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ABOVE: The Home Office is
refusing to give key documents relating to
the Madeleine McCann case to the Daily |
CRUCIAL files relating to Madeleine McCann’s disappearance are
being kept secret by the Government to avoid a
diplomatic war with Portugal.
They contain discussions between Home Office officials and the Met
over vital information on the case.
But Home Secretary Theresa May and her staff have spent the past
nine months preventing the Daily Star Sunday from
obtaining the papers.
They said there would be “specific detriment to the UK’s
relationship with Portugal” if the four files were
released.
Ms May also claimed disclosure of three of the documents would
“stifle discussion” between officials.
But we understand the papers may show a difference of opinion
between the Home Office and Met officers, who are
reviewing the files on Madeleine’s 2007 disappearance in
Praia da Luz.
The Met review was ordered last year after pressure from the Home
Office and David Cameron.
Sources said there were “serious concerns” within the Met that they
were investigating a “foreign” case over which they had
no jurisdiction.
Although the £2million-a-year bill for the Scotland Yard team is
being met by the Home Office, around 27 detectives are
being used.
Labour peer Lord Harris, 58, said: “My reservation was the way in
which the Prime Minister instructed the Metropolitan
police to investigate the McCann case – which is
difficult in that it’s not in the Met’s jurisdiction –
in a different country and everything depends on the
co-operation of the Portuguese authorities.”
Our first request for the documents was made last September but the
Home Office turned us down.
We appealed but again the Home Office decided secrecy was more
important.
Last week, after more than five months’ deliberation, the
Information Commissioner ruled in the Home Office’s
favour but informed us we can now appeal to an
Information Tribunal.
Its response said: “The documents contained information provided
to the UK in confidence by Portuguese officials and
internal discussions between the Home Office and the
Metropolitan Police Service of such information.”
Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley,
Leicestershire, are convinced she is still alive.
Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said the couple remained
optimistic of a breakthrough. |
