By Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt

'Sky sources' are a bit thin on the ground here in the Algarve.

There's no sidling up to a friendly cop for a quick natter away from the cameras. No slipping off for a cappuccino and an off-the-record chat...or "guidance" as we call it.

So I really don't know. if the police have any real idea what happened to Madeleine McCann. I suspect they don't. 

I'm having to rely for information on the local Portuguese Press whose accuracy is sometimes highly questionable.

One paper seems to have good contacts. The rest of the stuff is best described as "culhoes". In neighbouring Spain that would be "cojones."

Each morning, with the help of a translator, I have to pick my way through the minefield of flyers.

At breakfast time I can get away with attributing the stories to the local papers. Later I try to turn them into fact.

I imagine somebody has the unenviable task of doing much the same for Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate.

The couple must sometimes despair at the media interest, but they know we are their best hope in finding witnesses.

The police are doing nothing to appeal for the public's help. They continue to hide behind the country's secrecy law, which even prevented them from issuing a description of the clothes Madeleine was wearing.

It's the law, but that doesn't make it right. There's a feeling that law will be repealed after being held up to so much global ridicule.

One morning Gerry and Kate McCann told a colleague of mine "Please, it's Madeleine, not Maddy."

We've all been guilty of that. They've lost their daughter once, they don't want her taken and renamed by the media.

Comments

[siobhan butler dublin-ireland 15 May 2007 15:05:01]

to gerry and kate sean and ameile, you are in our every waking thoughts and prayers, praying for the safety and well being of madeline and her safe return home, best wishes, siobhan holger and family xxx

[Emma. Cornwall, England. 15 May 2007 15:03:16]

To the McCann family, thinking of you all throughout this ordeal, praying especially for your precious Madeleine and her safe return, keep the faith.
To the Media, Police and many other's helping, please keep up the good work that you are all doing over there, do not let go of hope, search and probe as much as you can, keep pushing the boundaries for her and other abducted children. We and many others feel so helpless here in the U.K., wishing we could do more to help. Watched the report of the local ex-pat who is flying over the area day after day with a team of friends helping in the search, god bless you all. How does one go about donating money to the family to assist with their costs?

[Julia, Devon 15 May 2007 15:01:12]

To Gerry and Kate, Sean and Amelie, just want you to know that all my family are thinking of you day and night. We hope dear little Madeleine is found safe and well very soon and returned to her family.

[hayley bullock 15 May 2007 14:59:30]

hope u find her soon god bless xxx good luck

[amanda manchester 15 May 2007 14:58:25]

i am passing on my best wishes to the mccann family. it must be terrible to be now waiting for some news. i hope that they get the outcome they and we all hope for. if richard murat is involved then i plead with him to tell us where she is and what has happened to her. i have 3 children and it makes me cry inside to think of what torment the family are going through. we need to keep searching for madelaine and not give up now because we think we have got the man involved. you are in my thoughts and prayers. x x x x

[Gillian Lavelle.Wirral,Merseyside. 15 May 2007 14:56:57]

All I can think of at the moment is little Maddie McCann. Please Lord bring her home safe and sound. Be strong sweet angel wherever you are.
xgx

[aysha uk 15 May 2007 14:51:37]

please bring madeleine home safe and well to her parents where she belongs.our thoughts are with the family you are always in our hearts and prayers god bless.

[Carole Buchholz,Cologne,German. 15 May 2007 14:51:12]

There are no pictures of Madeleine visible anywhere here,but we have one hanging in the Hotel and in our cars.We pray to God that she will be returned safely to her family.Am trying to contact local papers to have poster downloads in German.
This little beautiful girl is around somewhere.

[jake burton on trent 15 May 2007 14:51:02]

to mccann family i REALLY HOPE u find Madeleine good luck and keep this search going till u find her she sounds a nice girl good luck

[Ciara/Ireland 15 May 2007 14:46:44]

Somebody out there knows something, please please come forward and help get this little angel back to her mummy and daddy

[Lindsay South Africa 15 May 2007 14:44:10]

u are in our thoughts and prayers every day, hoping for the safe return of little Madeleine. everyone all over the world is with you on your search.. not in body but in soul and thoughts.

[Anne NE England 15 May 2007 14:25:25]

My thoughts and prayers are still with the McCaan family every waking moment.Please don't let this story become old news, we the public must do everything we can to help find Madeleine. Her parents pain will not have lessened and neither should our resolve to ensure Madeleine is found. I wait with bated breath to se the breaking news of her safe return. Watch over her Lord.

[ruth london 15 May 2007 14:11:21]

please whoever has little madeline find it in their hearts to reunite this little angel with her mummy and daddy and siblings..to put their hearts at ease just let them know she is ok always in our hearts and we will always look out for her x x x

[Mickey Illinois, USA 15 May 2007 14:08:53]

I really wish that everyone would stop blaming Kate and Gerry for leaving the children. Don't you think that they would give their own lifes in that would change the situation?? Just stop it right now and focus on praying for Madeleine. It really is a shame that the public can not sit outside their apartment/villa watching the door thinking that their children are safe. Are any of our children safe even in their own homes? How bout the parents who have put their child down for the night and maybe sit outside on their patio in their back yard on a lovely warm night and are shocked when they come inside and find that someone came in a front window and took your child??? It happens people and none of our children are safe. We all need to do more to have harsher punishments for these sickos who take children. No second chances. If they hurt a child, they get death. I could easily pull the trigger. We have had cases here in the US where children have been taken from their beds while the parents slept in the next room!!!! Stop blaming the parents and focus that kind of negative vibes to positive vibes for Madeleine and her family and to the police who are trying to find this little girl. I pray so hard every waking minute that she is retuned safe and I picture in my mind the day that she is returned and the headlines that say, Maddie is alive and reunited with her loving parents. Please do the same thing. Prayer and positive thoughts only please.

[jane luton 15 May 2007 14:08:42]

God bless you all the Mccann family I know how precious Ivf children are, I have IVF twin boys, just have faith and hope and pray she will be re-united with you all.
love hopkins family from Luton

[lauren north east 15 May 2007 14:08:28]

first of all, to all those ignorant people out there i am disgusted at some of the comments posted about who is to blame for this poor childs dissapearence. mistakes could and have been made by all of us .the fact is it happend and we need to deal with it and stop passing judgement on madelenies parents, i have a son 4 years old and cant imagine the pain these parents are going through nobody has the right to pass blame. i am so pleased to see how much support the nation has given,whoever committed this terrible crime must be found and with everybodys help and support this beautiful little girl will be returned safe and sound to a family who clearly love and care for her, so please to those people who are posting comments blaming these devestated parents and the portuguese police please stop it isint helping the situation all people should do is stay possitive and hopefully madeleine will be home soon. she is in the thoughts of many many people xxx

[Jennifer, Dublin 15 May 2007 14:02:58]

I just wanted to say I too have been completely caught up by Madeline and the terrible situation her family have been put in. Like everyone else I'm desperate to hear of some breakthrough or positive development for them. Personally I have absolutely no critisim towards her parents with regard to leaving her and her siblings sleeping in their room. As parents you a make decisions at times and in no way do they deserve what has happened to them. Can anyone else say they have their kids constantly on watch ... when paying for petrol at the garage, do you take all your kids in with you when paying or run in and keep 1 eye on the car ... I hope and pray that Madeline is found safe and well and reunited with her mum, dad, brother and sister. I have a one and a half year old daughter myself and cannot bear to think of being without her. No consolation to her family I know but please keep strong. Please god she will return soon and my thoughts and prayers are with you all and little Madeline.

[louise Co Tyrone Ireland 15 May 2007 13:50:58]

please let maddie go..its not right look wat her poor family is going through.
i pray for ur safe return maddie. with all my love xxxx

[Alan England 15 May 2007 13:50:45]

re:-Caroline Horsham, this little girl shouldn't be in this situation now, i really do feel sorry for her parents, BUT she should not of been left alone!!!!!!!!
I am a father and would never leave my kids in that situation

Hope she gets found alive!!!!

[blaenavon 15 May 2007 13:49:41]

we all pray for them every single days wishing that madeleine come back safe

BRING HER BACK TO HER FAMILY

[tracy lancashire 15 May 2007 13:42:12]

iam praying for madeleine and her family as i have never prayed before.what a beautiful family.my heart is broken.i dont wish to make comments about the rights and wrongs,i can only think about a lovely little girl and her family.godbless you all from the bottom of my heart.

[Nicola Morley, Leeds 15 May 2007 13:39:53]

We're not religious people, but after receiving a chain text asking me to light a candle and say a pray for Madeleine, my 5 year old daughter Lily wanted to do just that. Last night she lite a candle, then when she went to bed, she asked if she could say a pray. She closed her eyes and said "please let Madeleine come home to her Mummy & Daddy". My heart just sank. Who ever has done this knows they've done a very bad thing and they should do something good very very soon and bring Madeleine home. I couldn't imagine my life without my children, and I just pray Kate & Gerry here some good news very soon. We're all thinking of you all xxxxx

[jen ireland 15 May 2007 13:32:23]

it is a terrible thing to have to see that a lovely little girl has been snatched away from her parents and siblings. what kind of world are we living in. my thoughts and prayers are with her family friends the portugese police and all others who are helping in the search for this poor little girl. whoever has taken her please return her to where she belongs and realise what hurt you are causing to people who can not have possibly done anything to deserve this. she is a tiny little girl who just wants to be at home with her mummy & daddy. please give her back to them!

[robert s fergus 15 May 2007 13:28:14]

My heart goes out to the Maddies family and every morning i pray that God will return her to her parents safely.

I also feel to enable people help in the search i think the media should make posters of maddy with her hair dyed in different colours because i feel thats the first thing the abductors would do would be to change the colour of her hair so its hard for anyone to recognise her.

[lisa macrae qatar 15 May 2007 13:23:36]

I know what you are going through and i hope to god you get her back safe in your arms .. someone sick has taken her and i know you will get her back safe and sound she is the most gorgeous 4 year old i have ever seen .. you are both staying strong and thats what you need to be doing right now .. pray for madeline loveyou