‘Critical Witness’ Holds Key To Madeleine McCann’s Disappearance, Police Say

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Police officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for a ‘critical witness’ who could help them crack the case.

Operation Grange detectives have been give a further cash injection of £154,000 to track down an Eastern European woman who is believed to have some clues as to the decade-long mystery of the toddler’s disappearance.

This witness is believed to have lived close to the Praia da Luz holiday flat on the Algarve where Madeleine was last seen. However, she is said to have later left Portugal after the death of her husband.

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A source made the following comment to The Sun:

She may have seen or heard something which to her may seem insignificant but to us could prove vital.

If she recognises herself she should contact police. She has nothing to fear. This is just to eliminate her from enquiries.

Another source explained how the witness was a ‘critical line of enquiry’.

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Launched in May 2011, Scotland Yard’s Operation Grange is an ongoing investigative review into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The review was launched after the original Portuguese investigation received heavy criticism from British Authorities.

Now that an additional £154,000 has been added to the £12 million review, this could point to the importance police are placing on this mysterious, unnamed witness.

Could she hold the answers detectives have been waiting for?

Julia Banim

It has been previously suggested police have a theory regarding Madeleine’s disappearance, however they haven’t released this information to the public because it could implicate either an individual or multiple individuals.

Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have maintained hope over the years, stating there is ‘absolutely nothing’ to suggest the little girl has come to any harm.

A spokesperson for the McCann family recently made the following statement on Kate and Gerry’s behalf, expressing their gratitude to detectives investigating the case:

They are very encouraged there remains work to be done that requires them seeking an extra budget.

They are grateful to all those officers who are still working on the case and are actively looking for Madeleine.

They appreciate everything the police have done and are doing to get a resolution after all this time.

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However, Scotland Yard has received some criticism from the general public regarding the highly funded Operation Grange.

Some people believe the Madeleine McCann investigation continues to take precedence over the cases of other missing and vulnerable children, whose stories remain under-discussed and under-investigated.

One person tweeted, ‘It’s terribly sad what happened to Madeleine McCann but millions of other children have gone missing and had no funding’.

Another said, ‘I can’t believe the Madeleine McCann search is yet again being funded more money. Why? What about all the other missing children/people?’

Scotland Yard has previously stated the current Operation Grange team will not be reduced as ‘the inquiry has not reached a conclusion’.

The investigation continues.

Julia Banim

Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.