Paedophile who lived in Carlingford will speak to Maddie detectives

3 June 2009
Dundalk Democrat
Tamara O'Connell

A PAEDOPHILE who lived in Carlingford has agreed to speak to detectives investigating the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann. Serial sex offender, Raymond Hewlett has said he will answer the questions of two British ex-policemen employed by the little girl's family. The father-of-eight, who has convictions for kidnapping and raping or molesting four young girls in England, has lived on and off in Ireland for the past two decades.

Hewlett, aged 64, sought a haven from vigilantes in a quiet cottage in Cooley in 1998, but was recognised in north Louth in mid-2000. When his photos appeared in Irish newspapers locals identified him as living in a cottage in Carlingford. However, Hewlett - who has also lived in Donegal and Kerry - disappeared before gardai arrived and hasn't been seen in Ireland since.

Hewlett is said to have been staying around an hour's drive from the McCanns' holiday flat in Praia da Luz in Portugal when Madeleine vanished in May 2007. The convicted paedophile, who is reportedly recovering from throat cancer in Germany, told journalists when he emerged from hospital that he would speak to former UK detectives Dave Edgar and Arthur Cowley . Edgar and Cowley flew to Germany to quiz Hewlett about Madeleine McCann but when they were refused access to him by hospital authorities, they returned to the UK. Hewlett has denied having any involvement in the toddler's disappearance but told reporters he will speak to the investigators to help them eliminate him from the private investigation.

(Earlier article:)
27 May 2009
Maddie case suspect lived in Carlingford
Dundalk Democrat
Tamara O'Connell

A PAEDOPHILE who lived in Carlingford is being investigated by detectives in connection with the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann.  Serial sex offender, Raymond Hewlett, who has convictions for kidnapping and raping or molesting four young girls in England, has lived on and off in Ireland for the past two decades.  After being released from jail for his monstrous sex crimes, Hewlett went on the run and eventually sought a haven from vigilantes in a quiet cottage in Cooley in 1998.  The father-of-eight was spotted in north Louth in mid-2000 and when his photos appeared in Irish newspapers locals identified him as living in a cottage in Carlingford.  However, Hewlett - who has also lived in Donegal and Kerry - had disappeared before gardai arrived and hasn't been seen in Ireland since.