|
|
|
Headline
edited to |
|
Brit Couple 'Cleared' In Madeleine Probe |
|
|
A British couple say they have been cleared of any link to the Madeleine McCann
inquiry.
Solicitor James Gorrod's car was one of 10 seized by detectives in Portugal
hunting for the missing four-year-old.
He had taken a holiday at the same resort as the McCanns, at around the time of
Madeleine's disappearance, with his pregnant wife and young son.
But Mr Gorrod says he and wife Charlotte, who has since given birth to a boy,
never met the missing child's parents Kate and Gerry.
And he says he was drawn into the inquiry when police discovered he had hired a
car at Faro airport and asked for a child's seat.
The couple say the first they knew of Madeleine's suspected abduction was when
a note was pushed under the door of their holiday villa the following day.
Mr Gorrod, a former Great
Britain youth and junior level sailor, said
rumours of their involvement in Madeleine's abduction had been very distressing
for his "vulnerable" wife.
He said: "Having given birth to a baby boy three weeks ago, for this to
happen at this time when she is so vulnerable, is distressing."
In a statement released through Mr Gorrod's Exeter-based legal firm, he said:
"A British police officer directly liaising with the Portuguese
investigation team recently contacted me to eliminate the vehicle I hired for a
holiday with my wife and two-year-old son in Praia da Luz at the time Madeleine
McCann disappeared.
"The vehicle has been identified and I have been told by the British
police officer that he has no plans to interview me or my family, and he does
not expect me or my family to have any further involvement in the Madeleine
McCann investigation."
The statement added: "We are, of course, deeply saddened by Madeleine's
disappearance and hope for her safe return."
Earlier, Mrs Gorrod said she was baffled Portuguese police had not spoken to
them while they were on holiday even though they offered to help.
She added: "The reason we needed to hire a car was because we were not on
the Mark Warner holiday and so we didn't have an airport transfer for the two
hour trip from Faro." |
|
 |
|
