McCanns welcome review of Madeleine case

Published on 18/03/2012 00:00

THE parents of Madeleine McCann said yesterday a police review of her case was “a huge step” in the effort to help trace the missing girl.

A team of detectives in Portugal has been appointed to examine the original investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance, after she vanished while on a family holiday in the Algarve almost five years ago.

It follows a review by Scotland Yard officers which began last May.

Speaking ahead of a ten-kilometre run for a missing people’s charity in Regent’s Park, London, Madeleine’s father Gerry McCann said: “We’re ten months into the Met’s review process and it’s important for us. It’s taken pressure off us, knowing the police are actually reviewing everything. It’s a huge step for us.”

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family’s holiday flat in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, in May 2007 as her parents Kate and Gerry dined with friends nearby.

The McCanns were joined by hundreds of families and friends of other missing people for the charity run in Regent’s Park, including Peter Lawrence, father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence, and Rachel Elias, sister of rock star Richey Edwards, rhythm guitarist and co-lyricist of the Manic Street Preachers.