{"id":26437,"date":"2023-10-30T05:10:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T09:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=26437"},"modified":"2023-10-30T05:10:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-30T09:10:20","slug":"portuguese-police-apologise-to-madeleine-mccanns-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2023\/10\/30\/portuguese-police-apologise-to-madeleine-mccanns-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Portuguese police apologise to Madeleine McCann&#8217;s parents"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Portuguese police have apologised to the parents of Madeleine McCann for the way they handled the three-year-old&#8217;s disappearance.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Madeleine went missing from a holiday complex in the Algarve in May 2007.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A delegation of senior officers travelled from Lisbon to London earlier this year, BBC Panorama has been told.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They met Gerry McCann, Madeleine&#8217;s father, and apologised for the way detectives investigated the case and treated the family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The McCann family has not commented on the apology and their daughter&#8217;s disappearance remains unsolved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5f7ft-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi0\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-k17ofw-InlineLink e1kn3p7n0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-65774844\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Police analyse objects after Madeleine search<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-k17ofw-InlineLink e1kn3p7n0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-61183857\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suspect formally declared in Madeleine McCann case<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In September 2007, four months after Madeleine vanished, Kate and Gerry McCann were made &#8220;arguidos&#8221; &#8211; or suspects &#8211; in the Portuguese investigation. Both were questioned by detectives, who believed they had staged an abduction and concealed Madeleine&#8217;s body.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Mrs McCann said she was offered a deal to admit covering up her daughter&#8217;s death in exchange for a shorter sentence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The couple&#8217;s arguido status was lifted in 2008 but they remained under suspicion in Portugal for years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Goncalo Amaral, the senior detective who led the case, was later removed from the investigation but went on to write a book accusing the McCanns of being involved in their daughter&#8217;s disappearance. He said he was defending his professional reputation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The McCann&#8217;s libel case against the former detective over the claims he made about them in his book was thrown out by the Portuguese supreme court. The couple appealed to the European Court of Human Rights but lost that challenge in September 2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The couple have also been subjected to a vitriolic campaign online accusing them of causing Madeleine&#8217;s death and then covering it up.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26438\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26438\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Kate-and-Gerry-McCann.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-26438\" src=\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Kate-and-Gerry-McCann.jpg\" alt=\"Kate and Gerry McCann attend a service to mark an anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine from a holiday flat in Portugal\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Kate-and-Gerry-McCann.jpg 640w, https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Kate-and-Gerry-McCann-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26438\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kate and Gerry McCann attending a service to mark the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine from a holiday flat in Portugal (Image: Reuters\/Darren Staples)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Portuguese police now say their initial investigation into Madeleine&#8217;s disappearance was not handled properly, there was insufficient importance given at the time to missing children and that her parents&#8217; position as foreigners in an environment they did not understand was not appreciated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They also told the BBC they had briefed the McCanns on their ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The officers gave their support to the German authorities, who believe 46-year-old German national Christian Brueckner killed Madeleine McCann.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Hans Christian Wolters, one of the German prosecutors on the case, welcomed the Portuguese apology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a good sign,&#8221; he said, adding: &#8220;It shows that, in Portugal, there&#8217;s development in the McCann case.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Mr Wolters said his team hope to complete their five-year investigation into Brueckner next year. No charges have been brought against him in connection to Madeleine McCann&#8217;s disappearance to date and he has publicly denied being involved in her disappearance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-4qvfmb-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image edrdn950\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/4577\/production\/_112738771_christianb2.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Christian Brueckner\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260\">Christian Brueckner has not been charged over Madeleine&#8217;s disappearance<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Brueckner was living near the Praia da Luz resort when the McCann family was on holiday there and spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He was made a formal suspect by Portuguese prosecutors in 2022 and is currently serving a seven-year prison term in Germany for drug trafficking and the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman in the same area where Madeleine went missing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Earlier this year, a three-day search of a Portuguese reservoir looking for evidence to link the British toddler&#8217;s disappearance to Brueckner was carried out by German authorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;We think that he was involved in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and we think that he murdered Madeleine McCann,&#8221; Mr Wolters said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Brueckner has already been charged with a further three rapes, sexual assault and sexual assault of a child. The five offences are alleged to have been committed on the Portuguese Algarve. Mr Wolters confirmed that they would go to trial in February 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Brueckner&#8217;s lawyer, Friedrich Fulscher, said his client was exercising his right to silence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;We know the contents of the files and I think the charges are all based on very, very shaky foundations,&#8221; Mr Fulscher said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Kate and Gerry McCann have not commented on the Portuguese police apology and marked the 16th anniversary of their daughter&#8217;s disappearance on 3 May, saying Madeleine is &#8220;still very much missed&#8221; and that they &#8220;await a breakthrough&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-67229219\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">Portuguese police have apologised to the parents of Madeleine McCann for the way they handled the three-year-old&#8217;s disappearance. Madeleine went missing from a holiday complex in the Algarve in May 2007. A delegation of senior <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2023\/10\/30\/portuguese-police-apologise-to-madeleine-mccanns-parents\/\" title=\"Portuguese police apologise to Madeleine McCann&#8217;s parents\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6943,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[109,2,4,6],"tags":[113,9856,2593,320,3347,3346,2194,114,8780,7488],"class_list":{"0":"post-26437","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headline","8":"category-news","9":"category-uk","10":"category-world","11":"tag-algarve","12":"tag-christian-brueckner","13":"tag-european-court-of-human-rights","14":"tag-germany","15":"tag-gerry-mccann","16":"tag-kate-mccann","17":"tag-madeleine-mccann","18":"tag-portugal","19":"tag-portugal-supreme-court","20":"tag-praia-da-luz","21":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26437","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26437"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26437\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26440,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26437\/revisions\/26440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26437"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26437"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26437"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}