Dail Mail Headline 'Suspect Murat translated as police questioned Tapas Nine'; says: ' The first suspect in the Madeleine McCann case sat in on police interviews with some of the Tapas Nine, it emerged last night. Robert Murat, 34 - who later became an arguido or official suspect - was allowed to act as a translator for police during crucial questioning of Kate and Gerry McCann's holiday friends.
It meant that he had an extraordinary insight into the investigation during the vital early days after May 3 when Madeleine, then aged three, disappeared from the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz. Friends of the McCanns reacted with disbelief and anger to the news.
There were also fears that Mr Murat could have influenced the police's understanding of the statements of the Tapas Nine.
Rachael Oldfield, 36, who was dining with the couple on the night Madeleine vanished from her apartment at the Ocean Club complex, revealed yesterday how she spoke to police through Mr Murat.
Last night, Mr Murat's lawyer, Francisco Pagarete, confirmed that his client also helped police during the interview of Dianne Webster, the mother of Fiona Payne, who was at the Ocean Club's tapas restaurant with the McCanns that night. He denied Mr Murat had helped in any other interviews of the group.
