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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

Mother of fake Madeleine McCann mortified about causing 'fresh grief' for Kate and Gerry

The mother of Polish woman Julia Faustyna who believed she was Madeleine McCann is reportedly mortified by the entire ordeal.

Julia, 21, gained a huge Instagram following after creating the "I am Madeleine McCann" account - and even obtained the seal of approval about getting a DNA test from Maddie's own parents Kate and Gerry.

Julia, who also goes by the last name Wendell, believed she was the missing child, who would now be 19 years old.

After taking a DNA test, it was proved that she isn't Madeleine and is "absolutely 100% from Poland".

And now, Julia's mother Dorota Wandelt-Cholewinski is "beside herself", with a family friend saying that she and her father Piotr Cholewinski wants to get their daughter "the help she needs".

Julia believed she was Madeleine McCann (persianmedium/Instagram)
The results revealed she is 100% Polish and not related to the McCanns (METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett)

She is also distressed by US media personality and psychic Dr Fia Johansson's role in the situation.

The self-professed psychic Dr Fia Johansson involved herself in the case as her spokesperson and took her to the US for her "safety".

A source explained to MailOnline : “Julia is a very disturbed young woman. Her mother Dorota is just beside herself, she can't believe how this has snowballed, Julia is very sick and Dorota just wants her to get the help she needs.

“It was clear from the beginning that Julia was not Madeleine and Dorota is furious that this so-called doctor exploited the illness of a very young woman."

The self-professed psychic Dr Fia Johansson involved herself in the case (Radar)

The family friend added that Dorota wants Julia to be home with her family so that "she can get the treatment that she needs".

“Dorota is mortified that all this publicity has caused fresh grief for the McCann family," they said.

Julia is understood to have returned to Poland following the definitive DNA results ruling her out as Madeleine, but she hasn't returned to her home with Dorota and Piotr.

Another source close to the family said they are keen for Julia to seek help for her mental health issues, and to stop claiming she isn't related to them.

Julia's mother is mortified at the fresh grief the ordeal has caused Kate and Gerry (AFP via Getty Images)

Madeleine McCann went missing from Praia da Luz on the Algarve on 3 May 2007, and has never been found. Her parents Gerry McCann and Kate McCann have tried for over 15 years to find clues of what happened to their daughter and where she might be, but to no avail.

After hearing of Julia and her claims to be Madeleine, Gerry and Kate released a statement.

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

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