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| Madeleine police inquiry shelved | Madeleine police inquiry shelved |
| (20 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 the suspects or "arguidos". | Attorney-general Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro said the 14-month investigation had uncovered no evidence of a crime by any of the suspects or "arguidos". |
| 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 Amaral talks to Steve Kingstone | |
| Libel case | Libel case |
| Mr Mitchell said lawyers for the McCanns would be able to examine the police case files by the end of the week. | Mr Mitchell said lawyers for the McCanns would be able to examine the police case files by the end of the week. |
| The couple hope information within them could help their own private investigators continue the search for their daughter. | The couple hope information within them could help their own private investigators continue the search for their daughter. |
| "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," Mr Mitchell 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. |
| 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. |
| Ahead of the announcement of the inquiry being shelved, he was asked about how he would feel if that was the case. | Ahead of the announcement of the inquiry being shelved, he was asked about how he would feel if that was the case. |
| He told the BBC: "I think the real work of rebuilding my life and my family's life is going to start. | He told the BBC: "I think the real work of rebuilding my life and my family's life is going to start. |
| "I would like to know why I was made an arguido because sincerely I don't understand. | "I would like to know why I was made an arguido because sincerely I don't understand. |
| "They may have felt that there was reason to do it and if there's a justifiable reason to make me an arguido then I have to look at it and be sensible about it."Robert Murat said he would like to know why he was made an arguido | "They may have felt that there was reason to do it and if there's a justifiable reason to make me an arguido then I have to look at it and be sensible about it."Robert Murat said he would like to know why he was made an arguido |
| Mr Murat's aunt Sally Eveleigh told the BBC the news was "amazing". | Mr Murat's 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. | 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. | "We're all taught in Britain to help others and this is what happens," she said. |
| Case files | Case files |
| In an interview with the BBC, Goncalo Amaral - the former police chief leading the Madeleine inquiry - said he believed she was dead. | 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. |