Madeleine probe in chaos as second top detective threatens to quit

The hunt for Madeleine McCann descended into chaos today after it emerged that a second senior detective on the case wants to quit.

Chief Inspector Tavares Almeida, 48, who interrogated Kate McCann, is said to have put in a request with his superiors for an extended leave of absence.

It comes as Portuguese officials admit it could be a week before the man heading the inquiry Goncalo Amaral, who was sacked earlier this week, is replaced.

Ready: The McCanns are willing to return to Portugal

Mr Almeida was Mr Amaral's deputy and is head of the unit within the Judicial Police in Portimao that has been investigating Madeleine's disappearance on May 3.

He reportedly made the request before his boss was sacked on Tuesday.

A police source told Portuguese newspaper 24 Horas: "As a rule, requests of a short, medium or long duration are granted.

"It is very unlikely to be denied. If that happened it would be the first time in the PJ (Judicial Police)."

Mr Almeida refused to confirm or deny the report, telling the newspaper: "I don't speak to journalists."

He has held the rank of Chief Inspector for six years, previously working at the robbery unit at the national headquarters in Lisbon.

A colleague described him as "an excellent investigator, especially in the area of violent crime," and added: "He's very good, very committed and persistent." Mr Almeida is said to have requested a "licenga sem vencimento" - an extended period of absence usually used for studying or training.

There is no maximum duration but they generally last between a month and a year.

The newspaper said Guilhermino Encarnacao, currently director of the Judicial Police in Faro is the favourite to replace disgraced Mr Amaral as the head of the PJ in Portimao.

Alipio Ribeiro, national director of the Judicial Police, said the appointment is "a priority" and will be made by next week.

But if Mr Almeida also quits, two senior officers on the inquiry will have to be replaced.

The new head will be handpicked by the national leadership of the force in Lisbon.

Sacked: Goncalo Amaral

Kate and Gerry McCann, both 39, have said they would be prepared to fly back to Portugal to meet the new police chief in the hope that it would "reenergise" the hunt for Madeleine.

Friends revealed the McCanns had no immediate plans to return to Praia da Luz but would willingly do so if required.

One said: "They will continue to work fully and openly with whoever is in charge of the case.

"They would encourage to make sure that the post is filled as quickly as possible because quite clearly there is still an urgent need for Madeleine to be found.

"Even if there is an administrative delay caused by a promotion or whatever it takes to fill the post they still see this as a positive step because it will give a new person a chance to look at this case and move things on.

"Kate and Gerry feel the best officer for the job would be the one who finds Madeleine for them.

"They hope that what has happened will reenergise and refocus the inquiry into the core work of searching for Madeleine."

But Portuguese officials said the search will be leaderless until at least next week.

Amaral would be not be replaced until Monday at the earliest, because of a national holiday on Friday. And if no one agrees to take the high profile, difficult and politically sensitive role then the investigation could be delayed even longer.

The McCanns have welcomed the sacking, saying his successor can now "refocus" the police inquiry on finding their daughter.

Mr Amaral was demoted from his role as regional head of the Policia Judiciaria in Portimao and kicked off the Madeleine inquiry after he suggested British police were helping the McCanns to cover up their alleged role in her death.

He said British officers only investigated leads and tip-offs which were "convenient" to Kate and Gerry McCann - comments he later claimed were about the couple's use of private detectives, and not about British police.

But within hours of the outburst on Tuesday he was sacked by fax. It was his 48th birthday.

The one-line missive from the national head of the Policia Judiciaria, Alipio Ribeiro, reportedly read: "Transferred to Faro for convenience of the service."

Mr Ribeiro later insisted the decision to sack Mr Amaral was his alone.

But sources said he was under pressure from the justice minister Alberton Costa to keep good relations with Britain.

A high-ranking officer said: "He (Amaral) was the first victim and he is a scapegoat for the English."

And Carlos Anjos, president of the Judicial Police Inspectors Union, blamed the British media "which not only questioned his honour as a policeman, but also attacked him as a human being"

Legal sources said the detective broke strict scerecy laws by speaking about the investigation.

Part-time GP Kate and consultant Gerry have also been warned they could face jail for talking about the case.

Mr Costa welcomed Mr Amaral's departure, saying: "It is an act of competence of the national director which I approve."

Mr Amaral was grim-faced yesterday as he left a police station in Faro with his immediate superior, Chief Inspector Guilhermino Encarnacao.

They refused to comment as they left the police station at lunch-time and returned almost two hours later.

Mr Amaral's successor will be chosen by the directors of the Policia Judiciaria.

The McCanns hope the replacement will galvanise the flagging investigation into the diappearance of their daughter, who vanished from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz five months ago today.

Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "Let's get back out there. We hope whoever takes over from Mr Amaral will re-energise the search for Madeleine."

He added that the McCanns would continue to cooperate with police and were prepared to go back to Portugal if necessary.

A Portuguese police spokesman said: "The question of who is going to be head of the department in Portimao is still unresolved.

"The national directors will nominate a candidate, and if that person agrees they will be made head of the department.

"We hope the decision-making process will be brief. But Friday is a national holiday in Portugal, so it is most likely to be next week before the decision is taken."

Mr Amaral appeared to shrug off his dismissal, telling the Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias: "A policeman does not limit himself to one case. There is plenty of work still to be done."

But his colleagues said he had been made a scapegoat by the British press, who did not understand how he could take long lunches while on such an important investigation.

Sources close to the McCann family said they believed Mr Amaral was responsible for many of the leaks to Portuguese press about the case.

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Question?

Why would Eileen say such a thing and why?  Is there something in the latest forensics testing that she already knows?

No, I do not believe that she was drugged by her abductor, even if there was time, but I do think she may have been drugged by over the counter medicine.

Any forensics evidence the PJ has is most likely from Madeleine, and from her alive.  They can plant it anywhere they wish, and most likely they will if the corruption is not uncovered soon.

Also, if the McCann's do request my help, I need for them to be 100% truthful about that night...if they can't do this, I'm not really sure I can help them.

If they do wish to speak with me, it needs to be alone, without any news reporters, campaign managers, lawyers, PR firms, police or whoever else might tag along

I will, as with anyone, keep anything private they wish me too.

Like I said, I'm going there regardless if they want me to or not...too many people have put their faith in me to do something.

I may come up with nothing, or even go to jail, but at least I did everything possible I know of.

Speaking of going to jail, someone has told me that people are actually betting on if I get locked up or not...I'll bet $20 I don't.

Oh, my family is doing great and my dad's back home :)

Brian

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Hi Cynthiax...it's 1:51 AM here and I'm just going to bed...my father is at home now and doing much better.

As for the timeline at Tapas, many things about the timeline do not make sense and I do not think the truth is being told...but it needs to be.

Brian

Hey Brian,
 
Here is a picture of John Hill, Operations Manager for Mark Warner holiday resort, Praia da Luz.

http://portugalresident.com/portugalresident/showstory.asp?ID=18680

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Thank You...Brian

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Thanks Maxine and will also post your site in my missing persons main page...you're doing wonderful work and I know of the site.

Brian