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Madeleine McCann, in a different photo from that used by the website Handout/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Madeleine McCann
Madeleine McCann photo used to advertise Portugal holidays
The famous image appeared on the VoucherDigg site advertising discounts on holidays.
THE FAMILY OF missing girl Madeleine McCann have reacted angrily after a famous image of her was used to advertise holidays in Portugal.
The picture of Madeleine as a three-year-old – taken shortly before she disappeared from the Portuguese resort of Praia de Luz in 2007 – was used on the website VoucherDigg to promote holidays offered by lowcostholidays.com.
A spokesperson for lowcostholidays.com told the BBC the use of the image was “vile”, and said they had no contract with the voucher site, which it said offered deals via an “affiliate network”.
The VoucherDigg site now appears to have been taken down.
Clarence Mitchell, a spokesperson for Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann, said they were “horrified” when they learned the image had been used in such a way.
He told The Sun: “The misuse of Madeleine’s picture in this way is utterly appalling and frankly unforgivable. Whether it’s a mistake or hacking, it’s an utter disgrace.”
Mitchell said the couple’s lawyers had immediately been contacted to demand the picture be removed.
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