Mirror 14/09/07 - Kate and Gerry were talking about a new baby says Kate's father

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-and-gerry-were-talking-about-a-new-506057

Kate and Gerry were talking about a new baby says Kate's father


BY DAMIEN FLETCHER

Exclusive: Kate and Gerry McCann were planning to try for another baby before Madeleine went missing, Kate's dad said yesterday


Kate and Gerry McCann were planning to try for another baby before Madeleine went missing, Kate's dad said yesterday.

The couple, who had fertility treatment to conceive their elder daughter, four, and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, dreamed of a large family.

Kate's father Brian Healy, 67, said: "They've talked about it between themselves.

"Having another child was something they've been thinking about. But that was before Madeleine went missing.

"Now all they want is Madeleine back, and they're not thinking about anything else.

"Children are the most important thing in their lives."

And he added: "Their marriage is incredibly strong and they will not fall apart through this.

They've always been incredibly close as a couple."

Kate and Gerry, both 39, both studied medicine at universities in Scotland but only met when they worked as junior doctors at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow.

Gerry was smitten from the start and when Kate went to New Zealand to work in 1996 he ditched his plans for a sabbatical in the US and followed her.

They worked in different cities but he made a 500-mile round trip on his days off to be with her.

Gerry's close friend Dr Paul McIntyre, 45, said: "Kate's a beautiful, lovely, sensitive person and everyone thought she was great, especially Gerry.

"Essentially, he went after her from the beginning."

Gerry's sister Trish Cameron, 47, said: "When they came back a year later they were an item. They've been inseparable since."

Gerry joked: "I saw Kate on the other side of the river and I crossed it! We didn't meet in the street, but at work."

He told Paris Match magazine:

"She made sure that I followed her. I must have courted her for a long time." They married in 1998 in Catholic Kate's home city Liverpool. Friends speak of all-rounder Gerry's talent for sport and Kate's brilliance at school.

Gerry, the son of Irish immigrants - his dad a joiner and mum a biscuit factory worker - was Scotland's under-19 1500 metres and Scottish universities 800 metres champion. He was also a skilled footballer and could have turned professional but opted to go to university instead.

In New Zealand, Gerry captained Napier City Rovers. Teammate David Anstis said: "He was a really nice bloke and he made a huge impression on the team."

Kate was top of her class at school and dreamed of a job caring for others. Friend Susan Clarkson, 39, said: "I think a few of the other girls were jealous of her because she did so well."

Cardiologist Gerry got a job as as specialist registrar at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester in 2000 and the family moved to the Midlands city from Glasgow.

Kate worked as a GP in nearby Melton Mowbray. Her best friend Jill Renwick said: "Kate wanted to be an anaesthetist or gynaecologist. But then Kate felt that urge for a family and knew she couldn't combine a top career with children."

But the couple had problems conceiving. Madeleine was eventually born on May 12, 2003, after IVF treatment. Gerry said: "It was incredibly special because we had been waiting for a long time.

"She was close to the perfect child. I know all parents think that, but Madeleine really was."

Friend Alan Grieves, 48, said: "After many years of hope, the birth of their beautiful Madeleine made their lives complete. We have never seen Kate and Gerry as happy as they were that day."

The couple lived in Holland for a year while Gerry worked on new heart imaging techniques. Kate became pregnant after IVF in 2004 and moved to England where the twins were born 21 months after Madeleine in February 2005.

Last year, they bought a bigger, #600,000 family home in rural Rothley, Leics.

Sports-mad Gerry would cycle to work and play golf in his spare time. Kate kept fit with trips to the gym and regularly took the children swimming. Villagers in Rothley speak kindly of a couple devoted to their children.

Valerie Armstrong, landlady of the Royal Oak in the village, said: "They are gentle, caring people."

Relatives say the love of their friends and family has helped Gerry and Kate cope since Madeleine vanished.

Gerry's mum Eileen said her son is Kate's "tower of strength".

She added: "There are times when Kate can't even talk because she's so upset. But Gerry's always there to help."

Kate believes their strong marriage will help them survive. She said: "If we get through this ordeal, then I think that we can get though anything."

It beggars belief that the McCanns could have been able to hide Madeleine's body for 25 days, and then evade the police and press while they put her in the car and moved her. This would be laughed out of court if they were charged. - J CHRISTIE, BY EMAIL

Imagine the trauma of losing your daughter, being made suspects, and having to hear about gruesome evidence relating to blood, hair and the smell of death. I pray the McCanns' nightmare is over soon. - JP FENTON, BY EMAIL

Some people are questioning Kate's behaviour after Madeleine was discovered missing. How can we expect her to be normal? - JANE COSTA, BIRMINGHAM

If the police find evidence that suggests the McCanns might be guilty, they have a responsibility to act. If the evidence doesn't stand up in court scrutiny then they will be cleared. But that won't make the police wrong for collecting evidence. - EFLAT, MIRROR.CO.UK FORUMS

Why is no one asking the question: who had the Renault Scenic hire car between May 3 when Madeleine went missing and May 28 when the McCanns hired it? - JOHNF, SOUTHPORT, MERSEYSIDE

The Portuguese police are not idiots. They must think that they have some evidence to justify making the McCanns suspects, and in that case, it's only right they follow it up. - CLARE WILKINS, LEEDS

If the McCanns are innocent of any involvement this is truly shocking treatment of parents already traumatised by the loss of their child. - EMMET, MIRROR.CO.UK

Surely no one would be able to keep up the facade of desperate parents for so long without cracking if they were in any way guilty. J O'SHEA, BY EMAIL

How do people think they managed to commit the crime when Madeleine was seen that evening. Where and when did they dispose of the body? Do you think they hid it for almost a month (when they had the hire car) in the heat of Portugal? - KIMISFATASTIC, MIRROR.CO.UK

Whilst we can sympathise with Gerry and Kate, they are the orchestrators of their predicament. They decided to leave their children alone. It's Madeleine that has my sympathy. - CHRISTINE HANKS, WOKING, SURREY

Another child?
Kate was already having trouble with three - so much so that she needed help from assorted family members and (apparently) a nanny.
All this does is lend credence to the idea that Kate was under an incredible amount of stress, and I can see that if she was being "persuaded" to have another child, the consequences might have been very dire in terms of her state of mind while she was in Portugal.

I agree.   In fact for the very first time I feel some sympathy with the woman.   A colicky, difficult crying baby to cope with, then a move to another country when she would be taken away from family/friends support and then pregnant again - with twins.   I somehow cannot imagine she was overjoyed at that - only imo.

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Agree. This is complete spin. Designed to make it look as though the roses were growing around the picket fence chez-McCann. I would say that this is indicative that TM want to paint a happy family picture prior to Madeleine's disappearance.

"Now all they want is Madeleine back, and they're not thinking about anything else.

"Children are the most important thing in their lives."

And he added: "Their marriage is incredibly strong and they will not fall apart through this.

They've always been incredibly close as a couple."

Don't believe any of that either. They know Madeleine will never 'come back', imo. So that is not what they are thinking about. They are probably terrified that whatever happened to Madeleine could have an impact on the twins in terms of custody issues or similar. And of course an impact on their own lives.

This is desperate spin, imo.