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Missing Katrice Lee's father dismisses 'wishy-washy' PM offer | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The father of missing girl Katrice Lee said he had no faith in David Cameron's "wishy-washy" promise to meet her family. | |
Mr Cameron said he will meet them, but only after a fresh investigation into her disappearance has concluded. | |
Two-year-old Katrice vanished in 1981 from a supermarket at a British military base in Paderborn, Germany, where her father was stationed. | |
Royal Military Police are conducting a new inquiry into the 33-year-old case. | |
Katrice's father, Sgt Maj Richard Lee from Hartlepool, dismissed the prime minister's offer and claimed Mr Cameron should be using meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to try and force a development. | |
The prime minister told BBC Tees: "If they want to meet me I'm always happy to meet with families; it may be better to meet after the investigation is completed. | |
"After the investigation is completed and if it's the right thing to do, then I will be very happy to meet the family." | "After the investigation is completed and if it's the right thing to do, then I will be very happy to meet the family." |
Sgt Maj Lee said: "Actions speak louder than words and I hold very little faith with a very wishy-washy statement from the prime minister. | |
"If I met him now I would say to him 'Are all things being done that could be?' | |
"He has had every opportunity as a leader of state, for example using Angela Merkel's meetings, he could have asked her to look into this. | |
"Surely that would get more action." | |
Mr Cameron acknowledged the family had been let down by the initial investigation, which failed to determine what happened to Katrice. | Mr Cameron acknowledged the family had been let down by the initial investigation, which failed to determine what happened to Katrice. |
He said: "It is every parent's nightmare when you take an eye off a child for a second and suddenly they've disappeared. | He said: "It is every parent's nightmare when you take an eye off a child for a second and suddenly they've disappeared. |
"Every family has an experience of this and, tragically, some do end in them not being united, but I think the best thing is for this Royal Military Police investigation to conclude. | "Every family has an experience of this and, tragically, some do end in them not being united, but I think the best thing is for this Royal Military Police investigation to conclude. |
"Obviously, [the family] weren't properly served by the original investigation." | |
The prime minister also said an independent civilian police force would be reviewing the Royal Military Police's investigation. | The prime minister also said an independent civilian police force would be reviewing the Royal Military Police's investigation. |
Sgt Maj Lee said he still believes his daughter is alive and will not give up trying to find out what happened to her. | |
He said: "I'm 65, my daughter has been away from my life for 33 years. It's an awful thing to be in but I'm forced to live with it and I'm constantly fighting. | |
"I shouldn't have to be constantly fighting bureaucrats. I won't stop until I get an answer. | |
"I believe she will be on a database somewhere, blood or DNA, I would ask Angela Merkel to look at those. | |
"I've always believed she is alive, that she was snatched, stolen, ordered and sold to a childless couple. | |
"We hear of situations where children are turning up 30 years later. I believe she is alive." | |
Katrice disappeared on her second birthday while her family were out shopping. | |
Her mother left her at the checkout with her aunt for just a moment but when she returned the toddler had gone. |
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