So Gilet was wrong after all...now that's funny.
This now brings me back to my original question of two days ago when I asked if anyone knew if the covered walkway can be used to gain access to the steps which go up to the Mini Club. I will repost the photo which I took down earlier when Gilet wrongly inferred that the entrance to the childrens club was through the Main Reception on Rua Direita.
I have also checked the footpath distances as requested by Sadie this morning and I can confirm that the Tapas Bar is 71 metres away from the patio belonging to apartment 5a and the Mini Club is 250 metres away by shortest route known to us at this point in time.
It was Matthew Oldfield who was asked to go to the main reception to report Madeleine missing
Matthew Oldfield had never been to the Mini Club above the 24 hour reception, and would therefore have never come across the 'short cut' ( he never needed to )
We should, logically, assume therefore, that he took the normal route ( the long way round ) as the McCanns themselves had done for several days when transfering Madeleine to and from the Mini Club ( until they became aware of the shorter route )