The McCanns are seeking damages over claims about their missing daughter Madeleine (pictured)

 The wife of former Portuguese police chief Goncalo Amaral today reveals how the libel action brought against him by Kate and Gerry McCann wrecked their 10-year marriage. 

The McCanns will begin the action in Lisbon on Thursday seeking £1million damages over claims about their missing daughter Madeleine.

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Express, Mr Amaral’s wife Sofia, who is separated from her husband, said: ‘‘He is almost broke and the strain of all this legal action has made him ill and ended our marriage.” 

Kate and Gerry have decided not to attend but Mr Amaral, 54, will be there for the four-day trial even though he does not have to give evidence. He insists he does not have a secret pot of “Maddie gold” from the publication of his book The Truth Of The Lie and will defend his claim in it that Madeleine could have died accidentally in the Praia da Luz apartment on the Algarve on May 3, 2007, aged three.  

Sofia added: “I am really worried about his health.”