Police failed to tell McCanns of possible breakthrough

Portuguese police failed to tell the parents of missing Madeleine McCann about a possible forensic breakthrough that could end their agonising wait to learn what happened to their daughter.

Kate and Gerry McCann only heard about the apparent development after a newspaper report today that tests at a British laboratory had produced “significant new information”.

Experts at the Forensic Science Service (FSS) in Birmingham have spent the past month analysing samples taken from the McCanns’ holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz.

The evidence recovered from the flat includes blood flecks found by British sniffer dogs on the wall in Madeleine’s bedroom, where she vanished on May 3.

The London Evening Standard reported today that the FSS tests had produced findings which were “likely to trigger action” – possibly including arrests - within days.

Portuguese Police would not officially confirm this, but a source said information from the laboratory had been “regularly fed back” to detectives.

A family friend said Portuguese police did not tell the McCanns that tests had been returned before the Evening Standard hit news stands this afternoon.

The friend said: “If you were the parents of a missing child, you would expect that the police would let you know.

“They used to have a good working relationship with the police, but this is bound to affect it.”

It is understood that the news was “unexpected” for the couple, although they have been awaiting the test results for a long time.

The McCanns’ spokeswoman said: “If this takes the investigation a step closer to establishing exactly what happened on May 3, they would be relieved.

“They want to know what happened to their daughter and to be reunited with her.”

Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa, spokesman for Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria (PJ), who are leading the investigation, would not confirm the Evening Standard report.

He said: “The information is that the results haven’t arrived yet, but it might be they arrived during the day.”

Mr Sousa added that all lines of inquiry were still being pursued, but the theory that Madeleine is dead is now being given “special attention”.

“The lines are the same since the beginning – they are all open,” he said.

“We said the results are important for one of the lines, the one that considers the hypothesis of the little girl being dead.

“At this moment we are taking special attention on the hypothesis of death.”

The FSS and Leicestershire Police are working very closely on the case, often liaising on a daily basis.

A source linked to the investigation said any developments made by the FSS were immediately passed to police, who would then communicate it to PJ investigators.

“Information has been regularly fed back as to the progress and where the investigation is up to,” the source said.

“Information is always being fed back which Leicestershire police then pass on to the Portuguese authorities.

“The Portuguese are leading on the investigation and they have to be the ones to act on any information.

“On any important case, as soon as any progress is made the information is passed on. On something so important, any information would not be sat on – it is always being fed back.

An FSS spokeswoman would not comment on the specifics of the case, but said: “Investigations are still ongoing.”

This is not the first time that relations between the McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, and Portuguese police have become strained.

On August 11 – the 100th day after Madeleine went missing – Mr Sousa went on TV to reveal Madeleine could be dead – without telling her family first.

At the time a friend of the McCanns said it was “extraordinary” the police had “not had the decency” to contact the couple before giving the interview.

Meanwhile, the McCanns will take part in a major religious festival in Praia da Luz this weekend.

They will attend an ecumenical service in the village church of Nossa Senhora da Luz on Saturday night as part of the Festival of Our Lady of Luz.

The family spokeswoman said: “They have been part of the community in Praia da Luz for over four months now.

“The church community has given them a lot of support. They particularly want to take part in what is a very important festival for this small and quiet religious community.

“It is their way of saying thank you.”