Men Convicted Of Pedophilia In Portugal May Have Links To Madeleine McCann

Sep. 5 2010, Published 7:20 a.m. ET

A group of powerful and wealthy men who were convicted of sex crimes against children in Portugal may prove to be a link to missing Madeleine McCann, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Madeleine disappeared from the Praia da Luz resort where here parents were staying in May, 2007. The British couple, Kate and Gerry McCann, have remained active in the search for their daughter ever since.

Now a prominent attorney in Portugal, who was himself a victim of the pedophilia ring, believes the answer to Madeleine's whereabouts may be at hand.

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The ring, an astounding group made up of a doctor, an attorney, a TV host and a former ambassador, among others, was sentenced to jail Friday after being convicted of kidnapping children from state-run orphanages.

But attorney Pedro Namora believes their activities may have extended far beyond orphanages.

"It is possible that those connected with the ring who have not been caught may be involved in Madeleine's disappearance," Namora told the UK's Express newspaper. "I do think detectives should look at the possibility."