A convicted British paedophile who is thought to have been living near where British toddler Madeleine McCann was kidnapped in Portugal is being investigated by the family's private detectives.
Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal on 3 May 2007 as her parents dined with friends nearby.
Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, says he understands that Raymond Hewlitt was living within an hour of Praia Da Luz when Madeleine disappeared.
It is reported that Hewlitt is now in Germany were he is being treated for cancer.
Mr Mitchell says that he understands that the gardaí and several UK police forces were interested in speaking to Hewlitt.
However he stressed it was only 'one line of inquiry' in the investigation.
Portuguese police have said they are no longer actively investigating the case.
It has now been taken up by private detectives, working on behalf of the McCanns, who are financed by funds from the public appeal set up by the McCann family.
