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Investigation into missing Madeleine McCann will continue after Home Office grants Met Police extra funds

Ellen Manning

The investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance will continue after detectives were given more funding for the search.

The Home Office has confirmed that an application from the Metropolitan Police for more money to fund Operation Grange – the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine in 2007 – will be granted.

A spokesman said: “The Government remains committed to the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

“We have briefed the MPS that its application for Special Grant funding for Operation Grange will be granted.”

<em>Investigation – detectives are continuing to look into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Praia da Luz, southern Portugal, in 2007 (Picture: AP)</em>
Investigation – detectives are continuing to look into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Praia da Luz, southern Portugal, in 2007 (Picture: AP)

According to the Daily Mail, the latest round of funding could be as much as £150,000.

Government funding for the investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance has been agreed every six months, with £154,000 granted in October last year set to last until the end of March.

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Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, told the Mail that Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry McCann were “incredibly grateful” to the Home Office for granting the money request.

He said: “They are very encouraged that the Met Police still believe there is work left to be done and they are incredibly grateful to the Home Office for providing an extra budget for the investigation.”

<em>Grateful – the McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell said Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry were grateful to the Home Office for granting the request for extra funds (Picture: PA)</em>
Grateful – the McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell said Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry were grateful to the Home Office for granting the request for extra funds (Picture: PA)

More than £11 million has been spent so far on the investigation to find Madeleine, who went missing from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007, aged three.

Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have vowed never to give up hope of finding their daughter.

In 2011 the Met Police launched its own investigation into what had happened to the Maddie.

Last month, it emerged that the McCanns have a £750,000 fund to pay for a private search for their daughter if the police hunt is finally axed.

The money is in the Find Madeleine Fund, which is made up of donations and profits from mum Kate’s bestselling book on the disappearance.

However, a sizeable sum – almost £65,000 – has been put aside by the McCanns to pay for a failed libel battle against a Portuguese detective who accused them of accidentally killing their daughter and hiding her body.

(Top picture: PA)