McCanns’ anguish over false ‘charges’ claim

Jul 23 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Toddler Madeleine McCann, who was abducted in Portugal, pictured wearing an Everton shirt _158

THE Liverpool grand-mother of missing toddler Madeleine McCann last night told of the family’s anguish over reports her daughter could face charges for leaving their three children alone.

Susan Healy, of Mossley Hill, said Kate and Gerry McCann found claims an inquiry into whether they should be charged for leaving their children alone on the night Madeleine vanished was being set up as “very upsetting”.

It was reported that Crown Prosecution Service lawyers were having “high level informal discussions” to see whether any offence had been committed.

The CPS was said to have had complaints from members of the public about the McCann’s conduct in leaving Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie while they had a meal. Gerry and Kate McCann have said they checked on the children regularly while having dinner at a nearby Tapas bar, on the night the four-year-old was snatched from a holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

The report said lawyers were keen to establish why the parents did not leave anyone to babysit despite the resort offering free child care.

But a spokesman from the CPS yesterday said there was no truth in the reports, as the search for Madeleine reached its 80th day.

Mrs Healy said: “It’s just so stupid, we don’t know why they printed it. Obviously it’s upsetting for Kate and Gerry to read stuff like that.”

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting for a Europe-wide database of missing children.

North West Euro MP, and Labour leader in the European Parliament Gary Titley has written to EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini seeking figures for the number of children who are seized in the EU every year, often for sexual exploitation.

Gerry McCann was also due in the USA to learn about specialist agencies which work to prevent child abductions.

He is scheduled to meet US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.