Redwood's statements with regard to the McCann's and their friend's status have always been in response to a direct question from a journalist. What would you expect him to say even if there was suspicions with regard to them ?
IMO You are suggesting that Andy Redwood panicked and made something up on the spur of the moment. That is preposterous imo.
As the lead investigator he is the one person who would know without doubt the status of the McCanns and the rest of the group which he and his team had been able to establish as a result of their investigations. No way would he have made such a clear and unambiguous statement to the public unless SY were completely satisfied that the McCanns and their friends had emphatically been ruled out as suspects or even persons of interest.
That is not the only statement Andy Redwood has made which clearly indicates that SY have ruled them out.
Anyone who still thinks SY are conducting some convoluted ginormous double bluff which involves massive and continual lying not only to the McCanns but to the UK General Public (and the rest of the world) are deluding themselves IMO. Their credibility as a professional police force would be destroyed for ever.
This is not a soap opera.