McCanns find comfort from Bigley family bond

Aug 22 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

FRIENDS of the McCann family have told how the couple took comfort from their weekend meeting with the brother of Merseysider Ken Bigley, the hostage who was murdered in Iraq.

Philip Bigley, also from Liverpool, talked to Kate McCann and husband Gerry about dealing with the trauma and uncertainty of having a missing loved one.

A friend of Mrs McCann said: “Although their experiences are different, they have both gone through the trauma of losing someone very close.

“Philip felt he could offer some advice. They found his words comforting and extremely helpful. It was an emotional meeting.

“It was good to be able to have a discussion with someone who has been through something similar.

“Gerry felt he could talk quite openly and candidly, and he found the conversation comforting. It gave both him and Kate the feeling they are not the only ones to go through an ordeal like this.”

Ken Bigley, a civil engineer was kidnapped with two Americans in Baghdad in September 2004.

The Bigley family endured three weeks of uncertainty as kidnappers made a series of demands.

Finally, the al-Qaida group beheaded Mr Bigley, 62, filming the execution.

His brother broke off from a holiday in the Algarve to spend an afternoon with the McCanns, meeting the couple at their Praia da Luz villa.

Writing about the meeting on his internet blog, heart specialist Mr McCann said he and his wife, who grew up in Anfield and Allerton, found the experience positive.

He said: “It was good to talk about our emotions, the pressures and coping strategies that we use in an ongoing trauma, with someone who has experienced a tragic event like ours.”

Madeleine, four, was snatched from her bed in Praia da Luz on May 3.

Investigators are still waiting for test results on specks of blood found in the McCanns’ apartment.

Fresh police searches are expected to take place within the next 24 hours. Witnesses are also going to be interviewed again.