Police release Maddie files

2008-07-07 14:06

London - Leicestershire police agreed on Monday to give the parents of Madeleine McCann 80 pieces of information about the investigation into her disappearance in Portugal last year.

In return for Leicestershire police's agreement to release that information on their investigation, parents Kate and Gerry McCann have agreed to drop a court case that sought the release of all information held by the force.

"These are 80 potential new leads. We have information we can work on," said Clarence Mitchell, spokesperson for the McCanns. The couple, who live in Rothley in Leicestershire, did not attend the court hearing in London but were on vacation with their two other children.

Portuguese police said last week they had completed their final report into the girl's disappearance but had not decided whether to close their investigation.

Madeleine vanished from the family's apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz on May 3 2007, shortly before her fourth birthday.

The couple's lawyer, Tim Scott, told Justice Mary Hogg there was no proof that Madeleine was alive "but there is not a scrap of evidence that she is not".

Hogg commented that one person does know what happened to Madeleine.

"I ponder whether that person has a conscience or any feeling of guilt or remorse or even cares about the hurt that has been caused to an innocent little girl," the judge said.

"I entreat that person, whoever they may be, to show mercy and compassion and come forward now and tell us where Madeleine is to be found."

- AP