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Date Posted:28/02/2018 7:18 PMCopy HTML

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Re:OC Cleaners

Date Posted:28/02/2018 7:29 PMCopy HTML



Processos

Volume II

Pages 363 - 364


Maria De Fatima De Jesus Morgado 

Date/Time: 2007/05/07 12H35
Cleaner
Portuguese

Concerning the issue of the process said;
. That she comes to the process as a witness;
. The deponent is an employee of the cleaning sector in the Ocean Club establishment, which functions she began in April of the current year, for which she effects daily cleaning of the rooms located in block 6. She adds that she begins work at 10H00 and finished around 18H00; 
. Concerning the week she clarifies that it was a calm one, and she observed no incidents or strange movements of individuals in the area surrounding block 6, located very close to the block of apartments where the facts occurred, now under investigation; 
. Because she is asked, states that, also, she did not observe any situation worthy of register in the interior of the apartments of this block, where she works;
. She further adds that the zone of the establishment whet block 6 is located, is close to the public passage zone, where various people pass daily, residents of local houses, and the path to the beach; 
. On the Friday past, when she arrived at the establishment, she noticed a big police contingent, and a big block of people who were concentrated close to an apartment in block 5. At the time, she believed that a robbery had taken place in the said place, and left for the laundry room of the establishment where there are lockers which hold the necessary equipment needed to carry out her daily work. After having arrived at this place, she learnt of what had occurred, and saw the picture of the minor who had disappeared. At this point, she was asked to accompany en element of the GNR to the apartments in block 6, with the aim to seeing the interior and verifying if the minor could be found there; 
. As to the family McCann, the deponent states never having seen them, and did not, for the record, have any contact with them; 
. That she has nothing more to add to the statement which could be considered relevant to the discovery of facts;
. And nothing further was said. She has read the statement, finds it in conformity and signs it; 
. The document is duly signed by me, Pedro Florindo, an Inspector with this Polícia Judiciária.





Processos

Volume II

Pages 389 - 391

Maria Francisca de Jesus Viegas

Date/Time: 2007/05/07 16H20
Cleaning Supervisor
Portuguese

Concerning the issue of the process said:
. That she comes to the process as a witness.
. Questioned, states that, it has been about 22 months since she had been employed by the resort the Ocean Club on Praia da Luz; 
. Specifies that, since the beginning, , she exercises her functions of cleaning supervisor, and that her specific competencies relate to the coordination of the laundry room services, like, for example, the coordination and supervising of the work carried out by the different cleaners; 
. More specifically, her work-day begins at 09H30 until 18H00, every day of the week, with interruptions from 13H00 to 14H30 for lunch. During the week she has, the witness notes, the right to a day and half of free-time when there is less work. For this fact, there is no certain day on which she is ‘off work’; 
. Because she was questioned, she clarifies that, as a rule, she begins her work activities in the laundry room, located next to the Tapas restaurant, where she arrives around 09H30. However, by request of the cleaning supervisory staff, it is sometimes necessary to go to apartment blocks in order to provide missing materials (products and clothing);
. States that the keys to the apartments are kept in special safes and are given to the staff during the morning in order to carry out their cleaning duties;
. But states that each cleaning worker is assigned a block of apartments and are responsible for the cleaning therein; 
. Those same people are aware of the rules in carrying out their duties alone; 
. Because she is asked, she responds that during the lunch period, she leaves for her home and knows that the majority of cleaners, in that time frame, are installed in the laundry room. 
. After the days work, they return the apartment keys to the manager responsible who, as she already mentioned, after confirming that they are all there, deposit them in the security safe; 
. In the installations of the laundry room there is only one copy of each key, corresponding to each apartment, and that they are likely deposited with the reception; 
. As regards the specific facts of the investigations, she states that she has nothing further relevant to add; 
. This, she confirms because in carrying out her professional functions, she did not come across the McCann couple or their children. She states she never saw them;
. Because she is asked, she responds that the apartment occupied by the family was assigned to cleaner Maria Julia, who never mentioned anything strange in that interior, or any situations that were not normal or unpalatable; 
. She mentions that in the days preceding the disappearance of Madeleine se did not notice and individuals or strange movements in the tourist resort, nor did she hear and commentaries to this fact; 
. She left to the Garden Section, in order to carry out her duties at the second block. She completed this work at around 20H30, and following, left for the Ocean Garden in order to begin cleaning blocks 3 and 4; 
. She finished this work around 21H20, and left for home, where she stayed the night, alone; 
. She has known of the facts (from a colleague), since Friday morning, 04 May 2007, when she showed up for work;
. She remembers that, that morning, all the cleaning employees were involved in searches in the apartments corresponding to their areas of action; 
. But in this they were always accompanied by an element of the GNR;
. She has no knowledge of other elements that could help contribute to the good of the investigations; 
. And she said nothing further. Read, she finds it in conformity and signs
. This document is read, reviewed and found in conformity, and will be duly signed by me, Raquel Neves, an Inspector with this Polícia Judiciária




Processos

Volume II

Pages 392 - 394

Maria Julia Serafim da Silva

Date/Time: 2007/05/07 16H45
Cleaner
Portuguese

Concerning the issue of the process said:
. That she comes to the process as a witness, manifested by her intention to make declarations in order to clarify the facts of the present investigation; 
. The question made, she informs that she has been employed as a cleaner for 13 months in the Ocean Club. Together, and in the same department, she works with her daughters, Fatima Maria and Dora Isabel; 
. Regarding her functions, she clarifies that she is the person responsible for cleaning block 5, and more specifically, apartments A, B,C, D, H, I, K,L, M and P, and can conclusively affirm that when the minor disappeared, only the apartments A, B, D, G, H and K were occupied. She states also that she is the only employee who cleans these apartments. In the preparation of Apartment A, that one in which the McCann family stayed, was prepared by the deponent with the help of her friend Dina, the previous Saturday, the 28th; 
- She remembers that when she was preparing the apartment, she only received indication that it would be occupied by 5 people, not knowing children would be part of this. At that precise moment when Dina was helping her prepare the apartment,, elements of the Mark Warner business entered and proceeded immediately to place two children’s cots. It was only at this moment when she became aware that children would be staying there; 
. The question made, she says that a third party placing the cots in the room is normal. Moreover, she says that only when apartments are reserved through the Mark Warner agency, it is they who are responsible for the placement of beds. On the other hand, when other travel agencies book the vacation, children’s beds are taken care of by the Ocean Club; 
. In regards to her duties directly related to the apartment, she states that the last time she entered there was on the Wednesday, the day before the facts, more precisely on the 02 of May, where she carried out cleaning. Questioned, says that contrary to what has been established, on Thursday, the 03rd, she was doing something else, and did not have the opportunity to pick up the rubbish bags;
. She remembers that when she entered the apartment (A), on Wednesday, that inside she came across the parents. After being allowed to enter, she carried out her work, as they had already left. While she was there, she did not come across any child, supposing that they were in the crèche; 
. During the time she carried out her work, she remembers having seen, given the scenario presented, that the couple slept in the room opposite the entrance way, where she came across a children’s cot. This room gives access to an exterior garden which is called the ground floor, and to a veranda. In the room closest to the door of the apartment, there was a bed pushed to the wall (where she assumed the missing child slept) and a second cot. All these beds were ‘messy’ and this told her that they had been used. She states further that in the room closest to the door, was another bed, which was not used; 
. On the Friday following, the day after the disappearance of the child, she states that due to the police activity, she did not clean Apartment A; 
. Questioned, states that on the days preceding the facts, she only entered the apartments to carry out her duties, and did not come across any element/object or strange fact that called her attention and which could be directly related to the disappearance; 
. In the same vein, she states that she did not notice any element/person who presented with a strange comportment; 
. Ending, she states that her hours of work begin at 10H00, terminating at 18H00, when she returns to Lagos, where she resides; 
. And she said nothing further. Read, she finds it in conformity and signs
. This document is read, reviewed and found in conformity, and will be duly signed by me, Tony Almedia, an Inspector with this Polícia Judiciária.



Processos Vol II
Pages 367 to 369

Witness statement of Dina Maria dos Reis Rocha 2007.05.07

Witness statement 

Dina Maria Dos Reis Rocha 
Date/Time: 2007/05/07 13H00
Cleaner
Portuguese


She has worked at the Ocean Club for 16 years, exercising cleaning functions since this date. 
. That this function is concentrated solely upon cleaning the apartments and living areas of the Ocean Club resort; 
. That she normally begins work at around 10H00, and at about 13H00 goes to lunch at her residence and returns at around 14H00, terminating her work day at 18H00; 
. That in the beginning of her work day, she is given cleaning duties by Mrs. Marina Castela, who verifies the presence of the employees and distributes the keys for the respective areas of work; 
. That during the week, from Monday to Friday, she carries out cleaning in the Ocean Club resort – Waterside Village, situated close to the beach zone, but more concretely, in Blocks No. 21, 22, and 24; 
. That this cleaning is done only by the deponent, and only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays;
. That on Thursdays and Saturdays and upon the check-out of clients and the eventual check-in of new ones, and for this reason, the cleaning of vacated apartments is done. In this situation, she cleans the blocks already mentioned or, when there is no cleaning to do in that area, she goes to help other colleagues in the cleaning of the apartments and living areas;
. That this distribution or personnel is decided by her supervisor; 
. That she is aware of the events that occurred at the Ocean Club, referring to the disappearance of the child, and knew about the situation the next day (04/05/07), at around 10H00, when she began her normal work day. That the situation was told to her by her supervisor; 
. That she was asked, along with her colleagues, that when they went to carry out their duties that they should paid special attention to anything suspicious, or that drew their attention, taking into account the situation that had occurred; 
. That, as is her habit, she went to the Waterside Village, having carried out the cleaning of the rooms and apartments, corresponding to blocks number 21, 22 and 24, and that nothing out of the ordinary or different was noticed or detected; 
. States that meanwhile she only possesses keys to those living quarters for three blocks. She has the idea that in block 21 she carried out cleaning in six quarters; in block 22 three quarters and in block 21, two cleanings;
. For the rest of the apartments, she does not possess any keys, nor does she carry out any cleaning in them, as these are private property, even though they are situated in the Ocean Club resort; 
. That on the day of the child’s disappearance, she began work at 10H00, having cleaned in Block 21 – Waterside Village until 13H00, having then gone to eat lunch at home
. At around 14H00 she resumed her work, having cleaned in block 26 – Waterside Garden, referring that the assignment was given to her by her supervisor; 
. That during the 03/05/07, nothing out of the ordinary or different was observed by her nor any situation abnormal was told to her; 
. That she has no knowledge or information to give regarding the disappearance of the child, is unaware of any detail or circumstance in which it occurred; 
.And nothing further was said. She has read the statement, finds it in conformity and signs it; 
. The document is duly signed by me, Helder Carmo, an Inspector with this Polícia Judiciária.



Processos Vol II
Pages 365 - 366



Witness statement 

Celeste Da Conceicao Antao da Silva 

Date/Time: 2007/05/07 12H40
Cleaner
Portuguese

Concerning the issue of the process said;
. That she comes to the process as a witness; and as a worker of the apartments in the Ocean Club establishment in Praia da Luz, Lagos, but more precisely, in the Garden Section and in Beach 12, since 1985; 
. States that her functions are with the cleaning sector exclusively in the aforementioned apartments, so that on the 03 of May 2007, she was working in those apartments; 
. Questioned, she states that she has not direct contact with the guests of the other apartments with the exception of when she is told by her supervisor to help in other apartments, but this happens rarely; 
. Questioned, she states that she does not know the parents of Madeleine, nor the child; 
. States, that she remembers well, that during the time she has been employed that she is aware of some robberies in the interior of the apartments because the guests have left their doors open, and she has seen apartments with open doors before and has shut them herself; 
. States further that she has no knowledge of strange individuals or unknown persons who she came across in the interior or exterior of the establishment for the time she has worked there; 
. Questioned, responds that she has never been asked about the resort workings and more concretely regarding the type of guests who frequent the place; 
. States that on the 3rd of May of the present year, she arrived as normal at 10H00 at the resort, left at 13H30 for lunch, as is normal in the laundry area, and began work again at 14H30 until 18H00; 
. In this period, she does not remember having seen any individual or vehicle which caught her attention; 
. At around 18H00, she left work and went home and in the same fashion, did not see or had any knowledge of anything abnormal in the exterior of the resort; 
. She heard about the events the following day, Friday, through communication with a colleague of hers; 
. That she has nothing more to add to the statement that could be considered relevant to the discovery of facts;
. And nothing further was said. She has read the statement, finds it in conformity and signs it; 
. The document is duly signed by me, Armenio Pontes, an Inspector with this Polícia Judiciária.

Processos Vol III

Pages 675 - 678


Witness statement

Taken by officer José Luís, Inspector

Date : 2007: 05: 08

Name: Fátima María Serafim da Silva Espada

Profession: Cleaner

Place of work: Luz Ocean Club

She has worked at the Ocean Club for approximately eleven years. She is a permanent employee of the Club and works all year round. She has a day and a half off a week. She has fixed working hours from 10.00 AM to 18.00 with a break for lunch from 13.30 to 18.00 and remains at the club during this time or goes to attend to personal matters near to the Club. She has a fixed day off on Tuesdays and had a day off on May 1st (national holiday) as well Sunday afternoon 29th April. 

When asked how her work was organised in the club, specifically in the cleaning areas where she worked, she said there are norms pre-defining the areas where each employee worked, with the aim of delivering an efficient service. This principle does not imply that in times of work overload for any colleague, that they could not help out even in areas that were not allocated to them. She knows because she has heard that the missing English girl was staying in block 5 apartment A, which is referred to as 5ª out of habit. This apartment is situated in a zone that was not allocated to her, but to a colleague, in this case her mother María Julía Silva.

She knows that the little girl disappeared on the night of 3rd May and is sure that she only heard about this on the following morning when she arrived at work, as it was the only subject being talked about.

She had the opportunity to observe the photos of Madeleine that were being circulated everywhere and has no hesitation in confirming that she saw the child before her disappearance in the company of her siblings and mother and father, although in the latter case she only observed him from a distance.

She states that this took place on Sunday 29th April, just before she finished her morning work shift (13.30) as she had the afternoon off that day. At about 13.15 she went to help her mother, who was cleaning apartment I of the same block (5) situated on the first floor. She clearly remembers seeing the girl accompanied by her siblings and mother leave their apartment (5 A) and walk to the stairs leading to the floor above. She was very close to them at a distance of about 1 metre, observing their movements for a few moments because she was charmed by them. Madeleine led the way with a plate (perhaps plastic) in her hand bearing a piece of bread. As regards the clothes she was wearing she only remembers a skirt but cannot recall its description. She noted, because she thought them nice, the type of shoes she was wearing, tennis shoes, light in colour she thinks, which had little lights along the soles, which lit up each time she stepped on the ground. Her siblings followed behind her, wearing the same king of shoes and each holding a piece of bread in their hands, their mother followed behind them without holding their hands. She seems to remember that the mother was also carrying a plate. Moments afterwards, perhaps the time it took to close the apartment door, the father came out and also headed to the apartment upstairs. When asked, she does not remember whether the father pulled the door closed or locked it with a key.

After she chatted to her mother about there being many children in the apartments, she had the idea that the family in 5H were friends of Madeleine’s family who were staying in 5 A.

She never cleaned any of these apartments referred to as they were allocated to her mother. Her mother never mentioned anything strange to her, either before or after the girl’s disappearance that could be related to the disappearance. The only comment she remembered concerned the clutter in the apartments, mainly clothing which was left all around the place. She thinks that her mother cleaned the apartments in that block on Monday and Wednesday (02-05). 

When asked if she observed anything in the apartments where she cleaned that indicated a person particularly interested in children, such as objects, photos, videos or anything else, she replies no. She has no knowledge of any fact that could contribute to discover Madeleine’s whereabouts and pledges to contact the authorities if anything should happen.

No more is said. She reads the statement and finds it in conformity, ratifies it and signs it together with me, the officer who drew up the statement.

Processos Vol III

Pages 560 -561

Witness statement

Vera María Mestre Fernandes Arez


Date: 2007/05/08

Occupation: Laundry Worker


Place of Work: Ocean Club

She has worked at the Ocean Club for six years with the function of cleaner in the rooms and apartments of Waterside Village and for the last 4 years her function is laundry worker. Her working hours are from 09.30 to 13.00 and from 14.30 to 18.00. The laundry, her place of work, is situated in the Ocean Club Gardens.

That as laundry worker her functions are to wash, dry all the linen from the rooms and apartments (sheets, towels and clothes from some of the clients) and from the Ocean Club restaurants (towels). All the laundry work takes place in the laundry where she works with three colleagues.

That she knows about the situation that occurred in the Ocean Club since 04/05/2007 at 09.30 as she was informed by a colleague from the laundry that a child had disappeared.

That she does not know the circumstances in which the girl disappeared only having heard about it in the press and from colleagues.

That she remembers that on Saturday 05/05/2007 having washed clothing belonging to the missing girl’s family and she checked that it was children’s and adult’s clothing. This service was carried out by her colleague Silvia Cravinho. That on the next day Sunday it was her colleague Bernadete Calado who went to deliver the clothing directly to the missing girl’s apartment.


That before that no clothing from the missing girl’s family had been washed and after that date there was no other washing of clothes from the family.

That she never had any contact with the family or with the missing girl as she never leaves the laundry except to have lunch.

That she did not notice anything strange on 03/05/2007. She did not notice anything strange on the days preceding this date and does not have any information about the disappearance.

No more is said. Reads, ratifies and signs.

Processos Vol III

Pages 558 – 559

Witness Statement

Isaura Romao Fernandes

Date: 2007 – 05 – 08
Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC

She works at the OC resort, specifically in the Garden Section, Beach 12. Last year she worked at the resort from April to December and this year began work on 2nd April. She works from 08.30 to 17.00 with a break for lunch from 12.00 to 13.00.


When she begins work, she starts by cleaning the façade of the reception until 10.00, then goes to iron in the laundry and then returns to the reception to clean the desks, before returning to the laundry at the end of her working day.

When questioned, she says that she had no contact with the missing girl or her family, only having heard about them from the press.

When questioned she say she saw nothing suspicious nor was asked any questions about the resort or its guests before the disappearance.

The third of May was a normal working day and she only found out about the events on the following day.

Reads, ratifies, signs

Processos Vol III

Pages 562 – 563

Nazaré Conceição Silva Vicente

Date: 2007 – 05 – 08

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC


She has been employed at the OC resort since May 1995. She is responsible for cleaning maintenance of the apartments. Her working day is from 10.00 to 18.00. She has Sundays and Wednesday afternoons off. She has access to the “Club Face” installations as part of her functions.

When questioned she days she knows about the disappearance, having heard on the Friday morning when she began work. She says that she worked her normal times on the day that Madeleine disappeared.

She had no contact with the family and only heard about them after the events from the press.


She had no strange conversations and noticed nothing abnormal in the days preceding the disappearance.

She has nothing to add.


Reads, ratifies, signs

Processos Vol III

Pages 567 – 568

Witness Statement

Marta Manuela Leal Russo Rodrigues

Date: 2007 – 05 – 08

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC

She has worked at the OC for 12 years. In April 2007 she began working in block 4, daily cleaning the rooms in there. She works from 10.00 to 18.00.

The preceding week was calm and she does not recall any incidents or strange people in block 4 or 5.

She says that block 4 is next to a path where many residents and other people pass.

Last Friday when she arrived at work at 09.30 she was informed about the disappearance by colleagues and there were already posters up with photographs of the small girl, whom she now knows to be called Madeleine.

She then went to the laundry where she keeps her working materials and there found out about the events, again observing a photograph of the missing girl. The she was asked to accompany a GNR officer to block 4, to check if the little girl might be there. She was not found there and in the course of her work inside the apartments she did not see anything strange or that would indicate the preparation of the abduction of a child.

She did not have any contact with the girl or her family.

Reads, ratifies, signs.

Processos Vol III

Pages 574 – 575

Witness Statement

Maria Amelia Furtado Pinheiro Gordinho

Date : 2007/05/08

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: Ocean Club

She has been employed by the OC for 1 month and has signed an 8 month contract with them. She used to work as a cleaner at the Burgau Hotel and before that at the Quinta da Luz.

She works from 10.00 to 18.00 with a lunch break from 13.00 to 14.30. She has Wednesday afternoons and Sundays off.

She cleans in block 4 opposite to the block the child disappeared from. She heard about the disappearance on Friday morning from the press. When she arrived at work the disappearance was the subject of much talk, but she did not hear anything of interest to the truth being established.

In the days preceding the events, she did not notice anything strange that could have been linked to the disappearance. She did not notice anyone acting strangely. When asked about her social circle, she says she did not hear any comment that could be of interest to the case.

At the time of the disappearance she was at home with her husband and two daughters.

Reads, ratifies, signs

Processos Vol III

Pages 758 – 759


Witness Statement

Catia Cristina dos Reis Galvao


Date: 2007 – 05 - 09

Occupation: Cleaner 

Place of work: OC

She comes to the process as a witness. She has worked as a cleaner at the resort since 2nd April of this year, and she cleans the “Garden” apartments daily, which are located behind the main reception, she also cleans apartments 16 and 13 A, located next to the laundry. When asked, she say that the apartments located closest to the place where the events occurred are the latter, situated at a distance of 300 metres.

As regards her working hours, she begins at 10.00 and finishes at 18.00, her days off are Sunday and Tuesday afternoons.

When asked, she says she did not notice any suspicious movements by anyone that could indicate they were preparing a criminal act.

When asked, she says she does not know what Madeleine or her parents look like, given that the distance of her normal place of work from the apartments where the events occurred.

On the day of the events she was at home with her family, having worked until 18.00.

On the following morning, when she arrived at work at about 10.00, she was told about the events by her boss and immediately went to the apartments where she worked to see if any abnormal situation had occurred there.

During the day she heard from other colleagues about developments concerning the girl.

The witness said she did not hear any comments that could clarify the motive for the disappearance.

She has no information to add.

Reads, ratifies, signs.
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Re:OC Cleaners

Date Posted:28/02/2018 8:11 PMCopy HTML


Processos Vol III

Pages 766 – 767

Witness Statement

María de Fátima Rodrigues Bernardo

Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of work: OC

She comes to the process as a witness, expressing her intention of making a statement in order to clarify the facts being investigated.

She is a cleaner and has worked at the OC for 3 years.

Her working day begins at 10.00 with a break for lunch from 13.30 to 14.30 and finishes work at 18.00. She normally has Tuesday afternoons and Sundays off.

Regarding her place of work, she is responsible for cleaning the FIJI and DATE blocks, belonging to the Palm Bay group. These blocks are situated opposite the apartment block the girl disappeared from.

She says she heard about the events the day after the disappearance from her colleagues when she started work. When she began work the disappearance was constantly talked about but she did not hear or see anything that could be of interest to the investigation.


On the day of the events, after leaving work, she went as always to collect her 8 year old son from school in P da L and went home afterwards to be with her family, only leaving the following morning.

When asked if she saw anything strange in the apartments where she worked or in the surrounding area on the days preceding the disappearance, she said no.

She did not see anyone with strange behaviour.

Reads, ratifies, signs.


Processos Vol III


Pages 768 – 770

Witness Statement

Natália da Glória Soares Camacho

Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC


She comes to the process as a witness. She has worked at the OC as a cleaner for 8 years.

Her working hours are from 10.00 to 18.00, Sunday is her day off. She also has Tuesday mornings off. On the days she works full time, her lunch break is from 13.30 to 14.30.

When asked, she says that her specific functions are to clean the apartments that are previously allocated to her, she cleans on her own.

When asked, she says that she cleans the apartments near to the Millenium restaurant, 12 apartments that make up the “Club Face”, an area of the resort composed of five blocks, with eleven apartments each.

When asked, she says that her daily routine – and that of her colleagues – is the following: at 10.00 she goes to the laundry next to the Tapas Bar where one of her superiors (Marina, Bernadette or Francisca) gives her the keys of the apartments to be cleaned.

After the morning shift she goes to the laundry again during lunchtime, that is where she and her colleagues eat their lunch.

After lunch she returns to her area of work.

At about 18.00 she returns to the laundry and gives the keys back to the superior in charge.

She says that the keys are kept in special safes for this purpose and when she returns the keys to her superiors they always check that all the keys are there. 

During lunchtime, the keys are kept by the cleaners and are not deposited in the safes.

As far as she knows, the laundry only has one copy of each key, thinking that more keys corresponding to the apartments are kept in the reception.

She say that she has nothing relevant to add to the facts being investigated.

She says that she carried out her functions in an area far from the apartment where the McCann family was staying and for this reason never met the family or the girl. She does not remember having seen them in the surroundings areas or in the apartments she cleaned.

She did not see any strange individuals or movements in the days before the disappearance.

She says that there is a lot of movement in the resort and that it would not be easy to see if anything unusual was happening.

She says that on the day of the disappearance she went home after finishing work at 18.00.

She heard about the events on the morning of the 4th May when she arrived at work and was told by her superior.

She said that her superior, who already had photocopies of the girl’s photograph, asked the employees to check the apartments they were cleaning as well as the surrounding areas.

She checked but did not find anything relevant.

Reads, ratifies, signs.



Processos Vol III


Pages 771 – 772

Witness Statement

María Guiomar Mestre Fernandes

Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC


She has worked as a cleaner at the OC for the last six years, part time until March 2006 when she began to work full time. She works from 10.00 to 13.30 and from 14.30 to 18.00 with Sundays off.

Her function is to clean the rooms and apartments which takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays and Saturdays guests arrive and leave and she cleans the rooms and apartments that they move out of.

She cleans the rooms and apartments in the Club zone, lots 5 and 7, this cleaning is done by her alone.

That, in spite of this area being allocated to her, she sometimes is asked to help a colleague clean other rooms and apartments, especially on the days when guests arrive and leave.

In order to carry out the cleaning of rooms and apartments she needs the keys which are distributed by her superior, Marina. The distribution of the keys corresponds to the area that is allocated to each cleaner, and occurs at the beginning of each working day. After finishing work, the keys are returned to the superior.

She heard about the events on the following day 4th May from her superior. On that day her superior told her and her colleagues to search for the girl in the areas they were working.

On 3rd May she began work at 10.00, spending most of the day cleaning the apartments in the Club and at the end of the day she cleaned a room in the Garden zone, she thinks it was nº 26, finishing work at 18.00 and leaving the resort to go home.

She did not see anything abnormal on 3rd May or on the preceding days.

Has no further information.

Reads, ratifies, signs.



Processos Vol III


Pages 773 – 774

Witness Statement

María Noélia de Jesus do Nascimento

Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC

She comes to the process as a witness. Has worked as a cleaner in the OC since 1997. She does cleaning and maintenance of the apartments. She works from 10.00 to 18.00, with Sundays and Tuesday afternoons off.

She has access to some of the resort apartments situated in the “Water side Villages” next to the beach.

When asked, she says she heard about Madeleine’s disappearance on the 4th May from a neighbour.

On the day of the disappearance she worked her normal hours.

She did not have any contact with the family prior to the disappearance.

She did not hear or see anything strange in the resort before the disappearance


She did not notice anyone strange or any unusual vehicle on the day of the disappearance.

With regard to her colleagues she does not know of anything that could raise any suspicion about the disappearance of the girl.


Reads, ratifies, signs.



Processos Vol III


Pages 775 – 777

Witness Statement

Dora Isabel Serafim da Silva

Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC

She comes to the process as a witness. She has worked at the OC as a cleaner for six years. She works from 10.00 to 18.00 with Sundays and Tuesday afternoons off. Lunch break is from 13.30 to 14.30.

She cleans the apartments that are allocated to her and she works alone. She cleans the “cottage” buildings which are small houses with independent entrances. The are all in the Garden section and dispersed around the resort. There are 11 eleven cottages, none of them have a direct view of the apartment where the disappearance occurred.

When questioned, she says that her daily routine is the following: at 10.00 she goes to the laundry next to the Tapas area at which moment one of her superiors (Marina, Bernadette, Francisca) gives her the keys to the apartments she will clean.

After the morning shift she returns to the laundry where she and her colleagues have lunch. After lunch they go back to their working areas.

At 18.00 she returns to the laundry where she hands the keys over to her superior. She says the keys are kept in special safes and that the superior checks to see they are all there.

As far as she knows there is only one copy of the keys in the laundry, thinking there must be copies in the reception.

She did not see the McCann family or anything or anyone strange in the resort.

On the day of the events she was at home with her family, having left work at 18.00.

She heard about the events on the 4th May from her superior.

She said that her superior, who already had photocopies of the girl’s photograph asked her and her colleagues to check the apartments and surrounding areas. They were accompanied by officers from the GNR during the searches.

She worked in the following cottages that day: 17, 19, 20, 25, 29, 30, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 46.


She specifies that she checked and cleaned , 19, 25, 29, 30, 40, 43 and 46.

She did not find anything significant during the searches.


Reads, ratifies, signs.


Processos Vol III


Pages 778 – 779


Witness Statement

Mónica da Luz Louzeiro Dias Romao


Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner.

Place of Work: OC


Comes to the process as a witness.

She has worked as a cleaner in the OC for 6 years.

She works from 10.00 to 18.00, lunch break from 13.30 to 14.30 and has Sundays and Tuesday afternoons off.

She is responsible for cleaning block 2 of the OC and cottages 18 to 27 of the Garden group, to which the apartment the girl disappeared from belongs.

She said she heard about the events from colleagues the following day when she began work.

The disappearance was the subject of much conversation but she did not hear anything of use to the investigation.

She received instructions to search for the child in the tourist resort.

On the day of the events, after finishing work she went home, being given a lift by her colleague Guiomar. After dinner she went to bed and did not go out until the following morning.

She did not see anything unusual in the apartments she cleaned during the days preceding the events. Neither did she see any suspicious individuals.








Processos Vol III


Pages 781 – 782


Witness Statement

Deolinda Maria da Silva Cristino Norte


Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner.

Place of Work: OC


Comes to the process as a witness.

She has worked as a cleaner at the OC for 16 years. She works from 10.00 to 18.00 with a break for lunch from 13.30 to 14.30 and has Sundays and Tuesday afternoons off.

She cleans in the Waterside group quite far from the Garden area where the apartment the girl disappeared from is located.

She heard about the events the following day when she arrived at work.

The events were the subject of much discussion but she did not hear any comments that could be of interest to the investigation. She was told by her superior to search the resort to look for the girl.

She had no contact with the girl or her family.

On the day of the events she went home and did not leave until the following morning.

She did not see anything strange in the areas where she worked neither did she see any strange individuals.

Reads, ratifies, signs.




Processos Vol III

Pages 783 - 784

Witness Statement

Maria de Lurdes da Silva Santos Luz

Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner




She has worked at the OC as a cleaner for about a month, however she has worked at the OC before. She works from 10.00 to 13.00.


Her functions consist of cleaning the residence of Mr Robin, the OC manager, which is situated in Funchal, Lagos. She does not do any cleaning at the OC with the exception of the days when she takes his clothes for laundering at the OC on Wednesdays and Fridays.

She heard about the disappearance on Friday 4th May at about 10.00, having been informed by residents of Funchal, the news was later confirmed to her when she went to the OC

On 3rd May she went to the main OC reception having contacted the administrator, to pick up her cheque, before leaving the resort. This happened at about 15.00 – 16.00.

She has no information useful to the investigation.


Reads, ratifies, signs




Processos Vol III


Pages 780

Witness Statement (Handwritten)

Maria de Fátima Nunes Antonio


Date: 2007-05-09

Occupation: Cleaner


She comes to the process as a witness, has worked as a cleaner at the OC since 2005 (with intervals). In 2007 she began work at the OC on 2nd April. Her functions consist of removing linen and clothing from the apartments and cleaning them. She is part of the cleaning team that works in the Ocean Gardens, situated. quite far from where the events occurred.

She found out about the events on the following day. She knows no details about the disappearance, just what she has seen on the news. She has no knowledge of anything suspicious having happened. There have been robberies at the resort but no use of violence.

She has never heard of any other disappearance, rapes or sexual violence.

She thinks she could have seen the family like any other family or guest, but saw nothing strange.

Has nothing to add.


Reads, ratifies, signs.





Processos Vol III

Pages 697 – 699

Witness Statement

Sandra Maria Dos Santos Lourenco Murtinheira

Date: 2007-05-08

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC

Comes to the process as a witness. She works in the ‘Luz Ocean Club’ (TOC) for a second time.

She was first contracted in 2006 and began work in April and finished in October. This year, 2007, she was contracted in March and will end in October or November.

Her functions include cleaning the pool areas of the TOC between 0900H—and 19H00, with the exceptions of Sundays and Mondays, which are her days off. 

Regarding the facts in question, the witness states that she became aware of the disappearance the day after it had occurred. 

When she got to work, she noticed the presence of the GNR and immediately thought that something had happened. She initially thought that there had been another break-in, given that in 2006, she heard of break-ins to the resort apartments.
Outside the reception, which allows access to the pool and the ‘Tapas’, she encountered a colleague who told her that a child had gone missing.

At the time, she does not remember speaking any more about it. Later however, she again heard talk of the disappearance as the news media began to appear at the resort. 

The witness, in exercising her functions, began working in the pool areas in the LOC. Because she is asked, the witness states that she does not know which apartment the child’s parents occupied. She also has no idea who the parents were and could only associate these guests when she saw them on television. 

Regarding the missing child, the witness believes that she may have seen her walking with one of the nannies. However, there are many families with children, and it is normal to see the children with their nannies carrying out their activities. 

As already stated, as part of her functions, she often goes into the resort. She normally walks this route. 

Questioned, the witness states that she is unaware of any strange behaviour or movements on behalf of the guests, or other individuals, in the LOC or immediate surroundings. 

The zone is normally very quiet, even in the summer when there is more movement. 

Questioned, states that she is not aware of any situation regarding crimes, or sexual assaults in the LOC. 

She has no elements related to the facts that could help clarify the facts.

And nothing more was said…

Reads, ratifies, signs.




Processos Vol II


Pages 360 – 362

Witness Statement

Custodia María dos Reis Espada

Date: 2007 – 05 –07

Occupation: Cleaner

Place of Work: OC

Comes to the process as a witness. She has worked at the OC as a cleaner since the beginning of 2005. She works from 10.00 to 18.00 every day except for Sundays, her day off. On Tuesdays she works until 13.30. She has lunch between 13.30 and 14.30 or from 14.00 to 15.00 depending on her volume of work.

When questioned, she says that she does the general cleaning of the apartments that are allocated to her and that she works alone.

She says that for the past two years she has been in charge of cleaning the apartments near to the main reception of the resort, specifically the European, Coconut and Baccanear blocks.

When questioned, she says that her daily routine and that of her colleagues is the following: at 10.00 she goes to the laundry next to the Tapas Bar, where one of her superiors (Mariana, Bernadette or Francisca) gives her the keys corresponding to the apartments she has to clean.

After the morning shift she returns to the laundry where she and her colleagues have lunch.

After lunch she returns to the area she was working in.

At about 18.00 when she finishes work she returns to the laundry where she hands back the keys to her superior. She says that the keys are kept in special safes and that the superiors check they are complete.

The cleaners retain the keys during lunchtime.
As far as she knows there may be another copy of the keys at the reception.

The area where she works is far from the place of the events and she does not recall having seen the McCann family. She does not recall having seen them in the apartments where she works.

She did not see anything suspicious in the days before the disappearance.

At the time of the disappearance she was at home with her partner and children.

She heard of the events upon arriving at work on 4th May.

Her superior already had photocopies of the girl’s photograph and told them to search the areas where they worked. They were always accompanied by a GNR when they searched.

Reads, ratifies, signs.





Processos V1I
Pages 1843-1844

Witness Statement 

Svetlana Malinka 

Date. 2007.06.20

Profession: Cleaner

Place of work: Ocean Blue – Villa Management & Rental

She comes to the process as a witness. 

She does not speak the Portuguese language and is assisted by a Russian language interpreter in this office.

The witness has been in Portugal since 1999, having continually resided in Praia da Luz, Lagos for about 5 or 6 months, she has worked for the firm Ocean Blue. Her work is carried out in the Praia da Luz zone, more specifically in the Ocean Club zone. This firm contracts the cleaning of some apartments close to the one from where the English child went missing. This apartment she cleans is in the same block, but is on the top floor. The witness cannot indicate the exact apartment. 

She adds that she does not always clean in this area as there other workers who may do so. Their assignments are rotated. 

The witness adds that the majority of persons who work in the zone, know that the apartment block occupied by the McCanns, located near the pool, is often occupied by non-owners.

The witness declares that she became aware of the disappearance of the girl via conversations with her colleagues. She became aware of the location of the disappearance two days after the facts. 

She has nothing more to add regarding the disappearance of the minor Madeleine McCann. Having lived in the Praia da Luz zone for eight years, at no time has she been aware of abnormal situations. She characterises the zone as being very calm.

And nothing more was said. 

Read, ratifies and signs.




Processos Vol II, Pages 392 to 394

STATEMENT FROM CLEANER OF 5 A

Maria Julia S. da Silva.

Upon being asked, she states that she is a cleaner and has been working as such for around 13 years with the company “THE OCEAN CLUB”. Her two daughters, FM and DI work with her in the same department.

Regarding her job, she points out that she is the person who is responsible for cleaning Block 5, more specifically apartments A, B, C, D, H, I, K, L, M and P, and also states that when the child disappeared only apartments A, B, D, G, H and K were occupied. She declares that she is the only employee who cleans these apartments, and has help when new customers arrive or leave. When preparing apartment A, where the Mc Cann family were to be installed, she says that she carried out the preparations with the help of her colleague DNA, on Saturday the 28th. She remembers that when preparing this apartment, she had just been notified that the apartment was to be occupied by 5 (five) people; she was unaware of children in the group. However, at the exact moment when she and her colleague DTNA were preparing the room, personnel from the company MARK WARNER entered the apartment and proceeded to place two children’s beds. It was at this moment that they learned that children would be sleeping in the apartment. 

When questioned, she declares that the fact a third company placed the children’s beds inside the apartment is common. Also, she says that when the reservation of the apartments is in the hands of the MARKWARNER travel agency, it is this company that is responsible for placing the beds. On the other hand, when other travel agencies are involved, placing the children’s beds is carried out by “THE OCEAN CLUB” company itself.

With respect to her activities performed directly in the apartment, she declares that the last time she entered the apartment was on the Wednesday prior to the events, specifically on the 2nd of May, when she cleaned the apartment. When questioned, she declares that as opposed to what is established, on Thursday the 3rd and due to other chores, she did not have time to collect the garbage bags.

She remembers that when she entered Apartment A on the Wednesday, the parents were inside. After being duly authorized, she entered and carried out her work, because they were already on their way out. While she was in the apartment, there were no children there, and she supposed that they were in the creche. While performing her work, she remembers having noticed that the couple was sleeping in the room located opposite the entrance, where she confirmed the presence of a child’s bed (crib). The room gives onto an outdoor garden by means of a terrace, as it is on the ground floor,. In the room next to the entrance to the apartment there was a bed placed next to the wall (where she supposed the missing child slept), and also the second child’s bed (crib). All these beds were untidy at the time, meaning that they had been used. She also declares that in the room next to the entrance was another bed that had not been used.

On the following Friday, the day after the child disappeared, she states that due to police formalities, she did not clean apartment A. 

When questioned, she declares that on the days prior to the events, she did not notice any strange element/object in the apartments she entered to clean that could have caught her attention and that could have been directly related to the disappearance.

Likewise, she declares that she did not notice any element/person behaving in a strange manner.

Finally, she declares that her work schedule begins at 1000 hours and ends at 1800 hours, after which time she returns to Lagos where she lives.

She has nothing further to say. After reading the document and finding it to be satisfactory, she signs it.

Cleaner 5a....

Maria Julia S da Silva







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