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THE parents of Madeleine McCann were
awarded £428,000 in damages yesterday
against a Portuguese police chief who
libelled them in a book about the hunt
for their daughter.
Kate and Gerry McCann were last night
"absolutely delighted" after winning the
Lisbon court case against Goncalo Amaral
which had dragged on for six years.
The couple believe the result will
"significantly boost" the chances of
finding Madeleine alive, according to
their lawyer.
The money will go into the fund set up
to find the McCanns' daughter, who
disappeared aged three from a holiday
apartment the family were renting in
Praia da Luz on the Algarve coast in May
2007.
The couple, who have 10-year-old twins
Sean and Amelie, said they were
"delighted with the judge's verdict,"
adding: "We want to emphasise that the
action was never about money. It was
entirely focussed on the libels on our
other children and the damage that was
done in the search for Madeleine. A lot
has changed in the six years since we
launched the action and we are pleased
that there is still an active
investigation in both Portugal and the
UK."
Amaral, who is now retired, led the
first investigation into Madeleine's
disappearance.
He wrongly accused the couple of faking
Madeleine's abduction after he said she
died in an accident.
In a book called The Truth Of The Lie,
which is now banned, he claimed the
McCanns hid Madeleine's body and set up
a £2million fund to cash in on the
tragedy.
The detective then repeated the vile
claims in a television documentary.
The McCanns sued Amaral for libel and in
a written verdict a Lisbon court has
awarded the couple 250,000 euros
(£179,000) each in damages. He must also
pay them £70,000 interest.
The McCanns, both doctors from Rothley,
Leics, were deeply hurt by Amaral's book
which was released in 2008 just three
days after the Portuguese police case
was closed.
Giving evidence at Lisbon's Palace of
Justice last year, the couple spoke of
their "devastation, desperation, anxiety
and pain" over his claims.
The McCanns also said that the book and
documentary had hampered support from
the Portuguese people as they looked for
their daughter.
Scotland Yard's multimillion pound
re-investigation into Madeleine's
disappearance is continuing. |
