Madeleine McCann's parents 'still haunted' by her disappearance as they mark 13 years since she went missing
Madeleine McCann's heartbroken parents are still "haunted" by her disappearance as they mark 13 years since she went missing during a family holiday in Portugal.
Kate and Gerry McCann were to be joined by supporters and well-wishers for a prayer gathering to mark 13 years since Madeleine was last seen in Portugal's Praia da Luz resort, the Daily Mirror reports. But due to social distancing measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, the physical gathering has been replaced by a virtual coming together of Maddie's supporters.
Kate and Gerry said they were thinking of those suffering in lockdown at the moment just days ahead of the annual event.
"There will be many vulnerable people whose situation will have become even more precarious in the current lockdown conditions, with fear, worry, and isolation - emotions that we dreaded Madeleine experiencing and which haunted us for a long time - and still do on occasions," they wrote on the Find Maddie website. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those suffering at this time."
The embattled couple also noted how Madeleine's 17th birthday was just around the corner.
"Her 17th birthday is to follow in the next couple of weeks - the latter tangibly, painfully, bringing it home to us what we have missed and continue to miss as a family," they said. “I don't think any of us could have predicted the situation we all find ourselves in currently."
"It shows how easy it is to become complacent with our lives and circumstances, albeit a totally normal and understandable, human characteristic," Kate and Gerry explained. "We have been fortunate to spend more time together as a family since lockdown began, an enforced block to a usually frenetic life, a silver lining to this dark cloud."
"It has made us think about Madeleine even more, as she would have shared this period of special closeness with us too," they continued.
Nonetheless, the McCanns have not given up hope despite no sign of their daughter thirteen years after she went missing.
"The investigation to find Madeleine remains open and continues, even though, in a way different to the ideal," they wrote. "We remain grateful for the ongoing efforts and commitment from all those involved in the search to find her and we hope and pray, as always, that our efforts will be fruitful."
"Please take care and please spare a thought or prayer for Madeleine and all missing children this weekend," they added. "Here's hoping that more 'normal', safe and happy times are close at hand."
Madeleine was just three years old when she disappeared in Praia da Luz.
British law enforcement has requested more funding to continue its search for Maddie. However, it is yet to be approved by the Home Office.
“It is good news that the Met Police are seeking a new budget to continue the hunt for Madeleine. Kate and Gerry are greatly encouraged that officers still believe there is active work left to be done," family spokesman Clarence Mitchell recently said. “Whilst an active investigation is ongoing it gives them hope that one day they will find out what happened to their daughter after all these years."
"The Met has an iron will determination to find the answers Kate and Gerry so desperately want," he added.