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Detectives dismiss Madeleine link-up
POLICE in Portugal appear unmoved by rep-orts linking a Blackpool-born paedophile with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Authorities say nothing which has emerged in recent days justifies reopening their investigation into the disappearance of the British girl who vanished from an Algarve holiday apartment in May 2007.
This comes after it was revealed former Blackpool soldier Raymond Hewlett had been identified as a "person of interest" by the McCann family's private investigators.
Pouring water on the speculation, the Portuguese authorities said there had been no "concrete and credible facts" to justify reopening the case.
The announcement came after Hewlett, who was brought up in Hawes Side Lane, Marton, told reporters he would speak to the investigators in a bid to clear his name.
It is understood Hewlett had been living about an hour from Praia de Luz and the holiday apartment from where Madeleine disappeared.
Speaking from the German hospital where he is being treated for throat cancer, Hewlett insisted he had nothing to do with the girl's disappearance.
The father-of-six then confirmed he would now talk with the search team who are looking to rule him out of their inquiry.
He declared: "I've done nothing wrong."
Although the Portuguese police are no longer actively investigating the case, the McCanns, of Rothley, Leicestershire, are conducting a private investigation.
In a brief written statement, issued to the BBC, the office of Portugal's attorney general said: "The case will be reopened if and when concrete and credible facts exist that justify it, which until now has not yet happened."
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for parents Gerry and Kate McCann, has said the interest in Raymond Hewlett is just "one line of inquiry" in the private investigation.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed they are seeking Hewlett in connection with an indecent assault in 1975.
Detectives hunting for Madeleine McCann believe the Algarve is awash with child molesters.
They have allegedly discovered there have been seven sexual assaults involving the children of tourists in the region in the last four years.
The detectives, who are working for Madeleine's parents are convinced the answer to her disappearance lies within 500 yards of the holiday apartment where she vanished.
It is thought they are focusing on four or five paedophiles living in the Alg-arve. All but one is British.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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