Interesting article from June 17, 2007 newspaper The Daily Mail.
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17/06/07 - World news section [/FONT]
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McCanns 'blamed' for failed search for Madeleine
By TOM KELLY [/FONT]
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The parents of Madeleine McCann were said to be very upset yesterday after detectives appeared to blame them for the investigation's failure. [/FONT]
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Officers said Gerry and Kate McCann had dealt a potentially 'fatal' blow to the hunt for their daughter by accidentally destroying crucial evidence as they frantically searched their holiday apartment in the minutes after the four-year-old was discovered missing. [/FONT]
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In their panic, the couple allowed two dozen people into Madeleine's bedroom to help and they contaminated the scene by touching furniture and opening and closing doors and windows, police said. [/FONT]
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... {R} [/FONT]
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Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa told Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias: "The presence of so many people - especially in the room where the little girl slept with her brother and sister - could have at least complicated the work of the forensic team. [/FONT]
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"At the very worst they would have destroyed all the evidence. [/FONT]
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"This could prove to be fatal for the investigation." [/FONT]
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The comments, which follow sustained criticism of the police investigation to try to find Madeleine, were said to have "dismayed" the McCanns. [/FONT]
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A source close to the family said: "It's insensitive at the very least. Of course the family are going to search the apartment. [/FONT]
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"If your child goes missing, you search under the beds, in the wardrobes, behind the doors, everywhere. [/FONT]
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"It's inevitable that there were people in the bedroom. Even if what the police are saying is true, it's very unhelpful to say it publicly." [/FONT]
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Whole article is at above link.