Madeleine police investigation nearing its end

THE police investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance in the Algarve is nearing its end, Portugal’s justice minister said last night.

Alberto Costa told a parliamentary committee hearing in Lisbon: “We are at a stage now where we are approaching the conclusion of the process.”

Mr Costa said it was “premature” to say whether the investigation would reveal what happened to Madeleine, citing British statistics showing that about 80% of similar cases in Britain remained unresolved.