William Tyrrell’s foster parents hit out at claims of new suspect

The foster parents of William Tyrrell have hit out at an assertion by police that they are closing in on a new suspect in his disappearance.

The foster parents of William Tyrrell have hit out at an assertion by police that they are closing in on a new suspect in his disappearance, labelling the claim “fake news’’.

Rather than welcoming the possible breakthrough in the case after seven years the couple, who cannot be identified, released a statement saying: “Once again we are forced to watch others objectify William for personal gain.”

“To publish unverified claims, without consideration to the hurt that articles of this nature cause, is disrespectful and devastating to everyone who knows and loves William,” the statement said.

It comes as the inquest into William’s disappearance and presumed death has been halted due to police identifying a new suspect.

The last known photo taken of William on the day he went missing.

Detectives are now liaising with Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame, who has postponed handing down her findings into his disappearance.

The coroner had signalled she would be delivering her findings in June but that was delayed amid internal conflict over who police believe was to blame for his disappearance, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Counsel assisting the coroner Gerard Craddock SC was to file his submissions by February after the emotionally charged 19-month inquest into the three-year-old’s suspected death, but was given until April 30.

No fresh date has yet been set for the ­inquest to conclude.

Among those the ­inquest heard were no longer persons of interest is convicted paedophile Frank Abbott, 79, who remains in jail for sex offences.

Three-year-old William Tyrrell.

William Tyrrell has not been seen since 2014.

Also cleared was washing machine repair man Bill Spedding, who was wrongly targeted by detectives early in the investigation.

He is suing police, claiming malicious prosecution of historical child abuse ­allegations of which he was completely cleared.

Another person found to have no involvement was Paul Savage, who lives ­opposite William’s foster grandmother’s former house at Kendall, on the NSW mid-north coast, from where William disappeared.

Mr Savage was at the centre of a case that led to the conviction of former detective Gary Jubelin, who was once in charge of the Tyrrell investigation.

Mr Jubelin was stood down in 2019 after he was charged with, and then convicted of, illegally recording four conversations with Mr Savage.

Former NSW Police Detective Gary Jubelin was once leading the investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrrell. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Police, SES, RFS, SLSA and local volunteers search for the boy around Kendall. Picture: Nathan Edwards

He has since quit the force but keeps in touch with William’s foster family.

No one has been charged with William’s disappearance, which occurred on September 12, 2014.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Monday that detectives were pursuing a suspect who was previously ruled out by investigators.

“We believe we can identify who it may be or the circumstances of his disappearance,” Chief Inspector David Laidlaw, who took over Strike Force Rosann from Mr Jubelin, told Sky News in July.

“We have thoughts on what occurred to William, there is a range of thoughts.”

When asked if he knew who was responsible and what happened he replied: “Yes.”

William’s foster grandmother — who along with his foster mum and his older sister was the last to see him alive — died in March this year, aged 88.

They had looked after him since he was taken from his birth parents at the age of nine months because of their history of substance abuse and domestic violence. His birth parents kept in touch and his father last saw William a month before he vanished.

The inquest, which began in March 2019, has heard from dozens of witnesses.

Originally published as William Tyrrell’s foster parents hit out at claims of new suspect