An Irish woman has come forward with disturbing allegations against Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, claiming she was raped at knifepoint by the convicted paedophile more than two decades ago.

Hazel Behan, 41, says she was violently attacked in Praia da Luz, the same Algarve resort where Madeleine vanished in 2007. The shocking incident, she says, took place 21 years ago — but when she went to authorities, her claim was allegedly brushed aside.

"They were dismissive of her claim," she said of the Portuguese police at the time.

Hazel says she bravely reported the rape to police shortly after it happened but was met with indifference. Rather than launch a proper investigation, Hazel claims she was the one who came under scrutiny.

"She said they continued to follow her for the next few weeks to analyse her behaviour," believing that investigators were "checking to see if she was sexually promiscuous or not."

The harrowing account adds to the mounting pressure on authorities to revisit historical allegations against Brueckner, who remains jailed in Germany on separate charges and under investigation in relation to Madeleine’s disappearance.