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| Madeleine police inquiry shelved | Madeleine police inquiry shelved |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been shelved due to lack of evidence, Portugal's attorney general has said. | The police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has been shelved due to lack of evidence, Portugal's attorney general has said. |
| The child's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and a third British national, Robert Murat, are no longer formal suspects, he also confirmed. | The child's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and a third British national, Robert Murat, are no longer formal suspects, he also confirmed. |
| Her parents, of Rothley, Leics, said they were "relieved", but there was "no degree of celebration". | Her parents, of Rothley, Leics, said they were "relieved", but there was "no degree of celebration". |
| Madeleine disappeared in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007, aged three. | Madeleine disappeared in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007, aged three. |
| The McCanns and Mr Murat all strongly denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance from her holiday apartment in the Algarve. | The McCanns and Mr Murat all strongly denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance from her holiday apartment in the Algarve. |
| Attorney-general Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro said the 14-month investigation had uncovered no evidence of a crime by any of them. | Attorney-general Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro said the 14-month investigation had uncovered no evidence of a crime by any of them. |
| Speaking after the announcement, the McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "It's far too early to give their immediate reaction yet, but they are, of course, liaising closely with their lawyers in Portugal and Britain," he said. | Speaking after the announcement, the McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "It's far too early to give their immediate reaction yet, but they are, of course, liaising closely with their lawyers in Portugal and Britain," he said. |
| "Once they have digested the content of the attorney-general's statement and any implications, they will give a reaction a little later this evening." | "Once they have digested the content of the attorney-general's statement and any implications, they will give a reaction a little later this evening." |
| Former lead detective Goncalo Moral talks to Steve Kingstone | Former lead detective Goncalo Moral talks to Steve Kingstone |
| Libel case | Libel case |
| The BBC's Alison Roberts, who is in Portugal, said the McCanns would now be able to apply for access to the police case files, which they hope could help their own private investigators search for their daughter. | The BBC's Alison Roberts, who is in Portugal, said the McCanns would now be able to apply for access to the police case files, which they hope could help their own private investigators search for their daughter. |
| Mr Mitchell said: "The main thing now is to get everything back to finding Madeleine. All of this has damaged their good reputations and they will have to assess where they go from here." | Mr Mitchell said: "The main thing now is to get everything back to finding Madeleine. All of this has damaged their good reputations and they will have to assess where they go from here." |
| Detectives submitted their final report at the start of July to prosecutors. | Detectives submitted their final report at the start of July to prosecutors. |
| The attorney general said the case could be reopened if new evidence emerged from any "serious, pertinent and authoritative source". | The attorney general said the case could be reopened if new evidence emerged from any "serious, pertinent and authoritative source". |
| Last week Mr Murat received a £600,000 settlement and apology after a libel claim over allegations in 11 UK newspapers. | Last week Mr Murat received a £600,000 settlement and apology after a libel claim over allegations in 11 UK newspapers. |
| His aunt Sally Eveleigh told the BBC the news was "amazing". | |
| She said her nephew had only been trying to help with the search for Madeleine when he was declared a suspect. | |
| "We're all taught in Britain to help others and this is what happens," she said. | |
| In March Mr and Mrs McCann reached a libel settlement and got an apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they were responsible for her death. | In March Mr and Mrs McCann reached a libel settlement and got an apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they were responsible for her death. |
| Case files | |
| In an interview with the BBC, Goncalo Amaral - the former police chief leading the Madeleine inquiry - said he believed she was dead. | |
| "The evidence that we had gathered by the time that I left the case pointed to the girl being dead - and having died inside the apartment," he said. | "The evidence that we had gathered by the time that I left the case pointed to the girl being dead - and having died inside the apartment," he said. |
| "I don't know what happened next, I can't say. We'll have to wait for the case files to be made public." | "I don't know what happened next, I can't say. We'll have to wait for the case files to be made public." |
| Mr Amaral was removed from the case last October after reportedly criticising the British police. | Mr Amaral was removed from the case last October after reportedly criticising the British police. |
| He is now publishing a book about the investigation and denied that Portuguese police had failed to carry it out properly. | He is now publishing a book about the investigation and denied that Portuguese police had failed to carry it out properly. |