Parents release statement on 18th anniversary of disappearance of Madeleine McCann

by Mick the Ram

On 3 May 2007 an English family were suddenly thrust into the world spotlight whilst on a normal holiday in Portugal.

Kate and Gerry McCann from Rothley in Leicestershire were staying at the Ocean Club complex in Praia da Luz, with their three-year-old daughter, Madeleine, and her younger twin bother and sister.

The parents devised a rota-system with a group of friends which allowed the adults to meet for dinner, leaving their children in the rooms sleeping with everyone taking it in turn to check on the kids at regular intervals. 

When Kate looked in she discovered that Madeleine was missing and it sparked a Europe-wide police investigation, that continues to this day.

A 48-year-old German man, Christian Brueckner, is the chief suspect but continues to deny any involvement in the girl’s disappearance.

The McCann’s have posted an update on the official Find Madeleine Facebook page as the 18th anniversary passed, paying tribute to their daughter and thanking all those who have supported them over all of the time since her “abduction”.

In April 2025 ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives currently involved in the on-going investigation. 

Millions of pounds spent on investigation

In the 18 years since her disappearance authorities in the UK have sought to understand exactly what happened on that night, where she was taken and by whom, with the Metropolitan Police setting up “Operation Grange” in 2011.

The total funding given to Operation Grange has been more than £13.2 million since its inception.

Police offer continued support

It is understood one detective chief inspector, one detective constable and one member of police staff are working on the UK investigation and Detective Chief Inspector, Mark Cranwell, who oversees it said: “We continue to support Madeleine’s family and understand what happened on the evening of May 3, 2007, in Praia da Luz; our thoughts remain with them.”

German national remains chief suspect

In Germany and Portugal the main suspect continues to be that of German national Christian Brueckner, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the rape of an elderly woman in 2005 at her home in the same resort town that Madeleine vanished from. 

One of the guests at the complex gave a description of a man seen on the night carrying a little girl in his arms, but it was given little credibility by the Portuguese police; nevertheless the image she put forward had a striking resemblance to that of Brueckner.

However, prosecutors have said that presently, there is as yet “no prospect” of a charge against him relating to Madeleine.

In May 2023 a reservoir some 30 miles (48km) from where Madeleine went missing was comprehensively searched following new leads, but nothing came of it.

Parents pain never leaves them

For Kate and Gerry the pain never goes away and on yet another anniversary of the “worst day” in their lives, they put out a statement in which they reiterated that “no matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day,” referring to 12 May which is her 22nd birthday.

Continuing, they said that they “celebrate” her as the “very beautiful and unique person she is” and made the observation that the years are passing by even more quickly. They promised that they will “leave no stone unturned” and spared a thought for the children displaced from their homes and families in Ukraine and Gaza.