Kate McCann condemns 'downright lies' that will emerge in coming days over missing Madeleine

Kate McCann has described the upcoming 10th anniversary of her daughter Madeleine’s disappearance as a ‘horrible marker of time’ and warned people not believe the “downright lies” that will resurface in the coming days.

She posted a message on the Official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page, writing: ‘We are bracing ourselves for the next couple of weeks.’

Three-year-old Madeleine vanished from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal on May 3, 2007.

Kate and her husband, Gerry McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have always vowed to never give up hope of finding their daughter.

MORE: Madeleine McCann detective accuses ex-PM Gordon Brown and MI5 of cover-up
MORE: Australian TV show claims to have major new lead in Madeleine McCann case

Ahead of the ten-year anniversary at the beginning of next month, Mrs McCann wrote: ‘It’s likely to be stressful and painful and more so given the rehashing of old “stories”, misinformation, half-truths and downright lies which will be doing the rounds in the newspapers, social media and “special edition” TV programmes.’

She wrote: ‘Ten years – there’s no easy way to say it, describe it, accept it. And now here we are… Madeleine, our Madeleine – ten years.

‘Most days are similar to the rest – another day. May 3rd 2017 – another day. But ten years – a horrible marker of time, stolen time.’

However, Mrs McCann said: ‘There will always be hope.’

The 49-year-old said: ‘We will go on, try our hardest, never give up and make the best of the life we have.

‘We consider ourselves immensely fortunate to have received the love, solidarity and support from so many kind and decent people over the last decade.

‘There have been many challenges and low points along the way but the warmth, encouragement and positivity we have experienced from the “quiet majority” has undoubtedly sustained us and maintained our faith in human goodness.’

The message, signed by both Mrs McCann and her 48-year-old husband, concluded: ‘Thank you so much from all of our family.’

She said past media appearances had been ‘draining and, on occasion, unhelpful to the only thing we want, finding Madeleine’.

She continued: ‘They need to have a purpose. We could spend all our time and energy trying to defend ourselves by correcting inaccuracies and lies, but then we would have no strength left to look for Madeleine, look after our other children and to live our life.’

Mrs McCann also made a plea to the media.

She said: ‘Even if little consideration for Gerry and me is shown, they will at least bear in mind the effect such unfounded and unwarranted negativity could have on our other children – and of course Madeleine.’

She also wrote about the ‘active’ police investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance.

‘There are no new appeals that the police wish to make at this moment in time and so we are keeping any media involvement marking this unwanted milestone to a minimum.’

Scotland Yard has been assisting with the inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance since 2011.

Last month, the Home Office confirmed it has granted officers £85,000 to carry on with the case for a further six months.

More than £11 million has been spent on the UK investigation.

(Main picture: PA)