The McCann case has a new prosecutor in Portugal who is determined to help solve the mystery of Madeleine’s disappearance from a Praia da Luz holiday apartment in 2007.
Ines Sequeira is “utterly determined” to solve the case and expects Metropolitan Police officers to return to the resort to “re-interview” three suspects in an effort to shed some light on the girl’s disappearance.
British detectives are said to be pleased at Sequeira’s appointment, hoping that it will reinvigorate the investigation. An un-named source said, “Ms Sequeira is one of the sharpest and most ambitious prosecutors in Portugal. She is utterly determined to get a result on the Madeleine inquiry.”
The Met already has sent a fifth letter to the Portuguese police authorities which requests further access to the continuing investigation which so far has homed in on seven suspects.
British Prime Minister David Cameron called in Scotland Yard in 2011 and the bill for its time to date, payable by the Home Office, has surpassed £7 million.
Following a Freedom of Information request, today’s Daily Mirror notes that the Met also has received special grant payments of £1.9 million in 2011/2012, £2.8 million in 2012/2013 and £2.6 million in 2013/2014.
The bill for 2014/2015 is expected to be “broadly in line with previous years” which will take the total to over £10 million.
Whether there have been any payments to the Portuguese police authorities remains unknown with the Met declining to comment. Kate and Gerry McCann have been assured the search will continue into the “foreseeable future.”
A spokesman for the family said that the McCanns remain extremely grateful for the work carried out by officers in the Operation Grange team as they continue to search for their daughter.
