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Dunedin enters Madeleine McCann mystery

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Wed, 03 Mar 2010 5:46p.m.

Madeleine McCann

Madeleine McCann

By Kate Lynch

The hunt for the world's most famous missing child, has suddenly flung Dunedin into the spotlight.

A security camera picture showing a girl who looks like Madeleine McCann, has been released by a Portuguese court.

She is holding a man's hand and leaving what looks like a supermarket, on December 5, 2007 - that's seven months after she went missing.

Within the last hour, Dunedin police have confirmed they did take it seriously, and did alert the Portuguese police.

She bore a striking resemblance to Madeleine and spoke with a British accent

So is it really possible that the image taken in a Dunedin shop is the missing four-year-old with her abductor?

It might appear implausible, but a female security guard at the supermarket was so convinced it was Madeleine she called the Dunedin police.

Tonight the police confirmed in a statement that they:

"Worked closely with the retailer to start an inquiry and obtained security footage of the child.

"[But were] unable to obtain any further information or ongoing lines of inquiry."

So they passed the file on to Interpol in Wellington who sent it to the Portuguese police.

The Portuguese police never replied but this morning the image resurfaced - in a secret file released by a Portuguese court.

It was among hundreds of leads from around the world the Portuguese police had categorised as "not relevant'.

A family spokesperson says the McCanns are incensed.

“Kate and Gerry have made it clear that they were shocked to see the lack of follow up work done by Portuguese police since the investigation was shelved.”

Kate McCann told Oprah Winfrey last year that Madeleine’s bedroom is being kept ready in anticipation for her safe return.

Could it be possible that two years on someone here in New Zealand will provide that vital piece of information?

Dunedin police say the file remains open

3 News
 
The CCTV picture still has been taken down due to a police request 
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Comments

04 Mar 2010 02:34p.m.

anna wrote:

I dissagree with your comment Cyril, i am a mother of a 6 year old girl and a 19 month old boy, i know my kids walk, stance, behaviour and attributes like the back of my hand and wont be able to pick them out of a crowd any time and any where!!!!!! that is a parents job, that is a resonsibility that we take on when being blessed with kids. Surely by now the people in this photo have seen it and will know it is them, if they are innocent why dont the go to the police or 3 news and show themselves. They have nothing to hide if is not Maddy, if that was me i would have no hesitation in coming forward becasue i would want the suspicion to go away for Maddy's parents and the people of Dunedin.

03 Mar 2010 11:59p.m.

cyril wrote:

you would be unlikely to recognise Madeleine after two years as kids of this age change so much. I think even her mother would have trouble picking her out of a crowd now. especially if her hair is cut differantly.

03 Mar 2010 09:53p.m.

May wrote:

I have a niece in Dunedin that looks a hell of a lot like Madeleine McCann right down to the random eyes, the kid in this photo could possibly be her with her father who looks like that man too, (I don't think it is though) but just goes to show in the whole of the world, if every supermarket sent photos in of every straight blond haired small girl, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack. I feel so sorry for her and the loved ones that miss her. My daughter is the same age and I could not even try to think of the pain that those that love her felt when she went missing.

03 Mar 2010 09:34p.m.

Olivia wrote:

I think the Dunedin police should have asked for the public's help at that time to identify the man & child in the security footage...it was world news, so they gotta know the seriousness of the case...its a girl's life here!!! Then at least, the man & girl in the pics can be identified..If no one fronts up, it becomes suspicious & more investigation can be carried out...then we won't have "what if" questions now...Not only are the McCanns gutted, we're gutted that the police had the footage, and didn't ask the public for help..it is now old news...

03 Mar 2010 09:19p.m.

Ryan wrote:

Sarah - I gave up on wearing your comment. Sorry, but learn to punctuate...& spell :)

03 Mar 2010 08:08p.m.

sarah wrote:

IM sick to death of these Portugal PEople helping this guy /woman/group out IM starting to think they are involved in her disappearance or know Way more than they Are letting on . The girl looks a spit of Madeline McCann but So have others So Why Dant they go s Afta them...... I would of id of done Anything to of Found her . Also what the hell is it With these people who Do think that have Saw her or in fact have One don't you try and get her why don't you Try an get her Away From these people who mite be doing things that no dissent person would do to a child . I hope for maddies sake that she's Alive if only With Someone who Could not Connive a child or lost a child at that Age And Really Felt like they needed to Replace that child with a look alike . If She With a Sick pedofile I hope she's not because id hate to think What she has gone trough since the 3rd of may 07 . Please Do the Dissent thing and open your Eyes to the So in your Face Evidence here . We have all let her down As a world of people and a country to find her What would you Want if she Was your child I hate to think what her Family Are going trough . She needs to be found DEad or alive its better than the unknown ...at What Really could of took place and trying to forget What has happened .

03 Mar 2010 08:01p.m.

chris wrote:

Oh I dunno, Keith, there can't be more than half a million kids in NZ who look like that security photo. <g> I never thought I'd agree with a Portuguese policeman but if the New Zealand police had 'no further information' what were the Portuguese cops supposed to do about it?

03 Mar 2010 06:41p.m.

keith wrote:

are you joking that could have been any white
girl under the age of 10