The first phase of procedure in Portugal is the inquiry. The norm is that the PP has 8 months for this. The McCann case was 15 months quite why that should have been is not apparent but is covered by Article 276 of the CPP.
At the end of the allocated period the PP must either charge someone under the provisions of Art 276 or file/close/archive the inquiry under the provisions of Art 277 of the CPP. Article 277 has two subsections 277/1 and 277/2.
There are three reasons for filing under 277/1 and one reason under 277/2.
277/1 reasons for filing:
1. The crime has not been verified.
2. The procedure is legally inadmissible.
3. The defendant has not committed the crime under investigation.
277/2 reason for filing:
1. The PP was unable to collect sufficient signs of the verification of the crime or its agents.
That all seems straightforward to me, including in the light of events, but I’ll leave posters to weave of it what they wish and bung this in just to keep the pot boiling, to mis metaphors
:
http://www.ecba.org/extdocserv/projects/JusticeForum/Portugal180309.pdf