Madeleine McCann’s parents have been hit with a slew of hate mail since Netflix released its new documentary about her disappearance.
Moderators of the campaign website launched to help find the missing girl have been deleting abusive messages from trolls and vowed to ban offenders.
A warning posted on the site’s Facebook page read: “As a reminder, all posts are hidden until they are approved. If you make a nasty comment, your post will be deleted and you will be banned.
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“This is a place of hope. We will not tolerate negativity towards Madeleine, her family or anyone else on this page.”
It went on to thank other users for “keeping the page positive”.
Madeleine disappeared in May 2007 while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
Aged just three at the time, she was sleeping in a room with her little brother and sister, twins Sean and Amelie, while parents Kate and Gerry McCann relaxed with pals at a restaurant nearby.
According to The Mirror, a friend of the family said the parents are “angry and upset” that people still write “false and malicious” things about them.
They continued: “Every time a positive story appears, the trolls kick in with even more abuse. It’s been going on for nearly 12 years.”
The McCanns were not involved in the new Netflix series, which offered a window into the couple’s heartache and showed viewers the last ever photo taken of the toddler.
A statement on their Find Madeline website, posted ahead of the documentary’s release, read: “The production company told us that they were making the documentary and asked us to participate.
“We did not see and still do not see how this programme will help the search for Madeleine and, particularly given there is an active police investigation, could potentially hinder it.”
A family spokesperson slammed the doc as “distressing” for the McCanns and their friends.
The update condemning the trolls has attracted messages of support from people all over the world.
One in Queensland, Australia, said: “I hope Maddie is found and can only imagine the heartache Kate and Gerry must be going through, then and now.
“Trust your instincts Kate, she will come home. I hope and pray that it is sooner rather than later.”
Another, in Glasgow, commented: “Always thinking of Madeleine. Hope she is found soon. Best wishes and love to Kate Gerry and the twins.”
A third user, writing from Malaga, wrote: “Why do people do these things. I pray Madeline will be found safe.”
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The Metropolitan Police Service is reportedly awaiting approval on its request for £150,000 to continue searching for Madeleine until March 2020.
The investigation, code-named Operation Grange, has so far cost British taxpayers £11.75 million.
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