The younger sister of Madeleine McCann, Amelie, has spoken out for the first time on the 16th anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance. Amelie, now 18, was pictured for the first time since she was a toddler as she lit a candle in her older sister’s memory at a remembrance ceremony held in the family’s home village of Rothley in Leicestershire, UK this week. Her twin brother, Sean, was not in attendance, but parents Kate and Gerry McCann were, The Mirror reports.
As she honored her sister, Amelie McCann expressed her thanks to those who came to do the same. “It’s nice that everyone is here together but it’s a sad occasion,” she said.
The ceremony was not only a tribute to missing Maddie but to other children who had disappeared and were never found. Candles were lit at the town’s war memorial, where photos of Madeleine lined a black railing. A lantern remains lit there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the hope that she might someday be found.
Rob Gladstone, the vicar of the local parish church, led prayers at the service. “We are here this evening to show our loving concern for Madeleine and for all young children who have been taken away from their families against their will,” he told those gathered there. “We are also here to encourage one another to keep up hope and pray for a renewal of strength even after this long time.”
Amelie McCann and her friend Georgina repeated mantras read out by those in the crowd including “don’t forget about me,” “leave no stone unturned,” and “never give up.”
While German authorities are convinced that Madeleine is dead and that convicted killer Christian Bruckner is responsible for her murder, no charges have been filed at this time. However, her family remains hopeful that she’s still alive.
