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New Theory About Madeleine McCann's Disappearance Revealed By Former Detective

New Theory About Madeleine McCann's Disappearance Revealed By Former Detective

Mark Williams-Thomas' theory could shed light on what happened that night in 2007.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

It will be 10 years this year since Maddie disappeared from the villa she was staying in with her parents in Portugal and there are still many unanswered questions.

Investigative journalist and former policeman Mark Williams-Thomas is adding his voice to the many theories about what happened on that night on May 3rd, 2007.

Here's what he had to say.

Credit: This Morning/ITV

He's told ITV's This Morning programme: "What we do know is on that morning she went to Kate and Gerry McCann and said 'where were you last night?"

Mark proceeded to tell Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, "I think Maddie was aware they were in the tapas bar in the resort. In order to get to the bar you have to come out of the premises, walk on a public road and go back in again.

"The concern I have, I believe she woke up and went looking for them, she left the apartment and came out - we already know the patio door was insecure."

Madeline McCann
Madeline McCann

Credit: PA Images

The journalist also mentioned how disappointing it was that the conversation about Madeleine has focused more on the legal battle between her parents, Kate and Gerry, and a former Portuguese police officer.

"The sadness of all of this is that the real focus is Maddie and should always be Maddie but the legal process between Goncalo and the McCanns detracts from what is going on which is the on-going police investigation by the Met Police, which is being reviewed in April, and the Portuguese police review."

The McCanns were locked in an eight-year long battle with Goncalo Amaral over a book he wrote, claiming the parents pretended Madeleine went missing to cover up her death.

In 2015, a Lisbon court ordered Amaral to pay Kate and Gerry €500,000 (£424,000) in compensation for the claims made in the book. But an appeals court overturned that conviction last year before reaching Portugal's top court.

Mark Williams-Thomas told ITV that the McCanns were still holding on to hope that Madeleine is still alive.

McCanns appalled by BBC mini-drama

Kate and Gerry were understood to be upset following the premiere of the BBC's new show The Moorside.

Released two weeks ago, the show is based on the kidnapping of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews who "vanished" from The Moorside council estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February 2008.

It was later discovered that the schoolgirl's own mum Karen had collaborated with her boyfriend's uncle to make it all up.

Inspired by the police hunt for McCann nine months previous, Shannon's mother schemed with Michael Donovan to cash-in by faking the kidnapping, so they could claim the reward along with any media interview fees offered to them.

Karen Matthews was eventually arrested, charged and jailed for eight years as an accomplice in her daughter's drugging and kidnapping.

Karen Matthews Madeline McCann
Karen Matthews Madeline McCann

Karen Matthews with the bear. Credit: PA Images

The McCann kidnapping was alluded to at least three times in the opening episode of the mini-series.

A source close to Kate and Gerry said: "The whole Shannon Matthews saga only came about because of Madeleine's disappearance and what the family wrongly thought they could claw through rewards and interviews.

"The BBC have been trailing it for a few weeks. Kate and Gerry think the whole thing is appalling, and in really poor taste and bad timing.

"They may not sit down and watch every minute of these programmes but they are aware of them and references to their family.

"They feel is very insensitive and the show tries to glorify a terrible crime involving a young girl."

Featured Image Credit: ITV