Maddie cops quiz pet cremator

A DUTCH criminal who cremates dead animals in the Algarve told today how detectives had quizzed him about the Madeleine McCann case.

Detectives repeatedly asked Eef Hoos, 61, who spent almost eight years in jail for planting bombs in the Netherlands, whether he had ever met Madeleine’s parents.

Hoos, who lives in a run-down but heavily fortified villa in remote mountains in the Algarve said plain clothes police had been taking photographs in his girlfriend’s garden early this morning.

He travelled to the local headquarters of the Policia Judiciaria, who are investigating the four-year-old’s disappearance, to confront officers about the photographs, only to find himself asked about the McCann case.

Hoos told reporters earlier today that police had told him that they wanted to inspect his rusty backyard incinerator this afternoon.

Later today two men in dark glasses arrived in an unmarked car and refused to answer questions before walking through the turreted portcullis gates into the remote property.

They spent just 20 minutes inside and left taking documents about animal cremations before ordering him to attend the police HQ on Monday for more questions, he said afterwards.