'It's a sad occasion': Amelie McCann speaks out for the first time in 16 years after her sister Madeleine went missing in Portugal
ROTHLEY, ENGLAND: The sister of Madeleine McCann, the three-year-old who went missing during a family holiday in Portugal on May 3, 2007, has spoken publicly for the first time. Amelie McCann, now 18, joined her parents Kate and Gerry McCann on the 16th anniversary that marked the disappearance of her sister. However, her twin brother Sean was not present. Amelie and Sean were two years old at the time Madeleine went missing.
Breaking her silence, Amelie said while lighting a candle for her sister and other missing children, as stated by DailyMail, “It’s nice that everyone is here together but it’s a sad occasion." She was pictured by the outlet with her long blonde hair, wearing navy blue leggings along with a cream puffer jacket. The vigil took place two weeks after a court said it had decided not to hear a sex offenses case against Christian Bruckner, who is a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance. The suspect was charged in other cases with three offenses of aggravated rape of women and two offenses of sexual abuse of children. The offenses took place in Portugal between December 2000 and July 2017, states The Guardian.
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Who was present at the vigil?
Kate's close friend Fiona Payne, who had joined the family on the 2007 holiday in Portugal, was also present at the vigil, DailyMail reported. Amelie was accompanied by her friend Georgina, who joined in repeating mantras read out by individual people saying, “Never never give up”, “leave no stone unturned”, “don’t forget about me” and “still missing, still missed."
Rob Gladstone, the vicar of the local parish church, led the prayers and told supporters, “We are here this evening to show our loving concern for Madeleine and for all young children who have been taken away from their families against their will. We are also here to encourage one another to keep up hope and pray for a renewal of strength even after this long time.”
Once the vigil got over, Kate's uncle Brian Kennedy, who is an 84-year-old retired head teacher, said, "Kate and Gerry are very moved by the size of the group of people who turned up. After all these years people still assemble - some come every time and some are new and we are very grateful."
However, a few social media took a dig at the appearance of Madeleine's sister after ages. One wrote, "As if she remembers anything other than what other people (adults) have told her," while another commented, "That’s one long ar** game of hide and seek." On the other hand, an individual commented, "What they should have been is “I cannot forgive my parents for leaving us alone that night."
As if she remembers anything other that what other people (adults) have told her
— mrchrisjohn (@mrchrisjohn) May 3, 2023
What they should have been is “I cannot forgive my parents for leaving us alone that night”
— RolanTheRat (@RolanTheRat) May 4, 2023
'We await a breakthrough'
Kate and Gerry McCann also posted a statement on the 'Official Find Madeleine Campaign' Facebook page and 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 poem below, by Clare Pollard, resonates strongly with us: The Contradiction. The absence contradicts itself: the missing conjures what we miss. You are not here, I’m not myself, but still, I talk to you like this. You’re in the crowd, the news, the glimpse - I make you there when you’re not there. I trace your steps, I map your face, I say your name, see you in air. You’re all I know and so unknown. I cannot hold you, yet I do: please let me hold you in my head and where you are now, hold me too. How can you be so near and far? You are not here. But here you are. The police investigation continues, and we await a breakthrough. Thank you to everyone for your support - it really helps."
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