‘After nine years, we don’t want another one’: McCann parents talk of desperation to find Maddie on anniversary of abduction
Couple joined villagers for a special prayer meeting marking the ninth anniversary of Maddie's disappearance, where they thanked their supporters for keeping hope alive
THE PARENTS of Madeleine Mccann have told how they are desperate not to spend another year living in limbo not knowing what has happened to their daughter.
Joining villagers for a special prayer meeting marking the ninth anniversary of Madeleine's abduction dad Gerry said: “Even after nine years, and we desperately don’t want another one, we have this incredible support and it and it means so much to us.
“It makes us stronger and helps us get through it.”
As celebrations erupted just mikes away in Leicester as the city's team won the premiership Gerry, 47, admitted that he and wife Kate felt “incredibly flat" while “everyone is celebrating Leicester City’s victory.”
The McCanns Joined family, friends and locals in Rothley, Leics, to remember Madeleine. They gathered round the village's war memorial where a candle has been kept burning since Madeleine went missing.
The brave mum, dressed in navy skinny jeans, and black sports jacket looked close to tears at times.
Children lit candles to remember Madeleine and parents read aloud messages of hope including: “Never, never give up!”
Kate, who kept 11-year-old twins Sean and Amelie out of the public spotlight, turned to Gerry for comfort at times.
Local Anglian vicar the Rev Rob Gladstone said: “Throughout the past nine years there have been many high and lows but it is irrefutable that the prayerful support of so many people from different places, from all walks of life, has kept hope alive.”
On Sunday it was revealed that Kate McCann had returned to the spot where Maddie went missing in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
Their daughter was just three years old when she disappeared on May 3 2007.
She vanished from a holiday resort while her parents were dining at a nearby tapas restaurant with pals.
She would now be aged 12, nearly 13.
On Sunday Kate and Gerry prepared themselves for more heartbreak after a former Portugese cop announced he is writing a second book about the case.
Goncalo Amaral accused the McCanns of faking her abduction to cover up her death in his 2008 book Truth of the Lie.
But Kate and Gerry put on a brave face as they thanked their many friends and supporters.
On official website Find Madeleine they wrote: "As yet another anniversary comes around, we'd like to thank all our supporters for your continued help and commitment in the search for Madeleine, and the hope for her safe return.
"It has been a very long time but the investigation continues, information is still forthcoming and our hope and resolve continue.
"Until we have answers, until there is news (real news!), there will always be hope and we will continue to do everything we can to help find Madeleine."