Gerry McCann could barely contain his anger and pain yesterday at outrageous suggestions he and wife Kate could be responsible for the death of daughter Madeleine.

In an extraordinary development, sources told the Portuguese press that investigators had "definitely abandoned" the theory that Madeleine, four, was kidnapped.

Instead, it was claimed, police believe the youngster died in her bedroom "as a result of negligence or murder".


A source close to the couple said: "Kate and Gerry are well aware what these reports imply. That is either that they deliberately or by accident killed Madeleine, or that one of their close friends did.

"Gerry is absolutely livid about it all. The suggestions are very hurtful and do not help."

Rubbishing the cruel slur - which was also officially rejected by police - Gerry, 39, disclosed that the couple have information that "we're not allowed to tell".

But he said they would do nothing to prejudice the 97-day investigation.

Sitting next to his wife, and struggling to hide his rage, the consultant cardiologist said: "We're not naive but on numerous occasions the Portuguese police have said they are looking for Madeleine alive and not that she has been murdered.

"I don't know of any information that's changed that. Kate and I strongly believe that Madeleine was alive when taken."

The cruel suggestions that the McCanns could be involved came after specks of blood were discovered by British sniffer dogs on a wall in Madeleine's bedroom at their holiday flat in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

They had been missed by Portuguese police, the latest in a string of blunders.

In what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to shift blame from the police to the McCanns, Portuguese papers have also suggested the investigation is moving away from sole suspect Robert Murat, 33.

Asked yesterday about the blood, Gerry said he was unable to talk about the case. He added: "We do know some information that we're not allowed to tell.

"But we would never put anything into the public domain that might put the investigation at risk."

Gerry said he and Kate, 38, found it difficult being under the scrutiny of detectives but insisted they were "more than happy" to cooperate.

He said: "We expect to be treated the same as anyone else. It's only right."

Kate said: "Even last week the police said they are looking for a living child. They have said that a lot." She insisted at the weekend: "It's not us who committed the crime - but people will always criticise."

The claim that police now believe it is most likely that Madeleine was accidentally killed inside the flat appeared in the Portuguese paper Jornal de Noticias.

Another paper, the Diario de Noticias, reported: "The Policia Judiciara has known for a month that Madeleine was killed on the night of May 3, in the apartment in Praia da Luz, having definitely abandoned the theory that she was abducted."

It was also claimed the McCanns would soon be re-interviewed by police. But a family source said the couple had not been told.

As wild suggestions circulated, police were forced to state publicly that the McCanns were NOT under suspicion.

Normally tight-lipped spokesman Chief Insp Olegario Sousa said: "The family are not suspects. This is the official position."

He would not confirm whether blood had been found in the McCanns' apartment, saying: "I don't have the information."

The blood samples will reach the Forensic Science Service lab in Birmingham tomorrow for analysis.

Madeleine's parents then face an agonising two-week wait to discover if the specks belong to their daughter.

Police yesterday carried out forensic tests on a Renault Scenic hired by the couple, of Rothley, Leics.

They also checked cars belonging to Murat, his mother Jenny, 71, his friend Tuck Price, girlfriend Michaela Walczuch, her husband Luis Antonio and business associate Sergei Malinka, 22.

Dna results on a milkshake and straw found at a Belgium cafe where a woman claimed she saw Madeleine are expected today