Post by LadyBlue on Aug 28, 2007 18:46:04 GMT -5
The father of Madeleine McCann walked out of a TV interview after being asked about blood traces found in his daughter’s bedroom.
Gerry McCann grew frustrated with repeated questioning about the police investigation into the young girl’s disappearance 117 days ago.
He halted the interview with Spanish television channel Telecinco, pointing out that Portuguese law meant he could not comment on details of the inquiry.
Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was snatched from her family’s holiday flat in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz on May 3 while her parents dined at a tapas restaurant nearby.
Clips on Telecinco’s website show Mr McCann pulling a microphone off his shirt and walking out of the room – although he returns a few minutes later.
His wife Kate is left to explain to interviewer Jordi Gonzalez that her husband finds being unable to respond to false allegations “very frustrating”.
The tension started to build after Mr Gonzalez asked the couple: “You were the last people to see Madeleine alive, is that correct?”
Mr McCann replied: “That’s part of the investigation and we are not going to divulge any information about the investigation that might help the perpetrator of this crime to cover his tracks.”
The presenter then quizzed them about the minute blood flecks found by British sniffer dogs in the McCanns’ holiday apartment, which are currently undergoing DNA tests in Britain.
At this point Mr McCann started to take his microphone off, saying: “Do you know what? This is all investigation. You need to talk to the police.”
He then stood up and walked off camera, then returned to pick up a bottle of water, adding as he left the room: “All your questions are about the investigation and we cannot comment on the investigation.”
Mrs McCann remained seated, telling the interviewer: “He’s gone to get some fresh air, don’t worry. It is difficult for him when we are asked about the investigation because we can’t talk about it. It’s very frustrating.
“What’s in the papers, we know there’s so much that’s inaccurate and untrue. It’s awful what’s written, and we want to say something but we can’t.”
The Spanish TV crew was warned that the McCanns could not answer questions about the investigation, a family spokeswoman said.
She added: “They had been briefed in advance of the interview and directly before the interview, and the interviewer was reminded about this.
“Gerry, as any human being would be, was incredibly frustrated because the interview was actually to say thank you to the people of Spain for their support and also to remind people that Madeleine is still missing.”
The interview was conducted midway through last week and broadcast on the weekly La Noria programme on Saturday.
In recent weeks the McCanns have been forced to defend themselves against “hurtful and untrue” allegations they could now be suspects in their daughter’s disappearance.
Addressing the Edinburgh International Television Festival at the weekend, Mr McCann spoke of the limitations Portuguese law put on what he and his wife could say in response.
He said: “We would never divulge something that might help someone cover their tracks. That’s been frustrating, given how much has been written that’s erroneous.”
Meanwhile, the McCanns’ spokeswoman today strongly denied speculation that a rift was growing between the couple after they attended mass separately at the weekend.
She said: “Kate went to Saturday night mass in English, but Gerry was still travelling back from Edinburgh so he went to mass on Sunday morning to ensure that he fulfilled his duty as a practising Catholic.
“Had he been here on Saturday night he would have gone with Kate.”
www.eveningecho.ie/news/bstory.asp?j=188729680&p=y8873xz6x&n=188730289
Gerry McCann grew frustrated with repeated questioning about the police investigation into the young girl’s disappearance 117 days ago.
He halted the interview with Spanish television channel Telecinco, pointing out that Portuguese law meant he could not comment on details of the inquiry.
Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was snatched from her family’s holiday flat in the Algarve village of Praia da Luz on May 3 while her parents dined at a tapas restaurant nearby.
Clips on Telecinco’s website show Mr McCann pulling a microphone off his shirt and walking out of the room – although he returns a few minutes later.
His wife Kate is left to explain to interviewer Jordi Gonzalez that her husband finds being unable to respond to false allegations “very frustrating”.
The tension started to build after Mr Gonzalez asked the couple: “You were the last people to see Madeleine alive, is that correct?”
Mr McCann replied: “That’s part of the investigation and we are not going to divulge any information about the investigation that might help the perpetrator of this crime to cover his tracks.”
The presenter then quizzed them about the minute blood flecks found by British sniffer dogs in the McCanns’ holiday apartment, which are currently undergoing DNA tests in Britain.
At this point Mr McCann started to take his microphone off, saying: “Do you know what? This is all investigation. You need to talk to the police.”
He then stood up and walked off camera, then returned to pick up a bottle of water, adding as he left the room: “All your questions are about the investigation and we cannot comment on the investigation.”
Mrs McCann remained seated, telling the interviewer: “He’s gone to get some fresh air, don’t worry. It is difficult for him when we are asked about the investigation because we can’t talk about it. It’s very frustrating.
“What’s in the papers, we know there’s so much that’s inaccurate and untrue. It’s awful what’s written, and we want to say something but we can’t.”
The Spanish TV crew was warned that the McCanns could not answer questions about the investigation, a family spokeswoman said.
She added: “They had been briefed in advance of the interview and directly before the interview, and the interviewer was reminded about this.
“Gerry, as any human being would be, was incredibly frustrated because the interview was actually to say thank you to the people of Spain for their support and also to remind people that Madeleine is still missing.”
The interview was conducted midway through last week and broadcast on the weekly La Noria programme on Saturday.
In recent weeks the McCanns have been forced to defend themselves against “hurtful and untrue” allegations they could now be suspects in their daughter’s disappearance.
Addressing the Edinburgh International Television Festival at the weekend, Mr McCann spoke of the limitations Portuguese law put on what he and his wife could say in response.
He said: “We would never divulge something that might help someone cover their tracks. That’s been frustrating, given how much has been written that’s erroneous.”
Meanwhile, the McCanns’ spokeswoman today strongly denied speculation that a rift was growing between the couple after they attended mass separately at the weekend.
She said: “Kate went to Saturday night mass in English, but Gerry was still travelling back from Edinburgh so he went to mass on Sunday morning to ensure that he fulfilled his duty as a practising Catholic.
“Had he been here on Saturday night he would have gone with Kate.”
www.eveningecho.ie/news/bstory.asp?j=188729680&p=y8873xz6x&n=188730289