Secret files released yesterday show that Portuguese police dismissed dozens of potential sightings of Madeleine McCann. Leads from around the world - including CCTV footage from New Zealand of a child looking strikingly like the missing girl - were filed away under the heading 'not relevant'. Information that police forces in the United States, Europe and North Africa considered important was also discarded. None of the files was handed to private investigators working for Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate. Mrs McCann, 41, last night said the disclosure of the secret files was heartbreaking and shocking. Their existence came to light in a legal action brought by the McCanns against Goncalo Amaral, the disgraced detective who was in charge of the case. They had wanted to stop him airing the slur that they had been involved in their daughter's disappearance. The leads were all received and archived after Algarve police closed the case in July 2008. They now have a copy of the 2,000-page dossier which was published yesterday on the order of a court in Portugal after an application by newspapers including the Daily Mail. The McCanns are incensed that their private investigators were given no access to the sightings at the time. Mrs McCann said: 'There are instances where information which we think is very credible and worthy of information has not been actioned. 'We're gutted, it's absolutely shocking and difficult. Some of the information handed in was very credible. It's heartbreaking to know that it seems to end there.' (Daily Mail)
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Was this Maddie? The photo files Portuguese police kept secret... to the fury of the McCanns
Secret files released yesterday show that Portuguese police dismissed dozens of potential sightings of Madeleine McCann. Leads from around the world - including CCTV footage from New Zealand of a child looking strikingly like the missing girl - were filed away under the heading 'not relevant'. Information that police forces in the United States, Europe and North Africa considered important was also discarded. None of the files was handed to private investigators working for Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate. Mrs McCann, 41, last night said the disclosure of the secret files was heartbreaking and shocking. Their existence came to light in a legal action brought by the McCanns against Goncalo Amaral, the disgraced detective who was in charge of the case. They had wanted to stop him airing the slur that they had been involved in their daughter's disappearance. The leads were all received and archived after Algarve police closed the case in July 2008. They now have a copy of the 2,000-page dossier which was published yesterday on the order of a court in Portugal after an application by newspapers including the Daily Mail. The McCanns are incensed that their private investigators were given no access to the sightings at the time. Mrs McCann said: 'There are instances where information which we think is very credible and worthy of information has not been actioned. 'We're gutted, it's absolutely shocking and difficult. Some of the information handed in was very credible. It's heartbreaking to know that it seems to end there.' (Daily Mail)
