Madeleine fund won't be used for legal fees (From Wirral Globe)

Madeleine fund won't be used for legal fees

9:24am Tuesday 18th September 2007

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A PROSPECTIVE Wirral MP and trustee of the Madeleine McCann fund said that "not a penny" will be spent on Kate and Gerry McCann's legal fees.

The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire have been named as formal suspects after their four-year-old daughter disappeared from an Algarve holiday apartment at Praia da Luz 139 days ago.

"At the heart of this campaign and fund is a little girl confused, lonely and in need of her parents and a family desperate for her return."

Esther McVey

Kate and Gerry, 39 - also parents of two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, both fiercely deny any involvement in the long-running mystery and believe they are being set up to cover up a bungled police inquiry.

This week, prospective MP Esther McVey, one of the six trustees of Madeleine's fund, met with lawyers to examine the legality of breaking into the £1m worth of public donations.

She said that the fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned was set up to find Madeleine, support the family, bring the abductor(s) to justice and subject to that, help other missing children.

But numerous angry postings from people who claim to have given donations have appeared on the internet asking if they are entitled to their money back if Madeleine's parents are prosecuted.

"Fund directors have decided not to pay for Kate and Gerry's legal defence costs," said Esther. "We stress that the family has not asked for these costs to be paid, however, people have already called in offering their financial support.

"Any such fund would have to be separately set up and administered."

She added: "At the heart of this campaign and fund is a little girl confused, lonely and in need of her parents and a family desperate for her return.

"This fund's money will be focused on finding that little girl and leaving no stone unturned."

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