."

The McCanns are also considering releasing a cover version of the Bryan Adams' song Everything I Do, I Do It For You, in an effort to raise more money for their campaign.

Speaking to Sky News Mr McCann said: "That song, at the minute, best reflects how Kate and I feel emotionally and how determined we are to continue searching for Madeleine.

Maltese newspaper In-Nazzjon reported that two tourists told police they had seen a girl matching Madeleine's description in Valletta.

Other reports said four more people had subsequently come forward with possible sightings.

A Maltese magistrate has taken evidence from those claiming to have seen Madeleine.

'Pitch black' hair

Ray Roberts, from Anglesey, north Wales, said he saw a child in Sliema wearing what looked like a black wig and being told "Get up, little girl" by a man of Arab appearance.

"It was obviously not his first language so it seemed odd that he had to speak to her in English," Mr Roberts said.

"As a father, their reaction did not seem natural."

He added: "Then I noticed the little girl's hair.

"It was pitch black, very thick and cut in an unusual style for a child that age - very much like a wig rather than real hair.

"The more I think about what I saw the more convinced I become that it may well have been Maddie.

"The oddness of it all played out in my mind until I got home then I realised I had to do something."

The McCanns' spokeswoman said they were not focusing on the sightings until more information was available from an official source.

"Their whole attitude from day one has been that they know there are going to be lots of bits of information, but if they expended energy on every single one of them what would they be like by now?" she said.









omg i hope this is good news

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Cheers Cherokee......

I don’t really understand these people who say that they might have seen her? If it was me I’d contact the local police immediately and follow the suspects until help arrived, no point in buggering about making claims after the event.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

thats true she could be miles away if that was her, its been 50 days now, time is running out!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Me too.I also hope that the scum who pinched Gerry McCann's wallet the other day whilst he was in the UK find it in themselves to return the precious photos of Madeleine that were in there.Talk about kicking someone while they're down.:(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I'm sure the thief didn't target him because of who he was. I know if I passed him in the street I wouldn't really recognise him. It was awful to lose his photos, bad enough to be robbed, but awful things do happen to all sorts of people. Let's not get too carried away.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Have you read about these sightings in Malta over the last couple of days?Apparently 12 different people have said that they've spotted Madeleine in Malta but didn't report it until hours later.If they think they've seen her why don't they do something sooner?If I thought I'd seen her I wouldn't keep it to myself,I'd go over,strike up a conversation with the people she was with and have a better look at her.If I still thought it was her I'd act immediately.I wouldn't run off with her or anything but I'd ring the police on the spot and if it wasn't Madeleine then the people who had her would have no problem if they were innocent and at least I'd know I'd done my best rather than torturing myself with it later on.I can't understand the mentality of these people who don't act on the spot,that's if they really do think they've spotted her and they're not just idiots trying to get their name in the paper.:confused:

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I agree Lilly, usually go in feet first myself, and hope I would have done the same, even if embarrassment followed. The pupil is such a distinguishing mark and a closer look would be justified I think.

There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about this little girl, what she is going through, or sadly, what she went through.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Sky news currently reporting a man and woman arrested for abduction.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Just been on the BBC news that an Italian man has been arrested in connection with the case.

No news of Madeline yet.

Fingers crossed.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Latest report here:Italian man said arrested in Madeleine kidnapping | UK | Reuters

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Please let this be the breakthrough we have all been hoping for.I would like nothing more than to see a picture of Madeleine reunited with her parents.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

we all do lilly, but its getting longer and longer......

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

heard the people arrested had attempted to defraud the mcanns IE, reward money for information, just seems a couple of scumbags NOT info about where the child is.:(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

its unbelievable that there are folk out there doing things like this, they must be wrong in the head!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

breaking news....
Suspect Quizzed Over Madeleine |Sky News|MADELEINE

probably will become nothing again:(

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

They must know something about this chap, they are not allowed to disclose anything about the case, maybe DNA evidence has turned something up:confused:

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

Hope she turns up soon, you'd think if he had anything to do with it they'd have found it by now.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

A Portuguese newspaper has claimed that traces of blood have been found in the apartment from which Madeleine McCann was taken.
Detectives have so far refused to comment on the report that appeared in the Jornal de Noticias.
It said blood was discovered on a wall last week after a scent was picked up by British sniffer dogs specially trained to find remains of bodies.
Police now believe it is most likely the four-year-old is dead, having been killed accidentally, the newspaper said.:(

But there has been no official confirmation of this !!!!

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

I've been hoping that the DNA taken last week would be a positive sighting, results due in the next couple of days.

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

funny it had to be a British sniffer dog who sniffed it out, why didnt the Portuguese police find this??

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

If I was ever in court and looked at the jury to see you lot I would panick..

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

:eek:why?...lol

re: Missing child in Portugal - Madeleine McCann
 

That blood should have been picked up on day one.Think how the parents felt when they were told what these dogs had found.It's terrible that it's taken 3 months.Also the search the Portugese police did of Robert Murat's garden was very very poor.The British police have now looked in bushes and shrubs,which the Portugese police failed to do.In the paper today there is a long list of blunders made by the Portugese police who do not deal with these sort of crimes and are so blatently out of their depth in this case.It's great that the British police have now intervened and hopefully the truth about what happened to Madeleine is not far from being discovered ,but why have the Portugese blundered on on their own for 3 months?This will only have added to the family's distress.