Gerry and Kate McCann Used Madeleine Fund For Mortgage Payments
October 29, 2007 | Filed under News
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCann family has confirmed that Gerry and Kate McCann used money from the Madeleine fund to pay their mortgage. According to recent reports, at least two mortgage payments have been paid for with the fund.
The Madeleine fund was set up in order to find Madeleine, and support the family. But, after the McCanns were named official suspects, they decided against using it for personal payments.
Clarence Mitchell said, “The fund has always had the ability to assist the family financially if necessary, and they’ve only used it to pay for two mortgage payments, earlier this year. When they were made arguido, it stopped, which was a mutual decision on the part of the fund and the McCanns - they were happy to accept that their changed status meant they were no longer entitled to that assistance.”
The Find Madeleine Fund has earned over £1 million in public donations to help find the missing four-year-old.
The fund was called into question after it was revealed that about one third of the money had been used for the McCanns’ living costs, publicity fees and to pay staff. The family hit out at rumours suggesting they would be using the fund for legal fees.
Mr Mitchell has said that he would not be paid from the Find Madeleine Fund but from ‘private financial backers’ to the McCanns.
Gerry is supposedly returning to work as a consultant next month to help ease the financial pressure.
Do you think the family are entitled to the fund, or should it be used solely to find Madeleine?
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Great move Brand McCann. Making a mockery of monies meant for Maddie is no way to establish these parents as anything other than privileged sorts whose children meant so much to them they left them unattended in a foreign land. As the veneer of presumption of innocence starts to fade, we may begin to see the real people behind the facade and it may not be a pleasant sight at all.
I absolutely do believe that the McCann family should be able to use the funds to assist in their being away from work so they can continue to help facilitate the search for Madeleine. Anyone who donated for the correct reasons can see that the family isn’t trying to loaf off the donors. What would happen to the campaign in Kate and Gerry were at work 8 or more hours per day. How could they help find Madeleine? They are busy hiring private investigators, preparing sketches, working with police, preparing comments for the public even though we crucify them and chasing down every avenue possible. As far as I see they are entitled to use it to pay their bills because if they weren’t they would be working full time and would have no time to commit to finding Madeleine so in retrospect the funds are being used to find Madeleine most definately. I see them using the money as part of what is necessary in the search for her. These parents cannot have afforded to be at work over the last 6 months and Gerry’s returning will leave one less pair of hands actively involved in the investigation. We just need to support this family for doing everything they can to find their daughter, including not sitting behind office doors for two-thirds of their day. Think about the big picture people. We are paying for them to have the ability to find Madeleine. Isn’t that where our hearts have been? Helping them in any way possible to find Madeleine? I know mine has. I hope Kate stays home from work and I wish Gerry could longer. I will gladly donate to their cause. Melissa D.
I just wish people understood that Kate and Gerry being able to not return to work means they do not have money for their mortgage, which means they have to use the money put forth to pay for what being at a job would cover. Leave the McCanns alone unless you’re ignorant fools who cannot see the big picture. I’ll donate today to show my understanding to the McCann family. I hope your heart is in the right place too.
Oh my God. When are people going to stop attacking the McCann’s? They made a stupid mistake to leave their children unattended, but have paid the ultimate price. They have done everything they possibly can to try and find Madeleine. They have not had any income since May - so what if they need to use some of the fund for living expenses while trying to locate their child. Please.. a bit of sympathy and compassion wouldn’t go astray. We are lucky are not in their shoes.
It does irk me somewhat that the McCanns are using the fund to pay their mortgage (or have done). People gave to the fund believing it would pay for the professionals, those experienced in locating missing children, as opposed to paying for the McCanns living costs etc.
However, i take on board what Melissa and Diane have stated in their posters. How can they devote 100% of their time in locating etc if they are both working full time? It makes a change to read supportive messages about the McCanns at the moment. So many people want a public hanging, despite how little evidence is still unavailable.
I donated to the find madeleine fund. If Kate and Gerry used some of the money for mortgage repayments, it’s fine by me. If it means that they can dedicate more time to finding Madeleine then I’m all for it. Anyway, they only did it twice and stopped when they became suspects, so why is this an issue months later?
This money is to find the little girl madeliene not for their benefits full stop .
When you donate money to any cause, you should give from the heart, and therefore without any conditions.