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| 'Maddy sighting' prompts interest | 'Maddy sighting' prompts interest |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Investigators for Kate and Gerry McCann are probing claims that a girl calling herself "Maddy" was seen in the Netherlands after their child vanished. | Investigators for Kate and Gerry McCann are probing claims that a girl calling herself "Maddy" was seen in the Netherlands after their child vanished. |
| The information, reported to Portuguese police in June last year, has only now been made public with the release of previously secret police files. | The information, reported to Portuguese police in June last year, has only now been made public with the release of previously secret police files. |
| The McCanns spokesman Clarence Mitchell said it was "tragic" that this kind of evidence has only now been issued. | The McCanns spokesman Clarence Mitchell said it was "tragic" that this kind of evidence has only now been issued. |
| Madeleine vanished, aged three, in May 2007 while on holiday in the Algarve. | Madeleine vanished, aged three, in May 2007 while on holiday in the Algarve. |
| The McCanns, both 40 and from Rothley, Leicestershire, have accused detectives of withholding potentially crucial evidence from them after the release of the official documents. | The McCanns, both 40 and from Rothley, Leicestershire, have accused detectives of withholding potentially crucial evidence from them after the release of the official documents. |
| This is exactly the sort of primary information that we need to know if it was followed up properly by the police Clarence MitchellMcCann spokesman Sifting through case filesThe questions put to Kate McCann | This is exactly the sort of primary information that we need to know if it was followed up properly by the police Clarence MitchellMcCann spokesman Sifting through case filesThe questions put to Kate McCann |
| According to one file, Anna Stam, 41, a shop assistant, said she spoke to a girl aged three or four in Amsterdam who resembled Madeleine said her name was "Maddy". | |
| In reply to a question about her mother, the girl is said to have remarked: "They took me from my holiday." | In reply to a question about her mother, the girl is said to have remarked: "They took me from my holiday." |
| A report was sent to Portugal on 18 June last year but it is not clear from the files what action was taken. | |
| Mr Mitchell said: "It is harrowing to hear a child saying that. If it was Madeleine, it was a disgrace that it was not passed on. | Mr Mitchell said: "It is harrowing to hear a child saying that. If it was Madeleine, it was a disgrace that it was not passed on. |
| "We need to know what happened with this. This is exactly the sort of primary information that we need to know if it was followed up properly by the police. | "We need to know what happened with this. This is exactly the sort of primary information that we need to know if it was followed up properly by the police. |
| "If that hasn't been done, that is exactly the kind of information that the private investigators are going to follow up." | "If that hasn't been done, that is exactly the kind of information that the private investigators are going to follow up." |
| The Portuguese police inquiry into the girl's disappearance was wound up last month. | The Portuguese police inquiry into the girl's disappearance was wound up last month. |
| The McCanns and a third British national, Robert Murat - who have always strongly denied having had any involvement in what happened to Madeleine - were declared to no longer be formal suspects. | The McCanns and a third British national, Robert Murat - who have always strongly denied having had any involvement in what happened to Madeleine - were declared to no longer be formal suspects. |
| Among the new files released was a prosecutor's report that said the investigation had uncovered "very little" conclusive about Madeleine's fate. | Among the new files released was a prosecutor's report that said the investigation had uncovered "very little" conclusive about Madeleine's fate. |
| There were also CCTV images showing a small child said to resemble Madeleine at an Algarve petrol station the day after she disappeared that the McCanns had not seen before. | There were also CCTV images showing a small child said to resemble Madeleine at an Algarve petrol station the day after she disappeared that the McCanns had not seen before. |
| Several other reported sightings across Europe have been examined by local authorities or the investigators working for the McCanns in the past but all came to nothing. | Several other reported sightings across Europe have been examined by local authorities or the investigators working for the McCanns in the past but all came to nothing. |