Well I didn't know that actually. I could imagine they were relieved that they felt cleared. They may have felt cleared then even if they have now been told they weren't cleared.
I am reading the chapter "Closing the case" and it doesn't read that the McCanns were cheered by that fact. I'll see if the text is on the internet later.
They knew they were not cleared.
“While one or both of them may be innocent, there is no clear evidence that eliminates them from involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.” - Said by the Assistant Chief Constable of Leicestershire, in an official submission of Leicester Police to the Family Division of the High Court.
July 2008
Due to the fact that Kate and Gerry place their daughter's case under the guardianship of the High Court, judge
Justice Hogg ordered, one month ago, for any relevant information to locate the little girl should be made available to the McCanns, including documents from the English police. The
Leicestershire police defied the judge's order and did not comply. Thus, yesterday's session was scheduled.
A deal was reached. Leicestershire police agreed to deliver
81 files out of a total of 11 thousand. Each one of those 81 files contains the name of a witness, his or her contact and a summary of the information that was given. Since yesterday, the McCanns' lawyers and the private detectives at the couple's service can contact those witnesses and again follow leads that were already investigated by the English police.
"The decision from the British justice says a lot about the power and the influence that the McCanns hold", a source from the Polícia Judiciária commented to 24horas. The same source remembers that the secrecy of justice is not at issue "because
the files that were released by the Leicestershire police were not shared with the PJ at the level of judiciary cooperation and are not very relevant".
Mr James Lewis QC, for the Chief Constable of Leicestershire:
We would like you to approve the Order. As the Court heard, any person served with the Order should disclose any information that would help to find Madeleine. We wish to make it clear that the primary aim is to ensure that no stone is left unturned.
There must be a balance between the rights of Plaintiffs to have as much information as possible and the risk of compromising the continuing criminal investigation, damaging future international co-operation, and a potential breach of Portuguese law. The parents get information that emanates from them and there is no breach of Portuguese law.
The Chief Constable asks the Court to make clear that previous Orders don't apply. The case is not closed. The Chief Constable wishes to reiterate anyone with information should come forward to the police. The amount of information is 81 pieces of information out of 11,000 pieces of information on the computer system.