Kate and Gerry McCann's private detectives are charging the Find Madeleine fund £50,000 a month in expenses, it was revealed yesterday. (Daily Mail Monday 11th February 2008)
The costs charged by Spanish agency Metodo 3, appointed in September to find the missing girl, are on top of its £8,000 monthly fee - which is paid by one of the couple's wealthy supporters.
Metodo 3's expenses are the biggest single cost to the fund, which collected £1.2million in donations, but is expected to run dry within months.
It was previously thought that the agency was hired for a flat monthly fee of £50,000. But it agreed £8,000 a month, plus unlimited expenses to take on the case, which has boosted its profile.
If its "operational costs" top £50,000 the excess is met by the McCanns' wealthy backers, such as double glazing tycoon Brian Kennedy. He is to review Metodo 3's six-month contract before it expires next month.
The couple's spokesman Clarence Mitchell said the agency was "doing valuable work on the ground".
He added: '"The £50,000 is for legitimate operational costs, having people scattered around different countries. The fund contributes £50,000 a month of publicly donated money because it's money to help find her. We feel that's proper use of that money."
