Kate and Gerry McCann: We can't face giving each other Christmas presents
Kate and Gerry McCann will not be giving each other presents on Christmas Day.
They have agreed it would be inappropriate to celebrate between themselves when they spend the day at Kate's parents in Liverpool.
They have told friends they cannot face Christmas at home in Rothley, Leicestershire, although they have bought their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie gifts and have decorated a tree in yellow tinsel, the colour of a safe homecoming.
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Kate and Gerry have made a Xmas appeal for their missing daughter Madeleine and will not be exchanging gifts this year as it does not feel appropriate
Gerry's sister Philomena said: "Nobody has been talking about Christmas. We just want it to pass. Even mentioning the word feels terrible.
"I'm sure Kate and Gerry will do something special for the twins but we have agreed that none of the adults in the family are buying Christmas presents for each other."
Kate's father Brian Healy, 67, added: "Kate wishes it wasn't Christmas."
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Madeleine McCann in the video from last Christmas... she has been missing since May 3rd
Gifts have been coming to the family home from strangers all week. Cardiologist Gerry received a huge box of children's toys on Friday while at work at Glenfield hospital in Leicester.
Some will be kept for Madeleine's return, while others will be sent to an orphanage in Belarus.
Kate and Gerry have also issued a video appeal for information, in which Kate tells Madeleine: "We all miss you so much. Be brave, sweetheart. Our only Christmas wish is for you to be back with us again."
Meanwhile, a British paedophile is under suspicion over Madeleine's abduction, according to UK police sources.
Soon after Madeleine vanished, Portuguese detectives were sent details of 52 known sex offenders with links to the Algarve.
All but one have been eliminated from the investigation - but the man's identity has not been revealed.
The information was supplied by the Child Exploitation and On-line Protection Centre, whose specialist staff arrived in Portugal within days of Madeleine's disappearance.
