The idea Madeleine left her holiday apartment to look for her parents then fell in an accident or was knocked over by someone who panicked and disposed of her body has been put forward in the past – although no evidence has supported the theory.

German prosecutors refused to probe a couple suspected of running over Madeleine McCann in a drink-drive accident, it has been claimed. Portuguese authorities are understood to have called for an investigation into a British man and his German wife after his UK-based sister told police she believed he could be covering up a dark secret about Maddie’s disappearance.

However, German authorities reportedly rejected a request to use an undercover police officer with a fake identity to try to befriend the female suspect and firm up their suspicions she was behind the wheel of a car which hit Madeleine whilst under the influence of alcohol, reported Portuguese daily newspaper Correio da Manha on Friday. The report, which offered no evidence to support the theory, suggested the British sister of the unnamed man tipped off police in the UK in 2018 – 11 years after the four-year-old’s disappearance while on holiday with her family in 2007.

Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner (Image: Phil Harris)

The paper claimed: “German prosecutors were asked to authorise a covert police operation with someone posing as a friend of the woman’s and trying to get her to confess, but the courts refused.

“It was decided to continue solely with the investigation into suspect Christian Brueckner, rejecting other possibilities.”

Describing the mystery couple as “alcoholics” living near the Ocean Club where Madeleine was staying with her family, Correio da Manha also claimed Portuguese police had spoken to another witness described as a neighbour of the same couple, who said she had heard them rowing the day after the British youngster disappeared.

She told investigators she heard the man yelling: “Why did you bring her?” over and over again.

Portuguese police are reportedly said to have got the knock-back from the Germans after urging them to look more closely into the possibility the woman they were tipped off about had driven home “drunk” with Maddie after knocking her down and enlisted her husband’s help in disposing of the youngster’s body at sea.

Correio claimed the unnamed British man had now died. It did not say whether his German wife was still alive. The newspaper also claimed the mystery British man had always “refused to tell his sister if he had been involved in Madeleine’s death” before she alerted the authorities.

The idea Madeleine left her holiday apartment to look for her parents who were eating tapas nearby – and then fell in an accident or was knocked over by someone who panicked and disposed of her body – has been put forward in the past. However, these theories remain speculative, with no conclusive evidence has been found to support them.

Portuguese police have yet to respond to the Correio da Manha newspaper report

German police yesterday wrapped up a three-day search on the ground near prime suspect Christian Brueckner’s old cottage home close to Praia da Luz where Madeleine disappeared.

The operation, supported by Portuguese police, was the first of its kind for more than two years following a May 2023 search at the Arade Dam a 40-minute drive from the Algarve holiday resort where Madeleine was last seen.

Nothing of any relevance is thought to have been found. Convicted paedophile Brueckner, 47, is due to be freed from prison in Germany in September after finishing a seven-year sentence for rape.