PORTUGAL: Mass in Praia da Luz church marks six months since Madeleine McCann went missing

A mass held in Portugal on Saturday (November 3) marked six months since the disappearance of four-year British child Madeleine McCann from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz. British residents and tourists attended the service at the Praia da Luz church, which was conducted by Anglican priest Heynes Hubbart, a friend of the McCann family. After Madeleine's disappearance, her parents launched a high-profile publicity campaign across Europe to try to find her. Police have said they believe the little girl is dead. Since her disappearance, police have pursued a number of leads in their investigation, including the possibility that Madeleine might have been taken by a paedophile. Portuguese authorities declared parents Kate and Gerry McCann formal suspects in September after questioning them separately for hours, but have filed no charges against them. The only other suspect is a Briton living in Praia da Luz. His house has been searched twice but he has not been arrested. Hundreds of people from around the world contacted police offering help after the McCanns launched a massive publicity campaign to find their daughter, who vanished a few days before she would have turned four. A Spanish private detective hired by Madeleine's parents said he believes the child is alive in Morocco and is already following up reported sightings of a blonde-haired girl with her distinctive right eye.

ITN Source | November 4, 2007

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