‘Tapas 7’ Members Reveal Impact of Madeleine McCann Case

Two members of the so-called “Tapas 7,” David and Fiona Payne, have publicly addressed the enduring impact of the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann for the first time since the case gained international attention in 2007. The couple, who were dining with Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, on the night she went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, are now providing evidence in a legal case against Julia Wandelt, a 24-year-old accused of stalking the McCann family.

The Paynes’ first public comments come as they describe the profound effect Madeleine’s disappearance has had on them and the McCann family. In a court hearing, it was revealed that Wandelt sent a message to David Payne on December 24, 2022, stating, “Merry Christmas David [followed by a snowflake emoji]. The truth will set you free.”

The court learned that the Paynes’ phone numbers were made public when Portuguese police released investigation files online. Mrs. Payne, an anaesthetist, became emotional as she noted how her daughter, Lily, who was the same age as Madeleine when she vanished, had also been contacted by Wandelt. “It is really difficult,” she said. “She is a vulnerable young adult who has been adversely affected by Madeleine’s disappearance.”

The couple has received a range of unsolicited contact over the years from conspiracy theorists and reporters, but they noted that they had never been contacted by anyone claiming to be Madeleine until Wandelt.

Wandelt, who hails from Poland, is currently on trial, facing accusations of stalking Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February 2025. She allegedly inundated the couple with phone calls, letters, and messages claiming to be their daughter and even showed up at their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, demanding a DNA test. Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, a 61-year-old from Cardiff, have both denied the charge of stalking.

During the court proceedings, jurors listened to phone calls Wandelt reportedly made to David Payne, in which she asked him to facilitate contact with the McCanns. In one recording, Wandelt expressed, “I truly believe I’m Madeleine. I just want to know.”

Mr. Payne described the call as “quite upsetting.” He later received a message from Wandelt asserting, “I truly believe I’m Madeleine. You say you can’t help me, but you have a voice as the ‘Tapas’ group and could clear your names.”

In response, he stated, “I am not in a position to be able to help. I have had enough trauma and so have the family.” He emphasized the need for the McCanns to focus on their healing rather than engage with Wandelt’s claims.

The court also heard that a DNA comparison conducted by police confirmed “conclusively” that Wandelt is not Madeleine, who disappeared just eight days before her fourth birthday.

The trial will continue on Monday, with the implications of this case extending beyond the courtroom as it continues to captivate public interest more than 16 years after the tragic events unfolded.