GERRY AND KATE McCann have won access to previously secret police files on the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine.
Leicestershire Police agreed to release the files after the couple dropped a High Court bid to force it.
The McCanns’ lawyer, Tim Scott QC, confirmed that the information related to telephone calls made to their solicitors and passed on to Leicestershire Constabulary’s incident room during the early days of the inquiry.
The force’s chief constable has now agreed to provide contact details and a summary of the information provided.
Speaking outside the High Court in London on Monday, the family’s spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, described the 81 pieces of information that the police had agreed to hand over as “potential new leads” that could help in the search for the missing toddler.
He told BBC News: “Kate and Gerry McCann welcome this compromise reached with the police. If we hadn’t gone to court we wouldn’t have these 81 pieces coming in.
“That information now goes to our private investigators, who will work on it, all as a priority. Anyone of those could unlock the information that could lead to Madeleine being found.”
The McCanns had wanted to avoid a legal conflict with the police while at the same time obtaining as much material as possible to help in their continuing search, and therefore said to be content to withdraw their case.
James Lewis QC, for the police, it was “vital” to balance the understandable desire of the McCanns to have as much information as possible against the risks of compromising the continuing criminal investigation, damaging future international co-operation and breaching Portuguese law.
He added that the material to be disclosed consisted of 81 pieces of information out of more than 11,000.
Madeleine’s parents were not at the hearing and Mrs Justice Hogg, presiding, said she had not requested their attendance because “they have suffered enough and I wished to ease their burden”.
She urged anyone with information on the case to come forward: “There is, of course, one person who knows what has happened to Madeleine and where she may be found.
“I ponder about that person – whether that person has a heart and might understand what it must be like for Madeleine to have been taken and secreted from her parents and siblings and those she loved and felt secure with.
“Whether that person has a conscience or any feeling of guilt or remorse or even cares about the hurt that has been caused to an innocent little girl, and whether that person has a faith or belief and what explanation or justification they might give to God.
“I entreat that person, whoever they may be, to show mercy and compassion and come forward now and tell us where Madeleine is to be found. I hope she will be found soon, alive and well.”
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