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PAULO REBELO |
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CARLOS ANJOS |
The
parents of Madeleine McCann are
considering legal action against
"hurtful" claims that they gave their
four-year-old daughter - and her younger
brother and sister - sedatives on the
night she disappeared.
Gerry and
Kate McCann's lawyers are studying
speculation in the Portuguese press that
tests on evidence carried out in the UK
suggest their elder daughter and twins
Sean and Amelie were given the drugs on
May 3.
The
McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell
said: "Contrary to renewed speculation
in the Portuguese press, Gerry and Kate
McCann wish to make it categorically
clear that they have never, ever used
sedatives on their children. To suggest
otherwise is as outrageous as it is
hurtful."
He
continued: "Lawyers for the McCanns will
be monitoring British coverage of the
latest Portuguese claims very closely
and will take action if it's felt
necessary."
According
to Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas, a
Policia Judiciaria (PJ) source said the
conclusion came from preliminary results
from tests conducted at the Forensic
Science Service laboratory in Birmingham
last month. The Forensic Science Service
would not comment on the reports.
Spokeswoman Laura Mackin said: "We don't
comment on any tests from the lab. The
inquiry is ongoing and we just can't
comment. We are just working closely
with the police."
The
speculation came as it emerged that the
team of detectives investigating
Madeleine's disappearance is now down to
six from the 100 police assigned to the
case when she first went missing.
The team
now comprises five detectives and a
chief inspector, said Carlos Anjos,
president of the Association of Criminal
Investigation Staff. The resizing was
"normal", he said, in investigations
where the missing person was not found
quickly.
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Paulo
Rebelo, a senior criminal investigation
co-ordinator at national police
headquarters in Lisbon, will now lead
the inquiry. Mr Rebelo was expected to
move to southern Portugal, where
Madeleine vanished, a Portuguese police
spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
The
detective, who will start work later
this week, has investigated several
high-profile cases including claims of a
child sex ring at a state-run children's
home.
