07 - 0CT - Interview pour le Leicester Mercury

 

Interview MC for the Leicester Mercury

04.10.2007

Lee Marlow : Thanks for coming in and agreeing to speak to us today.

Gerald MC : We just want to say thank you. That's the reason we are here. This cheque - I haven't opened it yet, but £57,000 - it's a huge amount. Both Kate and I would like to say a big, sincere thank you to everyone in Rothley and Leicestershire who has been so supportive. It means a lot to us. (1) 

LM : How will the money be used - do you know yet? (2)

GMC : We're in the process of looking into which specific areas we need to use this fund. We are about to start a widespread campaign so I can assure you it will be put to very good use. We want to increase awareness, get back to basics if you like. Target specific areas with pictures and billboards and messages. We want to refocus the coverage. (3)

Kate MC : The coverage has been on us. The coverage should be on Madeleine, no-one else.

GMC : But it's important for us to do this: to say a big thank you to the people who have backed us. Their support has been tremendous. It's more than just family, friends and neighbours. Today, I received a letter from the chaplain at Glenfield Hospital. Every Friday they have a vigil at the hospital. It started during the first week of Madeleine's disappearance and they are still holding them now, every Friday lunchtime. I've not been anywhere near Glenfield Hospital - but they're still there, still praying for us. That touches me. It keeps me going. Despite everything that has been written, we're still receiving many messages of support. All the letters we have received have been positive.

LM : How much mail have you received?

GMC : We've been getting three big crates of mail every day. It's so much we have to collect it from the post office. We didn't think it was fair on our post lady. It's tailed off slightly, but we're still receiving a big box of letters every day. It's incredible.

KMC : And the flowers, so many flowers. People have been so kind - it has made coming home a lot easier.

LM : What has been your lowest point during all of this?

KMC : I don't think there has been one, particular low moment. Obviously, nothing can compare with the night Madeleine went missing. A lot has happened since then. Sometimes, the most trivial of things can bring you crashing down.

GMC : I think when we were made suspects in our own daughter's disappearance; when the inference was that Madeleine was dead and that, somehow, we were involved... But, no, it can't get worse than that first night.

KMC : Nothing has been worse than that.

GMC : Everything that has happened, everything we do and feel, it is all put into perspective by how we felt on that first night.

LM : How do you keep going?

KMC : Something carries you through. We have Sean and Amelie of course. We are there for them. And we still have hope. The messages of support; friends and family rallying round. You just can't overestimate what those messages of support have meant for us. They have kept us going on low days, kept us strong during the worst times. I've had days when if I wasn't crying about Madeleine, I was crying from the letters and messages people have sent to us. It has helped so much.

LM : How are Sean and Amelie?

KMC : It didn't take them long to settle back. It's familiar for them at home, they have their toys, they know where things are. They're back in nursery, they play so well together. They miss their big sister.

LM : Do they ask about Madeleine?

GMC : They do.

LM : What do you tell them?

KMC : We tell them that she is missing and that everyone is looking for her. And that's the truth.

GMC : They don't dwell on it. They miss her - but they are not tormented by it. Time means nothing to them at their age. They have no comprehension of when things have happened. They're happy with themselves.

LM : Going back to the night Madeleine disappeared, how and when did you decide that you needed to involve the media?

GMC : We didn't. On that Friday night, we came out of the police station and there were 150 reporters there. We had a quick decision to make. What do we do here? Do we ask the media for help or do we hide? (4)

LM : Were you receiving professional advice at that time?

GMC : We had the media liaison officer from the Mark Warner resort (5) He helped us a lot.

LM : How did you feel about the publicity which quickly surrounded you?

KMC : The publicity was secondary, it really was. At first, I don't think it touched us. There can't be many people left in Leicestershire - or anywhere else for that matter - who don't know who you are.

LM : How does that feel for you?

GMC : "It's weird, very strange. We have had to rely on our friends and family. Our neighbours have been so good. They've been incredibly understanding. They have been there for us, in very testing times. There has been a huge media presence in Rothley. Yesterday was the first day that we could look out of our windows and not be greeted by a crowd of photographers.

GMC says he'd prefer not to answer questions about the media. (6) 

LM : What are you doing now? What do you plan to do?

GMC : "We want to get back to basics. Timing is the issue. We are looking now at what is the most effective thing we can do in our search for Madeleine.The legal side has taken priority. We want to change that and refocus the attention on to finding Madeleine.

LM : When were you aware of the green and yellow Madeleine bands?

GMC : It must have been quite early on. When did they start? I don't know.

KMC : Time passed by so surreally. It was the first few hours, then eight hours, then 24 hours, 48 hours, then 72 hours... I don't remember. Each day felt like a week.

LM : What can you say about the legal side? It's been widely reported that Portuguese Inspector Goncalo Amaral has been relieved of his duties...

GMC : We can't comment on that. We want to emphasise enough our thanks, to the people of Leicestershire who helped to raise this money and for the support we have received. It's just so uplifting. A few nights ago, we had a curry with some friends.

KMC : It was just a takeaway, we weren't out having a meal.

GMC : And the waiters in the restaurant, the staff - they were so good. I went to the dump to throw some things away. Even there, people came up and said: 'I hope everything works out all right for you'. These were just ordinary, everyday people - people I didn't know, people going about their business - taking time out to pass on their best wishes.

KMC : We can be out in the car and people will put their thumbs up. It's a simple thing, but we take great comfort from that.

LM : Have any of your patients been in touch?

KMC : Yes, lots of them. That means a lot.

LM : When do you plan to return to work?

GMC : I did think about going back to work in some capacity - but that all changed when we were declared arguidos (suspects). That has put things back a bit. I won't be changing careers, let's say. The hospital has been incredibly supportive.

KMC : There are so many people to thank - the primary schools, Bishop Ellis Primary School in Thurmaston; Rothley Primary School; the local police - they have been excellent, so pleasant. Our local church. It's a five-minute walk from our house. They have been saying prayers continually. In fact, people from all faiths have been praying. We have had support from the Anglican church; from the Baptist church. They were planning to come together, I have heard - but I think that maybe this forced them to do it a bit quicker than they planned."

LM : When do you expect life to return to any kind of normality?

GMC : Well, today is the first day there are no photographers outside our house.

KMC : There is a semblance of normality returning. It's more normal than it was three weeks ago, Amelie and Sean see to that. But really how can it be normal? How can it be normal without Madeleine?

GMC : "None of this has been normal has it, really?

(1) Produit de la vente des rubans verts et des rubans jaunes.
(2) Où l'on voit que la manière dont l'argent est dépensé n'est pas indifférent aux donataires. L'utilisation des dons est à la discrétion du fonds, les donateurs ne souhaitent que savoir. Il semble qu'une certaine transparence, bien qu'affichée, ne soit pas si simple à mettre en place.
(3) C'est un must, les MC sont témoins assistés, autrement dit suspects formels.
(4) Il ne faudrait pas croire que les médias ont fondu sur PDL par l'opération du saint esprit. La rumeur que Gerald a semée (probablement sans en mesurer toutes les conséquences) avec l'histoire (fausse) des persiennes et de la fenêtre forcées et l'omission de la porte laissée ouverte expliquent pour une bonne part la progression géométrique de l'intérêt médiatique
(5) Alex Woolfall, expert en gestion de crise du Bell Pottinger Group. 
(6) Il ne souhaite probablement pas les indisposer, car il a encore besoin d'eux. Le contrat de restauration d'image avec Hanover Communication est efficace et le Chief Constable du LC, Matthew Baggott, qui a déjà envoyé une lettre aux médias en septembre, se prépare à en envoyer une autre rappelant que l'intérêt de l'enfant est prioritaire.