Dad begs abductor to end Madeleine torment

Updated 21.31 Wed Aug 29 2007

Keywords: Praia da Luz, Portugal, abductor, Madeleine McCann

The father of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann has begged her abductor to end his family's 118-day nightmare.

Writing in his daily blog, Gerry McCann, 39, said his daughter may have been snatched because of a sudden impulse or "act of madness" which they might not understand themselves.

Mr McCann stormed out of an interview with Spanish TV channel Telecinco last week after being questioned about blood found on the wall of the apartment in the village of Praia da Luz

He told whoever took Madeleine from her room in their Portuguese holiday apartment on May 3: "If you have done something you regret, if you find yourself in a situation you never intended, it is not too late to do the right thing."

He added: "Please come forward, return Madeleine, leave her in a place of safety."

Last week, Mr McCann stormed out of an interview with Spanish TV channel Telecinco after being questioned about specks of blood found on the wall of the apartment in the village of Praia da Luz.

The tension began when the interviewer asked Mr McCann and his wife Kate: "You were the last people to see Madeleine alive, is that correct?"

Mr McCann replied: "That's part of the investigation and we are not going to divulge any information about the investigation that might help the perpetrator of this crime to cover his tracks."

He was then quizzed them about the minute blood flecks found by British sniffer dogs in the flat, which are currently undergoing DNA tests in Britain.

At this point Mr McCann started to take his microphone off, saying: "Do you know what? This is all investigation. You need to talk to the police."

He then stood up and walked off camera, then returned to pick up a bottle of water, adding as he left the room: "All your questions are about the investigation and we cannot comment on the investigation."

The couple have stayed on in Praia da Luz since the incident, desperate for news of Madeleine's whereabouts.

The blog added: "At the very least, help us by letting us know what has happened to our beautiful little girl."

Madeleine was due to start at Bishop Ellis Catholic Primary School in Thurmaston, Leicester, on Thursday.