The Smiths have long since recanted of the view that the man they saw was Gerry.
Indeed Ferryman - and I don't think Mrs Smith would have any sympathy for the McCanns - let alone be heartbroken for them -if she thought they had anything to do with their daughter's disappearance.
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This weekend, Mr Smith's wife Mary told the Mail on Sunday her husband had no regrets about coming forward.
He [Martin] doesn't want to talk, said Mrs Smith. He said what he had to say. I was with him [that night]. We saw a man carrying a child and that's all we know. We told them all that and that's it.
''The man he saw had the same stature as Gerry McCann. We felt we had to help. We're happy we did. We reported exactly what we saw.
"We only did what we thought was right for a missing girl and our hearts are breaking for her parents, as it would be if it were one of ours.
''I feel very much for them [the McCanns]. I have six grandchildren of my own and six children of my own.
"The poor McCann family must be heartbroken.''
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Quote from the Sunday TimesThere was also an uncomfortable complication with Smith’s account. He had originally told the police that he had “recognised something” about the way Gerry McCann carried one of his children which reminded him of the man he had seen in Praia da Luz.
Smith has since stressed that he does not believe the man he saw was Gerry, and Scotland Yard do not consider this a possibility. Last week the McCanns were told officially by the Portuguese authorities that they are not suspects.
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