McCanns 'disappointed' at police secrecy move

The parents of missing toddler Madeleine McCann were tonight said to be “extremely disappointed” that Portuguese police have asked for an extension to the secrecy rules around the case.

Gerry and Kate McCann’s official spokesman said it was “almost inhumane” that they were still suspects in their daughter’s disappearance.

Clarence Mitchell called on Portuguese detectives to come to the UK to carry out whatever interviews they needed to eliminate the couple from the inquiry.

Investigators have asked for the tight secrecy requirements surrounding the case to be extended, the Portuguese attorney-general’s office said.

Details of the extension have not been confirmed officially, but reports in the Portuguese press suggested a three-month period has been sought.

Portuguese law normally provides for an eight-month term during which documents remain secret and official suspects, police and lawyers are banned from discussing the case in public.

This period was due to expire in the McCann case next week.

Mr Mitchell said: “This is extremely disappointing. However, it’s not surprising, given that the Portuguese police are continuing to work on the case.

“We will continue to co-operate with the Portuguese police, of course. However, the delay in resolving the case and eliminating Gerry and Kate is now becoming almost inhumane.

“It is about time the police came to Britain to conduct any interviews they still feel are necessary for them to realise that there is no case against Gerry and Kate and to eliminate them from the inquiry.”

It was imperative that the investigation refocused on the search for the missing four-year-old as soon as possible, he added.

No date has been set for the attorney general to make a decision on the police request, but if a three-month extension were granted, police files on the case would remain closed to the McCann lawyers until April – almost a year since Madeleine disappeared.

The only official suspects – arguidos – in the disappearance so far are Madeleine’s parents and the British expatriate Robert Murat, who lived near the holiday complex in Praia da Luz where Madeleine went missing on May 3.

Earlier today, Madeleine’s grandfather said parts of the media should “hang their heads in shame” for the way they had treated the McCanns.

Brian Healey told the Liverpool Echo: “There has been so much that has been said and written, much of it untrue and hurtful, but so often it seems to me as if the only really important person in all this has been forgotten – and that’s Madeleine.”

The 68-year-old added that it was very hard to avoid the negative publicity but thanked the people of Liverpool for their support.