UK police chief hits back at Portuguese detective’s claims
8 November 2009 | Posted by astro
The head of Leicestershire Police has rejected claims from a former Portuguese detective that his officers withheld a witness statement from the Madeleine McCann inquiry.
Chris Eyre, the Temporary Chief Constable, said “I can assure you that at no time were statements withheld and not passed on.”
Goncalo Amaral, the Algarve detective who was removed the inquiry early on, made his claim in a book, which is now banned.
Mr Eyre responded after Freedom of Information requests were submitted by the Sunday Express.
A team of Leicestershire family officers went to Portugal on 5 May 2007 to support the McCanns.
It has also emerged that the Foreign Office has withheld details about the investigation so as not to damage relations between Britain and Portugal.
An individual submitted Freedom of Information requests to get details of negotiations by John Buck, Britain’s former ambassador to Portugal.
The then Information Commissioner Richard Thomas refused in case it caused Portugal to lose trust in Britain’s discretion.
in: Sunday Express, 08.11.2009, paper edition only
http://miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=6847.msg292202#msg292202