Madeleine McCann: Friends tell of ‘a loving mother’

Sep 17 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

TWO of Kate McCann’s closest friends yesterday dismissed claims she could have had anything to do with her daughter’s disappearance and praised her as a devoted mother.

Linda McQueen, 45, and Nicky Gill, 39, have been friends with Kate since she was a child and have kept in close touch with her now that they are all parents themselves.

The pair both travelled to London to speak out about Kate and defend her against allegations about her ability as a mother and her role in Madeleine’s disappearance.

Mrs McQueen denied that her childhood friend could have harmed her daughter in any way. Asked if she had ever questioned her innocence for a second, she said: "No, not at all, not a shadow of a doubt from anybody at all ever.

"They are the most loving, caring, family- oriented couple that you could ever meet.

"They are absolutely fabulous.

"Those three children are the world to them, as our children are to them as well."

Both are desperate to describe the Kate they know, and have been friends with for decades.

Ms Gill said: "I want people to know who Kate is and what she is like.

"People don’t know, they don’t know Kate so they won’t know. To have these words said about her is just so unfair and hurtful. They just do not deserve it."