1 July 2008
Goncalo Amaral speaks of pressures in Maddie case
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Goncalo Amaral speaks of pressures in Maddie case
Labels:
Goncalo Amaral,
Gonçalo Amaral
The investigator asked for early retirement PJ
O investigador da PJ pediu a reforma antecipada
The investigator asked for early retirement PJ
30 June 2008
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The investigator asked for early retirement PJ
30 June 2008
Labels:
Goncalo Amaral,
Gonçalo Amaral,
Paulo Rebelo
Maddie top cop faces jail over mum's torture
Maddie top cop faces jail over mum's torture
Emma Wall
21 April 2008
Daily Star
He 'lied to help pals'
A Portuguese police chief who led the hunt for Madeleine McCann could face jail over allegations of the torture of a child murder suspect. Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral will stand trial for perjury after claims he lied to protect brutal officers. (Note: The officers were found not guilty.)
They are said to have abused a mum to make her confess to killing her missing 10-year-old child.
The senior policeman is thought to have made Kate and Gerry McCann, 40 and 39, suspects in their daughter's case. (See: Wikileaks Cable dated 28 September 2007)
Joana Cipriano vanished four years ago from the village of Figueira, a few miles from Praia da Luz where Madeleine disappeared. No body was found but her mum Leonor and her brother Jaoa were convicted of murder and caged for 16 years. She later claimed a confession had been beaten out of her. The indictment against Amaral claims she was hit with a cardboard tube, punched, kicked and forced to kneel on glass ashtrays.
It also says Amaral knew about the beatings but kept quiet. (As the officers were found not guilty of the beatings, there were no beating to "keep quiet" about...)
He faces a up to three years in jail if convicted. Three others have been charged with torture.
Continue Reading...
Emma Wall
21 April 2008
Daily Star
He 'lied to help pals'
A Portuguese police chief who led the hunt for Madeleine McCann could face jail over allegations of the torture of a child murder suspect. Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral will stand trial for perjury after claims he lied to protect brutal officers. (Note: The officers were found not guilty.)
They are said to have abused a mum to make her confess to killing her missing 10-year-old child.
The senior policeman is thought to have made Kate and Gerry McCann, 40 and 39, suspects in their daughter's case. (See: Wikileaks Cable dated 28 September 2007)
Joana Cipriano vanished four years ago from the village of Figueira, a few miles from Praia da Luz where Madeleine disappeared. No body was found but her mum Leonor and her brother Jaoa were convicted of murder and caged for 16 years. She later claimed a confession had been beaten out of her. The indictment against Amaral claims she was hit with a cardboard tube, punched, kicked and forced to kneel on glass ashtrays.
It also says Amaral knew about the beatings but kept quiet. (As the officers were found not guilty of the beatings, there were no beating to "keep quiet" about...)
He faces a up to three years in jail if convicted. Three others have been charged with torture.
Labels:
Cipriano case,
Goncalo Amaral,
Gonçalo Amaral,
Joao Cipriano,
Leonor Cipriano,
Policia Judiciaria,
WikiLeaks
Tale of how Maddie was dumped at sea infuriates McCanns
Police chief's tale of how Maddie was dumped at sea infuriates the McCanns
Vanessa Allen
19 March 2008
Daily Mail
Madeleine McCann's body was dumped at sea, a former Portuguese police chief claims in a novel about the case.
In Paulo Cristovao's fictional account the little girl's disappearance is never solved. But Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesman accused the ex-inspector - who never worked on the case - of trying to profit from the couple's misfortune, saying his claims were 'hurtful and distressing'.
Cristovao's novel, The Star Of Madeleine, follows two fictional police officers as they attempt to unravel the mystery. They end their investigation staring out at the Atlantic Ocean and the case remains unsolved - an outcome the McCanns have described as their worst nightmare. Cristovao has been a constant critic of the McCanns, and previously called for them to be arrested for leaving their children alone in their Algarve holiday apartment on the night Madeleine vanished in May last year. At the novel's launch in Portugal, he made no apology for the anguish the story might cause, saying: 'I am sure Madeleine's parents will not like the book.'
Cristovao stopped short of accusing the couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, saying: 'In their shoes, I'd behave in exactly the same way as they did during the investigation. 'I would defend myself with all the weapons that I could use. The difference in this world is that some have more weapons than others.'
But their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said:
Cristovao said his book was 'pro-Portugal' and it contains thinly veiled criticism of Britain's political involvement in the case. In the novel the police officers face pressure from British diplomats as they try to unravel the mystery.
In reality, Portuguese police have criticised Gordon Brown's decision to raise the investigation in meetings with his Portuguese counterpart, and have hit out at political interference. Cristovao worked for the Policia Judiciaria for several years, on cases including the hunt for missing nine year old Joana Cipriano, who disappeared in 2004, from Figueira, just seven miles from Praia da Luz.
Her body has never been found. Her mother Leonor was later accused and convicted of her murder, but has since claimed that police beat her into making a confession. Cristovao and three others have been accused of torturing her.
The disgraced former head of the Madeleine inquiry, Goncalo Amaral, has denied claims that he covered up the torture. Cristovao, who left the force following the case, has also written about a book about it, called The Star Of Joana. Mrs Cipriano, 36, and her brother Joao were jailed for 16 years for the murder but her lawyer hopes to overturn the conviction at the European Court of Human Rights.
There have been several books published in Portugal about Madeleine, who vanished days before her fourth birthday. The majority have been critical of the McCanns' decision to leave their children alone in their holiday apartment while they dined with friends.
Some have suggested they could have been involved in Madeleine's disappearance. (See: Wikileaks Cable dated 28 September 2007)
Continue Reading...
Vanessa Allen
19 March 2008
Daily Mail
Madeleine McCann's body was dumped at sea, a former Portuguese police chief claims in a novel about the case.
In Paulo Cristovao's fictional account the little girl's disappearance is never solved. But Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesman accused the ex-inspector - who never worked on the case - of trying to profit from the couple's misfortune, saying his claims were 'hurtful and distressing'.
Cristovao's novel, The Star Of Madeleine, follows two fictional police officers as they attempt to unravel the mystery. They end their investigation staring out at the Atlantic Ocean and the case remains unsolved - an outcome the McCanns have described as their worst nightmare. Cristovao has been a constant critic of the McCanns, and previously called for them to be arrested for leaving their children alone in their Algarve holiday apartment on the night Madeleine vanished in May last year. At the novel's launch in Portugal, he made no apology for the anguish the story might cause, saying: 'I am sure Madeleine's parents will not like the book.'
Cristovao stopped short of accusing the couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, saying: 'In their shoes, I'd behave in exactly the same way as they did during the investigation. 'I would defend myself with all the weapons that I could use. The difference in this world is that some have more weapons than others.'
But their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said:
'It is a great pity that people still feel the need to profit out of Madeleine's disappearance. 'That is very distressing for Kate and Gerry. The efforts that people are putting into this kind of profiteering would be better spent helping the investigation to find Madeleine. 'If Mr Cristovao feels he has any information relevant to that search then we would ask him to help with that investigation. Beyond that we won't dignify these so-called books with a comment.'
Cristovao said his book was 'pro-Portugal' and it contains thinly veiled criticism of Britain's political involvement in the case. In the novel the police officers face pressure from British diplomats as they try to unravel the mystery.
In reality, Portuguese police have criticised Gordon Brown's decision to raise the investigation in meetings with his Portuguese counterpart, and have hit out at political interference. Cristovao worked for the Policia Judiciaria for several years, on cases including the hunt for missing nine year old Joana Cipriano, who disappeared in 2004, from Figueira, just seven miles from Praia da Luz.
Her body has never been found. Her mother Leonor was later accused and convicted of her murder, but has since claimed that police beat her into making a confession. Cristovao and three others have been accused of torturing her.
The disgraced former head of the Madeleine inquiry, Goncalo Amaral, has denied claims that he covered up the torture. Cristovao, who left the force following the case, has also written about a book about it, called The Star Of Joana. Mrs Cipriano, 36, and her brother Joao were jailed for 16 years for the murder but her lawyer hopes to overturn the conviction at the European Court of Human Rights.
There have been several books published in Portugal about Madeleine, who vanished days before her fourth birthday. The majority have been critical of the McCanns' decision to leave their children alone in their holiday apartment while they dined with friends.
Some have suggested they could have been involved in Madeleine's disappearance. (See: Wikileaks Cable dated 28 September 2007)
Labels:
Cipriano case,
Clarence Mitchell,
Daily Mail,
DISGRACED,
Goncalo Amaral,
Gonçalo Amaral,
Joao Cipriano,
Leonor Cipriano,
Paulo Pereira Cristóvão,
Policia Judiciaria,
WikiLeaks
Police chief's tale of how Maddie was dumped at sea infuriates the McCanns
Police chief's tale of how Maddie was dumped at sea infuriates the McCanns
Vanessa Allen
19 March 2008
Daily Mail
Madeleine McCann's body was dumped at sea, a former Portuguese police chief claims in a novel about the case.
In Paulo Cristovao's fictional account the little girl's disappearance is never solved.
But Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesman accused the ex-inspector - who never worked on the case - of trying to profit from the couple's misfortune, saying his claims were 'hurtful and distressing'.
Cristovao's novel, The Star Of Madeleine, follows two fictional police officers as they attempt to unravel the mystery.
They end their investigation staring out at the Atlantic Ocean and the case remains unsolved - an outcome the McCanns have described as their worst nightmare.
Cristovao has been a constant critic of the McCanns, and previously called for them to be arrested for leaving their children alone in their Algarve holiday apartment on the night Madeleine vanished in May last year.
At the novel's launch in Portugal, he made no apology for the anguish the story might cause, saying:
In the novel the police officers face pressure from British diplomats as they try to unravel the mystery.
In reality, Portuguese police have criticised Gordon Brown's decision to raise the investigation in meetings with his Portuguese counterpart, and have hit out at political interference.
Cristovao worked for the Policia Judiciaria for several years, on cases including the hunt for missing nine year old Joana Cipriano, who disappeared in 2004, from Figueira, just seven miles from Praia da Luz.
Her body has never been found. Her mother Leonor was later accused and convicted of her murder, but has since claimed that police beat her into making a confession. Cristovao and three others have been accused of torturing her.
The disgraced former head of the Madeleine inquiry, Goncalo Amaral, has denied claims that he covered up the torture.
Cristovao, who left the force following the case, has also written about a book about it, called The Star Of Joana.
Mrs Cipriano, 36, and her brother Joao were jailed for 16 years for the murder but her lawyer hopes to overturn the conviction at the European Court of Human Rights.
There have been several books published in Portugal about Madeleine, who vanished days before her fourth birthday.
The majority have been critical of the McCanns' decision to leave their children alone in their holiday apartment while they dined with friends.
Some have suggested they could have been involved in Madeleine's disappearance.
Continue Reading...
Vanessa Allen
19 March 2008
Daily Mail
Madeleine McCann's body was dumped at sea, a former Portuguese police chief claims in a novel about the case.
In Paulo Cristovao's fictional account the little girl's disappearance is never solved.
But Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesman accused the ex-inspector - who never worked on the case - of trying to profit from the couple's misfortune, saying his claims were 'hurtful and distressing'.
Cristovao's novel, The Star Of Madeleine, follows two fictional police officers as they attempt to unravel the mystery.
They end their investigation staring out at the Atlantic Ocean and the case remains unsolved - an outcome the McCanns have described as their worst nightmare.
Cristovao has been a constant critic of the McCanns, and previously called for them to be arrested for leaving their children alone in their Algarve holiday apartment on the night Madeleine vanished in May last year.
At the novel's launch in Portugal, he made no apology for the anguish the story might cause, saying:
'I am sure Madeleine's parents will not like the book.'Cristovao stopped short of accusing the couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, saying:
'In their shoes, I'd behave in exactly the same way as they did during the investigation.But their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said:
'I would defend myself with all the weapons that I could use. The difference in this world is that some have more weapons than others.'
'It is a great pity that people still feel the need to profit out of Madeleine's disappearance.Cristovao said his book was 'pro-Portugal' and it contains thinly veiled criticism of Britain's political involvement in the case.
'That is very distressing for Kate and Gerry. The efforts that people are putting into this kind of profiteering would be better spent helping the investigation to find Madeleine.
'If Mr Cristovao feels he has any information relevant to that search then we would ask him to help with that investigation. Beyond that we won't dignify these so-called books with a comment.'
In the novel the police officers face pressure from British diplomats as they try to unravel the mystery.
In reality, Portuguese police have criticised Gordon Brown's decision to raise the investigation in meetings with his Portuguese counterpart, and have hit out at political interference.
Cristovao worked for the Policia Judiciaria for several years, on cases including the hunt for missing nine year old Joana Cipriano, who disappeared in 2004, from Figueira, just seven miles from Praia da Luz.
Her body has never been found. Her mother Leonor was later accused and convicted of her murder, but has since claimed that police beat her into making a confession. Cristovao and three others have been accused of torturing her.
The disgraced former head of the Madeleine inquiry, Goncalo Amaral, has denied claims that he covered up the torture.
Cristovao, who left the force following the case, has also written about a book about it, called The Star Of Joana.
Mrs Cipriano, 36, and her brother Joao were jailed for 16 years for the murder but her lawyer hopes to overturn the conviction at the European Court of Human Rights.
There have been several books published in Portugal about Madeleine, who vanished days before her fourth birthday.
The majority have been critical of the McCanns' decision to leave their children alone in their holiday apartment while they dined with friends.
Some have suggested they could have been involved in Madeleine's disappearance.
Labels:
Cipriano case,
Clarence Mitchell,
Daily Mail,
DISGRACED,
Goncalo Amaral,
Gonçalo Amaral,
Joao Cipriano,
Leonor Cipriano,
Marcos Aragao Correia,
Paulo Pereira Cristóvão,
Policia Judiciaria
Murat motor bugged
Murat motor bugged
Victoria Ward
17 March 2008
Mirror
Correia originally claimed underworld criminals were source of his information re: Madeleine.
Clarence Mitchell originally welcomed Correia's tip. Quote: "The lawyer concerned has acted appropriately by making contact with the authorities and our investigators and clearly the matter is now in their hands."]
FULL TEXT:
Continue Reading...
Victoria Ward
17 March 2008
Mirror
 |
| Marcos Aragão Correia |
Marcos Aragão Correia
- Marcos Correia
- dragged a reservoir looking for Madeleine because he had dreamed she was dumped there
- his divers found a bag of animal bones which he then claimed could be a child's fingers
- Clarence Mitchell
"Wild assumptions do not help the investigation."
Correia originally claimed underworld criminals were source of his information re: Madeleine.
Clarence Mitchell originally welcomed Correia's tip. Quote: "The lawyer concerned has acted appropriately by making contact with the authorities and our investigators and clearly the matter is now in their hands."]
FULL TEXT:
Labels:
Clarence Mitchell,
Marcos Aragao Correia,
Metodo3,
Mirror,
Policia Judiciaria,
underworld tip-off
Marcos Correia based evidence on a DREAM
Maddy kidnap suspect: they bugged my car
Victoria Ward
17 March 2008
Scottish Daily Record
Continue Reading...
Victoria Ward
17 March 2008
Scottish Daily Record
|
| Marcos Aragão Correia |
EXCERPTS RE: Marcos Correia
- Marcos Correia
- exposed as a fantasist
- Correia told police he had based his evidence on a "dream"
- divers recovered animal bones and claimed they could be Madeleine's fingers
- Clarence Mitchell
"We have never asked Mr Correia to conduct any searches and have good evidence to suggest his leads are not credible.
"The suggestion that the bones could have been a child's is entirely scaremongering and very hurtful to Gerry and Kate.
"Wild assumptions do not help the investigation. We will continue to work on the basis that Madeleine is alive."
Labels:
Clarence Mitchell,
Daily Record,
Marcos Aragao Correia,
Metodo3,
Policia Judiciaria
PJ dismisses Marcos Aragão Correia
PJ dismisses lawyer who searches for Maddie
14 March 2008
Translation by "Astro" on Joana Morais Blog
Source: Jornal de Noticías
Marisa Rodrigues
Marcos Aragão Correia asks for 5 thousand euros, and in return, he promises to publicise the name of the company to all the Portuguese and foreign media that cover the searches.
The money allowed the lawyer to pay the diving team that had already been at the dam in January. Operations had been suspended after only four days, for lack of funding.
In the email that he sends to companies, the lawyer presents himself as "the son of one of the major personalities of insular and national culture" ["son of one of the great figures of island culture and national"] and guarantees he has "sponsored the defense of several prominent cases", although he does not name a single example.
He explains that on May 6 (three days after Madeleine disappeared) he received leads that the child had been abducted, raped and murdered, and her body had been thrown into a lake in the Algarve, which he himself concluded, "after thorough investigations" to be the Arade reservoir.
JN knows that he contacted the police.
Correia considers that they indicate the "presence of the body". He delivered them to the Spanish detective agency Método 3, which was hired by the McCann couple.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE IN PORTUGUESE:
Continue Reading...
14 March 2008
Translation by "Astro" on Joana Morais Blog
Source: Jornal de Noticías
Marisa Rodrigues
"If we find the body of little Madeleine, we will become part of the history of humankind".This is one of the sentences that a lawyer from Madeira uses to conquer ("win"/"acquire") sponsors for the private searches that he is carrying out in the Arade dam, in Silves.
Marcos Aragão Correia asks for 5 thousand euros, and in return, he promises to publicise the name of the company to all the Portuguese and foreign media that cover the searches.
"The exclusive sponsor benefits from huge, unique publicity", the lawyer guarantees, defending that this is "a wonderful opportunity to put our christianity into action, by helping these parents and this little girl".One of the firms that were contacted was a local newspaper in Portimão, which didn't even reply to the email. The invitation was finally accepted by a construction firm.
The money allowed the lawyer to pay the diving team that had already been at the dam in January. Operations had been suspended after only four days, for lack of funding.
In the email that he sends to companies, the lawyer presents himself as "the son of one of the major personalities of insular and national culture" ["son of one of the great figures of island culture and national"] and guarantees he has "sponsored the defense of several prominent cases", although he does not name a single example.
He explains that on May 6 (three days after Madeleine disappeared) he received leads that the child had been abducted, raped and murdered, and her body had been thrown into a lake in the Algarve, which he himself concluded, "after thorough investigations" to be the Arade reservoir.
JN knows that he contacted the police.
"What he said was very vague and he never revealed his source, although we insisted on it several times. It was later discovered that his source was a medium, meaning it was not minimally credible", said a source that is connected to the investigation.During the searches, ropes, a sock and a rock were found.
Correia considers that they indicate the "presence of the body". He delivered them to the Spanish detective agency Método 3, which was hired by the McCann couple.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE IN PORTUGUESE:
Labels:
Cipriano case,
Marcos Aragao Correia,
Metodo3,
Policia Judiciaria
Who is Marcos Teixeira Aragão Correia?
Who is Marcos Teixeira Aragão Correia?
14 March 2008
Joana Morais Blog
Marcos Teixeira Aragão Correia, a lawyer and a PND founding member (New Democracy Party, a far right party allegedly with connections to French Far Right an extreme right political party, lead by the racist Jean-Marie Le Pen – Nova Democracia – has recently been accused of having accepted the adhesion of racist and nazi type nationalists) , says that criminals from underworld contacted him on 6th May and that gave him details about Madeleine's rape and murder.
He further claims that he had given this information to police who ignored it. In the first private search at Barragem do Arade, an isolated man-made lake, Marcos Aragao Correia funded the £1,200-a-day reservoir search himself .
This lawyer has no record, in Portugal, as a Human Rights lawyer. He is not known in relation with any high profile case where Human Rights were at stake.
This is the same lawyer who in November 2007 failed to prosecute* the Correios de Portugal (CTT) because these have not delivered a registered letter to the McCanns. ( Link to the letter sent to the Judicial Court of Portimão- Word file)
The letter, according to the lawyer, provided clues "that are of high credibility" and that could help in the investigation of the disappearance of Maddie.
Those elements were referred to the PJ (Judiciary Police) of Portimão by researchers from Funchal, but had no credibility.
Continue Reading...
14 March 2008
Joana Morais Blog
Marcos Teixeira Aragão Correia, a lawyer and a PND founding member (New Democracy Party, a far right party allegedly with connections to French Far Right an extreme right political party, lead by the racist Jean-Marie Le Pen – Nova Democracia – has recently been accused of having accepted the adhesion of racist and nazi type nationalists) , says that criminals from underworld contacted him on 6th May and that gave him details about Madeleine's rape and murder.
He further claims that he had given this information to police who ignored it. In the first private search at Barragem do Arade, an isolated man-made lake, Marcos Aragao Correia funded the £1,200-a-day reservoir search himself .
This lawyer has no record, in Portugal, as a Human Rights lawyer. He is not known in relation with any high profile case where Human Rights were at stake.
This is the same lawyer who in November 2007 failed to prosecute* the Correios de Portugal (CTT) because these have not delivered a registered letter to the McCanns. ( Link to the letter sent to the Judicial Court of Portimão- Word file)
The letter, according to the lawyer, provided clues "that are of high credibility" and that could help in the investigation of the disappearance of Maddie.
Those elements were referred to the PJ (Judiciary Police) of Portimão by researchers from Funchal, but had no credibility.
Labels:
Marcos Aragao Correia,
Metodo3,
Policia Judiciaria,
underworld tip-off
Divers restart search for Madeleine in Arade dam
Divers restart search for Madeleine in Arade dam
13 March 2008
Algarve Resident
Cecília Pires
Anything found as a result of the searches being carried out by divers at the Arade dam near Silves will be given to Método 3, the Spanish private investigating company hired by the McCann family to help find Madeleine.
The divers' search of the waters at the Arade Dam started on Monday in a private operation commissioned by the Madeira-based lawyer Marcos Aragão Correia and sponsored by a Portimão-based company named SPEC.
According to Marcos Aragão Correia,"as the Portuguese police have not shown interest in the operation, we will give all the objects we find to Metodo 3 so that they can be analysed". Any forensic tests needed will be done in Spain and after that "if anything is found, we will give the results to the Polícia Judiciária", he told The Resident.
*Child's sock*
By the time The Resident went to press on Wednesday, the diving teams were still focusing their searches near the dam's level control tower. "The site is crucial on this search as it is where all the findings have happened", Marcos Aragão Correia said.
On Monday, the teams found a child's sock which is "to be analysed to see if any DNA of Madeleine is found", the lawyer said, adding that "we are certain that this is a sock of a child aged between five and six and its material is not common in Portugal".
Divers also found four ropes, one of them about five metres long. This will also be sent for analysis.
In response to a report printed in the British press, saying that Gerry and Kate McCann were not happy with this private operation, Marcos Aragão Correia told The Resident that "a contact was made with Metodo 3 to clarify that information and we can say it is false".
He also said that "the family is not sponsoring the diving because they believe Madeleine is alive, but we are receiving support from Metodo 3, which means they are aware of everything".
*Poor visibility*
The search in the Arade Dam is being directed by Martin Falkous, who has five divers from Dive Time, based in Lagos, plus two from the Portimão Bombeiros who have joined the operation in their own time.
Visibility in the water is very poor and the divers are using touch and feel in their search. With mud being between one and two metres deep at the bottom of the water, the colour changed from a dark green to light brown within seconds of the divers beginning the search.
This operation follows a first phase of searches, held in late January and February, when divers found an entrance covered by a metal grate and could not search inside the water tubes leading to the tower.
The search is expected to continue until today (Friday) afternoon and Marcos Aragão Correia has said that if Madeleine McCann's body is found in the Arade dam, he will reveal all the information related to the tip-off that has led to the search. [Note: Although Madeleine's body has never been found, Correia later disclosed that the "tip off" was actually a psychic vision he had experienced rather than information from an underworld criminal.]
Continue Reading...
13 March 2008
Algarve Resident
Cecília Pires
Anything found as a result of the searches being carried out by divers at the Arade dam near Silves will be given to Método 3, the Spanish private investigating company hired by the McCann family to help find Madeleine.
The divers' search of the waters at the Arade Dam started on Monday in a private operation commissioned by the Madeira-based lawyer Marcos Aragão Correia and sponsored by a Portimão-based company named SPEC.
According to Marcos Aragão Correia,"as the Portuguese police have not shown interest in the operation, we will give all the objects we find to Metodo 3 so that they can be analysed". Any forensic tests needed will be done in Spain and after that "if anything is found, we will give the results to the Polícia Judiciária", he told The Resident.
*Child's sock*
By the time The Resident went to press on Wednesday, the diving teams were still focusing their searches near the dam's level control tower. "The site is crucial on this search as it is where all the findings have happened", Marcos Aragão Correia said.
On Monday, the teams found a child's sock which is "to be analysed to see if any DNA of Madeleine is found", the lawyer said, adding that "we are certain that this is a sock of a child aged between five and six and its material is not common in Portugal".
Divers also found four ropes, one of them about five metres long. This will also be sent for analysis.
In response to a report printed in the British press, saying that Gerry and Kate McCann were not happy with this private operation, Marcos Aragão Correia told The Resident that "a contact was made with Metodo 3 to clarify that information and we can say it is false".
He also said that "the family is not sponsoring the diving because they believe Madeleine is alive, but we are receiving support from Metodo 3, which means they are aware of everything".
*Poor visibility*
The search in the Arade Dam is being directed by Martin Falkous, who has five divers from Dive Time, based in Lagos, plus two from the Portimão Bombeiros who have joined the operation in their own time.
Visibility in the water is very poor and the divers are using touch and feel in their search. With mud being between one and two metres deep at the bottom of the water, the colour changed from a dark green to light brown within seconds of the divers beginning the search.
This operation follows a first phase of searches, held in late January and February, when divers found an entrance covered by a metal grate and could not search inside the water tubes leading to the tower.
The search is expected to continue until today (Friday) afternoon and Marcos Aragão Correia has said that if Madeleine McCann's body is found in the Arade dam, he will reveal all the information related to the tip-off that has led to the search. [Note: Although Madeleine's body has never been found, Correia later disclosed that the "tip off" was actually a psychic vision he had experienced rather than information from an underworld criminal.]
Labels:
Goncalo Amaral,
Gonçalo Amaral,
Marcos Aragao Correia,
Metodo3,
Policia Judiciaria,
underworld tip-off
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