POLICE FIND VITAL CLUES
Now Portuguese re- open the case
THE parents of Madeleine McCann hope Portugal’s decision to re- open the case “will finally lead to her being found”.
Portuguese police relaunched their investigation after detectives reviewing a mass of evidence uncovered
compelling new leads and potential new witnesses.
Scotland Yard, which is carrying out its own inquiry into Madeleine’s disappearance, welcomed the move and said it gave
“new momentum” to the sixyear search for the missing girl. The decision means key witnesses can be interviewed officially.
A source close to Kate and Gerry McCann said yesterday: “Police in Portugal finally coming on- side has come as a huge boost to them.
“Now there is a live and active investigation from both countries. Kate and Gerry are very thankful that authorities there have made the decision to re- open the investigation.
“Just two and a half years ago there was not a single police force anywhere proactively looking for Madeleine.
“Now forces from two countries are actively searching. It is good news and will hopefully lead to the breakthrough Kate and Gerry so desperately need.”
Home Secretary Theresa May also welcomed the move, saying: “I think we’ve got very good collaboration between the Met and the Portuguese police and that is now starting to bear fruit.
“I hope it will enable a resolution of this terrible thing that happened to the McCann family, so that her parents are able to know finally what did happen to Madeleine.”
The announcement that the case – archived four years ago – had been re- opened was made yesterday by Portuguese Attorney General Joana Marques Vidal.
A spokesman said a small team of detectives based in the northern city of Porto had uncovered new material “justifying the re- opening”.
Sources said the lines of inquiry are separate to fresh leads being pursued by Scotland Yard’s Operation Grange.
The McCanns were briefed on the decision on Thursday last week at a meeting with senior Portuguese police and Scotland Yard officers.
It has been a momentous fortnight for the couple from Rothley, Leics with the identification of a potential prime suspect after televised appeals on the BBC’s Crimewatch and similar shows in Holland and Germany.
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, who were once considered sus- pects by Portuguese detectives, said on their behalf: “We are very pleased that the investigation to find our missing daughter Madeleine has been officially reopened in Portugal.
“We hope this will finally lead to her being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime.
“We once again urge any member of the public who may have information relating to Madeleine’s abduction to contact the police in Portugal or the UK. Please be patient and respect the work of the police as they endeavour to find the answers we so desperately need.”
Met Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, who was at the meeting last week, described Portugal’s decision to re- open the case as a “welcome development”.
He said: “Both sides of the investigation are at relatively early stages, with much work remaining to be done.
“This new momentum is encouraging, but we still have a way to go. I believe we have the best opportunity yet to finally understand what happened to Madeleine.”
The Porto review of the case was launched in 2011 and involved four detectives working under respected inspector Helena Monteiro.
A spokesman for the Policia Judiciara said: “This work has helped identify new evidence that, requiring continued investigation, meets the prerequisites on the reopening of the case under Portugal’s penal code.”
Last week’s TV appeals focused on a dark- haired man seen carrying a fair- haired child close to the McCanns’ apartment in Praia da Luz on the night Madeleine, then aged three, went missing in May 2007.
Police received more than 3,000 calls, e- mails and texts which they are now assessing.
Several viewers gave the same name for the potential prime suspect.