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McCann friend criticises 'leaks' McCann friend criticises 'leaks'
(about 3 hours later)
A friend of Madeleine McCann's parents has publicly criticised the Portuguese police for leaking information about the inquiry into the missing child.A friend of Madeleine McCann's parents has publicly criticised the Portuguese police for leaking information about the inquiry into the missing child.
Rachael Oldfield, who was with Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leics, when their daughter disappeared last May, said there had been "double standards".Rachael Oldfield, who was with Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley, Leics, when their daughter disappeared last May, said there had been "double standards".
Witnesses had to remain silent, while Portuguese newspapers carried stories sourced to police, she told the BBC.Witnesses had to remain silent, while Portuguese newspapers carried stories sourced to police, she told the BBC.
The McCanns remain arguidos - suspects - but deny any wrongdoing.The McCanns remain arguidos - suspects - but deny any wrongdoing.
In her first interview since Madeleine, then three, disappeared during a family holiday in the Algarve, Mrs Oldfield said: "We were made to understand we could face two years in prison for speaking out, so as a group we've not said anything from day one. Mrs Oldfield is a member of the so-called "Tapas Seven" - friends of the McCanns who dined with them in a tapas restaurant on the night their three-year-old daughter disappeared during a family holiday on the Algarve.
In her first interview since Madeleine went missing, she said: "We were made to understand we could face two years in prison for speaking out, so as a group we've not said anything from day one.
"And there have been all these rumours flying around and leaks from sources close to the PJ [the Policia Judiciaria - Portuguese police].""And there have been all these rumours flying around and leaks from sources close to the PJ [the Policia Judiciaria - Portuguese police]."
Asked to characterise police actions, she replied: "Well, double standards. They leaked information and these rumours which have flown around for the past year...Asked to characterise police actions, she replied: "Well, double standards. They leaked information and these rumours which have flown around for the past year...
"We would have loved to have put the record straight.""We would have loved to have put the record straight."
Open inquiryOpen inquiry
Mrs Oldfield said it had been "agonising" to watch the McCanns' reaction when Madeleine went missing from a ground floor apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007.Mrs Oldfield said it had been "agonising" to watch the McCanns' reaction when Madeleine went missing from a ground floor apartment in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007.
She said: "Anyone with an ounce of common sense would be able to see they couldn't have done it."She said: "Anyone with an ounce of common sense would be able to see they couldn't have done it."
The Tapas Seven are regarded by Portuguese police as important witnesses in the Madeleine investigation. None of them has been made a formal suspect and all have co-operated willingly and voluntarily with the investigation.
Separately, a senior figure in Portugal with direct knowledge of the investigation has told a BBC Radio 4 documentary there is only a slim chance of murder or manslaughter charges being filed against Kate and Gerry McCann or Robert Murat, the third arguido.Separately, a senior figure in Portugal with direct knowledge of the investigation has told a BBC Radio 4 documentary there is only a slim chance of murder or manslaughter charges being filed against Kate and Gerry McCann or Robert Murat, the third arguido.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, insisted all lines of inquiry remain open, including the original theory that Madeleine was abducted.The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, insisted all lines of inquiry remain open, including the original theory that Madeleine was abducted.
From within Portugal, the police are coming under pressure to make public the case files which, under judicial secrecy laws, currently remain closed. Mr Murat was made a suspect after Mrs Oldfield and two other members of the Tapas Seven - Russell O'Brien and Fiona Payne - said they saw him in the Praia da Luz complex during the evening Madeleine disappeared.
Mr Murat denies he was there, and maintains he was at home with his mother all night.
Portuguese police are now coming under pressure to make public the case files which, under judicial secrecy laws, currently remain closed.
The President of the Portuguese Order of Lawyers, Antonio Marinho e Pinto, told the BBC: "There are strong reasons to fear that judicial secrecy is being used... to conceal the fact that the police have gone down a blind alley and don't have a way out."The President of the Portuguese Order of Lawyers, Antonio Marinho e Pinto, told the BBC: "There are strong reasons to fear that judicial secrecy is being used... to conceal the fact that the police have gone down a blind alley and don't have a way out."
Rachael Oldfield's interview can be heard on Searching for Madeleine, at 2000 BST, 24 April on BBC Radio 4.Rachael Oldfield's interview can be heard on Searching for Madeleine, at 2000 BST, 24 April on BBC Radio 4.