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Irish Prayers for madeleine
 By
Elaine Sheridan and Trevor O'Sullivan
MISSING Madeleine McCann’s family this week thanked the Irish communities
in Britain and Ireland for their support in the search to find the missing
four-year-old.
It came as the hunt continued for the four-year-old a month after she
was snatched from a holiday apartment in Portugal.
The abducted girl’s grandmother spoke to the Irish Post this week
about the family’s last holiday together in Co. Donegal over Easter.
Much of Eileen McCann’s family hail from Dungloe in the north west
of Ireland and her late husband John is originally from St Johnson in
Co. Donegal.
The 67-year-old who is Madeleine father Gerry McCann’s mother
— said: “Forty-six of the family met in Dungloe at Easter
including Madeleine, her parents Gerry and Kate and the couple’s
twins for a get-together.
“Because we’re all scattered in England and Scotland we decided
to have a reunion over there.
“It was absolutely brilliant. It was such a happy occasion for everyone.
We’re such a close family and for this to happen two months later
is just unthinkable.
“We’re all really heartened by the messages of support from
Donegal and all over.”
Since Madeleine McCann’s disappearance communities have come together
to pray and show support for the Leicester-based family.
Following a special vigil Mass in Dungloe parish priest Father Seamus
Meehan said: “We will pray for wee Madeleine McCann and her family.
“It is a terrible thing that has happened. It is difficult
to understand. We will all pray for the family and for Madeleine during
this time. At this point we will pray that she will be found and that
she will be safe and well.
“Everybody has heard about this story and our hearts go out to the
family.
“Prayer is a powerful thing. We will also pray for all parents who
have had children taken from them in the past.”
Churches here in Britain have also been rallying behind the McCanns and
their story has touched many parishioners’ hearts.
Father Bert Bromley from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church
in Kilburn in London said: “We are constantly keeping her in our
everyday prayers at Mass for starters. There is a photograph of her in
the church at all times which parishioners placed to pray beside.
“And of course we are very concerned about her parents and we pray
especially for all who have had children who are in that sort situation.
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