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Gerry McCann, father of the missing Madeleine McCann, has expressed deep concerns over the conduct of parts of the UK media. He described the intense media attention on his family as “monstering” and argued that such intrusive behavior repeatedly disrupted the investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance in 2007, ultimately impeding efforts to find her. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr McCann lamented that, over a year after the Labour party took office, press regulation had lost its place as a governmental priority.
Mr McCann is advocating for the reinstatement of the second phase of the Lord Leveson Inquiry, a stage that was canceled by the Conservative government in 2018. This follow-up examination was intended to scrutinize unlawful media practices and explore the relationships between journalists, politicians, and law enforcement. Alongside his wife Kate and over 30 others, including families of Hillsborough victims and Caroline Flack’s mother, Mr McCann signed a letter urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the decision to abandon this crucial inquiry stage.
Recounting his family’s experience following Madeleine’s disappearance in Portugal, Mr McCann described how journalists relentlessly pursued them. Photographers would aggressively put their cameras against their car windows while their young twins were inside, leaving the family feeling overwhelmed and suffocated by media intrusion. “We are lucky we survived,” he told the BBC, explaining the emotional toll the relentless press coverage took on them. Despite support from others, Mr McCann said, “there were times where I felt like I was drowning,” with the media being the main source of pressure.
Mr McCann also criticized the ongoing influence of powerful press organizations. He revealed that he and his wife had set aside their principles to work with The Sun newspaper in 2011 to prompt the review of the investigation into Madeleine’s case, illustrating the extent of media power. “There was a front page letter published in The Sun, and [then-prime minister] David Cameron ordered the review,” he said, acknowledging the newspaper’s capability to influence government action. He further mentioned that confidential information about the investigation was leaked publicly, including witness statements, which would have been advantageous to any perpetrators and distressing for the family
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