MADELEIENE"S PARENTS URGE PM TO REVIEW CASE

Madeleine's Parents Urge PM To Review Case

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8:31am UK, Thursday May 12, 2011
The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have asked David Cameron for an
"independent, transparent and comprehensive review" of their daughter's case.











Kate and Gerry McCann wrote to the Prime Minister on the eve of Madeleine's
eighth birthday in an attempt to have all the information held by British and
Portuguese authorities looked at again.
Madeleine McCann was just three when she
disappeared on holiday in Portugal in 2007.
Their letter, published in The Sun, reads: "Dear Prime Minister, as a devoted
father and family man you know the importance of children.
"We are asking you to help find Madeleine and bring her back to her loving
family.
"We live in hope that Madeleine will be found alive and returned to us.
"To this end, we are seeking a joint independent, transparent and
comprehensive review of all information held in relation to Madeleine's
disappearance.



Kate and Gerry McCann wrote to the Prime Minister


"Thus far, there has been no formal review of the material held by the police
authorities - which is routine practice in most major unsolved crimes.
"It is not right that a young, vulnerable British citizen has essentially
been given up on. This remains an unsolved case of a missing child."
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, told Sky News the couple hoped
the review would lead to all of the information held in both countries being
properly examined.
He said: "Kate and Gerry want to know what has been done, whether any
mistakes were made, what lessons have been learnt, but most importantly are
there vital pieces of information still in these files that aren't being
collated or compared and if there are vital links being missed.

There have already been high-level discussions
between the Foreign Office and Portuguese officials to find a way of conducting
such a review.

Sky's crime correspondent Martin
Brunt



"They have made representations to several home secretaries and while they
have had reassurances, the situation has not really changed and that is why they
feel now is the time to take their campaign up a gear."
David Cameron's spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister met Kate and Gerry
McCann while he was leader of the opposition and he has followed their plight
very closely.
"He and the Home Secretary want to make sure the Government does all it can
to help them."
A Downing Street source added: "Our priority is that we find Madeleine
McCann. Clearly this is a matter for the Portuguese authorities.
"But we will continue to work with the Portuguese authorities."



Despite huge worldwide publicity, Madeleine has never been
found


The official Portuguese inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance was formally
shelved in July 2008, although private detectives employed by the McCanns have
continued the search.
Mrs McCann's book about how her daughter went missing goes on sale today and
has
already racked up large advance sales.
Proceeds from the book, called simply Madeleine, will go towards their fund
for finding her.
The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, are giving a series of interviews
to promote the work.