Like Professor Elliman I would like to contribute to a fund to pay Kate and Gerrys legal costs.

I cannot imagine the additional distress that these rumours and smear campaigns are causing Madeleine's parents who have already sufferred a greater loss than most of us will ever know.

Our thoughts are with them and trust the support of their friends and family will sustain them through this unbelievable situation.

Lyn Forbes, Scotland,

I think that setting up a separate fighting fund would be a sound idea. I would be happy to give a contribution. I think that there would be a severe backlash from members of the public if the money from the existing fund was used for anything other than trying to find Madeleine. This is a forensic led investigation assisted by the British police. I fear we may never know the truth of what happend to Madeleine. It must be so unbearable for the McCanns if they are innocent. They have courted the media, encouraged high profile events and must now bear the scrutiny. Innocent until proven guilty.

I Milne, The Hague, Holland

I think it would be inappropriate for them to use the money in the madeline fund to pay for PR and Legal Representation. The purpose of the fund was to help find Madeline. This has been an extremely high profile case and I don't think it fair that the McCann's should be able to seek funding for PR and Legal Representation because of this, playing on the public sympathy. What right should they have to better representation than any other parents in the same situation? If it's as clear cut that they are 100% innocent even a basic lawyer should be able to help them. As for needing PR, well that's another issue in itself. Most people who need PR find themselves in a bad situation of their own doing and want to put a positive spin on things for their greater good. I personally don't think it's an honest approach. PR, Spin, leave that to the politicians and pop stars.

David, London, England

It's very difficult to have an objective opinion on this case at the moment with so many different rumours but what I understand is that the police investigating the case think that madeleine was accidently killed by her parents and then they have covered up this fact and somehow managed to hide her body for nearly a month before moving her in the hire car. Now knowing that they were both Doctors, I find it difficult to believe that if they found there daughter dead, they wouldn't have instead summoned the emergency services and started trying to resuscitate their daughter using CPR techniques straight away and surely by doing this family friends and Hotel staff would have known something was wrong. I'm suspecting that any DNA they have found in the Hire car will turn out to belong to the McCanns' other Children or will be from something that belonged to Madeleine. However I'm not sure that people will feel comfortable donating to a legal fund in the current climate.

David, Northallerton, North Yorkshire

I too would contribute to a legal fighting fund.In the meantime they must use some of the existing fund to find Madeleine.
What about lie detector tests?

Emma Holmes, manchester,

Yes the poor McCanns have indeed , gone to hell and back . We as a nation should do what we can to back them .Imagine their pain tripled by these accusations , how much more can they endure .
Why shouldn't they use funds from the campaign . The sooner they get this mess cleared up the sooner they can focus on finding their beloved daughter . I don't understand why the Madeleine posters are coming down in shops etc . She must not be presumed dead , just because the Portuguese police believe they are now looking for a body . Please don't give up on her the police just want closure .

Sue , Torquay Devon, UK

Leave Cuddle Cat alone!
If the police have the evidence then let them arrest the McCanns. Otherwise, despite their neglect by leaving those kids alone in a foreign room, I think this torture has gone far enough.

Barbara, London, UK

I would gladly contribute to the fund. Also set up a fund to sue the portugese police.

Rehman, st helens, uk

Fighting fund? - What planet do the McCanns live on? - and they wonder why the tide is turning against them.

shaun, rotherham, uk

I donated to Find Madeleine and I'm more than happy for Gerry and Kate to use the money any way they choose. If the PJ are no longer looking for Madeleine then Kate and Gerry need to eliminate themselves from the inquiry so that the hunt and focus can return to Madeleine.I think most of the people complaining did not donate and just want another stick to beat the McCann family with.

jennifer, powys, wales

ten days ago the world sympathised with kate and gerry mccann, whats gone wrong? can anyone begin to imagine what is going through thier minds,these poor people are traumatised, the pain on kate mccanns face is clear for all to see, the poor woman is dying inside, they need sympathy and support.

Donna Mayell, manchester, uk

I would NOT want to help them - others would not be helped financially if in the same position. They have the financial means to fend for themselves without putting out any FURTHER begging bowls...

karen, Carlisle, Cumbria

I agree with Prof. Elliman

Cesar, Santa Fe, Argentina

If the restaurant the McCann's ate dinner in the night of Madelaine's disappearance required reservations, why has the guest list not been investigated. Someone may have overheard conversations and observed the McCann's leaving to check on their children.

J Beaumont, Kamloops, Canada

Why hire a topadvocate, when innocent and with so much Faith..that sounds odd to me.. (following the case from the start, by the way)

Mar, Amsterdam , Netherlands

It will be interesting if a fund was setup to assist with their legal fees to see how much they could raise. I think this step is immoral by mere fact that they are suspects and I hope there is a law preventing this. I am not assuming they are guilty or not guilty just that as they have been declared suspects it seems an unjust course of action if allowed. I hope for many reasons they are not involved in Madeleine's disappearance - there would be too many issues to cover, let alone the security the whole McCann brigade would need having led such a large campaign. The world (yes world) would feel cheated and the whole family would find themselves as outcasts. It doesn't bear thinking about. Indeed they would need a large legal fund to fight the voluminous potential cases of obatining money from the public by deception. I hope it doesn't turn out that way.

Linda, Essex,

"aquainted to" David? Obviously the eloquence of the professors with whom you are acquainted has not rubbed off!

Peter Ryder, Middlewich, UK

If they want to take on high profile lawyers, fine, but don't expect the public to underwrite their costs. people have been very generous already by contributing to one fund, little of which has gone to searching for Madeleine but spent on publicity for the Mcanns.

Bryan, malaga, spain

im sorry but they look guilty 2 me why hiring pinochet lawyer ? why fly away from portugal just after being found arguidos ? why why why

david, midlands,

As doctors surely the McCanns have sufficient money to pay their legal costs . I don't understand why they need the public to donate money for this. If they are innocent - and I have tended to believe they are - why do they need such distinguished judges? Why can't they use solicitors etc. on the same level as the rest of us have to. Whatever else the McCanns are, I do not believe they are poor.

Dianne, Birmingham, UK

I think her parents had more to do with it than there letting on. I have thought this all along because when she first went on T.V she was no where near as upset as you should be if that has just happened to your child. Her mum seems healthy and well if that happened to your child you would be constantly crying and ill from not eating through worry. I think they have done it and soon we will see.

Rebekah morgan, orpington, england

she does seem very cold and calculating! the ONLY time I've seen her cry sine her daughter went missing is when she was arrested! They are a very selfish couple to leave three young children unattended whilst they "enjoy" a night out. This same SELFISH couple would probally not want to risk losing their lavish lifestyle by confessing to accidentally killing their child so probally did try to conceal the death.

Nicole, london, uk

They should sell their house, not beg others for money they are disgusting!!!!!!

c carney, lancs, ENGLAND

These 2 really are quite dillusional. First of all they leave 3 little children alone, if that's not bad enough one goes missing and they set up a fund to 'find her'. When the suspicion turns to them they try to get the money from that fund to defend themselves. When they know that that won't work they are now trying to set up a fund to keep them living in the style they've become accumstomed. What happened to the 'we'll sell our house in the search for Madeleine'. Greedy beggars and this is beyond belief.

linda, Ayr,

I support Kate and Gerry completely and would be very willing to contribute towards a legal fund.

Angela, Leeds,

I know that this may not be very palatable for the British public because most people including the McCanns, think that it will never happen to them.

Why don't we have a proper legal fund? We ddi have one. It was called Legal Aid but generally only thought to be used by the oiks!

Now, with the 'advances' in DNA recognition as Lord Justice Sedley said that should mean everbody's DNA kept on file with nobody (regardless of money etc) being able to avoid this, we won't have any 'accidents' in recognition will we?

Pete Balchin, Solicitor , Bristol, UK

The world is looking at the McCann's with great scrutiny. To even consider using the fund for McCann legal/PR fees--when its original intent was to FIND MADELIENE-- is, at a minimum, a PR faux pas --and at its worst, lacking in clear judgment. Desperation clouds good judgment. I hope the new fund isn't simply a different pot into which these funds will be quietly diverted and I pray the McCann's have ethically-sound counsel as it relates to these matters. They've been through a lot and I am sure the worst is not yet upon them. This will be a marathon and not a sprint. If they need to offer their home for sale to defend themselves than I suggest they do so. There are worst things--think of what Madeleine has had to give up. Should the McCann's be any less heroic?

leah culberson, atlanta, USA

Is this really a major news item????

Jim, Southampton,

These two doctors by definition are not poor. why are they thinking about setting up a fund using public donations to defend themselves?

Dianne, Birmingham, UK

The Portugese police are obviously trying to find a scape goat and should be ashamed of themselves. Portuguese law certainly seems to rest on very unsolid ground. I for one will never visit Portugal again. It is horryfying what the McCanns are going through. First they loose their daughter and then the local police is so incompetent that they cannot carry through a decent investigation. To search a car for Madeleines DNA, when the car has been used to move her things ? it is impossible for me to find words to describe such nonsense. To my knowledge their is no way to say if DNA comes from blood or other remnants. This is a joke. I hope a lot of people will contribute to a fund to pay the costs for legal help.

Grethe Neumann Andersen, Stockholm, Sweden

I, too, will contribute. Even if the parents are found to be involved, it is plainly a tragedy and not intentional. People should stop this witch hunt before another tragedy occurs. The McCanns are only human beings and there are two other children to think about.

Vivien, Greenock,

I will pray for the family and little Maddie, We should not judge we do not know what happened . I hope to God that someone just wanted a child of their own and could not have one so they stole one and have taken good care of her. God bless her.

Iwona Kurzydlowska, Newport NC ,

Could some one please explain to me how the PJ had the time to write 4,000 pages of information. Did they start the dossier on Day 1? Gosh, how organised!!! Oh, and by the way who hired the car in the time frame before the McCanns? How is it that they don't even rate a mention. Starting to smell really fishy to me. Ahhh Protugal....beautiful one day, gone the next.

Alison, Adelaide, Australia

So just because they are doctors, makes them saints does it? Harold shipman was also in the caring profession if my mind serves me correctly.

ken, rotherham, uk

I back the Mccanns and would be happy to contribute to a fund to help cover legal costs, more so if this helps further the investigation into finding the real criminal and leading to a conviction- more so to prevent there being further victims of such an awful crime.

To those who do not want to contribute to such a fund on the basis that there are many other people who have lower incomes and who are also victims of crime..if you really feel strongly about it there are a few registered charities in this country that aim to help in some small way:

Victim support is a place to start:

www.victimsupport.org.uk

Victoria, London, UK

We have to try to be objectiv. We know very little about what happened. There's a big duference between the reality of the facts and our personal feelings.
This is a "novel of real life" and that's the reason of our passion about it.
I hope the Mcann's are innocent. I hope Madeleine is still alive, but my hope will not change or interfere with what happened.
Let's wait. And, please, let's not turn this into a ridiculous fight between civilized persons.
We must wait.

Antonio, Coimbra, Portugal

Oh, come on, where on earth do the McCanns think they are going to get more money from to set up a fighiting fund to defend them?

The public have rallied to provide funds to support the search for Madeline. Do they honestly think the public will provide them with funds to defend them now that the police have officially declared them as suspects in that poor little girls disappearance?

They are both professional people with good incomes. Let them fund their own battle.

Other people put in the same situation as the McCanns have not had such "support" and media hype.

Merlin13, Vrysoulles, Cyprus

I can't believe that they are saying that the McCann has hurt Madeleine, they must be so short of evidence to even think of this. i would like to wish the McCann family all the best in getting Madeleine back safe and well and that you all are in my prays.

suzie Adams, Bridgwater, England

The eyes of the world are on Portugal - they better get it right - although from what we read (and how much of that is surmise?) the mistakes made by the police have been legion. I feel deeply for the McCanns, they are going through the nearest in life they can get to hell.

Ron O'Toole, Aldborough - Norwich, U.K.

Claire's idea of justice strikes me as a very strange one. She appears to have already decided that the McCanns are innocent. Unless she is in possession of the evidence that the police have, I don't see how she can be sure of this position.

If you believe in justice then let justice take its course.

Peter, Sheffield, UK

I agree with the Professor. The McCann's are victims of a terrible crime and I cannot imagine the anguish they are experiencing. I would contribute to a fund to help them clear their names. All this is diverting the attention away from the search for Madeleine. This family needs to find their daughter, whether she is alive or dead, so they can either get back to their normal family life with Madeleine or grieve in peace and start to rebuild their lives again without her. I do hope there is a happy ending to all this soon.

Sue, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, UK

I agree that the most obvious culprit is the person who rented the car from May 3rd up to the date the McCann's rented it. Therefore, not the McCann's. I also don't understand how all these folders can have been given to the Judge for a decision, when a lot of the forensics are still being worked on in Birmingham - the Portugese Police haven't got the whole forensic picture yet.

Lizbe, Kenton, Devon, UK

i would just like to say why is the madaline fund just for one family what about all the other people who have been in similar situations

dave, malaga spain,

I find it hard to comprehend how the Mc Canns who were under intense media attention were allegedley supposed to put the body of their child into the boot of the hire car without being noticed. It's time to get real of course they had nothing to do with the disappearance of their daughter! Extremely coincidental that they were made formal suspects a few day's before they should have returned to the UK, this was merely a tactic to prevent them from talking about the the investigation which portuguese authorities made a complete hash of.

Lorraine, Antrim, Northern Ireland

Is it my imagination or do things seem a little one sided at the moment? The Portugese Police "sources" seem to have been leaking like a sieve for the last week or so while the McCanns seem to be constrained to "we are innocent"...what happened to the so called secrecy of the Portugese justice system?

It seems to me that we should remember that none of the information currently being printed by the press has been tested in a court of law so it should all be be treated with the greatest scepticism.

Charles, Swindon, UK

No one knows what goes on behind closed doors in most family homes. Most accidents to children happen in the home.
Tragic accidents can and do happen (to everyone).

It is entirely possible that the McCanns were the victims of a terrible accident and then tried to cover it up. To me the question is not the likelihood of them having deliberately harmed their daughter but whether they might have been likely to try to cover up a terrible accident.

This is clearly what is bothering the portuguese police.

The people who want to pay money into a fund for them to cover their legal costs cannot possibly be sure of the facts, neither can the media. The only people who know what evidence they have are the portuguese police.

Surely giving money to the McCanns for their defence is deciding they are innocent of this without knowing all the facts or not caring and just wanting them to be free.

T R McDonald, Glasgow, Scotland

I find it disgusting that Kate and Gerry MCcann have to endure all this controversy from everyone as well as losing their daughter. Why on earth would both the MCcann`s keep Maddie`s disappearance in the spotlight for so long if they had been responsible for for Maddie going missing. As usual the media have kept them hopeful and helped them but are now bringing them down. The camera`s have followed them everywhere but they still could find the time to bury the body and everything else that goes with a killing -ridiculous. Come on Britain give them all your support.

kay nelson, East Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Speak for yourself AM Davies of Nottingham. Funds are put in place for people to contribute to if they wish, no-one is asking you to do so, therefore it's really none of your business if one is set up or not.

'Who do they think they are'

a Mum and Dad in search of their missing 4 year old daughter who need all the help they can get that's who!

Kay, Islamabad, Pakistan

Anything is possible, is very suprising but always remember similar situations has occured .So i think the police is trying to investigate and at this point anyone can be guilty. My prayers are for that beautiful child and her brothers.

Nancy, los Angeles, CA

If I contribute to a legal fund and they are found guilty, will I get a full refund?

Harry Skinters, Manchester, England

If the McCanns hired the car before they went to Rome, where was the car and who may have used the car whilst they were away? I also think the police on the case should be looked into-could it be someone from within!!!! and who is leaking out the details to the press when no one can discuss the case in the first place!!

This investigation has taken a complete nose-dive and is in total shambles. Lets remember a little girl is still missing and what if she is still alive, shouldn't they still be looking for HER either way!!!!

Mum of three, London, UK

I agree with Mark, Aberdeen, UK.

Common sense must prevail, the police and the judicial system must be left to their jobs, even if the outcome is less than palatable to the majority.

If this happened to a single working class parent who had worked hard all year to take their children away on holiday, rather than two medical professionals.

Would the protests for their innocence be as enthusiastic?

FT, Cambridge, UK

I get irked by the opinionated people here, who have clearly made up there mind, mainly in innocence, and some in guilt, and they have come to their unshaking conviction from reading a few newspapers and internet blogs.

Leave the McCann's alone, and don't be so arrogant in thinking, that the only judicial system that is safe is the British one.

Mike, Taunton,

I understand that where the McCanns' stayed in Portugal has a very small population and that the rental car company only has two or three card for rental...have the lawyers for the McCanns looked into the persons that might have rented this same car since Madeleine's disappearance?

The abductor could have rented the same car as the McCann's did, thus the reason for the hairs in the trunk of the card and other DNA present in this same car....It might just be a coincidence that the McCanns rented this same vehicle

Henriette Laporte, Perth, Ontario, Canada

I forgot to say in my previous message, that we would be more than pleased to help the McCann family with their legal fees and think that setting up a new fund is a brilliant idea.

Mrs Nicola Paling, Derbyshire, UK

They have got to be Joking. Who do they think they are. Weather or not they have hurt Madeleine they should pay their own legal fee's. If I remember rightly their was no fund set up to find Ben needam and his family could have done wioth the help.

A.M Davies, nottingham, uk

I wouldn't be surprised if "team McCann" come here to spread their propaganda. Not many people are suspected of a crime without evidence. Get a grip you pathetic people

Andrew, Llandudno, Wales UK

I think it is a good idea to set up a separate fund and would not have been happy if the madeleine fund was used.

Moving to the subject of the madeleine fund, isn't it about time they used some of that money to do what it is intended for. £1m would go a long way on private investigators or something!

Penny, Northants, England

I would contribute with 1 condition: reimbursement in case they're not cleared.

Sophie, Nelson, UK

many people seem to think that portuguese police is making all this just to find a solution to that...it's incredible. what interest would they have on doing this? back to the reality!!! it's like a movie. what they have found now isn't it enought to suspect kate and gerry? i'm not acusing but with a little good sense isn't it suspicious'? plus the portuguese police is working on this with bristish police an british labs, what is the most trusted police or parents who are responsable to look for the childrens, isn't right that they should be the first suspects when a child desapear from his own bedroom?

isabel, braga, portugal

Have they (police) also found the DNA samples of little Maddy's other two sisters in the similar locations in that rental car? If yes, this means the finding of little Maddy's samples in that rental car is not very supportive to the police claims...!!!

Wei Zhang, Boston, USA

Gareth:
In criminal law there is generally no 'innocent' verdict. It is simply guilty or not guilty.

Stu, London, Uk

As a Catholic I know God would look after the McCanns, and the McCanns should know that. I would rather see funds go to help search for ALL lost children.

A strong faith can move mountains and that is not supplied by any lawyer - not even Pinochet's. No Portuguese police or whatever can affect someone with real faith.

Roderico Borja, Barcelona, Spain

I would be happy to contribute to the legal fund. It is important for the twins to have both of their parents around for them and therefore it is important for them to get proper legal representation to clear their names. My desire to see justice for the Mccanns is second only to my desire to see Madeleine returned safe and well to the family which clearly love her so very dearly.

claire, folkestone, kent

A common sense approach would be to let the Portuguese police get on with their investigation and to reserve judgement and keep your hands in your pockets until more facts come to light. Will there be a "Libel Fund too.

The stakes are now so high in this case, that there's just too much to lose on all sides.

Mark, Aberdeen, UK

I have absolute sympathy for the family. I did not chip into Madeleine's fund - instead I will make up to this by making a donation to their family's legal fund, if someone can set up a fund to cover their family's legal and day to day expenses

eric, Hong Kong,

I feel extremely sorry for the McCanns. Whatever happenned to the other people who received the 'suspect' label in this investigation??

Helena, Nottingham, UK

I am a mother of a 3 year old daughter & Maddies dissapearance hit me hard, I work part time & donated £50 to the fund. I am happy for Kate & Gerry to use my money to help clear their name.

Susan, belper, Derbyshire

As soon as the new legal fund is established, I will send all the money I can. I am in the 90% who has contributed to the Madeleine fund who would not mind at all if the parents used it for their legal defense. At this point it seems that clearing their names is going to be the only thing that can be done to find Madeleine, since the police are not going to look for her alive until the parents are cleared. I would encourage anyone who has sympathy for what these parents must be suffering to send any amount you can... even a few dollars can help tremendously if enough people send it!

Dawn, Loganville, GA, USA

At this point it is absurd and ignorant for any of us "spectators" to claim the innocence or guilt of the McCanns since we have absolutely no idea what evidence lies in the 4,000 page report.
We should instead pray that the person(s) who committed this heinous crime, whether it be the McCanns or the boogie man) be found and brought to justice so that little Madeleine may rest in peace.

D. Guay, Middletown, CT, USA

Over here, in the province of Quebec, Canada, a 9-year old girl has been abducted in July. The desperate parents are doing their best to keep the story in the medias. The parents do not face suspicion because on that same fatidic night, in the same neighborhood, the abductor first asked two other girls to help him "find his little black and white dog". Little Cédrika was last seen doing just that: searching for a dog, when in fact she doesn't own one. Wake up, Portugal: pedophiles do exist, and they are the vilest people on the face of the earth. At the moment, France's Sarkozy seems to be the only leader ready to meet the challenge.

Viviane Forest, Montreal, Canada

i would give donations to help the mccanns legal fund, i trust them all

hayley northfield, northampton, uk

My heart goes out to the McCanns. Regardless of speculation and accusation, they have lost a child.

Their grief is real.
The 'not knowing' is real.

Kate Christodoulou, Worcester,

Very well said Professor, I support your opinion 100% percent. I would contribute to a fund to clear the names of Mr & Mrs McCann through the courts in Portugal. The exist fund should be used to help find their daughter or other children that are missing.

Charles Morgan , Madrid , Spain.

They are BOTH doctors...

Trish, Philadelphia, USA

First of all there are two key words:dissapearance and death. It is fundamental question the investigation should answer to. What is the case is the starting point for me. Until now I only consider the whole story as a huge speculation. Well, only with one obvious exeption: the small girl is not with her family. From these point on begins a big tragedy...

Peter Kaukov, Mississauga, Ontario

Chris Clarke:
Neither you nor I have the faintest clue what the evidence is because the Portuguese police are not at liberty to release it and everything else is all press supposition. Your blind faith in one side, as equally anyone's to the other side, is not based on evidence or logic at all.
Let's have a finish to the 'they did it / they couldn't possibly have done it' crowd online. Both are opinions voiced without adequate information and therefore are totally without merit. Can we not just have some respect for awful situation?
To take either position is an offense to intellect which gives me the greatest fear for what will happen next when either of these appalling possible outcomes come to pass; the McCann's are found guilty or they are found innocent; The former would be one of the biggest outcries of decades for deception. The latter an appalling strain on the family and a terrible waste of a search for the girl.
Enough with the uninformed rubbish pls.

Gareth, Whitstable, Kent

I agree with everything said here by Professor Ellman and would also like to contribute to the legal fund.

Charlie , LONDON, UK

I strongly accept that neither Gerry or Kate are responsible for anything to do with there daughter Madalines dissaperance. I think searching the house of God is wrong. and why has nobody mentioned about the people who hired the car proir to Gerry and Kate being interviewed. The Portoguse are wrong and i nor any of my family will ever holiday in portugal again. I am appauled by the portugees

chris clarke, Birmingham, England

I would like to contribute to the legal fund as the evidence leaked by the Portugese Police seems unconvincing and the story of what Kate is supposed to have done is more incredible than most accounts of abduction by aliens. This poor family must be going through absolute hell and the way it has all been handled is all so very unprofessional.

They are faced with huge costs now to clear their name and I guess there are a lot of people who have retained some common sense and are sympathetic and would like to help.

Professor Dave Elliman, Melton-Mowbray, UJK