Daily TelegraphMadeleine McCann: detectives check alibis for 'prowler' suspects Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann say they are following up "solid" new clues about the identity of a prowler now being treated as the prime suspect in the case.
By John Bingham
Published: 2:04PM BST 18 May 2009
Madeleine McCann aged 3, left, and an age-progressed image of Madeleine aged 6 Photo: AP
Investigators working for Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have been passed possible names for a man seen loitering around the apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in the days before the three-year-old went missing.
They are also investigating possible sightings of her in Portugal which were reported to police but apparently not followed up.
The new information emerged after the couple made a series of international media appearances to issue a fresh appeal for information over the second anniversary of their daughter's disappearance on May 3 2007.
Among the hundreds of calls from around the world, it is understood that "five or six" offered credible new information which is now being followed up by two retired British police detectives who have been conducting a cold case review of the files from the original Portuguese investigation.
Crucially, several calls came from Portugal, despite open resistance from some in Praia da Luz to the family's ongoing campaign to highlight Madeleine's case, because of the damaging effects on the local economy.
The two detectives – Dave Edgar, a former RUC and Cheshire Police officer, and Arthur Cowley, previously of Merseyside Police – disclosed recently that they are focusing on a man with a pockmarked face seen outside the flat five times in four days.
Following a series of tip-offs about his possible identity, they are now understood to be investigating alibis for suspects.
Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns' spokesman, said it would be premature to say that investigators were "close" to finding Madeleine.
But he said: "There has been an extremely encouraging response from people around the world, the investigators are particularly pleased that they have had a number of calls that contained new information."
In a recent appearance on the Oprah Winfrey chat show in America, the McCanns released a new "age progression" image of Madeleine as she would look at six, which has generated scores of possible sightings around the world.
"We have had lots of information coming in following that image but, of course, they all need to be filtered," said Mr McCann.
Appearing on ITV1's This Morning to mark International Missing Children's Day, the couple also spoke about their libel battle with Goncalo Amaral, the former lead detective in the case, over his book which puts forward the theory that Madeleine's parents were involved in her disappearance
"We want to make it clear the reason we're taking that action is because we feel what he has been saying is very much detrimental to the search," said Mr McCann.
His wife added: "I appreciate now that families need to be investigated in these cases, and we've certainly had that, but it is vital that the family is listened to."
