McCanns appeal: 'Please don't give up'
Updated on 19 February 2010
Kate and Gerry McCann have called for a systematic review of all the evidence surrounding the disappearance of their daughter, Madeleine.
The McCanns used a London news conference to appeal to the public and police authorities in Portugal and Britain: "Please don't give up on Madeleine".
The couple welcomed yesterday's court ruling in Lisbon, upholding a ban on publication of a book by the former detective who led the initial inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance - who claims that the girl died in the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007 and accuses the couple of covering up her death.
Kate McCann said the ruling accepted once again that there was no evidence that Madeleine had come to any harm. It was important now that the authorities in both countries did everything they could to try to find her.
"There is a little girl still missing and you can't just write her off and say 'Oh well, we tried. Too bad.' It is just not good enough," she pleaded.
"Since the file has been closed, what has actually been done," asked Gerry McCann.
"It is next-to-nothing - and that is for the highest profile missing child case in Europe ever. So goodness knows what happens to other families that get put into this situation."
He said there was no central database of information and that leads produced by their own investigating team had not been acted on.
"There are certainly instances where information which we think is very credible and worthy of further investigation has not been actioned," he added. "We are gutted. It is absolutely shocking and difficult.
"We are trying our best, but Madeleine is still missing and the perpetrator is out there. We are not saying they are the leads that will result in us finding her. But if you don't investigate information that comes in you will never solve it."
Kate MCCann added: "It is important stuff - and it is heart-breaking to be honest that that is where it seems to end."
