Madeleine McCann’s parents are completely innocent and must now be given the “peace and closure” they deserve, an officer involved in the search for the three-year-old 17 years ago has said.
Jim Gamble, a former senior child protection officer and an integral figure in the early stages of the investigation into the youngster’s disappearance makes his remarks during a new podcast looking at the case uploaded today.
Mr Gamble previously reiterated his belief that convicted paedophile Christian Brueckner could be charged in relation to the case early next year.
Madeleine, from Leicester, vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. Despite enormous publicity and multiple appeals by parents Gerry and Kate, her whereabouts have never been established.
Mr Gamble said: "I just want to use this opportunity again to say that I think, you know, the parents of Madeleine McCann are not involved in her disappearance."
Persistent malicious speculation and unfounded theories continue to surround the case, which Mr Gamble said had taken an enormous emotional toll on the ordeal on the McCann family.
He said: "Well, I think they've coped because they've had to. They have two other children. There's not an option to say, I'm not going to cope."
Mr Gamble also acknowledged that the initial investigation phase had covered all possibilities, including parental involvement.
However, he emphasised that as it progressed, he rapidly concluded that there was no evidence to support such a theory.
He continued: "I had looked at Gerry in the first instance and thought, well, you know, we need to look at the dad as the suspect. Absolutely.
"But as time went on I also at one stage saw him with his much younger children then, and you could see in the rapport between them, there wasn't a moment's hesitation.”
The former head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) head further demanded an end to the baseless accusations and online harassment which have dogged the McCanns for years.
Instead, he urged the public to focus on the facts and support the ongoing investigation, adding: "It's time to move on from these destructive theories and focus on finding the truth.
"The McCanns deserve peace and closure.”
In last week's episode, Mr Gamble pinpointed Brueckner as the outstanding suspect in the case.
He said: "I would anticipate that we will see charges being brought in April or May, if not before."
Listen to the podcast here
