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British police helped "develop'' evidence against
Madeleine
McCann's parents as they were investigated by Portuguese
authorities looking into their daughter's disappearance, according
to diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks.
Britain's ambassador to Portugal, Alexander Wykeham Ellis,
reportedly made the claim to his American counterpart on September
21, 2007 - two weeks after Portuguese police named Gerry and Kate
McCann as "arguidos'', or formal suspects, in the case.
In a cable to Washington, US Ambassador Al Hoffman wrote: "Madeleine
McCann's disappearance in the south of Portugal in May 2007 has
generated international media attention with controversy surrounding
the Portuguese-led police investigation and the actions of
Madeleine's parents.
"Without delving into the details of the case, Ellis admitted that
the British police had developed the current evidence against the
McCann parents, and he stressed that authorities from both countries
were working co-operatively.
"He commented that the media frenzy was to be expected and was
acceptable as long as government officials keep their comments
behind closed doors.''
The cable does not specify what evidence British police are alleged
to have gathered, or whether UK investigators were involved in the
decision to formally name the McCanns as
suspects.
They remained under official suspicion until July 2008 when
Portuguese police shelved the investigation into Madeleine's
disappearance and lifted the McCann's status as arguidos.
The three-year-old went missing from an apartment in the Algarve on
May 3, 2007 while her parents dined with friends in a nearby
restaurant.
Speaking at the time the suspect status was lifted, Mrs McCann said:
"It is hard to describe how utterly despairing it was to be named
arguidos and subsequently portrayed in the media as suspects in our
own daughter's abduction.''
A
spokesman
for the McCanns said: "This is an entirely historic note that is
more than three years old. Subsequently, Kate and Gerry had their
arguido status lifted, with the Portuguese authorities making it
perfectly clear that there was absolutely no evidence to implicate
them in Madeleine's disappearance whatsoever.
"To this day, they continue to work tirelessly on the search for
their daughter, co-operating when appropriate with both the
Portuguese and British authorities.''
