Madeleine expert joins Uist search

Published on Wednesday 14 January 2009 21:58

AN EXPERT who reviewed the hunt for Madeleine McCann has been called in to try to help solve the mystery of the Merchant Navy cadet who disappeared on South Uist early on Boxing Day.

As the search for Simon MacMillan, 21, goes on, a new team of police dogs from the mainland was sent to the Hebridean island yesterday.

Police have also drafted in Mark Harrison, the national search adviser to the National Policing Improvement Agency, who was brought in to the search for Madeleine after police drew a blank. His particular focus is on complex, serial or multiple cases where human remains are being sought within a large geographic area.

Meanwhile, police confirmed that the occupants of a car they say is vital in their hunt for Mr MacMillan have still failed to come forward.

They want to trace any vehicles that were on Uist around the time he went missing – especially a car parked near where he was dropped off after a party. He disappeared soon afterwards.