This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7520378.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Dogs prompted McCanns police move Dogs prompted McCanns police move
(10 minutes later)
Kate and Gerry McCann were declared suspects in their daughter Madeleine's disappearance because of the reaction of sniffer dogs, a police report says.Kate and Gerry McCann were declared suspects in their daughter Madeleine's disappearance because of the reaction of sniffer dogs, a police report says.
The BBC has seen the final Portuguese police report into her disappearance, the day after the case was shelved.The BBC has seen the final Portuguese police report into her disappearance, the day after the case was shelved.
The report says police were "obliged" to make Mrs McCann, of Rothley, Leics, a suspect on the "merest possibility" she had been in contact with a corpse.The report says police were "obliged" to make Mrs McCann, of Rothley, Leics, a suspect on the "merest possibility" she had been in contact with a corpse.
The couple and Briton Robert Murat are no longer formal suspects in the case.The couple and Briton Robert Murat are no longer formal suspects in the case.
Madeleine disappeared on a family holiday in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on 3 May 2007, aged three. Madeleine disappeared on a holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on 3 May 2007, aged three.
The report for prosecutors says it was the reactions of the British-based sniffer dogs, one trained to find human blood, the other the presence of a corpse, which led to police declaring the McCanns as formal suspects last September.The report for prosecutors says it was the reactions of the British-based sniffer dogs, one trained to find human blood, the other the presence of a corpse, which led to police declaring the McCanns as formal suspects last September.
Samples analysedSamples analysed
According to the police report, the dogs reacted at various points in the McCanns' holiday apartment, in the car they hired several weeks after Madeleine's disappearance, on two items of Mrs McCann's clothing and on at least one item of Madeleine's.According to the police report, the dogs reacted at various points in the McCanns' holiday apartment, in the car they hired several weeks after Madeleine's disappearance, on two items of Mrs McCann's clothing and on at least one item of Madeleine's.
The British lab that analysed samples taken from these locations and items at first found a match to Madeleine's DNA, the police report says.The British lab that analysed samples taken from these locations and items at first found a match to Madeleine's DNA, the police report says.
So, when Mrs McCann was questioned in September, it continues, police were obliged to declare her an arguido, with the extra legal rights this gave her, "in view of the mere possibility of her having been in contact with the possible corpse". So, when Mrs McCann was questioned in September, it continues, police were obliged to declare her an "arguido", with the extra legal rights this gave her, "in view of the mere possibility of her having been in contact with the possible corpse".
The British lab, however, later rowed back from its initial findings, according to the police report.The British lab, however, later rowed back from its initial findings, according to the police report.
Regarding Mr Murat, the first person to be declared arguido in the case, suspicions "initially" arose when a British journalist reported him acting strangely, the report says.Regarding Mr Murat, the first person to be declared arguido in the case, suspicions "initially" arose when a British journalist reported him acting strangely, the report says.
Kate McCann spoke on Monday of her despair at having been a suspect in the caseKate McCann spoke on Monday of her despair at having been a suspect in the case
This contradicts what police told media, including the BBC, at the time, which was that detectives had already had their eye on him.This contradicts what police told media, including the BBC, at the time, which was that detectives had already had their eye on him.
The document confirms earlier media reports that a woman staying upstairs from the McCanns recalled hearing a child crying for over an hour in the family's apartment, on the eve of Madeleine's disappearance.The document confirms earlier media reports that a woman staying upstairs from the McCanns recalled hearing a child crying for over an hour in the family's apartment, on the eve of Madeleine's disappearance.
The report also says a reconstruction of the night Madeleine disappeared - when her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant with friends - could have established whether the timeline was consistent with abduction by a stranger, as police had difficulty doing this on the basis of the group's testimony.The report also says a reconstruction of the night Madeleine disappeared - when her parents were eating at a nearby restaurant with friends - could have established whether the timeline was consistent with abduction by a stranger, as police had difficulty doing this on the basis of the group's testimony.
The reconstruction did not take place after some of the McCanns' seven holiday companions declined to take part.The reconstruction did not take place after some of the McCanns' seven holiday companions declined to take part.
'Defensive tone''Defensive tone'
The 57-page final report, complemented by appendices detailing police actions and findings, at times takes a defensive tone.The 57-page final report, complemented by appendices detailing police actions and findings, at times takes a defensive tone.
And it is only a portion of the mass of documentation relating to the case.And it is only a portion of the mass of documentation relating to the case.
It stresses the thousands of man-hours put in by over 100 detectives from early on in the investigation, working round the clock.It stresses the thousands of man-hours put in by over 100 detectives from early on in the investigation, working round the clock.
It reveals the hundreds of house searches carried out and the thousands of leads phoned in by the public that they had to sift through, most of which, it says, were found not to be credible.It reveals the hundreds of house searches carried out and the thousands of leads phoned in by the public that they had to sift through, most of which, it says, were found not to be credible.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese authorities have dismissed suggestions that they have been incompetent or that they were washing their hands of the case.Robert Murat denies any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance Meanwhile, the Portuguese authorities have dismissed suggestions that they have been incompetent or that they were washing their hands of the case.Last week Robert Murat won a libel settlement in the UK
In written answers to questions put by the BBC, the attorney general's office said police had taken all steps that "any good police force in the world would and will continue to take them until it can obtain a satisfactory result."In written answers to questions put by the BBC, the attorney general's office said police had taken all steps that "any good police force in the world would and will continue to take them until it can obtain a satisfactory result."
The investigation, it said, "will always remain open and all action taken that proves necessary to find out what really happened".The investigation, it said, "will always remain open and all action taken that proves necessary to find out what really happened".
It cited as examples of new facts that could prompt the files to be reopened "a confession, a telephone conversation [or] a new credible witness".It cited as examples of new facts that could prompt the files to be reopened "a confession, a telephone conversation [or] a new credible witness".
The Portuguese police's national director, José Maria Almeida Rodrigues, speaking on Portuguese radio, said his detectives would "follow all leads" that might come up in the case but "with restraint and discretion".The Portuguese police's national director, José Maria Almeida Rodrigues, speaking on Portuguese radio, said his detectives would "follow all leads" that might come up in the case but "with restraint and discretion".
The McCann family spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "Gerry and Kate's lawyers in Portugal will be applying formally for access to the complete file and they will be analysing everything in it in their own time."The McCann family spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "Gerry and Kate's lawyers in Portugal will be applying formally for access to the complete file and they will be analysing everything in it in their own time."
On Monday, Portugal's attorney-general, Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro, said the 14-month investigation into Madeleine's disappearance had uncovered no evidence of a crime by any of the arguidos.
As a result, the case has been shelved and the McCanns' and Mr Murat's status as suspects ended.