McCanns return to the UK

The family of missing Madeleine McCann flew out of Portugal today to return to Britain.

Kate and Gerry McCann and their two-year-old twins left Faro Airport on an easyJet flight bound for East Midlands Airport at about 9.45am.

They fear they may be charged over their daughter’s disappearance after being made “arguidos”, or formal suspects, by Portuguese detectives on Friday.

A police cordon was erected to clear a path for the family, driving a silver Renault Scenic, through the massed ranks of the media.

The car paused briefly for photographers with the McCann’s looking impassive. Gerry was driving with Kate in the front passenger seat and the twins in the back.

Madeleine’s parents fear they could be charged over their daughter’s death after Portuguese police named them as “arguidos”, or official suspects, in her disappearance.

After undergoing intense questioning by detectives on Thursday and Friday, they wanted to fly back to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire, as soon as possible.

The McCanns’ spokeswoman confirmed their last-minute decision to fly home today in a statement just after midnight.

She said: “Kate and Gerry will be returning home to the UK this morning as originally planned. They will depart from Faro Airport.

“It is emphasised that their return is with the full agreement of the Portuguese authorities and police.”

The McCanns have no bail conditions attached to their arguido status and still retain their passports.

But police could in theory apply for a court to impose movement restrictions on them.

Several weeks ago the couple made provisional plans to return to the UK with Sean and Amelie today.

But they put this on hold after Portuguese police summoned them back in for questioning this week and made them arguidos.

Family friends said yesterday the couple intended to remain in the Algarve for the time being to “help the police”, but were taking legal advice on whether they could return to the UK.

Now in a sudden turnabout they have reinstated the original plans.

Mr McCann’s sister Philomena, 43, spoke to her brother on the telephone yesterday, just hours after he left a Portuguese police station following eight hours of questioning.

She said the family still hoped to leave Portugal and return to Britain within days, but were worried about how it would be interpreted.

“Gerry is saying he doesn’t want it to look like they are running scared,” she added.

“He doesn’t want it too look as if they are running away, because that is nonsense.”

The announcement of the family’s return comes after a series of dramatic developments in the case.

On Monday detectives telephoned Mr McCann to summon him and his wife in for further questioning.

On Thursday Mrs McCann went to the headquarters of the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) - Portugal’s CID – in the Algarve town of Portimao and underwent 11 hours of questioning.

During the interview detectives suggested that traces of Madeleine’s blood were found in the family’s hire car, a silver Renault Scenic.

Mrs McCann is understood to have told them angrily there was “no way” this could be the case because they did not lease the vehicle until 25 days after her daughter disappeared.

She returned to the police station on Friday and was formally declared an arguida.

Detectives asked her 22 key questions about what happened to Madeleine, including if she accidentally killed her.

The 39-year-old GP now fears she will be charged over Madeleine’s death, a family friend said.

Mr McCann, 39, was interviewed separately for eight hours the same day, and was also made an arguido.

Portuguese detectives appear to be working on the theory that Mrs McCann killed her daughter by accident and covered up the death by claiming she was abducted.

Test results from the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham received in recent days have apparently boosted this hypothesis.

Mr McCann’s alleged role is not clear, but sources said police believe he was an accessory to the killing.

The McCanns, who strenuously protest their innocence, are said to be “in a state of shock but also extraordinarily angry” about Portuguese detectives’ line of questioning.