Appeal for Irish people’s help in Madeleine inquiry
The appeal on BBC’s Crimewatch programme, which also aired in the Netherlands and Germany, featured two e-fit images of the man in question.
The images were drawn from the independent statements of witnesses in the area when Madeleine went missing between 8.30pm and 10pm on May 3, 2007, while her parents dined in a nearby tapas restaurant in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
While the identification of the man is one of the main priorities of the investigation, it is not the only line of inquiry, according to Det Chief Inspector Andy Redwood.
“Primarily what we sought to do from the beginning was to try and bring everything back to zero; to try to bring everything back to the beginning and then re-analyse and reassess everything, accepting nothing.
“The careful and critical analysis of the timeline has been key.”
The witnesses described the man as being white, aged between 20-40 years old, with short brown hair, of medium build, medium height, and clean shaven.
Meanwhile, a Donegal pub owner who played with Madeleine just three weeks before she disappeared said he hopes police are now close to a breakthrough in the case.
Joe Peoples rents a bar from the girl’s grandmother Eileen McCann in the village of St Johnston.
Madeleine was in the pub with her parents Kate and Gerry, when they visited Ireland before going on holiday to Portugal where she was snatched.
Mr Peoples said he feels police are getting closer and closer to finding out what happened to Madeleine.
“I do feel that they are making progress all the time and I hope the television documentary will jog people’s memories. I will be watching the documentary as I know so many millions of others will be as well. I just hope they find the wee lassie. I go down on my knees and pray like a lot of other people and she is always in my prayers.
“I just hope they find her safe and well and I hope they also find the person who took her away.”
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