MADDIE COPS QUIZ » » BARMAID
Officers visited her in Portugal two weeks ago Expat questioned over her German ex boyfriend POLICE HUNT FOR NEW CLUES
COPS probing the disappearance of Madeleine Mccann have quizzed a barmaid about a German ex-boyfriend.
Carol Hickman, 59, was asked for information on Michael Jehle who lives near Praia da Luz – where Maddie, three, vanished in 2007.
But Mr Jehle, 51, insisted to the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I don’t know about Maddie. Police know where I live.”
It’s the second time Kelly’s Bar, where Carol works, has been mentioned in the probe after tourist Martin Smith, from Drogheda, saw a man carrying a blonde girl yards from the Mccann’s apartment the night she disappeared.
A BARMAID told of her shock yesterday after cops on the Madeleine Mccann case quizzed her about an ex-boyfriend who lived in Praia da Luz.
Carol Hickman – who works at Kelly’s Bar just 450 metres from where Madeleine vanished on May 3, 2007 – said two plain-clothed officers acting for Scotland Yard asked about German decorator Michael Jehle, 51.
They wanted phone numbers and any Facebook contact.
The Irish Sunday Mirror has learned another of his exes was quizzed in 2007 – and had her freezer searched.
As the mystery deepened yesterday, baffled Carol, 59, described Mr Jehle as “a friendly hippy”.
And when our team tracked him down he said he had nothing to hide.
Carol said officers from Portugal’s Judicial Police were trying to trace her ex and another of his old flames, a German woman. Carol, 59, who has lived on the Algarve since 1997, told us: “They came into the bar and said ‘You can thank Her Majesty for this visit’. That’s when I knew they were from Scotland Yard. They asked if I could remember May 3, 2007.
“Of course I remember. I was in the bar and we had a call from friends saying a little girl had vanished. We went out on the search and we were out all night.”
STRANGE
Carol said the police visited her two weeks ago – first at the bar, followed by an interview at her home.
She went on: “They were asking about Madeleine and interested in my German ex-boyfriend. We were in an 18-month relationship but at the time of Maddie’s disappearance hadn’t been together for years.
“There’s no reason to suspect him at all. I’m amazed I’m being asked about him. He was a friendly hippy. I just find it so strange, the whole thing. The police asked if I had any contact numbers or if I was friends on Facebook, but I’m not.”
It is the second time Kelly’s Bar – a fourminute walk from the Mccanns’ apartment – has been mentioned in the investigation.
On the night Madeleine vanished Martin Smith, from Drogheda, was there with his family. As they left they saw a man carrying a small blonde girl who they believe to be Madeleine. Yesterday, the memory remained vivid as Martin told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I’d say it was definitely the child. I’d say it definitely had to be. The place was very quiet at that time of year so I’d say it was definitely the child.”
The latest developments come as it is revealed for the first time that Scotland Yard detectives visited Portugal five times in 2019.
There is nothing to suggest Mr Jehle or the German woman are considered suspects. It is thought they could help police obtain new information to help in the search. Mr Jehle has been in Portugal since 1995 and now lives in Monte Novo, Bensafrim, 20 miles from Praia da Luz.
PROBLEM
When the Mirror traced him he had no idea why officers had been talking to Carol. Mr Jehle said: “I don’t know anything about Maddie Mccann. “I lived in Praia da Luz for many years, then I moved. I don’t know why the police [are asking about Maddie]. Everybody knows me, about three months ago people called me and said police were looking for me.
“They were looking for me for another reason. I had to go to court because I had a problem with a friend. This was nothing to do [with Maddie].
“[The police] know where I live, they
I’m amazed I’m being asked about him, he was a friendly hippy... CAROL HICKMAN ON COP QUIZ ABOUT EX-BOYFRIEND
have my phone number, they can call me. I was with Carol in 2004. It was only for one year. She works in Kelly’s Bar, she’s still a good friend of mine. I have another girlfriend now. I have had many girlfriends.”
In 2007 another of Mr Jehle’s ex-partners told how she was quizzed by police. She said then: “Six police, some British, entered my apartment. They told my boyfriend not to move while they looked under the bed.” On a second visit they reportedly checked her freezer, cupboards and pantry.
She said police officers told her: “We are looking for Madeleine.” The girl vanished from a holiday flat days before her fourth birthday.
Her doctor parents Kate and Gerry, both 51 and from Rothley, Leicestershire, were with pals at a tapas diner – taking it in turns to pop back and check on the kids. The original Portuguese police investigation was widely criticised.
Disgraced cop Goncalo Amaral was sacked after falsely claiming the Mccanns were involved in the case.
British police launched their own investigation, Operation Grange, in 2013 and €15million has been spent. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has said the force is pursuing “active lines of inquiry” – while Portuguese police are understood to have increased the numbers of officers they have working on the case. Last May, it was claimed they are still trying to trace 13 persons of interest. But none have come forward.
Clarence Mitchell, for the Mccanns, said: “Kate and Gerry are always encouraged to hear police are chasing potential leads and are very grateful to British and Portuguese police for the work they are doing.” A spokesman for Operation Grange said: “The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine Mccann remains ongoing.”
news@irishmirror.ie If you can help, call Operation Grange on 020 7321 9251 or email Operation. Grange@ met.pnn. police.uk