With thanks to Nigel at mccannfiles.com

Daily Star Sunday (appears in paper edition)

Maddie cops hit out at criticism

March 7, 2010

ANGRY Portuguese police have hit back at claims they did not fully investigate alleged sightings of Madeleine McCann.

Last week a 2,000-page file on the youngster's disappearance, collected after the investigation was shelved in 2008, was released by Portuguese authorities.

It revealed reported sightings of the youngster in both France and Holland had been ignored.

Last night critics blasted the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) for refusing to act despite members of the public offering new leads.

But a PJ spokesman said: "All information that comes to the police is analysed."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson is said to be pushing for the case to be re-opened while Maddie's parents Kate and Gerry McCann, both 41, said releasing the file was "incomprehensible" and "upsetting".

The couple added: "Disclosing such information publicly greatly jeopardises the search for Madeleine and puts witnesses and innocent members of the public at risk."

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