'Drunk driver' - latest Madeleine McCann theory dismissed by parents

Kate and Gerry McCann have rejected the latest theory that Madeleine wandering out of the holiday apartment looking for them, was hit by a vehicle and hr body taken away and later dumped.

The latest theory doing the rounds is that the three-year-old left the apartment in Praia da Luz, of her own accord, before she disappeared but Kate and Gerry McCann insist that their daughter was kidnapped by someone while they were on holiday in May 2007.

A family source said, 'Kate and Gerry have always maintained that their daughter was abducted and simply didn't get up and wander off to her fate. There were heavy shutters which would have been impossible for a small child to open.'

UK detectives have told the McCanns that they are pursuing two new leads and are looking into the possibility Maddie could have left the family villa, where she and her younger twin siblings had been left sleeping alone.

A spokesman for Portugal's Attorney General's Office refused to comment, but a source said, "The heads of the two police investigations are corresponding with each other directly and have combined their efforts without resorting to rogatory letters like before.

'A meeting took place recently at the HQ of the General Attorney's Office in Portugal, which was attended by the prosecutor from Portimao who is in charge of the Portuguese inquiry.

'One of the lines of investigation that continues to be pursued is that the child could have walked out of the holiday flat herself.'

Another insider added, 'Despite the fact there are two investigations and two different teams, the relationship between both is very healthy and well-informed and benefits from shared intelligence.'

Hinting both forces may have gone cold on the idea the youngster had been the victim of a botched burglary or a paedophile who had forced entry to snatch her from the apartment, the insider said, 'The theory that Madeleine left the flat of her own accord to go looking for her parents is not something that hasn't been discussed before.

The theory Madeline may have lost her way in the dark after she went looking for her parents was an early hypotheses. It also has been suggested a panicking drink-driver might have run her over and sped off with her body before hiding it in the countryside.

The Home Office announced last week that it would grant an extra £150,000 to Operation Grange, which has cost the taxpayer £11.75million.

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