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Madeleine McCann. A girl matching her description was seen with two women |
Police in
Spain were last night searching the holiday
island of Majorca for Madeleine McCann after a
British couple claimed to have seen her on a
beach.
Detectives
were scouring hotels and holiday apartments for
two dark-haired women seen with a young blonde
girl matching Madeleine's description.
A holidaying couple were convinced they saw the missing child with the two women at the Cala d'Or resort, in the south east of the island, last Sunday morning.
But they did
not report the possible sighting to police for
three days.
A police
source said: 'Officers are searching hotels and
holiday apartments to try to locate the young
girl this couple saw.
'So far we
have not been able to find her.
'The couple's
account was detailed and there were no
contradictions in their statements.
'However, we
are aware of the numerous previous sightings all
over the world that have turned out to be false
and it could well be that the couple have made
an honest mistake.
'The couple
believe they saw the girl last Sunday.
'At first they
attempted to try to contact the McCanns through
the internet.
'They reported
the incident to us on Wednesday after seeing a
missing persons poster with Madeleine's
photograph on it.'
The British
couple, who are in their 50s, were on a two-week
First Choice holiday at the Hotel Cala D'Or
Playa and had arrived on September 11.
They were
enjoying a morning at Cala Gran beach when they
spotted a pale blonde girl under a parasol.
The couple
were suspicious because the two women she was
with had dark hair and did not look like they
were related to the girl.
The toddler
was colouring in a book on her own and was
wearing sunglasses.
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Madeleine's parents Gerry and Kate
McCann have been informed |
A member of
staff at the hotel said: 'The woman was quite
upset because she was so convinced it was
Madeleine.
'They first
saw the girl with the two women on the beach
last Sunday morning.
'The girl was
on her own under a parasol on the beach with a
colouring book, which struck the couple as odd.
'They noticed
her similarity to Madeleine and tried to get
closer, but because of the sunglasses and they
couldn't see if she had Madeleine's distinctive
eye.
'The woman is
very religious and was praying a lot because she
did not know what to do.
'She saw the
two women with the girl again later in the week,
and the girl was trying to drag them down to the
beach, although it was dark, which she again
found odd.
'On Wednesday
she came to the hotel staff to report the
incident after seeing a photograph on a Find
Madeleine poster in a newspaper and being
convinced it was her.
'One of the
staff members took her to the police and acted
as a translator while the couple gave their
statement.'
The couple flew back to Manchester on a Thomson flight on Thursday morning.
Police have
been to hotels and holiday apartments in Cala
d'Or and nearby Cala Egos and Cala Ferrera.
A member of
staff at the Melia Cala d'Or hotel said: 'The
police called three days ago with a description
of two women and a little girl they were looking
for in the Madeleine case.
'They said the
two women were aged 40 to 50 and both had short,
dark hair. At least one of the women had red
streaks in her hair.
'They are
speaking to staff at all the hotels in the area.
'A British
couple said they saw the women with a young
blonde girl they believed was Madeleine McCann.
'Unfortunately
we were unable to help. If it is Madeleine, I
pray she is found safe and well.'
Madeleine was
days short of her fourth birthday when she
disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da
Luz, in southern Portugal in May 2007.
Her parents
Kate and Gerry, both 41-year-old doctors from
Rothley, Leics, were named as formal suspects in
the case but later cleared of any involvement.
The couple
have been made aware of the potential sighting.
Spokesman
Clarence Mitchell said: 'Kate and Gerry and the
investigative team are aware of this development
and will be liaising with the local authorities
as they have done with every potential
sighting.'
Private
detectives from Spanish firm Metodo 3 may travel
to Majorca to investigate the sighting.
The
Barcelona-based firm was being paid
?50,000-a-month to lead the McCanns' hunt for
their daughter until their involvement in the
case was scaled down last year.
British firm
Oakley International took over the search,
funded by the McCanns' millionaire friend Brian
Kennedy.
But Metodo 3 have continued to work with the McCanns in a more minor role.
Mr Mitchell said: 'Metodo 3 may well get involved given their local expertise and knowledge in Spain.'
- Bryan, Spain, 26/9/2008 14:06