Anniversary is ‘horrible marker of time’ says Madeleine’s mother

MADELEINE MCCANN’S mother has described the 10th anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance as a “horrible marker of time, stolen time”.

In a message on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page, Kate McCann wrote: “We are bracing ourselves for the next couple of weeks. It’s likely to be stressful and painful and more so given the rehashing of old ‘stories’, misinformation, half-truths and downright lies which will be doing the rounds in the newspapers, social media and ‘special edition’ TV programmes.”

Kate and husband Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, have always vowed to never give up hope of finding their daughter since she disappeared during a family holiday in 2007.

In the message, Mrs McCann said they “couldn’t even begin to consider anything in terms of years” when their daughter first disappeared.

She wrote: “Ten years – there’s no easy way to say it, describe it, accept it. And now here we are... Madeleine, our Madeleine – 10 years. Most days are similar to the rest – another day. May 3, 2017 – another day. But 10 years a horrible marker of time, stolen time.”

However, she insisted “there will always be hope”.

Mrs McCann, 49, said the two themes that seem most appropriate as they reach the 10-year mark are perseverance and gratitude.

She said: “We will go on, try our hardest, never give up and make the best of the life we have.

“We consider ourselves immensely fortunate to have received the love, solidarity and support from so many kind and decent people over the last decade. There have been many challenges and low points along the way but the warmth, encouragement and positivity we have experienced from the ‘quiet majority’ has undoubtedly sustained us and maintained our faith in human goodness.

“And while that is there, there will always be hope.”

The message, signed by both Mrs McCann and her 48-year-old husband, concluded: “Thank you so much from all of our family.”