McCanns 'hugely encouraged' by case progress

The parents of Madeleine McCann are “hugely encouraged” by the momentum in the case of their missing daughter.

McCanns 'hugely encouraged' by case progress

The parents of Madeleine McCann are “hugely encouraged” by the momentum in the case of their missing daughter.

Kate McCann is said to be “particularly pleased” with the new age-progressed image of Madeleine, saying it has strong family resemblance.

Mrs McCann and her husband Gerry have also joined Scotland Yard in urging Portuguese authorities to reopen the search for Madeleine after detectives said there were 195 potential leads to finding her alive.

McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell told BBC Breakfast that as the five-year anniversary of her disappearance draws close, Mr and Mrs McCann are said to be “coping as best they can”.

Mr Mitchell said: “Kate and Gerry welcome this and they are hugely encouraged by what the police have been doing all of this last year since the launch of the investigative review.

“They (Scotland Yard) believe that it is quite possible that Madeleine could still be alive and that is what Kate and Gerry have said throughout the five years and they are hugely encouraged by all of this momentum in the case.”

He added that like the British police, Mr and Mrs McCann want the case to be reopened but it is “up to the Portuguese authorities”.

Detectives in Portugal are also understood to want the case reopened but must gain judicial approval via the courts.

Mr Mitchell said: “They are very pleased that the new age-progressed image of Madeleine aged nine was put out yesterday, which is getting wide publicity today. Of course, that is the girl that people should still be looking for.

“We need to remind people around the world that this is probably what Madeleine looks like today, not the very famous picture of her when she went missing. This is Madeleine as a young girl now.

“Kate particularly feels there is a very strong family resemblance. She sees Madeleine, Sean and Amelie her brother and sister, and herself in the image.”

Yesterday, the detective leading the Metropolitan Police review said the case could still be solved.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said he believed her disappearance was a stranger abduction, as he said there were 195 “investigative opportunities”.

But police refused to say what evidence they had uncovered to suggest Madeleine was alive.

Mr Redwood confirmed that his team of more than 30 officers involved in the case had been to Portugal seven times, including a visit to the family’s holiday flat in Praia da Luz.

It will be five years next week since the three-year-old went missing as her parents dined with friends nearby.

The investigative review was launched last year after a meeting between former Met commissioner Paul Stephenson and the British Home Office.

more courts articles

Newcastle United co-owner faces paying £3.4m to Greek businessman Newcastle United co-owner faces paying £3.4m to Greek businessman
Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van

More in this section

Paramedics among the 16 killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon Paramedics among the 16 killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
US military drains giant wartime fuel tanks which had poisoned water supply US military drains giant wartime fuel tanks which had poisoned water supply
Samuel Bankman-Fried FTX founder Bankman-Fried facing decades in prison for crypto fraud
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited