As would any normal parent, Kate and Gerry still hope their daughter is alive.

[gilet]

Maddie McCann's parents:
''We won't apply for death certificate and still hold out hope 7 years on"

    Apr 25, 2014 22:31
    By Tracey Kandohla

Kate and Gerry McCann are so encouraged by Scotland Yard’s fresh leads that they will not seek for a Certificate of Presumed Death


Still hopeful: Kate and Gerry McCann

Madeleine McCann’s parents have chosen not to apply for a death certificate – despite being entitled to one on the seventh anniversary of her disappearance next weekend.

Kate and Gerry McCann are so encouraged by Scotland Yard’s fresh leads into her disappearance that they will not seek for a Certificate of Presumed Death which applies after that period.

And they are so convinced Madeleine is still alive they are instead stepping up their efforts to find their daughter.

Her gran Susan Healy told the Mirror yesterday: “She could be found.”

And Kate herself has previously said: “Madeleine is still alive until someone proves otherwise.”

A person can legally be declared dead after seven years under British law despite the absence of direct proof of the victim’s death. But friends of the couple, from Rothley, Leics, said that was the “last thing on their minds” as they prepare for next Saturday’s grim milestone.

Their hopes of finding Madeleine, who would now be 10, have been boosted in recent months by the progress of a British police probe.

Scotland Yard detectives are believed to be poised for a breakthrough after their own three-year review that sparked a fresh investigation.

New evidence has come to light of a sex attack on a British girl of 10 in Praia da Luz two years before Madeleine disappeared there. It is one of five new Algarve assaults uncovered by senior British detectives.

Madeleine vanished from her parents’ holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort on May 03, 2007, just nine days short of her fourth birthday.


Madeleine McCann

Despite no confirmed sightings of the youngster since that fateful night, Kate and Gerry cling to the hope she will be found alive.

Former GP Kate has said: “There is nothing to suggest Madeleine is not alive. We have to keep looking for her.

“We still have real hope. We all know cases of missing children, presumed dead and found alive years, sometimes decades, later.”

Kate has told how she had been “buoyed” by the efforts of Met Police and “relieved” the case had been reopened in Portugal.

Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said last night: “Kate and Gerry are fully aware of the declaration of death. They still believe Madeleine is alive and are not applying for a certificate presuming she is dead. That is the last thing on their minds.”

The Presumption of Death Act, due to be reformed in October following a campaign, is based on a seven-year rule.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “If after seven years a person is still missing and there has been no sight or contact with them, they are presumed dead.

“The family can then apply for a ­Certificate of Presumed Death from a court which allows them to help resolve that person’s affairs or simply to help give them some closure.

“This can be done without a body being found. No-one can prepare for the heartache and confusion which arises when a loved one disappears with no trace.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/maddie-mccanns-parents-we-wont-3459122



No parent would ever, in my opinion, give up the hope (no matter how big or small that hope might be) that their missing child would one day come home to them.

[jassi]

I would hope that the McCanns are realistic enough  to understand that Madeleine, if she were  ever to be  found alive, will be nothing like the 3 year old that they lost.

[Wonderfulspam]

If I knew my kid was dead, but was pretending that I didn't, I reckon I would be saying...

"The kid is still alive until someone proves otherwise.”

[carlymichelle]

I would hope that the McCanns are realistic enough  to understand that Madeleine, if she were  ever to be  found alive, will be nothing like the 3 year old that they lost.

the mcanns and mcann supporters  have a fantasy that maddie is alive and  well and unharmed    we   who dont deny  the real world know if maddie is still alive  she would not be alive and unharmed    she would  be a   damaged child imo

[Brietta]

the mcanns and mcann supporters  have a fantasy that maddie is alive and  well and unharmed    we   who dont deny  the real world know if maddie is still alive  she would not be alive and unharmed    she would  be a   damaged child imo

Is the logic to that statement, carlymichelle, that we never bother to look for a missing child because should s/he be returned they will have suffered damage?

[jassi]

It seems to me that people need to be cautious what they wish for as they may not want to face the reality.

[Carana]

the mcanns and mcann supporters  have a fantasy that maddie is alive and  well and unharmed    we   who dont deny  the real world know if maddie is still alive  she would not be alive and unharmed    she would  be a   damaged child imo

Following that logic, the children / adolescents who have been rescued alive over time should have been left to die?

What if someone had taken you, Carly? Would you have preferred to be rescued or left to starve in a dungeon somewhere? Wouldn't you have kept hoping that your family and friends still had hope that you were alive and were trying to find you?

[jassi]

Following that logic, the children / adolescents who have been rescued alive over time should have been left to die?

What if someone had taken you, Carly? Would you have preferred to be rescued or left to starve in a dungeon somewhere? Wouldn't you have kept hoping that your family and friends still had hope that you were alive and were trying to find you?

Given the scenario you have just described, would it not depend upon the age of the child ? One taken at aged 3 would very soon  have no recollection of any family - life would be just what it was.

[Carana]

I think that faced with the reality of a severely mentally and possibility physically damaged individual being returned, I would be very wary, as such an act might totally destroy a family.

Are you seriously saying that you wouldn't want your missing child found alive as it might disrupt the new status quo?

[jassi]

Are you seriously saying that you wouldn't want your missing child found alive as it might disrupt the new status quo?

I'm saying it is something that one would need to consider very carefully, as it may be in nobody's best interest.

[Carana]

I'm saying it is something that one would need to consider very carefully, as it may be in nobody's best interest.

The alternative being?

[jassi]

The alternative being?

Possibly some sort of institutionalised  care.
Would obviously depend upon circumstances and time-scale, but one should not assume that finding Madeleine would necessarily lead to some rosy happy ever after situation.

[Brietta]

Possibly some sort of institutionalised  care.
Would obviously depend upon circumstances and time-scale, but one should not assume that finding Madeleine would necessarily lead to some rosy happy ever after situation.

I think you are totally mistaken in mentioning 'institutionalised' care.

The majority of returned kidnap victims we know about have adjusted very well to re-joining the community, obviously with initial and continuing support.

The only victim of whom I am aware who did not wish contact with her family was the one whose family gave up on her and did not search.

I also think each case should be judged on its merits with the people best placed to make such decisions based on all the information to hand, doing so.

If and when Madeleine is found alive, bear in mind that as a Ward of Court, her interests will be well represented.

[jassi]

I think you are totally mistaken in mentioning 'institutionalised' care.

The majority of returned kidnap victims we know about have adjusted very well to re-joining the community, obviously with initial and continuing support.

The only victim of whom I am aware who did not wish contact with her family was the one whose family gave up on her and did not search.

I also think each case should be judged on its merits with the people best placed to make such decisions based on all the information to hand, doing so.

If and when Madeleine is found alive, bear in mind that as a Ward of Court, her interests will be well represented.

I agree entirely.  No automatic assumptions should be made.

[stephen25000]

Maddie McCann's parents:
''We won't apply for death certificate and still hold out hope 7 years on"

    Apr 25, 2014 22:31
    By Tracey Kandohla

Kate and Gerry McCann are so encouraged by Scotland Yard’s fresh leads that they will not seek for a Certificate of Presumed Death


Still hopeful: Kate and Gerry McCann

Madeleine McCann’s parents have chosen not to apply for a death certificate – despite being entitled to one on the seventh anniversary of her disappearance next weekend.

Kate and Gerry McCann are so encouraged by Scotland Yard’s fresh leads into her disappearance that they will not seek for a Certificate of Presumed Death which applies after that period.

And they are so convinced Madeleine is still alive they are instead stepping up their efforts to find their daughter.

Her gran Susan Healy told the Mirror yesterday: “She could be found.”

And Kate herself has previously said: “Madeleine is still alive until someone proves otherwise.”

A person can legally be declared dead after seven years under British law despite the absence of direct proof of the victim’s death. But friends of the couple, from Rothley, Leics, said that was the “last thing on their minds” as they prepare for next Saturday’s grim milestone.

Their hopes of finding Madeleine, who would now be 10, have been boosted in recent months by the progress of a British police probe.

Scotland Yard detectives are believed to be poised for a breakthrough after their own three-year review that sparked a fresh investigation.

New evidence has come to light of a sex attack on a British girl of 10 in Praia da Luz two years before Madeleine disappeared there. It is one of five new Algarve assaults uncovered by senior British detectives.

Madeleine vanished from her parents’ holiday apartment in the Portuguese resort on May 03, 2007, just nine days short of her fourth birthday.


Madeleine McCann

Despite no confirmed sightings of the youngster since that fateful night, Kate and Gerry cling to the hope she will be found alive.

Former GP Kate has said: “There is nothing to suggest Madeleine is not alive. We have to keep looking for her.

“We still have real hope. We all know cases of missing children, presumed dead and found alive years, sometimes decades, later.”

Kate has told how she had been “buoyed” by the efforts of Met Police and “relieved” the case had been reopened in Portugal.

Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said last night: “Kate and Gerry are fully aware of the declaration of death. They still believe Madeleine is alive and are not applying for a certificate presuming she is dead. That is the last thing on their minds.”

The Presumption of Death Act, due to be reformed in October following a campaign, is based on a seven-year rule.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “If after seven years a person is still missing and there has been no sight or contact with them, they are presumed dead.

“The family can then apply for a ­Certificate of Presumed Death from a court which allows them to help resolve that person’s affairs or simply to help give them some closure.

“This can be done without a body being found. No-one can prepare for the heartache and confusion which arises when a loved one disappears with no trace.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/maddie-mccanns-parents-we-wont-3459122



No parent would ever, in my opinion, give up the hope (no matter how big or small that hope might be) that their missing child would one day come home to them.

This from the newspaper which called the Portuguese, and I quote, 'sardine munchers'.

Enough said.