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The parents of Madeleine McCann have said they are
deeply upset that Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf
printed claims their daughter was buried in scrubland before Portuguese police
had even had a chance to investigate.
Gerry McCann said the Policia Judiciara had no time to consider the credibility
of the information or consider searching the area before the allegations were
made public.
In his blog on the Find Madeleine website he wrote: "We feel strongly that
this was an irresponsible piece of journalism and even if it were true is
insensitive and cruel."
He went on: "One can imagine how upsetting it is for Kate and I to hear of such claims."
Police and journalists were earlier spotted combing through an area where it is
claimed the missing girl's body may be buried.
The location, which is nine miles from where the four-year-old disappeared, was
pinpointed in a letter sent to a newspaper and passed on to Portuguese police.
Sniffer dogs have been brought in as the Policia Judiciaria consider
whether to launch a full-scale search.
Police have alerted journalists to the fact that they may be
"contaminating" the region, destroying eventual evidence and clues.
But Clarence Mitchell, speaking on behalf of the girl's family, said:
"There is no suggestion that this letter is any more credible than any
other source and the McCanns are not planning to say anything about it."
Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said the parents were very upset at
reports of diggers moving in.
The anonymous note is believed to have come from the same person who sent a
letter leading police to the bodies of two murdered Belgian girls last year.
It claimed Madeleine's body lies buried under rocks and branches in deserted
scrubland and was sent with a map marking the location with a cross.
It is thought to have directed police up a dirt track to an area north of Odiaxere, north east of Praia da
Luz from where the girl was snatched 42 days ago.
According to De Telegraaf, the letter said Madeleine
was buried "north of the road under branches and rocks, around six to
seven metres off the road" in a barren and deserted landscape.
On Wednesday, around eight plain clothed police officers visited Arao, a small village 15kms away from Praia da Luz.
They spent an hour and 20 minutes looking at fields and the surrounding area
ahead of possible searches. |
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INTERNATIONAL
MISSING CHILDRENS DAY 2007 |
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MISSING OR
MURDERED CHILDREN NAMED IN MCCANN CASE |
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MADELEINE
PHOTOS |
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NEWS JUNE 2007 |
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