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The McCanns return home

One hundred and twenty-nine days after their daughter Madeleine McCann disappeared Kate and Gerry McCann flew home from Portugal on Sunday with their two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

Returning home as a family of four instead of a family of five was bound to be one of the hardest things the McCanns have had to cope with, and this was emphasised by their statement as soon as the plane touched down in the UK: "Whilst it is heartbreaking to return to the UK without Madeleine, it does not mean we have given up our search for her," Mr McCann said, "As parents we cannot give up on our daughter until we know what has happened. We want the twins as much as is reasonably possible to live an ordinary life in their home country and want to consider the events of the past few days which have been so deeply disturbing."

Gerry McCann is referring to events which took place in Portugal over the weekend where Portuguese police questioned the couple seperately for hours, and declared them 'arguido' status which means they are both being officially treated as formal suspects in the disappearence of their daughter.

Under Portuguese law, an arguido has certain legal protection that is not extended to a witness, including the right to remain silent during questioning and the right to legal representation. It is not uncommon for people caught up in criminal investigations in Portugal to declare themselves arguidos in order to receive this protection.

The couple and the twins were allowed to go home because they gave their official residence as their home back in Rothley, Leicestershire, and people given 'arguido' status have to stay in their place of residence or notify the police if they wish to leave.

Detectives have confronted the McCanns with claims that Madeleine's blood was found in the hire car that the McCanns hired weeks after Madeleine's disappearence, and also in the bedroom that she vanished from on May 3rd.

The McCanns however, insist: "We have nothing to do with our lovely daughter vanishing," and believe they are being framed by the Portuguese police who do not want a murder in Portugal, or publicity about not having paedophile laws.

The problem with this case, is that right from the start the Portuguese police have kept vital information to themselves, whether to abide by Portuguese law, or to help the case along, it has breed more than enough unhealthy speculation, on what really happened to Madeleine.

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Thanks to the Daily Mail and The Sun 10/09/07