Liverpool Daily Post
McCanns may sue over Madeleine sedation claims
Oct 11 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post
Kate and Gerry McCann pictured outside their house in Rothley. Picture: David Jones/PA Wire _320
THE Liverpool-born mother of Madeleine McCann is considering legal action against claims she sedated her daughter on the night she disappeared.
In their first direct statement to the media in weeks, Kate and husband Gerry said they wanted to make it “categorically clear�?they have never used sedatives on any of their children.
The former Notre Dame school pupil said comments to the contrary were so hurtful she felt compelled to speak out.
The couple’s lawyers were last night studying speculation in the Portu-guese press that tests on evidence carried out in the UK suggest that their elder daughter and twins Sean and Amelie were given the drugs on May 3 �?the date of Madeleine’s disappearance.
The McCanns�?state-ment read: “Contrary to renewed speculation in the Portuguese press, Gerry and Kate McCann wish to make it categorically clear they have never, ever used sedat- ives on their children.
“To suggest otherwise is as outrageous as it is hurtful. Lawyers for the McCanns will be monitoring British coverage of this particular allegation and will not hesitate from taking action at the appropriate stage where necessary.�?/P>
It came as it emerged tourists who stayed at the resort where Madeleine went missing have been asked to provide DNA samples and fingerprints.
The move is said to have come after detec-tives uncovered evidence of a possible kidnapper.
It has been reported the head of the British invest-igation wrote to holiday-makers asking for their help in solving the case.
Madeleine disappeared days before her fourth birthday in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve.
Leicestershire Constab-ulary, co-ordinating the investigation in Britain on behalf of the Portu-guese authorities, would not confirm whether Superintendent Stuart Prior had sent the appeal. Nor would it confirm whether police in Britain were interviewing former guests at the Ocean Club, in Praia da Luz.
The letter reportedly states Portuguese detec-tives have failed to identi-fy samples recovered from the resort.
On Tuesday, one of Portugal’s most senior detectives took charge of the investigation and ordered a further search of the McCanns�?holiday apartment.
carolineinnes
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 