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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Madeleine police to meet in UK | Madeleine police to meet in UK |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Portuguese detectives are set to meet forensic scientists in the UK later to discuss DNA samples examined in the Madeleine McCann investigation. | |
| A spokesman for her parents said they do not see the meeting as significant. | |
| The samples studied by the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham relate to materials taken from the car hired by the McCanns after the disappearance. | The samples studied by the Forensic Science Service in Birmingham relate to materials taken from the car hired by the McCanns after the disappearance. |
| The meeting comes as a new advert blitz began in Spain that campaigners hope will lead them to Madeleine. | The meeting comes as a new advert blitz began in Spain that campaigners hope will lead them to Madeleine. |
| It will give Portuguese investigators the chance to talk to the UK-based forensic scientists who have been carrying out various tests in the months since the child disappeared. | |
| Portuguese representatives have travelled to the UK before, in the early stages of the investigation. | |
| Supporters of the family have used funds donated in the weeks after her 3 May disappearance to buy £80,000 worth of publicity that will cover the Iberian peninsula and northern Africa. | Supporters of the family have used funds donated in the weeks after her 3 May disappearance to buy £80,000 worth of publicity that will cover the Iberian peninsula and northern Africa. |
| Clue hunt | Clue hunt |
| The money will pay for television, newspaper and poster adverts which they hope will produce fresh clues. | The money will pay for television, newspaper and poster adverts which they hope will produce fresh clues. |
| The fund has also committed to spend up to £50,000 a month towards the cost of the private detectives hired by the McCanns. | The fund has also committed to spend up to £50,000 a month towards the cost of the private detectives hired by the McCanns. |
| "This sort of work on both fronts - maintaining awareness of Madeleine and physically working to find her and her abductor or abductors - is exactly what the fund exists to support," said fund director Esther McVey. | "This sort of work on both fronts - maintaining awareness of Madeleine and physically working to find her and her abductor or abductors - is exactly what the fund exists to support," said fund director Esther McVey. |
| A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Constabulary said the police meeting, which will involve scientists, is not in response to any specific developments. | A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Constabulary said the police meeting, which will involve scientists, is not in response to any specific developments. |
| "It was felt that it was difficult to do everything on the phone. The time was right for them to sit down face-to-face," the spokeswoman said of officials in both countries. | "It was felt that it was difficult to do everything on the phone. The time was right for them to sit down face-to-face," the spokeswoman said of officials in both countries. |
| The McCann's spokesman said they will not be reinterviewed as part of the Portuguese police visit. | The McCann's spokesman said they will not be reinterviewed as part of the Portuguese police visit. |
| "We do not see it as a significant development." | "We do not see it as a significant development." |
| 'Cursed' | 'Cursed' |
| News of the meeting comes as the McCanns, from Rothley, came under attack from the lawyer of Robert Murat, a suspect in the case. | News of the meeting comes as the McCanns, from Rothley, came under attack from the lawyer of Robert Murat, a suspect in the case. |
| Francisco Pagarete told a Portuguese newspaper said Mr and Mrs McCann "deserve to be cursed" for leaving their children alone. | Francisco Pagarete told a Portuguese newspaper said Mr and Mrs McCann "deserve to be cursed" for leaving their children alone. |
| He said his client is suffering from the negative publicity surrounding the case. | He said his client is suffering from the negative publicity surrounding the case. |
| "[They] see their names daily dragged through the mud and they are on the verge of bankruptcy." | "[They] see their names daily dragged through the mud and they are on the verge of bankruptcy." |
| The McCanns have also been officially declared by Portuguese police as "arguidos" or suspects in their daughter's disappearance. | The McCanns have also been officially declared by Portuguese police as "arguidos" or suspects in their daughter's disappearance. |