Who did the key witness see? Police say it is possible that family saw Maddie being taken by her abductor Could Irish family have witnessed toddler being snatched? Retired businessman saw man carrying blonde child Thought at the time it was Gerry McCann, but proved to be elsewhere The Metropolitan Police have issued this e-fit picture of a man who they believe may be connected with Madeleine McCann's disappearance The new Crimewatch appeal focused on a claim by an Irish family that they saw a man carrying a child through Praia da Luz at around the time Madeleine McCann was found to be missing. Two differing e-fits of the suspect were issued, and police say it is possible the family did see the three-year-old being spirited away by her abductor. The sighting came when Martin Smith, a retired businessman in his 70s, was walking back to his apartment in the Algarve resort following a meal and drinks at a bar with his wife and children. At a spot a six-minute walk from the McCanns" holiday accommodation, they saw a man carrying a blonde child aged around four. It was just before 10pm and the street lighting was poor. Although Mr Smith admitted he was not wearing his glasses at the time he later said he thought the man could have been Gerry McCann. This is an impossibility as dozens of witnesses confirmed he was at the holiday complex at Madeleine went missing in May 2007 while on holiday in Portugal with her family 10pm. British police have also said they are certain that Mr McCann has nothing to do with his daughter's appearance. Speaking to Portuguese police a few weeks after Maddie disappeared, Mr Smith said it was "not possible to recognise the individual." His grandchildren were also unable to identify the man or the girl - but thought she could have been Madeleine. Yet in September 2007 Mr Smith suddenly called police again to say he believed the man he saw could have been Gerry McCann. He had been watching television coverage of the family returning to Britain. However numerous witnesses say they were with Mr McCann at the tapas restaurant at the time in question - so he could not possibly have been 500 yards away. This has led to Mr Smith's account being called into question. The retired businessman from County Louth, Ireland, was staying in Praia da Luz with his wife Mary, now 65, his son Peter and his wife and their children. He part owned an apartment in the resort and visited it three times a year.