Mystery woman pays Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's £1,200 fines – confirming date monster will be freed
Investigators are working against the clock to try and keep Brueckner in prison
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A MYSTERY woman has paid Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner's £1,200 of outstanding fines.
The monster's release date from prison is now confirmed for September 17 after prosecutors had hoped to keep him behind bars.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
Madeleine McCann disappeared in Praia da Luz, Portugal on May 3, 2007
Credit: AFP
5
Prime suspect Christian Brueckner is imprisoned in Germany
Credit: Dan Charity
5
German cops searched through scrubland to find links to Bruckner
Credit: Dan Charity
Brueckner, 48, owed €1,446 (£1,232) for a fine from a previous conviction, Bild reports.
The unpaid money had been hoped to keep Brueckner behind bars until the end of January - giving investigators crucial time to bring charges over the missing British toddler.
Watch The Sun's exclusive documentary on the Maddie case here
But an anonymous donor has now paid the fine - allowing Brueckner to walk free when he was due to.
Brueckner's own lawyers revealed the mystery woman's help in German newspaper Bild but it remains unclear who she is.
Tuesday marks exactly three months until the man suspected of kidnapping and killing the three-year-old Brit will walk free.
Brueckner's lawyers claim the fiend plans to live on German millionaire playboy island of Sylt, where Brueckner previously dealt drugs.
But prosecutors fear he has plans to leave Germany.
If he travels to a non-extradition country it could be impossible to bring him back for a court case.
Brueckner is also reported to have had extensive cosmetic surgery in the past to alter his appearance raising the possibility her could do it again.
Madeleine McCann: the secret evidence on prime suspect Christian B | Sun Documentary
He has a long history of evading court sentences and police.
The mystery payment comes after a gun was reportedly found during the latest search near Bruckner's former ramshackle cottage in the Praia da Luz area.
The 48-year-old German sex offender is said to have carried a gun with him during his time living in the Algarve.
The three-day search had widely been labelled a flop after police appeared to leave the site next to Praia da Luz empty-handed last week.
5
Portuguese police spent three days searching for clues around Madeleine last week
Credit: AFP
5
Police have been searching various sites in and around the resort of Pria du Luz
Credit: Dan Charity
As eagle-eyed police did find tiny fragments, which they are speculating could have links to Madeleine after prime suspect Brueckner wild camped at the site, the Berlin Morning Post reported.
The samples were sent to Germany for testing amid hopes they could finally reveal the forensic link cops are missing on the case.
Cops are understood to have found clothes and animal bones during the extensive search through an area known as Brueckner's "rat run".
Without evidence pinning Madeleine's disappearance to the convicted German rapist, prosecutors risk not being able to get the arrest warrant they need to keep Brueckner behind bars.
The search took place around an area of scrubland which is located close to where the British toddler was staying with her parents back in 2007.
It was reported that animal bones and adult clothing were the only things unearthed - but no traces could be linked to Madeleine.
This quickly dashed hopes of pinning Brueckner with fresh DNA evidence until the latest developments today.
It comes as The Sun uncovered new Maddie evidence in a bombshell documentary.
The world exclusive doc lifts the lid on gripping new information and reveals why Brueckner is the prime suspect.
Our compelling investigation unveils the horrors found at his abandoned factory lair - and his obsession with small children.
Madeleine McCann: Inside the Secret Evidence is now available to watch online for free on our YouTube page.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Funeral of Cambuslang man Greg Monks to take place next week
Greg Monks, 38, was reported missing after leaving the main strip in Albufeira whilst on a stag do between May 27 and May 28. On June 4, Judicial Police in Portugal confirmed that the body of a man, a 38-year-old British citizen, was discovered in the Cerro de Aguia area, where Greg was last seen on CCTV. Greg's loved ones have now shared his funeral details. The funeral service will take place at Daldowie Crematorium in Broomhouse at 4pm on Wednesday, June 25. Greg's family and friends are invited to attend. READ NEXT: Balloon release to be held in memory of Cambuslang man His family have asked those who wish to attend not to bring flowers but to instead make donations to Cash for Kids on the day. A statement published by Janice Stevens' Independent Funeralcare on Facebook reads: 'The family have asked that we announce the following funeral arrangements for the late Greg Monks. 'A service will be held at Daldowie Crematorium, Broomhouse, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 4pm, (East Chapel) to which all family and friends are respectfully invited. 'Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, the family have asked to please make donations on the day to Cash for Kids.' A special balloon release has also been organised in memory of Greg. It will take place at the field at Fullarton Park in Glasgow's East End from 7pm on Monday, June 23. Jillian Monks, Greg's sister, asked those who wish to attend to gather at this time and to please bring a blue balloon. The balloons will then be released at around 7.15pm.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Rape charge against asylum seeker in taxpayer-funded hotel kept quiet to avoid inflaming ‘community tension in cover up'
Nigel Farage has demanded the council officials who hid the truth face the sack 'RAPE COVER-UP' Rape charge against asylum seeker in taxpayer-funded hotel kept quiet to avoid inflaming 'community tension in cover up' A RAPE charge against a man staying in an asylum hotel was kept quiet — as officials feared inflaming 'community tension'. There were also two other rape cases where it was not disclosed that the suspects were in taxpayer-funded asylum hotels. Advertisement 4 Council officials recommended rape charges against an asylum seeker living at a taxpayer-funded hotel be kept quiet Credit: Darren Fletcher Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the 'perception of a migrant cover-up' was growing. He went on: 'The illegal small-boat crossings are a national security emergency. "We've seen terrorism, murders and rapes from those who've come here illegally. It's outrageous. 'Women in towns with asylum hotels shouldn't have to live in fear. Advertisement READ MORE ON ASYLUM SEEKERS BOUND FOR BRITAIN Speaking French & German… migrants booted out of EU heading to Britain The authorities must trust the public with the truth and act to protect them.' The rape suspects were all housed in Home Office-funded accommodation in Portsmouth, London and Manchester. At Portsmouth, the alleged rape was followed by a concerted effort to keep secret the suspect's link to an asylum hotel. He was charged with rape and voyeurism after the alleged attack on a woman on June 11. Advertisement Police confirmed to The Sun he had been at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, used to house asylum seekers. The man appeared at Portsmouth magistrates' court on June 16. He was remanded in custody and is no longer at the hotel. Migrants dodge tear gas in sprint across beach to reach boats bound for Britain No statement was issued about the case but Portsmouth City Council officials were briefed privately. The Sun understands councillors were warned not to speak about the suspect's housing, with one council officer raising fears about 'community tension' if it was known. Advertisement Another senior official privately urged Portsmouth Independents Party leader Cllr George Madgwick not to share 'privileged confidential information' after he took to social media to express his frustration. 4 Reform leader Nigel Farage has called for dismissals of the council officials involved Credit: Getty 4 Robert Jenrick MP has warned the 'perception of a migrant cover-up' was growing Credit: Getty Cllr Madgwick said: 'This is precisely why the public don't trust politicians and public bodies: things are hidden that should be disclosed. Advertisement Anyone involved in any form of cover-up from disclosure to the public should question their role in a publicly funded position.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said last night: 'The council officials who hid the truth about these serious allegations should immediately face the sack. "Decent people are getting angrier every day.' Portsmouth City Council effectively admitted it chose not to go public, saying it was informed of the charge ahead of the court hearing but left public statements to police. Advertisement A spokesman said: 'We knew the Home Office accommodation link would become public knowledge through the court proceedings and, based on events elsewhere in the country, were conscious there may be community tensions related to it.' Girl 'sex ordeal' EXCLUSIVE By Alex Diaz A MIGRANT living at an asylum seeker hotel raped a vulnerable 17-year-old girl, a court heard. Mohammed Akbari, 23, allegedly attacked her in bushes after they arranged to go to a park, having first met at a hospital. The teen felt dizzy after Akbari, from Iran, gave her an alcoholic drink, Uxbridge magistrates' court heard. She allegedly told him to stop the assault, in Harmondsworth, West London, on June 9. He claims she consented to sex. Akbari arrived in the UK last year, claiming he is Christian and at risk in Iran. He is in custody and will return to court on July 18. Two similar cases also saw no public statements issued about the suspects' links to asylum housing. One involved a 27-year-old man staying at a hotel in Kensington, West London. He faces multiple charges over a serious sex attack, including rape and attempted rape. Advertisement He pleaded not guilty on June 2 and was remanded in custody before a trial in October. In Manchester, a Jordanian with an asylum claim under way was charged with rape while living at a Home Office-contracted hotel. He appeared at Tameside magistrates' court last month and was remanded in custody until a crown court hearing next week. The man, 34, has yet to enter a plea. Meanwhile, an asylum seeker in a hotel in Yorkshire was charged with raping a girl aged 13 to 15 last Boxing Day. 4 There have been multiple assaults involving asylum seekers across the UK Credit: Alamy Advertisement Last night the Government said: 'We have taken action to ban foreign nationals who commit sexual offences from being granted asylum.' Our revelations come after an illegal migrant was jailed for raping a girl of 15, amid claims he did not understand 'cultural differences'. Afghan national Sadeq Nikzad, 29, pounced on the teen in Falkirk in October 2023. Defence counsel Janice Green told the High Court in Livingston there was a 'cultural barrier' with Nikzad's home nation where child marriage is common. There is no suggestion any of the accused in the three latest rape cases are linked to grooming gangs. Advertisement But the issue of alleged criminality by illegal arrivals was raised in an official report this week. A damning review by Dame Louise Casey found they are involved in a 'significant proportion' of live police investigations into child sex grooming gangs. The report found police and council leaders covered up the scale of Asian grooming gangs since concerns were first raised in 2009 as they feared being called racist or raising community tensions. Additional reporting: RICHARD MORIARTY
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Mike Lynch's sunken yacht glimpsed above surface ahead of being fully raised
Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off the coast of the Italian island on August 19, including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. The 56-metre (184ft) yacht is set to be lifted to the surface near the fishing town of Porticello over the weekend before being taken to nearby Termini Imerese — where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based. On Friday, parts of the accommodation areas above deck and the hull were seen above the surface as teams worked to install additional lifting straps before the yacht was lowered back under the waterline ahead of being fully raised at the weekend. Investigators in the UK and Italy say raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened. Last week, salvage teams expected the boat to be raised later in June, but thanks to 'accelerated progress', the timeline was brought forward. The yacht's 72-metre (236ft) mast was cut off on Tuesday using a remote-controlled tool and rested on the seabed to be picked up later. Over the last few days, salvage teams worked to ease the hull into an upright position and give access to the yacht's right side, which had previously been lying flat on the seabed 50 metres below the surface. The yacht is currently supported by strong steel straps attached to Hebo Lift 10 — one of Europe's most powerful sea cranes. If all goes to plan, sea water will be pumped out of the hull as the boat is raised to the surface before being carried to Termini Imerese on Monday, where it will be lifted onto a specially made steel cradle on the quayside. Marcus Cave of British firm TMC Marine, which is overseeing the salvage efforts, said: 'The salvage team has made very substantive progress in the last 10 days. 'They are now preparing for the final, complex and delicate lifting operation, to bring Bayesian to the surface and ultimately into port.' The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to the fishing village of Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation, which began last month. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigators said in an interim report that the Bayesian was knocked over by 'extreme wind'. The yacht had a vulnerability to winds but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said. US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, also died in the sinking. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent. The tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June last year of carrying out a massive fraud over the sale of the firm to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011. The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal in the case in the US.
