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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Madeleine inquiry 'nearly over' | Madeleine inquiry 'nearly over' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The police inquiry into Madeleine McCann's disappearance is almost over, Portugal's justice minister has said. | The police inquiry into Madeleine McCann's disappearance is almost over, Portugal's justice minister has said. |
| Alberto Costa told a parliamentary committee in Lisbon that officers were near the "conclusion of the process". | Alberto Costa told a parliamentary committee in Lisbon that officers were near the "conclusion of the process". |
| Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry, said the only satisfactory conclusion would be Madeleine being found. | Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry, said the only satisfactory conclusion would be Madeleine being found. |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing, aged three, in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May last year. | Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing, aged three, in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May last year. |
| Arguido status | Arguido status |
| Mr Mitchell said: "If the case is coming to a conclusion, we hope it will conclude shortly with the finding of Madeleine and her being reunited with her parents. | Mr Mitchell said: "If the case is coming to a conclusion, we hope it will conclude shortly with the finding of Madeleine and her being reunited with her parents. |
| "That is the only satisfactory conclusion for us," he said, adding that if the entire case really was to be closed, Madeleine McCann's parents would be demanding access to all the files surrounding her disappearance. | |
| "If, however, the justice minister is referring to the aspects to the inquiry concerning Kate and Gerry being concluded, then they must be eliminated from the investigation forthwith." | "If, however, the justice minister is referring to the aspects to the inquiry concerning Kate and Gerry being concluded, then they must be eliminated from the investigation forthwith." |
| He said there was no evidence to implicate Kate or Gerry McCann in any way with the disappearance of their daughter. | He said there was no evidence to implicate Kate or Gerry McCann in any way with the disappearance of their daughter. |
| "We remain confident that the Portuguese authorities will realise this and that Kate and Gerry's arguido [official suspect] status will be lifted in the near future", Mr Mitchell said. | "We remain confident that the Portuguese authorities will realise this and that Kate and Gerry's arguido [official suspect] status will be lifted in the near future", Mr Mitchell said. |
| 'Worrying leaks' | 'Worrying leaks' |
| The justice minister told the parliamentary committee that it was "premature" to say whether the police investigation would reveal what had happened to Madeleine McCann. | The justice minister told the parliamentary committee that it was "premature" to say whether the police investigation would reveal what had happened to Madeleine McCann. |
| Alberto Costa cited British statistics which showed that 80% of similar cases in the UK remain unresolved. | Alberto Costa cited British statistics which showed that 80% of similar cases in the UK remain unresolved. |
| "It would be good if people could show self-restraint," he said, referring to the many "worrying leaks" about the case. | "It would be good if people could show self-restraint," he said, referring to the many "worrying leaks" about the case. |