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Friends defend McCanns' parenting | Friends defend McCanns' parenting |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Two friends of the mother of missing Madeleine McCann have defended her against suggestions she was involved in her daughter's disappearance. | Two friends of the mother of missing Madeleine McCann have defended her against suggestions she was involved in her daughter's disappearance. |
Linda McQueen and Nicky Gill, who have known Kate McCann since childhood, said she and her husband Gerry were "the most loving, family-oriented couple". | Linda McQueen and Nicky Gill, who have known Kate McCann since childhood, said she and her husband Gerry were "the most loving, family-oriented couple". |
Madeleine disappeared from a Portuguese resort on 3 May. | Madeleine disappeared from a Portuguese resort on 3 May. |
Mrs McQueen said there was "not a shadow of a doubt from anybody at all ever" about the couple's innocence. | Mrs McQueen said there was "not a shadow of a doubt from anybody at all ever" about the couple's innocence. |
Mr and Mrs McCann were named formal suspects by Portuguese police a week ago. | Mr and Mrs McCann were named formal suspects by Portuguese police a week ago. |
As such they cannot discuss any aspects of the investigation or disappearance, but family and friends have spoken on their behalf. | As such they cannot discuss any aspects of the investigation or disappearance, but family and friends have spoken on their behalf. |
They returned to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, with their twins a week ago and deny any involvement. | They returned to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, with their twins a week ago and deny any involvement. |
We are going to keep looking for her and I know Kate and Gerry and that is everything they want us to do Linda McQueenFriend of Kate McCann | We are going to keep looking for her and I know Kate and Gerry and that is everything they want us to do Linda McQueenFriend of Kate McCann |
The friends' comments came as the McCann family announced they were to launch another advertising campaign to publicise Madeleine's disappearance. | |
Mrs McQueen, 45, said of the couple, who have come under increasing scrutiny about their parenting and marriage: "They are the most loving, caring, family-oriented couple that you could ever meet. | Mrs McQueen, 45, said of the couple, who have come under increasing scrutiny about their parenting and marriage: "They are the most loving, caring, family-oriented couple that you could ever meet. |
"They are absolutely fabulous. Those three children are the world to them, as our children are to them as well." | "They are absolutely fabulous. Those three children are the world to them, as our children are to them as well." |
She said "unfair and hurtful" things had been said of Mrs McCann, who now wanted to "re-focus" their campaign back on finding their daughter rather than on her and her husband. | She said "unfair and hurtful" things had been said of Mrs McCann, who now wanted to "re-focus" their campaign back on finding their daughter rather than on her and her husband. |
Asked how Mr and Mrs McCann would cope if Madeleine was found dead, Mrs McQueen said: "We are not even ready to go down that road, to be honest. | Asked how Mr and Mrs McCann would cope if Madeleine was found dead, Mrs McQueen said: "We are not even ready to go down that road, to be honest. |
"We are going to keep looking for her and I know Kate and Gerry and that is everything they want us to do." | "We are going to keep looking for her and I know Kate and Gerry and that is everything they want us to do." |
'Cool and calm' | 'Cool and calm' |
Mrs McQueen dismissed claims that Mrs McCann struggled being a mother. | Mrs McQueen dismissed claims that Mrs McCann struggled being a mother. |
"I have never ever seen Kate run ragged in her life, ever. If anybody was meant to have three children under three it's Kate. | "I have never ever seen Kate run ragged in her life, ever. If anybody was meant to have three children under three it's Kate. |
"She is just cool, calm, laid-back, just very together and very happy - I think because it is everything she wanted." | "She is just cool, calm, laid-back, just very together and very happy - I think because it is everything she wanted." |
Solid marriage | Solid marriage |
Ms Gill, 39, also defended her friend's character against accusations that she was "cold". | Ms Gill, 39, also defended her friend's character against accusations that she was "cold". |
"She is lovely, you could not say a bad word against her. There is absolutely nothing to say that would make anybody think badly of her." | "She is lovely, you could not say a bad word against her. There is absolutely nothing to say that would make anybody think badly of her." |
Mrs McQueen said there was no question that the couple's marriage was not solid. | Mrs McQueen said there was no question that the couple's marriage was not solid. |
"They are very together. They have their vulnerable moments, and probably their dark moments as well, but I think, with us friends and very close family, it is a group holding all of it together really." | "They are very together. They have their vulnerable moments, and probably their dark moments as well, but I think, with us friends and very close family, it is a group holding all of it together really." |
They also praised Mr McCann's parenting, saying he enjoyed life as a "hands-on" father. | They also praised Mr McCann's parenting, saying he enjoyed life as a "hands-on" father. |
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