2,000 in demo over "maddie 2"

[Charlie_x]

THE parents of a girl of five who vanished like Madeleine McCann led 2,000 marchers yesterday demanding her return.

The demo came as Gerry and Kate McCann said the disappearance of Mari Luz Cortes deepened their torment over daughter Maddie.

A massive search is under way for Mari, who went missing on Sunday evening in Huelva, southern Spain.


Her home is less than two hours’ drive from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz, where Maddie vanished in May.

Fears were growing last night that the cases were linked and a serial kidnapper is on the loose in the region.

Distraught Gerry, 39, revealed his fresh anguish in an internet blog.

He said: “Kate and I were dismayed to learn that a five-year-old girl has been missing from Huelva since Sunday evening.


“We went there in August to publicise Madeleine’s disappearance. Hearing of the probable abduction of Mari Luz Cortes has brought many awful emotions flooding back.


“We hope and pray that Mari is quickly found and returned safe.”

Yesterday’s rally was held at the spot where Mari – who went out alone to buy crisps – was last seen at 5pm heading home.

The march passed Mari’s school, where headmaster Baldomero Rodriguez said: “We all feel kidnapped by this tragedy.”

Last night Mari’s shattered dad Juan, and mum Irena, both 34, said they would pay any ransom the kidnapper demanded.

Juan said: “We will sell whatever is necessary to get her back. We are heartbroken.”


In echoes of the Maddie probe, marine authorities combed the coastline yesterday.

Frogmen also checked marshland.

But, just like Maddie, there are NO clues, NO confirmed sightings, and NO witnesses.

However, there was an unconfirmed sighting of Mari with a gipsy woman on a bus three hours after she went missing.

On Tuesday, Mari’s parents met private investigators from firm Metodo 3 – hired by the McCanns to find Maddie.

A family source said: “They wanted to see if there are any links with Madeleine.”


PORTUGUESE newspaper Correio da Manha reported today that the list of questions preapred for the McCanns and the Tapas 7 have still not been given the green light by the British authorities.