Craven Herald

Relatives provide Christmas comfort for Maddy’s parents

first published Thursday 28th Dec 2007.

Kate and Gerry McCann were comforted by relatives in Skipton as they spent a heartbreaking first Christmas without their daughter, Madeleine.


Anne-Marie Wright with a picture of Madeleine

The couple, who have not seen the four-year-old for seven months, stayed with Kate's cousin, Anne-Marie Wright, on Park Avenue.

After arriving in the town on Christmas Eve, they tried to give their two other children, twins Amelie and Sean, as normal a Christmas as possible after the disappearance of their sister.

The two-year-olds also had Mrs Wright's children, Katie and Patrick, to play with during their break from their home in Leicestershire.

The McCanns attended Christmas Day mass with Mrs Wright and her husband Michael at St Stephen's Church, where Father Peter Dawber led a prayer for Madeleine's safe return. Kate returned to the church for mass again on Boxing Day.

She wore a badge featuring a picture of her missing daughter and the caption: "Look into my eyes! Help find Madeleine."

The McCanns declined to speak to the press this week, but Mrs Wright has previously told the Herald how they had received a great deal of support from people in the Skipton area.

She said: "They are a delightful family and Kate and Gerry are kind, caring, devoted parents. It makes you wonder why something as horrible as this can happen to such good people. Everyone in our family desperately wants Madeleine back with her mum, dad, brother and sister."

Kate released a message to the media in the hope her daughter would hear it over the Christmas period.

In the recording, Kate said: "Madeleine, it's mummy and daddy here. Just know how much we love you, Madeleine. We all miss you so much. Sean and Amelie talk about you all the time every day.

"Our only Christmas wish is for you to be back with us again and we're hoping and praying that that will happen."

On his blog, Gerry said the family had been touched by messages of support and cards from all over the world. Talking about the McCanns' plans for Christmas, it said: "Celebrating is the last thing we feel like doing; however we want Christmas to be as normal for Sean and Amelie as possible.

"Madeleine's return would obviously be the ultimate present for all of us and would bring tremendous joy to people all over the world."

The couple have set up a fund to help in the search. Their website is at http://www.findmadeleine.com.

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