Madeleine police investigation shelved

Kate and Gerry McCann were formally cleared of involvement in their daughter's disappearance after having their status as "arguidos", or formal suspects, lifted. (Reuters)

The Madeleine McCann investigation has been shelved by the Portuguese authorities today after they found no evidence that the three suspects committed any crimes.

The young girl's parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were formally cleared of involvement in their daughter's disappearance after having their status as "arguidos", or formal suspects, lifted.

The investigation can be re-opened if new evidence comes to light, the office of Portugal's attorney-general, Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro, said in a statement.

The third suspect in the case, Algarve property consultant Robert Murat, also had his arguido status lifted.

McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "Kate and Gerry have now been informed of the attorney-general's statement from Portugal.

"It's far too early to give their immediate reaction yet, but they are, of course, liaising closely with their lawyers in Portugal and Britain.

"Once they have digested the content of the attorney-general's statement and any implications, they will give a reaction a little later this evening."

He added, of the removal of their arguido status: "I know they will welcome this news but the whole thing has been a distraction since September.

"The main thing now is to get everything back to finding Madeleine. All of this has damaged their good reputations and they will have to assess where they go from here.

"The only thing they care about is finding Madeleine. We hope that the Portuguese authorities will continue to cooperate with their private investigation."

Detectives handed over their lengthy final report at the start of this month for prosecutors to consider whether to bring charges, request further inquiries or close the case.

Now the case has been shelved, the McCanns want their own private investigators to be given access to the police files so they can continue the search for their daughter.

Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz as her parents dined in a tapas restaurant with friends nearby.

Despite a huge police investigation and massive coverage in the Portuguese and British media, she has not been found.

"They should never have been arguidos. The fact that they have emerged from this without being charged proves that."