THE parents of Madeleine McCann believe the prime suspect in their daughter’s disappearance will keep trying to evade justice and fear they may never know who snatched her.
It comes as Christian B continues to brag that cops don’t have a “shred of evidence” to link him to Maddie’s kidnap and presumed death plus five other sex crimes.
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Renowned cardiologist Gerry and ex GP Kate - parents of missing Maddie McCann Credit: Alamy 4
Madeleine McCann disappeared while on holiday in Portugal Credit: PA
Christian B was named as the prime suspect in the case
The convicted sex offender, 44, was first named as Maddie’s alleged abductor in a potentially significant breakthrough by British and German police in June last year.
But Christian B, who has recently been moved to a tougher prison dubbed "Germany's Alcatraz”, for a horrific rape and drugs offences, has still not been questioned about Maddie 16 months on.
A McCann family source told The Sun Online: “Police don’t tell us what’s going on, we’re in the dark because it's an ongoing investigation.
“But if it is him, and there’s no direct and conclusive evidence he may never say a word. He’s not saying a word now.
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“He’s locked up for other crimes, so at least he’s in the best place - in jail.
“Portuguese police had looked at him before and last year they looked at him again. We don't know what this means but without a confession we may never know.
“We don't know what evidence police have.
“It may be, sadly, that we may never know what happened to Madeleine. But we hope to find out. We keep hoping after all these years.”
When prosecutors first named Christian B as a suspect Kate and Gerry released a statement supporting the appeal but didn't speak about him directly.
Three-year-old Maddie vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal’s Praia da Luz in May 2007.
Her parents renowned cardiologist Gerry and ex GP Kate, who has now returned to work full time as doctor to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, cling onto a glimmer of hope the could still be alive.
The couple, both 53, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have vowed never to give up the search.
In May Maddie - remembered globally in an iconic last photo shortly before her fourth birthday - would have turned 18 and become an adult.
The family source told how Scotland Yard - under fire for failing to properly vet Sarah Everard’s jailed for life cop killer Wayne Couzens - had been “brilliant” in their Maddie investigation codenamed Operation Grange.
They said: “The Metropolitan Police have given us a lot of support, at times when their resources have been stretched, and for that we are very grateful. They have been brilliant.”
EXTRA FUNDING
The scaled down Maddie squad has been given nearly ￡350,000 extra cash to spend trying to nail their prime suspect.
The Sun Online recently reported that the Home Office had approved a Met Police request for extra funding into their hugely costly ￡12.5 million inquiry.
The boost comes after Britain’s top cop Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick vowed her officers would continue the painstaking search “until there is nothing left to do.”
She said: "We are working closely with Portuguese authorities and the German authorities, and we will continue until there is nothing left to do.
“There is no funding issue at the moment. So far we have received support every time we have felt there was a line of inquiry to pursue to find out what happened to Madeleine.”
Ms Dick is now facing calls to resign in light of the Sarah Everard police shambles.
'NO EVIDENCE'
Maddie's chief suspect has recently bragged cops don’t have a “shred of evidence” to link him to the missing girl’s case and five other sex crimes.
He is now in solitary confinement at Olenburg prison, near Bremen, Germany.
But three forces - British, German and the original lead Portuguese lead investigator - have so far struggled to find any vital evidence yet to snare him.
German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters has insisted: “We have gathered new evidence that adds further to the case we are building against our main suspect.
"I’m afraid I cannot say what it is but it strengthens our work. It is not forensic but it is new circumstantial evidence which all adds to the working theory that he is the man responsible.”
During the summer Christian B, jailed for raping an elderly American tourist in Portugal - spoke out for the first time since he was named a suspect.
He wrote a letter slamming the investigation an “unbelievable scandal,” proclaiming his innocence and urging prosecutors leading the case to give up.
He accused them of "bringing shame" on the German legal system by making "scandalous" statements against him without bringing any charges.
In the astonishing outburst he said investigators should resign for "persecuting an innocent person."
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The apartment at the Ocean Club Hotel in Luz, Portugal, where Madeleine McCann went missing Credit: PA
Former friend of Christian B relives the moment he 'found sexual abuse videos' in the Madeleine McCann suspect's house