Unseen Madeleine picture released BBC News
The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have released a previously unseen picture of their daughter to mark six months
since she disappeared. The photograph of Madeleine sitting on a Shetland pony beside her mother was taken 20 days before her
disappearance.
On Saturday Kate and Gerry McCann renewed their appeal for information and attended a prayer service. Madeleine, of Rothley,
Leics, vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal on 3 May, days before her fourth birthday.
Work return
The photograph was shot at the Hatton Country World park in Warwickshire on 13 April.
Following Saturday's vigil at the Church of St Mary and St John in Rothley, family spokesman Clarence Mitchell spoke
to BBC News 24 about recent speculation surrounding the case. He played down reports that friends who dined with the McCanns
on the night of Madeleine's disappearance are soon to be designated as suspects by Portuguese police.
He said: "If the Portuguese police choose to re-interview some of their friends, it may happen, that is for the Portuguese
police and Portuguese authorities to decide. So far they have not said that... we've had no indication whatsoever that the
friends will be made arguido."
The McCanns, both 39, remain suspects with "arguido" status in the case, but deny any involvement.
Mr McCann plans to return to his job as a consultant cardiologist at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, full-time in January.
On Thursday, he went back to work for three half-days a week and with no direct contact with patients.
'Entirely innocent'
Mr Mitchell also responded to speculation that the Portuguese authorities may shortly close the case. He said: "Well,
I hope they wrap it up by finding Madeleine of course, that's what we all want.
"If the Portuguese police are in a position to one, find Madeleine, or at least establish what has happened to her within
the next seven weeks, well then that's good news.
"The first stage of that will be that Kate and Gerry should be eliminated from the inquiry because they are entirely
innocent. They have nothing to hide."
Mrs McCann has also appealed for new information about her daughter's whereabouts to mark six months since her disappearance.
In a statement to mark sixth month since their daughter's disappearance, Mrs McCann said: "There is no doubt that the best
place for her to be is with her family.
"We know somebody somewhere can make this happen. That person has the ability and power to bring about so much joy as
well as bring peace to themselves." She urged anyone with information regarding the child's whereabouts to "pass it on".
Traces found on fleece and stained jeans
By Dominic Herbert
A BAG of clothes containing DNA linked to Madeleine McCann has been found dumped by a road in Portugal. The white carrier
bag was discovered in a layby two weeks ago near Faro airport, the News of the World can reveal.
Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry McCann have learned the bag contained a blue fleece jacket and a pair of adult jeans
with traces of DNA that contained "moderate" links to the missing four-year-old. There was also a SHOWER CURTAIN inside.
News of the find came as it emerged police hunting for the youngster have asked the Mafia to help. Crime godfathers in
Morocco—where there have been several alleged sightings of Maddie—have been told cops will scale back drug busts
if they do.
Meanwhile, the bag, found by a passer-by, was sent to a UK lab in Birmingham for forensic tests. A leaked report showed
experts concluded the clothes contained bodily fluid and traces of hair that could have come from Maddie.
Skin
Other items recovered from the bag included a white flannel, a green elastic band, a light green child's T-shirt with
a green flower on the front and a pink and blue pencil case with a pink heart motif. A source said: "The bag could be crucial.
"The DNA isn't an exact match to Maddie's, but it does link. It is the first clue found outside the apartment complex
and could provide a trail."
The report—which was handed to detectives ten days ago—was obtained by the News of the World
from Portuguese police sources. The jeans contained more than 60 different stains.
The report concluded: "The blue fleece and jeans were found to contain traces of congealed skin and hair. They were found
to contain DNA characteristics that could be attributed to Madeleine McCann." No traces of Maddie's DNA were found on any
of the other items.
The fresh clues will give Kate and Gerry, both 39, renewed hope of finding their daughter alive six months after she
disappeared. Last night a friend of the McCanns said: "It potentially suggests that someone has taken her then disposed of
the clothing.
"They have done it near Faro which could imply they have gone in the direction of the airport. It backs up the idea she
was abducted."
Last Sunday the News of the World revealed that the crack Spanish detective agency hired by the McCanns,
Metodo 3, are convinced the youngster was snatched to order then smuggled from Portugal to Morocco. Last night it looked like
Mafia bosses will AGREE to use their underworld connections in the hunt for Maddie.
Mob bosses who supply millions of pounds of cannabis around the world effectively control vast areas of the North African
country. The authorities believe Maddie may be hidden in the moutainous Rif region and that the Mafia there provide the best
hope of finding her.
A source close to the Moroccan security services told us: "The gangs can put the word out and will be able to find out
through the underworld network connecting every city, town and remote village. When they want to find out information, they
can."
Maddie disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Portuguese resort Praia da Luz on May 3, just days before her
fourth birthday.
