McCanns vow to keep hope alive as Madeleine hunt set to run out of cash
THE parents of Madeleine McCann face the “daunting prospect” that the search for their daughter will be shelved within three weeks.
Kate and Gerry McCann, both 49, have vowed never to give up hope of their daughter being found alive.
But Scotland Yard’s Operation Grange hunt is set to run out of cash by the end of the month.
There are concerns that new home secretary Sajid Javid may not give the green light to more funds as the crime remains unsolved after 11 years.
More than £11million has been spent on the British search for Madeleine, who vanished from the Algarve holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007.
In April, the Home Office gave police £154,000 to allow detectives to extend the investigation by another six months until September 30.
Former GP Kate and leading cardiologist Gerry now face an anxious wait over whether the hunt will continue.
Last night, family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “Kate and Gerry remain incredibly grateful to the police for all the work they have done and continue to do in the search for their daughter.
“But whether funding is extended next month to allow the investigation to continue is entirely a matter for the Metropolitan Police and Home Office. Kate and Gerry will not be making any comment.” In May, the couple told of their continuing heartache on the 11th anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance.
In a message on the official Find Madeleine website, they wrote: “Information continues to come in (incredible as it may seem after so long, although we are grateful for that) and work goes on. Perseverance and hope remain.
“We couldn’t bear for Madeleine to be forgotten or to become just a ‘story’. She is a real person and still our ‘little girl’ and as we always have, we will endeavour to do whatever it takes to find her.”
Last night, a source close to the couple from Rothley, Leics, said: “They have been here before. They simply have no idea if the search will abruptly come to an end or will carry on. It is a daunting prospect they face once more.
“Kate and Gerry hope of course that the inquiry into their daughter’s abduction will continue if more funds are requested and made available.”
Earlier this year it was revealed that the McCanns have funds of nearly £750,000 for a private search for their daughter if the police hunt is axed.
The Find Madeleine fund is mainly made up of donations and profits from Kate’s book on the disappearance.
The McCanns hired private investigators after police in Portugal shelved their investigation in July 2008.
In May 2011, then prime minister David Cameron promised new action which led to Operation Grange.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We have not yet received a new request for funding from the Metropolitan Police in respect of the Madeleine McCann investigation. We would expect to receive another request to enable the inquiry to continue, if needed, by the end of the month.”
Scotland Yard said yesterday: “We are not saying if we will be applying for new funding or not.”