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FAMILY |
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14 to 18 Witness
statement of
Patricia Cameron
2008.04.15
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03-Carta
Rigatoria 3 Pages 14 to 18 |
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TRANSLATIONS BY INES |
Patricia Cameron
Statement 15 April 2008
Leicestershire Police Force
Witness Statement
Statement from Patricia Cameron
Occupation : Nurse
Date 15th April 2008
I am Gerry McCanns oldest sister, he
is the youngest of five children. I'm married to Sandy Cameron
and we have an adult son.
Gerry is married to Kate Healy and
they became a couple after a trip to New Zealand in 1997 and
married in 1998. They have three children, Madeleine, to whom
Sandy and I are godparents, and the twins Sean and Amelie. Kate
was an obstetrician first before becoming an anaesthetist, Gerry
accompanied Kate to New Zealand and they began their
relationship there.
Initially Kate and Gerry lived in
Glasgow, before Gerry was transferred to Leicester. We used to
see each other regularly when they lived close here in Glasgow
and I can confirm that we continued to see them more or less
every two months after they moved. We are a very united family
and where are always there for each other when necessary. Kate
and Gerry went to live in Amsterdam with Madeleine before the
birth of the twins. Madeleine adapted well, she went to a creche
once a week as well as to swimming lessons. Kate was quite
unwell during her pregnancy with the twins and many members of
her family would take turns to go and help Kate and Madeleine.
I would often visit them with my
mother, after my father died, and we would normally stay for a
week, coinciding with visits to my son at university, Madeleine
liked to come with us.
I remember hearing about Madeleines
disappearance by phone on the night of 3rd May 2007. I usually
go to bed late but I was particularly tired that night and went
to bed early. I was woken by the phone ringing at about 23.30.
It was Gerry telling me that Madeleine had been taken. He was
very upset on the phone, it was the worst phone call I have had
in my life. remember asking him for contacts of people in
Portugal so that we could call them. Gerry was in no state to
say much. I tried to remain calm for him, I suggested that he
contact the British Embassy and I remember him telling me that
he had spoken to the local police but they were not taking the
situation seriously. I remember Gerry saying that they did not
treat the matter with urgency and only stated that Madeleine
must have left on her own and that she would be back later. It
was so frustrating, Madeleine did not do things like that, she
was not that kind of girl.
Gerry is normally very calm and
serene, he has a logical perception of things, but he was
hysterical ? he was shouting. He mentioned the possibility that
that she could have been taken by a paedophile, I tried to calm
him but there was nothing I could say to help him. I had never
seen him so out of control. The pain and the anguish ? it was
the worst scenario imaginable, the waiting was unbearable.
In total frustration, I contacted
our local police to ask for help and advice but unfortunately
they were not able to help us.
Sandy began to search for phone
contacts on the computer and there were phone calls back and
forth to Portugal and to the Embassy in Lisbon. I think Kate had
called her aunt and uncle. I was left with the task of informing
our family here. As my mother is quite vulnerable and fragile I
decided to give her the news personally. That was one of the
worst things I have ever had to do. We sat in her apartment
feeling incredulous, wondering what to do next. I feel the
necessity of contacting the media and called the BBC, gave an
interview to a reporter and afterwards there were more reporters
and more interviews. Sandy stayed at home to coordinate things.
We tried desperately to get plane tickets. It was not possible
to get a flight from Glasgow, the only solution was to fly from
Manchester.
We went to Manchester and stayed at
a friends house before catching the first flight of the morning,
on Saturday 5th May 2007.
We arrived in Portugal on Saturday
morning, where a friend lent us a car to use and we went to
Praia da Luz. My first impression was that everything was busy,
but there was also a surreal sensation of passivity. Kates
mother and father were already there.
We stayed for 3 months, initially
returning home for a few days in the middle of June in order to
deal with financial affairs and work related subjects. We were
there to offer our help and support, Sandy and I stayed in an
apartment that also served as an office. Sandy dealt with the
correspondence and I helped in the kitchen and with cleaning. In
the afternoons we would go out with the children, I didnt think
it was a good idea for them to be in the creche for the whole
day, we tried to maintain a routine in order to give them a
sense of normality.
Every day was the same as the
previous one ? the same questions about whether there was any
news, what developments had there been in the case, but we were
there to provide support when necessary.
I remember that they had weekly
meetings with a series of persons, the Portuguese treated Kate
and Gerry cruelly. One minute they would help them and the next
moment they turned on them, making them arguidos.
When we left in the middle of June
we felt dreadful because we did not want to leave them, both
Gerry and Sandy cried at the airport and I tried very hard to
remain strong. Our only comfort was knowing that there were
others travelling out to take our place and support Gerry and
Kate. When we went back for the second time at the end of June
to attend our sons graduation, it was even more difficult. I
wanted them to come back so that they could get away from all
the negativity and so that they could achieve some degree of
normality and could feel the love and support of their family
and friends, but they refused, wanting to stay where Madeleine
had been seen for the last time in order to feel her closeness,
it was heartbreaking.
Sandy found them a house outside of
the Ocean Club to try to give them the stability that they
needed.
Madeleine was a normal girl, she
loved being Sean and Amelies older sister. Being the first
daughter and due to the difficulties in conceiving her, she was
very pampered by her parents. Madeleine is happy, very sure of
herself, friendly, open and serene. Madeleine is much loved and
desired by the whole family.
Madeleine began to play tennis, she
had lessons in Syston. She was also learning to swim ? in fact
she is a very good swimmer. Before she disappeared she was keen
to start school. She a very intelligent little girl who loved to
read books, who loved participating in activities with the
family and who was learning to play cards.
Madeleine would never have gone off
with anyone, she was not the kind of girl to disappear.
Madeleine generally slept well at
night, although before the birth of the twins she used to get up
and go to Kate and Gerrys bed. This situation led to a bonus
point system being established if she stayed in her bed all
night, although sometimes the twins would go to their parents?
bedroom. The children would generally go to their parents bed
because they were thirsty or wanted one of the parents, normally
Kate. The children have a good routine, to which they have been
accustomed since birth. The twins go to the creche two mornings
per week and Madeleine would go to reading lessons as
preparation for school.
This whole situation has been like
living a nightmare, a horror film, it is difficult to live in
this situation. It is difficult for me to believe it, one does
not expect that our children would be taken or that someone robs
a child from us.
The nightmare continues because
Madeleine is still Messing and because of the fact that the
arguidos status has not been lifted yet. The interest by the
media is a difficult factor to bear, Kate and Gerry continue
their campaign in the UK for the introduction of an alert
system. They recently went to the States which meant that I came
to stay with the twins. Normal life does not continue for them
nor for any of us. I find it appalling that I was not heard nine
months ago. None of us remember having been asked questions at
that time. I know with all my heart that Kate and Gerry are
completely innocent. For the, all of this situation is a
torture. We request that their arguido status be removed so that
the authorities can concentrate on their responsibilities in the
disappearance of Madeleine.
The following statement was
elaborated as a response to questions raised by me on behalf of
Kate and Gerry.
As Gerrys oldest sister, I have
spent much time with them and their children, and as I said
earlier in this statement, the children have a good routine and
there was no change in routine with respect to their bed time.
The children go to bed at about 19.00 after dinner, playing,
bathing, washing their faces and brushing their teeth.
Normally they listen to two or three
stories before going to sleep.
The children are very active during
the day, they get up very early at around six/seven in the
morning and generally go to Kate and Gerry?s bed. Even at the
weekend the children do not stay in bed for longer and do not
sleep during the day. Madeleine, in particular, totally rejected
the idea of sleeping during the day.
As far as I know the children did
not wake up frequently at night, there could have been occasions
when they went to see Kate and Gerry. It depends upon the time
the children were with them or were sent back to their rooms.
With regard to medication, I only
remember them being given 'Carpol' (sic) (paracetamol) to lower
their temperature and certainly never to make them sleep ?
never.
With regard to punishment, Kate and
Gerry used the ?naughty corner? which gives the child the
opportunity to think about his/her actions before saying sorry.
I never saw any form of physical punishment by Kate or Gerry.
Kate always managed well with the 3
children, it is an exhausting work to have children, but Kate
always kept them occupied with activities or invited other
children to come and play.
Madeleine has never told me that she
was unhappy. She was alert, happy, a normal child and much loved
by many.
Gerry is a competitive man, when he
was young he had to chose between athletics and football. He was
organised, motivated and this has continued throughout his
medical career. Gerry is ambitious but with his feet set on the
ground, he will never forget his roots or where he came from.
Kate is stronger than Gerry in
certain situations. Kate and Gerry have an equal for equal
relationship and she does not hesitate to say what she is
thinking. I suppose that Kate and Gerry form a very solid
couple.
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---> 108
Questions for Patricia Cameron from the Letter of Request letter
(English) 2007.12.12 |
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TRANSLATION BY INES |
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Cartas
Rogatorias File 02 (PDF Page No 108) |
From Letter of Request:
IV - Interview to GERALD MCCANN's sister PATRICIA CAMERON - to
be identified by the Requested Authority. She used the "Renault"
vehicle, model "Scenic", number plate 59-DA-27 during the time
it was rented to the arguidos (formal suspects). She should be
asked the following questions :
(Note : The original text stated :
-------IV - Interview to GERALD MCCANN's sister-in-law SANDY -
to be identified by the Requested Authority. She used the
"Renault" vehicle, model "Scenic", number plate 59-DA-27 during
the time it was rented to the arguidos (formal suspects). She
should be asked the following questions :"
I have taken this as a reference error and as ALEXANDER JAMES
CAMERON, (SANDY), has been requested to be questioned later in
the Letter, I have presumed that the PJ requesting actually
meant to refer to PATRICIA in the above request, as she also did
attend the Rog Interviews for Interview)-------
* Have you ever driven this vehicle ?
* Who was with you ?
* When and where exactly did you drive to ?
* Do you have anything to report that you would describe as
unusual when you drove the vehicle or travelled in it ?
* As far as you know, have the twins ever travelled in the
vehicle ?
* Any further questions deemed useful, necessary or pertinent in
view of the previous replies.
* Is there any further supplementary explanations that you
consider pertinent or relevant to establish the material truth ? |
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