McCann report intelligence 'flawed'

9:05pm Thursday 7th August 2008

Secret intelligence claiming Madeleine McCann was snatched to order by a Belgian paedophile ring is flawed, sources said.

Private detectives working for the girl's parents are urgently following up the report from an informant disclosed in Portuguese police files.

The tip-off was recorded by an intelligence officer working for Scotland Yard's CO14 clubs and vice unit. But sources said the information was second or even third-hand and impossible to corroborate with forces in the UK or abroad.

It is believed to have been one of dozens of similar reports passed to the unit in the wake of Madeleine's disappearance.

The informant said a photograph of the child on holiday in Portugal was taken and passed to a "purchaser" in Belgium days before she vanished.

The confidential report read: "Intelligence suggests that a paedophile ring in Belgium made an order for a young girl three days before Madeleine McCann was taken.

"Somebody connected to this group saw Maddie, took a photograph of her and sent it to Belgium. The purchaser agreed that the girl was suitable and Maddie was taken."

Portuguese police pursued the lead with Interpol, which gathered further reports from Belgium, the UK, Finland and Germany. But detective Paulo Rebelo, head of the Madeleine inquiry, ruled that all but the German intelligence showed "lack of credibility".

As a result, the Scotland Yard tip-off was added to the massive file of evidence considered during the hunt for Madeleine. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said everything possible was done to follow up the snippet of information.

Belgium is less than 100 miles from Amsterdam where there have been two possible sightings of the missing youngster.

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