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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| McCanns get millionaire's support | McCanns get millionaire's support |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A millionaire businessman says he is giving Madeleine McCann's parents financial support to help them fight the "incredible accusations" they face. | |
| Cheshire-based Brian Kennedy, who owns Sale Sharks rugby club, said he "felt compelled" to help the couple. | |
| He said he was providing Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leics, with the support of his in-house lawyer and their new spokesman, Clarence Mitchell. | He said he was providing Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leics, with the support of his in-house lawyer and their new spokesman, Clarence Mitchell. |
| The McCanns are formal suspects in the inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance. | The McCanns are formal suspects in the inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance. |
| Madeleine was last seen in Praia da Luz, in Algarve, Portugal on 3 May - days before her fourth birthday. | Madeleine was last seen in Praia da Luz, in Algarve, Portugal on 3 May - days before her fourth birthday. |
| Her parents insist she was abducted while they ate at a nearby tapas bar with friends. | |
| 'Relieving pressure' | |
| In a statement, Mr Kennedy said: "In light of the quite literally incredible accusations against Gerry and Kate McCann, which are clearly exacerbating their emotional torture, I felt compelled to offer... financial support and the full logistical support of the Latium team." | |
| He said the offer of help from his company's in-house lawyer, Ed Smethurst, would "relieve the McCanns of the daily pressure of co-ordinating the legal teams". | |
| Mr Kennedy, who was born in Edinburgh, is estimated to be worth around £250m. | |
| He made his money in double-glazing and home improvement ventures with companies including Weatherseal Holdings, Everest windows and Space Kitchens & Bedrooms. | |
| His Latium Group business empire, which has an annual turnover of around £400m, includes firms dealing in plastics, conservatory-roofing, glass processing, and home improvement retailing. | |
| He previously owned Stockport County Football Club before buying Sale Sharks in 1999. | |
| Unpaid leave | |
| Mr Kennedy is not the first tycoon to offer his support to the McCanns. | |
| Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson confirmed earlier this month that he was giving £100,000 to a fund to assist with their legal bills. | |
| Mr McCann, a consultant cardiologist, is on unpaid leave and his wife has confirmed she does not yet plan to return to work as a locum doctor. | |
| The McCanns have said they will not use any of the £1m "Find Madeleine" fund to finance their legal costs. |