McCanns: 'We won't be bullied'
- 00:01:32
- ITN
McCanns: 'We won't be bullied'
The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have insisted they will not be bullied into leaving Portugal.It is 100 days tomorrow since four-year-old Madeline vanished during a family holiday in the Algarve.Locally, there has been a growing backlash against the couple and Portuguese newspapers have claimed Madeleine was killed in the apartment rather than abducted.The lawyer of the only suspect in the case claimed locals in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz wanted the family they referred to as "these bloody McCanns" to go home.But Kate McCann said she would not let the criticism drive them home.She said: "We will never go through anything worse than being parted from Madeleine. We will not be leaving or be forced out. I am not prepared to be bullied into doing something that I don't want to."The McCanns have this week been besieged by a "huge gaggle" of Portuguese media outside their apartment in Praia da Luz, a family spokesman said.The couple were forced to change their daily routine of taking their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie to the creche at the Ocean Club resort in the seaside village.The move followed concerns about photographers and film crews taking pictures of their children and disturbing holidaymakers using the child-minding facility.Mrs McCann said: "We can cope with a lot and we still have a lot of strength, but this speculation and the actions of the Portuguese press has been hurtful, intrusive and disrespectful to our other two children. The press here have badly overstepped any reasonable line."Madeleine's family are expected to mark tomorrow's grim 100-day milestone with a series of events, including a special Catholic prayer service in Praia da Luz.The occasion will be marked in Britain by prayers and pledges of support by sports stars, including Jonny Wilkinson, Frankie Dettori and Everton Football Club.Mrs McCann said: "It doesn't get any easier. The 50th day seemed like such a long time when we marked that. We have doubled that now."It is the 100th day but it is just another day without Madeleine for us and for Madeleine, another of being separated from her family."Mr and Mrs McCann are said to have found recent suggestions in the Portuguese press that Madeleine was murdered on the night she vanished "very hurtful".They have consistently said they believe their daughter is still alive.Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa, of Portugal's investigative Policia Judiciaria (PJ), stressed this week that the family were not suspects.Lawyers fo Mr Murat - who has always insisted he is entirely innocent - said he hopes to receive a letter formally clearing him of his status as a suspect in the coming days or weeks.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
ITN | August 10, 2007
