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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Madeleine McCann's parents speak out after DNA test on woman claiming to be daughter

Kate and Gerry McCann have issued a statement after the DNA test of the woman claiming to be their missing daughter came back negative - as suspected.

Julia Wendell broke headlines last month after gaining a following for claiming she was Maddie - who went missing while on holiday with her parents in Praia de Luz, Portugal in 2003.

Dr Fia Johannson, who has been representing the Polish national, said the DNA results haven't been matched to Maddie in conclusive blow.

Dr Fia said the results indicated she is "100% Polish", meaning there's no possibility of her being the British girl.

Julia has now decided to return to Poland to be with her dad after the DNA results were received.

Kate and Gerry initially welcomed the testing (Getty Images)

The parents posted a statement in response to a question on their find Maddie Facebook page.

A woman asked: "Is there any chance of giving us an update? There has been a lot of media about a girl claiming to be Maddie and DNA being done? Is it possible to let your followers know what is going on [...]?"

The woman added: “Our thoughts and prayers are always with the McCann family and a safe return of their precious daughter.”

Kate and Gerry's representatives issued a statement last night, reading: “There isn’t anything to report at this time. If and when there is, it will come from The Metropolitan Police.”

Maddie McCann went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz Portugal in 2003 (PA)

Yesterday, Dr Fia spoke of Julia's results in a statement, which reads: “She is absolutely 100% from Poland. She is a small percentage of Lithuanian and Russian.

"But the test results show she is Polish. Julia had all the birthmarks as Madeleine McCann, which I believe is God and the universe’s way of wanting us to get close to the man who sexually abused her, expose him and his possible ties to the McCann case.”

After Julia's posts went viral, a source close to Maddie's parents called for the 21-year-old to undergo a DNA test because they're "willing to look at all leads".

A source close to the parents said: "The family are taking no chances, they are willing to look at all leads. It is important they look at all of the factors, the girl does look similar. There’s no disputing that."

Kate and Gerry McCann in 2017 (PA)

Madeleine went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Portugal's Algarve in 2007.

Despite several extensive police investigations, very little information has been recovered about what happened to her after her abduction.

Police are convinced she was killed and have charged German paedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, with her murder.

Julia has shared "evidence" including a speck in her eye and freckle on her leg in the same place as Madeleine.

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