Missing Madeleine!
Madeleine McCann was abducted
from Praia Da Luz, Portugal on
3rd May 2007.
Gerry's brother John McCann, 48, said: "They might have changed her appearance, dyed her hair or cut it but there is one thing they cannot change because Madeleine has one incredibly distinct feature - she has big blue eyes but in her right eye her pupil has a streak of black which juts out into her iris.
"It runs from her pupil into her iris at the bottom of her pupil. Whoever has her cannot hide or cover that up."
"We will be showing it everywhere to remind people across Europe that all they have to do if they think they see Madeleine is to look into her eyes.
Phil, who resides in Ullapool and is a teacher, has asked that the heartfelt thanks of the whole family be passed to everyone who has helped in the search so far. She said "There have been so many messages of support and prayers from people all over the world. We (the family) are overwhelmed with your assistance. The media people have been wonderful and so helpful in making everyone aware of our plight. Madeleine’s family are so grateful to you all. Please keep Madeleine in your thoughts and prayers. We pray that she will be returned to us safe and well."
Its Not An Option To Lose Her Says Philomena McCann
"It is not an option to lose Madeleine. We have to find her. She's an integral member of our family. We need her.
"She's a very bright, outgoing little girl who just wants to have fun. She loves to be spoilt. She likes to dance. She's very sporty for a young girl. She just likes attention. She's absolutely lovely.
"We're a close-knit family - a bit more traditional than many families nowadays - and although we're spread out through the UK we do try and keep in touch regularly.
Of Madeleine's disappearance, Ms McCann said: "They (Kate and Gerry) were going back to check a locked apartment where they had left the kids sleeping.
"They're good parents. They tried so hard to have kids. They have three beautiful children that they absolutely dote on.
She said that criticism of couple for leaving their children alone was "totally unjustified".
"They're normal parents who love their children and would never neglect them in any way. Any suggestions they were neglecting them are completely insulting."
Mrs McCann said her brother and sister-in-law would stay in Portugal until they find Madeleine.
"How can they go on? They need their daughter. We just need to have Madeleine home. These people, or person, have to bring her back to us.
"The whole family needs her here, not just Gerry and Kate, she's just such an integral member of this family,.
"We love children. My job is working with children. Gerry and Kate have caring occupations. Both have dedicated their lives to helping people.
"To have this happen is just the worst possible scenario."
Her message to the person who has taken the three-year-old is: "Please, please bring her back. We love Madeleine. We all love her. The goodwill that we've felt from neighbours and family has been incredible.
"We need her back. Surely, they can see how much we love her and need her. Please give her back."
If you have any information
about her whereabouts,
contact Crimestoppers
0800 555 111 UK
441883731336 Outside
Please Help
£15,000 report says Sunday Sailings could create jobs
A £15,000 report commissioned by the local council has said that Sabbath sailings from Ullapool in Wester Ross to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides could create jobs.
There are no scheduled ferries to Stornoway because of opposition from traditional forms of religion in what is Scotland's most church-going region, with almost half the population regularly attending services. Bodies such as the Free Church of Scotland forbid Sabbath working unless it concerns "works of necessity and mercy".
But four years ago, scheduled air services began on Sundays in the teeth of fervent opposition. And a year ago this weekend, services began between Leverburgh on the southern tip of the Isle of Harris to the neighbouring island of Berneray.
The new report, by Fisher Associates, a shipping consultancy based in Lymington near Southampton, goes even further by suggesting the Western Isles' capital should be completely accessible on the Lord's Day. The document is the first ever economic assessment of the potential value of a Sunday ferry service.
The Stornoway-Ullapool ferry service is one of the Caledonian MacBrayne's busiest routes and carries 92,000 passengers a year. The main vessel, the Isle of Lewis, is the biggest Cal-Mac ship, carrying 680 passengers and 92 cars, and taking two-and-a-half hours to cover the 42-mile crossing.
The report said: "Consideration should be given to providing services seven days per week in summer. Many residents support and would benefit from this. "Tourism would receive a boost because the lack of a seven day service... suppresses the island's ability to penetrate the short break market [as] some people wish to return home on Sunday for work on Monday. It causes bunching of demand in hotels in Stornoway, with the knock-on effect of losing bookings to the island as a whole."
Statistics produced in the report indicated that the change could create at least 19 jobs.
A spokesman for the Western Isles Council, which is known officially by its Gaelic title of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said that the report would be discussed in detail after the local authority elections next month. Dr Finlay Macleod, a writer and broadcaster and an outspoken advocate of Sunday ferries, claimed the change was long overdue. However, Angus MacKay, the secretary of the Lewis and Harris branch of the Lord's Day Observance Society, which includes clergy and members from the main island churches, claimed that the seven-day ferry service would spoil the character of the island.
He said: "If the ferries started running on the Sabbath then it would bring pressure on businesses to operate on Sundays, and that would increase pressure on workers and families.
£235,000 For new Loos In Ullapool... But not until 2012
Highland councillors voted on Monday to allocate funding of £235,000 to the loos in Ullapool instead of Invergordon. The Ullapool toilets which are on two storeys were programmed for refurbishment four years ago, including compliance with the new disabled access legislation, but the work was never carried out.
“In the last four years a new freight ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway has come into operation and it runs through the night,” she said.
“Lorries are arriving during the night and there is traffic on the road 24 hours a day. There are three ferries a day during the summer and the usage of these toilets is huge.”
Invergordon councillor John Connell was absent from Monday’s meeting but Councillor Carolyn Wilson, who represents part of the town, said: “It’s a disgrace we are being asked to chose between the two places.
“There is a huge need in Ullapool but there’s also a huge need in Invergordon. Some 52 cruise ships are due to come into Invergordon this summer and there is not a decent toilet for them to go to.
“We have been through the debacle of Lou’s Loo, and I know the TEC services manager John Hearmon has had big representations from groups within the community.
“There should be money for these basic facilities to be improved in both places.”
The committee voted 9-3 in favour recommending to the HQ TEC committee that the Ullapool toilets improvements be included in the bid process for public convenience refurbishment.
However, members heard that it might be 2010-11 before the works got under way.
Making reference to the fact that work could be another five years away, she added, “If you are saying it’s going to be 2012 before there is any chance of work starting, then God help us.”
Ullapool will now be nominated to the Transport, Environmental and Community Services (TEC) committee to be included in its public convenience refurbishment programme.
