In a dramatic courtroom development, two members of the infamous 'Tapas 7' group have broken their 17-year silence regarding the night Madeleine McCann disappeared, providing crucial testimony against a stalker who subjected them to a campaign of terror.
The Night That Shook the World
Rachael Oldfield and Russell O'Brien, who were dining with Kate and Gerry McCann at the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, gave evidence via video link against convicted stalker Marco Valério. The couple described how Valério bombarded them with threatening phone calls and messages, falsely claiming to have information about Madeleine's disappearance.
A Harrowing Campaign of Harassment
Oldfield told Westminster Magistrates' Court how the stalker's campaign left her "terrified and emotionally drained" after receiving multiple calls where the caller claimed to know what happened to the missing three-year-old. The psychological impact of these communications was described as "profoundly disturbing" given their connection to one of Britain's most high-profile missing child cases.
Seventeen Years of Silence Broken
This marks the first time members of the Tapas 7 have publicly addressed aspects of the case in a legal setting since Madeleine vanished. The group, consisting of seven friends who were holidaying with the McCanns, had largely maintained privacy despite intense media scrutiny over nearly two decades.
The Stalker's Conviction
Marco Valério, 37, was found guilty of stalking the couple between January and June 2023. The court heard how he:
- Made repeated threatening phone calls to their London home
- Falsely claimed to have information about Madeleine's whereabouts
- Subjected the couple to psychological torment
- Forced them to relive the trauma of their friend's missing daughter
District Judge John Zani described Valério's actions as "a persistent course of conduct causing serious alarm and distress" and imposed a 12-month community order with rehabilitation requirements.
Ongoing Impact
The couple's testimony highlights the lasting trauma experienced by those connected to the Madeleine McCann case. Even after 17 years, the disappearance continues to cast a long shadow over the lives of everyone involved, with this stalking case demonstrating how easily old wounds can be reopened.
The McCann family themselves have faced numerous hoaxes and false leads over the years, making this conviction an important step in protecting those affected by one of Britain's most enduring missing person investigations.
