Derek Acorah - Madeleine McCann Controversy

Madeleine McCann Controversy

In May 2012 the British tabloid The Sun reported Acorah's claims that he had been contacted by a messenger from the spirit world regarding the currently missing Madeleine McCann. He said "I know her parents are convinced Maddie is alive and I'm really sorry – but the little one has been over in the spirit world for some time." The Sun reported that Gerry and Kate McCann were said to be disgusted by Acorah's claims, quoting a source close to the couple who said "This character Derek Acorah is nothing but a self-publicist. It's incredibly distasteful and insensitive." Acorah's agent, David Hahn later told The Sun that Acorah "would like to apologise most profusely for this story breaking and for the distress it has caused the McCanns".

Subsequent to the appearance of the Telegraph article The Liverpool Echo reported that Acorah had in fact been miss quoted. Acorah claimed that “This chap came on the phone to do an interview for a feature about the tour I’m doing in Ireland. He asked a lot of questions about my belief in reincarnation – he has put things together by association. “I have been stitched up by a paper run by Rupert Murdoch.” Mr Acorah claimed he told The Sun’s reporter he “hoped and believed” that Madeleine, who vanished while on holiday with her family in Portugal in May 2007, “could still be alive”. "