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The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been completed by Portuguese police amid reports that no evidence has been found against her parents.
The Portuguese Attorney-General confirmed yesterday that prosecutors had received the final police report and would now consider if the investigation should be closed.
Kate and Gerry McCann were awaiting official confirmation of the decision and insisted that they would “never give up searching” for their daughter who vanished last May from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.
The couple, from Rothley. Leicestershire, and British father Robert Murat hope they will now be cleared as arguidos, official suspects, following the end of the 14 month police investigation.
Fernando Pinto Monteiro, the Portuguese Attorney-General, said that prosecutors will examine the final police report before deciding whether to end the investigation or order further inquiries.
Officials will “determine whether further inquiries are needed or whether the conditions are in place for the investigation to be closed,” he said in a statement.
Clarence Mitchell, the McCann’s spokesman, said: “If the reports are true, it is to be welcomed that no charges are to be brought and it is entirely right because Kate and Gerry are innocent of any involvement in their daughter’s disappearance and always have been.”
He called for the couple’s status as arguidos, official suspects, to be lifted but urged police not to leave the investigation files to “gather dust”.
“They have suffered for far too long in this process and the Portuguese authorities must now lift their arguido status,” he said.
Mr Mitchell urged the Portuguese police to continue their investigations into Madeleine’s disappearance.
“The police themselves must continue looking for Madeleine. We are concerned that if they are to simply shelve the case then what will happen to all of the information in their files?
“The information in their files surely cannot sit on the shelf gathering dust. Kate and Gerry will never give up searching for their daughter.”
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The reports suggest that the case is to be shelved as a homicide. That certainly does not equate to the case being closed for lack of evidenc, nor does it equate to clearing the McCanns of any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. Indeed, if she is dead then there are many more questions to ask.
Polly, Ilkley, UK
I read that the Mcanns want 'their names to be cleared'. We presume innocence of crime unless there is clear evidence otherwise. They were clearly guilty of neglect, morally if not criminally. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary I presume them innocent of anything worse. Poor child!
Paul Freeman, London, England
It is hard to contemplate what the McCanns have gone through, you know yourself if a child go's missing even for a few minutes in a supermarket or such your heart is in your mouth till you find them. So it is for them and the heartbreak will be with them for life, if only they had not left her!
Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England
I have never seen any reports that suggest that all the appartments in the complex were immediately searched when Madeleine disappeared. She could have gone looking for someone to talk to when she was left alone and wandered around the area. been taken in by someone.
audrey richardson, clifton, USA