Gerry McCann ponders work return

The consultant cardiologist at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital has not been back since his daughter vanished from their holiday apartment on 3 May and is currently on unpaid leave.

But he is now talking to bosses about a possible return before the end of this year, said his spokesman, Clarence Mitchell.

It is another difficult decision for the 39-year-old father-of-three, who, with wife Kate, agonised about flying back to the UK without their eldest child.

A fighting fund set up to help the Leicestershire couple and their search for Madeleine has helped meet their living costs.

But Mr McCann, who is still an official suspect in his daughter's disappearance, now appears ready to resume a job that reportedly pays around £75,000 a year.

Mr Mitchell said: "No final decision has been taken on his return.

"It's one area that's under general consideration. It is hoped that he would go back before Christmas, but whether it happens in the next week or next month still has to be decided."

Mr Mitchell said NHS bosses would also have to be satisfied that Mr McCann, 39, is ready to go back.

"Whether it's full time or starting gradually, it's all under consideration," he said.

No-one at Glenfield Hospital was available for comment.

Mrs McCann, who worked as a part-time GP in Melton, has previously said that she was unable to contemplate working again while Madeleine remained missing.

It was reported that police were poised to protect Mr McCann when he does resume work.

No final decision had been made on security measures for what would be a highly publicised return, said Mr Mitchell.

A senior police officer visited the couple at their Rothley home in the past few days, but the meeting focused on community policing, he said.

The McCanns' cul-de-sac - The Crescent - has been under an intense media spotlight since their homecoming last month.

The couple, who were visiting friends this weekend, are set for further meetings with advisors this week. Both strenuously deny that they had anything to do with Madeleine's disappearance.

The Sunday Mirror reported that crucial evidence which could lead police to the little girl's abductor was contaminated by ash from policemen's cigarettes.

The ash was discovered by Portuguese forensic experts among samples from the McCanns' apartment in Praia da Luz taken soon after she vanished.

Responding to the claims, Mr Mitchell said: "We know nothing about that. We would hope that whatever was done at the time was done as efficiently and as effectively as possible."

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