McCann detective removed from case
Updated on 03 October 2007
The Portuguese detective who had been leading the investigation into the Madeleine McCann case has been sacked from his job.
The head of Portugal's judicial police removed Goncalo Amaral after he lashed out at British police of being influenced by Kate and Gerry McCann over which leads they decided to follow up.
'The national director (of the judicial police) terminated the services of the coordinator of the judicial police in Portimao'- police spokesman
A police spokesman said in a statement:
"The national director (of the judicial police) terminated the services of the coordinator of the judicial police in Portimao."
Amaral will lose his current post with the judicial police but he will not be dismissed from the force. No replacement has been named so far.
'British police has only been working on what the McCanns want and what suits them'Goncalo Amaral, Portuguese detective
Amaral was quoted on Tuesday in a Portuguese newspaper as saying British police had forgotten that Gerry and Kate McCann remain suspects in their daughter's disappearance.
He is reported to tell the daily Diario de Noticias that:
"British police has only been working on what the McCanns want and what suits them.
"They (British police) have investigated leads and information created and worked out by the McCanns, forgetting that the couple are suspects in the death of their daughter, Madeleine."
They were named official suspects by the Portugese police on 7 Sep, two days later the McCanns returned to England. There is one other formal suspect Robert Murat.
Portuguese police have not taken the case further since the McCanns left and have said they have insufficient evidence to charge the couple.
Portuguese police have been criticised in Britain for their perceived slow initial response to the girl's disappearance.
