Maddie: Amaral to pay 500 thousand euros, 28 April 2015

Maddie: Amaral to pay 500 thousand euros Correio da Manhã 28.04.2015 15:20 Former PJ inspector will have to pay the parents of Maddie. Civil court prohibits Gonçalo Amaral from selling new editions of the book The former inspector of the Judicial Police (PJ) Gonçalo Amaral has been ordered to pay 500,000 euros to the parents of Madeleine McCann, for damages caused by the publication of the book entitled 'Maddie: The Truth of the Lie', the Portuguese lawyer of the British couple said, on Tuesday, to Lusa. The civil court ordered Gonçalo Amaral "to pay to each of the primary claimants [Kate McCann and Gerald McCann] the compensatory amount of 250 thousand euros plus default interest at the statutory civilian rate, since January 5, 2010, until full payment is made". Interest on the arrears, according to the McCanns' lawyer, is currently 106,000 euros. In addition to this payment, the court also decreed a ban on the sale and publication of new editions of the book, forbidding even new editions of the DVD, as well as the sale of copyright of the book and DVD. This process has dragged through the court for over five years, with successive postponements of trial sessions and an attempted out of court settlement between the parties, which was never realized.

Madeleine McCann's parents win Portuguese libel case and awarded £357k, 28 April 2015

Madeleine McCann's parents win Portuguese libel case and awarded £357k The Telegraph Portuguese judge orders former police detective Goncalo Amaral to pay Kate and Gerry McCann damages after libel trial over claims in his book, The Truth of the Lie By Martin Evans, Crime Correspondent 3:51PM BST 28 Apr 2015 Goncalo Amaral, the police chief who led the initial investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, has been ordered to pay her parents £357,000 in damages because of hurt caused to them following the publication of his book "The Truth of the Lie". The Civil Court of Lisbon also banned further sale of the book in which Mr Amaral claimed Madeleine had not been abducted, but had died in an accident in Praia da Luz. Kate and Gerry McCann launched a libel action against Mr Amaral, who was sacked from the investigation after several months of blunders, claiming they and their family had suffered emotional and psychological harm as a result of the claims made in the book. Mr Amaral's legal team have leave to appeal the award.   Madeleine McCann vanished without trace in May 2007 (PA) Madeleine disappeared from her family's holiday apartment on May 3, 2007 as her parents dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends. She was aged three at the time. Her disappearance became one of the most famous missing person's cases of all time and the investigation has led to a series of apparent dead ends. The McCanns - once named arguidos, or formal suspects - were finally cleared in July 2008, when the Portuguese police investigation was shelved for lack of evidence. But the following month, Mr Amaral who was sacked from the investigation and has since left the police force, published a book accusing them of faking their daughter's abduction to cover up her death in the apartment.   Kate McCann was visibly angry and upset during the libel trial (Francisco Seco/AP) In 2010, they won a court battle in Lisbon to ban sales of the book entitled "The truth of the Lie", a ruling that was overturned later that year. Mr McCann, a heart specialist and Mrs McCann, a former GP, then sought damages for themselves and their twins, plus further damages for the harm caused to the search for Madeleine. In a 36-page writ, first lodged in June 2009, they described Mr Amaral as a "self-obsessed, manipulative money-grabber" and accused him of libel and breaching their human rights. Portuguese police closed down their investigation over Madeleine's disappearance in 2008. But the Metropolitan Police launched their own operation three years later with Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood at the helm. Scotland Yard said in December that Mr Redwood, who has now retired, was being replaced by Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall.

Madeleine McCann's parents win libel damages in trial of police chief, 28 April 2015

Madeleine McCann's parents win libel damages in trial of police chief The Guardian Josh Halliday and Brendan de Beer in Portugal Tuesday 28 April 2015 16.00 BST Gonçalo Amaral, who led investigation for missing girl in Portugal in 2007, is found guilty of libelling Gerry and Kate McCann and ordered to pay €500,000 Kate and Gerry McCann in Lisbon last July after delivering statements in their case against Gonçalo Amaral. Photograph: Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images A former Portuguese police chief has been ordered to pay the parents of Madeleine McCann €500,000 (£357,953) in libel damages after accusing them of faking their daughter's abduction. Gonçalo Amaral, who led the botched police search for the three-year-old in 2007, has been on trial at Lisbon's Palace of Justice over claims he made in a book about Madeleine’s disappearance. Gerry and Kate McCann told the trial last year of their "devastation, desperation, anxiety and pain" at being accused by Amaral of hiding their daughter's body. In a lengthy ruling on Tuesday, Amaral was found guilty of libelling the pair and ordered to pay them €250,000 (£179,170) each in damages, plus €106,000 (£76,000) in interest. The judge also banned further sale of his book, the Truth of the Lie. The ruling comes days before the eighth anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance on Sunday. She vanished from her parents' holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the evening of Thursday 3 May 2007, triggering the biggest missing persons investigation for decades. The McCanns said after Tuesday's verdict that they were delighted with the judge's ruling and stressed that the action was never about money. In a statement issued by their family spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, they said: "We are delighted with the judge's verdict today. We want to emphasise the action was never about money. It was entirely focused on the effect of the libels on our other children and the damage that was done to 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. We would like to remind people that there is still an innocent little girl who is missing and that those responsible for her abduction remain at large." A renewed Scotland Yard inquiry, launched in 2011, has so far failed to make a significant breakthrough. In the past year, detectives have carried out fresh ground searches and interviews with witnesses in the Algarve resort. Kate and Gerry, who were originally seeking €1.25m (almost £900,000) in compensation from Amaral, said the damage caused by the retired officer's book was exacerbated because it could stop people coming forward with information if they believed his assertion that Madeleine was dead. However, the judge's 52-page ruling said €500,000 compensation was "adequate and proportional" to the damage caused by the allegations. Amaral's book, which was a bestseller in Portugal, was particularly controversial because it was released just three days after the Portuguese attorney general's office decided to shelve the search in July 2008. The court said it was not proven that the allegations made in the book "contributed to hindering, in any way, the course of the investigation" into Madeleine's disappearance. Isabel Duarte, the McCanns' lawyer, declined to comment on the libel result but said she had sent Kate and Gerry a copy of the ruling. Giving evidence in the libel trial last year, Kate McCann told how her son asked if she had hidden his missing sister's body after hearing Amaral's claims. She said she and Gerry had taken advice from a child psychologist on how to answer questions asked by Sean, nine, and his twin sister Amelie. Kate added: "They know Mr Amaral has written a book and about the documentary. They obviously don't know the detail. We had advice from a child psychologist. He told us to let the twins lead the conversation so if they ask a question try to answer it honestly. I believe what's in Mr Amaral's book and the documentary is very distressing to adults. To a child it could be very, very damaging." Describing the moment Sean asked her about Amaral's claims, Kate said: "Sean asked me: 'Mr Amaral said you hid Madeleine, didn't he?' It was October last year. I just said: 'He did. He said a lot of silly things.'" She told the judge, Maria de Melo e Castro, that Amaral's claims were even more damaging because they could prevent potential witnesses from coming forward with information if they believed his insistence that Madeleine is dead. Amaral, who was dropped from the Madeleine investigation after several blunders, vowed earlier last year to countersue the McCanns. Writing on Facebook, he said he would launch "a lawsuit against the McCann couple and others to be compensated for enormous damage they caused me – moral, professional and financial". He added: "The time to judicially react to those who put my privacy, intimacy, freedom of expression and opinion and survival at stake is approaching. They have tried to assassinate me civilly. But due to the support and solidarity of all of you, they were not successful." In October last year, the McCanns were awarded £55,000 in libel damages from the publisher of the Sunday Times over an article which alleged that the couple deliberately hindered the search for their daughter. That settlement came six years after the couple negotiated a £550,000 payment to Madeleine's fund from Express Newspapers over a series of defamatory articles in the Daily Express, Sunday Express and the Daily Star.

Madeleine McCann: Ex-cop ordered to pay damages to Kate and Gerry after claiming they covered up daughter's death, 28 April 2015

Madeleine McCann: Ex-cop ordered to pay damages to Kate and Gerry after claiming they covered up daughter's death Daily Mirror 16:05, 28 April 2015 | By Anthony Bond A Portuguese court today ruled that disgraced detective Goncalo Amaral should pay £179,000 each in damages to the couple following the publication of his book The Truth of the Lie   Payout: Goncalo Amaral, left, had been ordered to pay damages to Gerry and Kate McCann An ex-police chief has been ordered to pay damages of £358,000 to Madeleine McCann's parents after he wrote a book accusing them of being involved in their daughter's death. A Portuguese court today ruled that disgraced detective Goncalo Amaral should pay libel damages to the couple following the publication of his book The Truth of the Lie. The court in Lisbon ruled the book had caused hurt to the family, Sky News reported. Kate and Gerry McCann were accused in the book of covering up missing Madeleine's death, which they said left them "crushed and ­devastated". Kate said the policeman's claims left her unable to sleep at night and hampered the hunt for Madeleine, who vanished from the family's Algarve holiday apartment in 2007. The 46-year-old former GP told a court she believed Amaral's book, The Truth of the Lie, had turned the ­Portuguese people against the couple. Kate also revealed the policeman's smears had reached the ears of their nine-year-old son who asked her: "Mr Amaral said you hid Madeleine, didn't he?" She was asked previously in the hearing by judge Maria de Melo e Castro about claims she and 45-year-old Gerry dumped Madeleine’s body after she was accidentally killed in their Praia da Luz apartment. Kate branded the allegation "far-fetched" and added: "It was about Madeleine being killed and us having moved the body and then storing her in a freezer and then transporting the body in a hire car several weeks later. Goncalo Amaral has been ordered to pay £179,000 in damages each to Kate and Gerry McCann "We were so desperate to find Madeleine and I just felt it was destroying our chances." Asked how she felt when she first read Amaral's book, she replied: "I was ­devastated. It made me feel quite desperate because of injustice I felt towards my daughter and our family. "It was very painful to read and I felt sad for Madeleine and I also felt anxious and fearful because of the damage I felt it was doing in Portugal. "For example, he insists Madeleine was dead. He also essentially accuses myself and my husband of being somehow involved in her disappearance and of faking an abduction. Throughout the book he consistently smears myself and my husband." Kate and Gerry sued Amaral for libel, claiming his book and interviews on TV and radio are wrecking their bid to find their daughter, who was three when she vanished. Kate said: "I think Mr Amaral's book had most impact in Portugal. It was read by hundreds of thousands of people and this has been fortified by multiple media interviews. If they believed what he said, that Madeleine was dead, or that we were involved, they would not look for Madeleine and they would not come forward with information." Asked about a 2009 ­Portuguese TV documentary, based on the book, Kate said: "To be honest it felt even worse with regards to the potential power and damage. I felt the documentary was Mr Amaral being even more insistent. "For me that intensified the pain because of the injustice and anxiety about the damage this could cause to the search. We were working so hard, we were flat out, drained, doing ­everything in our power to try and find Madeleine. It was hard enough in itself but when your efforts are being crushed in this way, it intensifies the pain." Kate told the hearing in Lisbon she felt anxious about returning to Portugal where she believes locals are now ­suspicious of her and her husband. She said: "I still feel, and this is supported by what friends and ­associates have told us, that in Portugal the majority of people are against us. It also makes me feel uneasy and uncomfortable when I come to Portugal because I think people are thinking bad things about us. "There were many, many nights where I was unable to sleep because I was too upset and crying too much. This pain and emotion was caused by what Mr Amaral was doing." Asked about how Sean and his twin sister Amelie have been coping with the ­relentless bad publicity, Kate replied: "They know Mr Amaral has written a book and about the documentary. Sean asked me in October, 'Mr Amaral said you hid Madeleine, didn't he?' I just said, 'He did, he said a lot of silly things.'" Kate, of Rothley, Leics, told of a group in Britain called the Madeleine Foundation, which promotes Mr Amaral's claims. She said: "They posted leaflets in our village reinforcing Mr Amaral's theories just as the children were about to go to school." Gerry also told the court: "The book is an affront to me, my wife, my family and the people who believe in us. The ­documentary is even worse. It starts off that Madeleine is dead, that there is no ­abduction and essentially claims myself, my wife and our friends are liars and would be so cold and ruthless as to hide our ­daughter's body rather than try to help her should something have happened. "When the file was closed it was made clear there was no evidence Madeleine was dead and no evidence Kate and I were responsible for hiding her body."

Madeleine McCann's parents win libel payout, 28 April 2015

Madeleine McCann's parents win libel payout BBCNews 20 minutes ago | UK [approx. 17:10 pm] A Portuguese court has awarded the parents of missing Madeleine McCann damages of £357,000 after a libel case. Kate and Gerry McCann sued ex-police chief Goncalo Amaral, who led the search for their daughter, following claims he made about them in his book. Mr Amaral, who claimed the McCanns faked Madeleine's abduction, must also pay interest in excess of £70,000. Madeleine went missing in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007, aged three. The former police officer can appeal against the ruling by the court, which also banned further sales of his book. In his book - The Truth Of The Lie - Mr Amaral alleged Madeleine had died in the family's holiday apartment in the Algarve, and that her parents had simulated her abduction and hidden her body. The McCanns, from Rothley in Leicestershire, said the claims exacerbated their anguish and discouraged people from coming forward with information after Madeleine disappeared. Mr Amaral, who initially headed the inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, was taken off the case in October 2007. His book, published in 2008, has been a bestseller in Portugal. The McCanns were originally seeking 1.25m euros (almost £900,000) in damages from Mr Amaral, his publisher and a company that produced a documentary based on his book. During the trial, Mrs McCann told the court that when she had first found out about the allegations she was "quite desperate because of the injustice I felt towards my daughter and our family as a whole". "It was very painful to read and I also felt anxious and fearful because of the damage I felt it was doing here in Portugal," she said. Portuguese authorities dropped their investigation into Madeleine's disappearance in 2008, but Scotland Yard started a review in May 2011, after Prime Minister David Cameron responded to a plea from the McCanns. In 2013, the Met Police opened a formal investigation, known as Operation Grange, which remains ongoing. In June 2014 police officers used dogs to search several sites in the Praia de Luz resort, as well as "ground penetrating radar" to look for disturbed earth, but their searches did not yield any results.

Lisbon court orders McCanns be paid €500,000 in damages by former PJ detective, 28 April 2015

Lisbon court orders McCanns be paid €500,000 in damages by former PJ detective The Portugal News BY BRENDAN DE BEER · 28-04-2015 17:17:00 A Lisbon Civil Court on Tuesday issued a ruling in which former PJ police detective Gonçalo Amaral is to pay the parents of missing British toddler Madeleine McCann a sum of 250,000 euros each plus a large sum in interest. Amaral can still challenge the decision with the Lisbon Appeal Court. Calculations provided by the McCanns' legal team currently place the total amount of interest at €106,246. This interest plus damages amount to just under half the €1.2 million requested by Kate and Gerry McCann at the start of legal proceedings more than five years ago. The decision comes five days before what will be marking of the eighth year of Madeleine's disappearance from the holiday apartment she had been staying in with her parents in Praia da Luz. In its ruling, the court also prohibited the sale of the book written by Amaral with regards to Madeleine's disappearance. In the book, Amaral ruled out the widespread belief that she had been abducted. Instead he argued that she had died in an accident in the apartment on 3 May 2007. The book's publisher has also been banned from releasing any new editions and has to hand over all unsold copies. Isabel Duarte, the lawyer acting on behalf of the McCanns, opted not to comment on the decision. In the 52-page document, seen by The Portugal News shortly after the ruling was released, repeated references are made to the fact that the date of the release of Amaral's book (24 July 2008), took place only three days after the Portuguese Attorney-General's office decided to shelve the case. Isabel Duarte had argued that Amaral used privileged information in the book, with the court ruling that Amaral's freedom of expression was limited by his position as a former police detective and lead investigator in the case. But the court also found that it was not proven that the allegations made in the book "in any way contributed to the hindering of the course of the investigation into the disappearance of the minor Madeleine McCann." The court further rejected libel claims made by Kate and Gerry on behalf Madeleine and her twin siblings Sean and Amelie. In comments to Portuguese newspaper Expresso on Tuesday evening, Miguel Cruz Rodrigues, legal counsel for Gonçalo Amaral, said he knew nothing of the court's ruling. "I have not yet been notified by the court", he was quoted as saying, adding that he found it "very strange" that only one of the parties was aware of the verdict. He opted not to comment further until he had seen the actual judgment.

McCanns 'Delighted' With £433k Libel Victory, 28 April 2015

McCanns 'Delighted' With £433k Libel Victory Sky News (with video) 18:37, UK, Tuesday 28 April 2015 Kate and Gerry McCann say their legal action "was never about money" after winning a two-year libel trial in Portugal. A former Portuguese detective has been ordered to pay 606,000 euros (£433,000) to the parents of missing Madeleine McCann as their two-year libel trial comes to an end. Goncalo Amaral, who led the search for the little girl, was accused of making defamatory statements about Kate and Gerry McCann in a book he wrote. His 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie claimed the McCanns hid her body and faked an abduction after she died in an accident. Goncalo Amaral claimed the McCanns covered up Madeleine's death The two doctors said the book, which was a bestseller in Portugal, damaged the search for their daughter and added to their anguish. A civil court in Lisbon ruled against Mr Amaral, and ordered him to pay 500,000 euros (£357,000) in damages and 106,000 euros (£76,000) in interest to the McCanns. English police have come under criticism for renewing the search for the British youngster The McCanns had asked for £1m compensation when the trial began in 2012. The court also prohibited any more sales of the book, and gave the publisher 60 days to return all existing copies. It also ordered Valentim de Carvalho, who produced a TV documentary based on the book, not to sell any more copies of the film. The McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire, said they are "delighted" with the judge's verdict. "We want to emphasise that the action was never about money. It has always been focused on the effects of the libels on our other children and the damage that was done to the search for Madeleine," they said in a statement. "A lot has changed in the last six years since we started the action and we are pleased that there is an active investigation in both Portugal and the UK. "We would like to remind people that there is still an innocent little girl who is missing and that those responsible for her abduction remain at large." Madeleine went missing from the couple's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal, on 3 May 2007, as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant with friends. Despite a worldwide hunt, the little girl has never been found. Last year, British and Portuguese police examined patches of ground in the resort, but had no success. In October 2013, Mr McCann's sister Trish Cameron told the libel trial the couple's pain was "multiplied 100 times" by the book. The McCanns said they launched the libel action to stop the suffering the theories in the book have caused them. Mr Amaral can appeal the court's ruling. ------------------- Transcript of video By Nigel Moore Martin Brunt: [voice over, archive footage from June 2014] It's the long awaited judgment in the, errm... long running libel trial in Lisbon, errm... involving Kate and Gerry McCann, who had sued, errr... the former police officer... detective, errm... Goncalo Amaral over a book he wrote, errr... The Truth of the Lie. In the book he claimed that, errr... Madeleine had died as an accident in the holiday apartment in Praia da Luz and the couple had covered it up. Well, errm... the, errr... the result is that the, errr... former detective has been ordered by the judge to pay both the McCanns €250,000 - so that's, errr... a total of half a million euros. [to camera] Errm... That's the initial, errr... judgement, errm... I just spoke very briefly to the McCanns' lawyer in Lisbon who says: 'Well, the judgment is half a million euros, errm... but, errm... errr... the figure will be bigger, errm... because of, errr... interest that, errr... could have been earned on that, errr... on that money'. Errm... The judge has also ordered, errr... no more sale, errr... sales of the book, errm... and, errr... the editor of the book - or the publisher's of the book - have been given 60 days to give up all remaining copies of the book and the same applies to the producers of a TV documentary that was made, errm... on the basis, errm... off the back of the book, so, errm... a victory for the McCanns.

Gonçalo Amaral ordered to pay parents of Madeleine McCann €500,000 in damages, 28 April 2015

Gonçalo Amaral ordered to pay parents of Madeleine McCann €500,000 in damages Portugal Resident Posted by PORTUGALPRESS on April 28, 2015 In a court ruling that has left many in states of total disbelief, former PJ detective Gonçalo Amaral has been ordered to pay €500,000 in damages to the parents of Madeleine McCann. The long-running civil case for defamation centring on Amaral's book 'The Truth of the Lie' has finally "come to an end", Sky News reported on Tuesday. But whether this is an end, or simply yet another lurch in the tortuous proceedings, remains to be seen. "Mr Amaral, who led the (original) police search for the girl, can appeal the court's ruling", Sky concludes. It is a verdict that has set social media alight, with comments ranging from "I love Gonçalo Amaral" to more constructive pointers on how people can donate to his legal fund. While many are asking "how could this have happened?", Portuguese are suggesting it "an outrageous sum" for a country where people generally don't have that kind of money. Added to the libel 'win', Amaral is understood to be facing legal charges of another €106,000. "The court court also prohibited any more sales of the books and gave the publisher (Guerra e Paz) 60 days to return all existing copies", Sky continued, adding that the makers of the TV documentary based on the book are now prohibited from selling any more copies of their film. It is a far cry from the news published both in Portugal and UK in January hinting that Judge Emília Melo e Castro's "reading of the proven facts" suggested that an outright court win for the McCanns was "unlikely". British tabloid The Daily Express ran (belatedly) with the headline "Exclusive: McCanns will lose £1 million libel trial". Key points in the McCanns' case were listed as "not proven". Even Amaral agreed he was cautiously optimistic. But then came the long wait for the final verdict, and finally Tuesday's bombshell that despite all the McCanns' claims "not proved", Amaral was considered to have "caused harm" to Madeleine's parents to the extent that both are due compensation of €250,000. Even more baffling is the fact that his book has once again been "banned". A ban was overturned in October 2010 by Lisbon's appeal court and though the McCann couple appealed, their appeal was overruled by the Supreme Court of Justice in 2011. It cannot be without irony that Tuesday's announcement has been timed to coincide almost to the day with the 8th anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance from a rental apartment in Praia da Luz. By NATASHA DONN natasha.donn@algarveresident.com --------------- Added on 29 April 2015, as a final paragraph: Contacted for his thoughts on the ruling, Amaral told the Resident: “We are in the face of a mere battle in a war that is far from over."

New hope for Maddie: McCann parents win £350k court battle that could 'help find her', 28 April 2015

New hope for Maddie: McCann parents win £350k court battle that could 'help find her' Daily Star A DISGRACED former Portuguese police chief has been forced to pay £357,000 to the parents of missing Madeleine McCann after falsely accusing them of covering up the death of their own daughter. By Tom Rawle and Jerry Lawton / Published 28th April 2015 Gerry and Kate McCann said they were "absolutely delighted" to have ended the lengthy court battle against Goncalo Amaral, 55, who initially led the hunt for Madeleine before being axed. Amaral claimed in his book the youngster was not abducted, was dead and the McCanns had covered it up and hidden her body. The couple were 'devastated' by his allegations – which they insisted were false – and had harmed their search for Madeleine because some people may have stopped looking for her. They now believe the verdict can help finding the missing youngster, who vanished from their holiday apartment in the Algarve in May 2007. Their Portuguese lawyer Isabel Duarte told the Daily Star: "This verdict could not have come at a better time for them. "I informed them immediately by email and Kate wrote back to say they were absolutely delighted and so very happy. "Those were her words. "She really believes it can help the chance of finding Madeleine alive because their accuser suggested the little girl was dead. "We were always confident of a victory but in recent months had a few doubts. "But the fact that Mr Amaral has now been silenced is very good news."   Today, a Portuguese court found in the McCann's favour and ordered all remaining copies of the book and DVDs of an accompanying TV documentary to be handed over to the McCanns. The couple said the pay-out would 'significantly boost' their chances of finding Madeleine, who vanished from their holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on May 3 2007 while they dined with pals in a nearby tapas bar. Ms Duarte added: "I now hope and pray that they can find their daughter. "That was always our goal and with Mr Amaral being silenced there is now more of a chance. "Kate has won 250,000 Euros in damages and Gerry has also won 250,000 Euros. "They want the money to go into the fund to find Madeleine." Amaral has been ordered to hand all of is copies of the book and the DVD to Kate and Gerry with a total ban on the product being introduced. In a joint statement, the McCann's revealed they were delighted with the verdict. But added: "We would like to remind people that there is still a little innocent girl who is missing and that those responsible for her abduction remain at large. "We want to emphasise that the action was never about money. It was entirely focused 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." Last summer the McCanns, from Rothley, Leics, said they were left 'devastated and crushed' by Amaral's book which sold around 120,000 copies. Kate said Madeleine's twin siblings Sean and Amelie, now 10, knew the detective had written a book but did not know the detail. She told the court: "I believe that what's in Mr Amaral's book and the documentary is very distressing to adults. "To a child, it could be very damaging." Asked by the judge how she felt after reading it she said: "I was devastated. "It made me feel quite desperate because of the injustice I felt towards my daughter and our family as a whole. "It was very painful to read and I felt sad for Madeleine. I also felt anxious and fearful because of the damage I felt it was doing in Portugal." She accused Amaral, who was thrown off the investigation for criticising Brit police, of 'consistently smearing' her and her husband. A team of 31 Metropolitan Police detectives is continuing to work exclusively on the search for Madeleine. But a Police Federation chief recently called for the Brit probe to be wound down so the resources could be focussed instead on tackling crime in London. Amaral's lawyer Miguel Cruz Rodrigues insisted earlier today he knew nothing about the decision. He said: "I have yet to be notified by the court. "I prefer not to comment. I don't know the sentence." Amaral is expected to appeal the verdict.

Parents of Madeleine McCann WIN libel trial against Portuguese detective who is ordered to pay the couple £360,000, 28 April 2015

Parents of Madeleine McCann WIN libel trial against Portuguese detective who is ordered to pay the couple £360,000 Daily Mail Goncalo Amaral claimed in book couple were involved in disappearance McCanns told court they were left 'devastated and crushed' by allegations The couple also accuse Amaral of hampering the search for their daughter By SIMON TOMLINSON FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 15:51, 28 April 2015 | UPDATED: 19:03, 28 April 2015 A former Portuguese detective was today ordered to pay nearly £360,000 to Kate and Gerry McCann after a long-running libel trial. Goncalo Amaral had been on trial over claims he made in a book and a documentary that the couple were involved in their daughter Madeleine's disappearance. In a written verdict, a Lisbon court agreed that Amaral should pay Mr and Mrs McCann €250,000 (£179,000) each in damages and banned further sales of his book The Truth Of The Lie. The couple's lawyer Isabel Duarte also revealed that Amaral had been told to pay interest which she said stood at present at €106,000 (£76,000).   Kate and Gerry McCann have reportedly been awarded £360,000 in damages from an ex-Portuguese detective who wrote a book claiming their daughter Madeleine had died in an accident instead of being abducted ---------------------   Police chief Goncalo Amaral (above) ran the initial investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann ------------------ Madeleine was three when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, as her parents dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends. Mr Amaral, who led the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, released his book three days after the case was closed in 2008. He later took part in a documentary for Portuguese television in which he claimed that Madeleine was dead, that there had been no abduction and the McCanns had hidden her body. The couple, who accuse Amaral of hampering the search for their daughter, had been expected to receive around £1million in damages. Amaral's lawyers have leave to appeal the ruling. The McCanns told the court last summer they were left 'devastated and crushed' by his book, which sold around 120,000 copies before it was withdrawn when the couple won an injunction against the ex-police chief. Mrs McCann, 47, said Madeleine's twin siblings Sean and Amelie, now ten, knew Mr Amaral had written a book but didn't know the detail.   Amaral claimed Madeleine (above) had not been abducted, but had died in an accident in Praia da Luz ------------------ She told the court last July after applying to make a statement: 'I believe that's what's in Mr Amaral's book and the documentary is very distressing to adults. 'To a child, it could be very damaging.' Asked by the judge how she felt after reading the book, she said: 'I was devastated. 'It made me feel quite desperate because of the injustice I felt towards my daughter and our family as a whole. 'It was very painful to read and I felt sad for Madeleine. I also felt anxious and fearful because of the damage I felt it was doing in Portugal.' She went on to accuse Amaral, thrown off the investigation in 2007 for criticising British police, of 'consistently smearing' them. She also claimed they feared the book may have stopped people coming forward with information about their daughter's whereabouts. A team of 31 British detectives are working exclusively to find the girl. Mystery: British police shift through soil on an area of wasteland during a search for Madeleine McCann in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in June last year during their investigation into her disappearance --------------- The Metropolitan Police was tasked with investigating the disappearance after her family made a personal plea to David Cameron in 2011. Since Madeleine vanished, every possible theory has been explored, including that she was kidnapped by a paedophile or killed during a botched burglary. Others include being snatched by traffickers and sold to a childless couple and that she wandered out of the apartment and died in a tragic accident. However, not one shred of proof of what happened to Madeleine has been uncovered. Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, who took over Operation Grange in December, and her team travelled to Portugal to interview seven suspects and four witnesses, but have not released any information about what they discovered. Portuguese prosecutors also reopened their probe into Madeleine's disappearance last year and are conducting a separate investigation to one led by Scotland Yard.

Madeleine McCann: Kate and Gerry urge public to continue search for missing daughter after damages victory, 28 April 2015

Madeleine McCann: Kate and Gerry urge public to continue search for missing daughter after damages victory Daily Mirror 19:56, 28 April 2015 | By David Collins Portuguese police chief Goncalo Amaral was ordered to pay the family a total of £434,000 after his book claimed the parents covered up her death Libel: Kate and Gerry, top right, say claim against Amaral, left, was never about money Kate and Gerry McCann urged the public to continue searching for daughter Madeleine after the hunt received a huge cash boost when they won £358,000 in libel damages. Goncalo Amaral, the police chief who led the initial investigation into the youngster's disappearance, wrote a book claiming the McCanns covered up their daughter's death. He was ordered to pay the family damages of €500,000 (£358,000) along with an extra £76,000 to be paid in interest dating back to January 2010. Kate McCann said: "We're absolutely delighted and so very happy." Relieved: Kate and Gerry McCann And she and Gerry added in a statement: "We would like to remind people that there is still a little innocent girl who is missing and that those responsible for her abduction remain at large. "We want to emphasise that the action was never about money. It was entirely focused on the libels on our other children and the damage that was done in the search for Madeleine." Kate and Gerry, who have 10-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, went on: "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." Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "Obviously this was the right verdict. "It has been far too long but I am very pleased for Kate and Gerry, Sean and Amelie, that morally the right has been reached." Apartment: Maddie was taken from here Amaral's book "The Truth of the Lie" accuses the McCanns of faking their daughter's abduction to cover up her death in the apartment. The McCanns launched a libel action in 2009 claiming their family had suffered emotional and psychological harm as a result of the claims made in the book. Kate and Gerry, once named arguidos - a Portuguese term similar to formal suspect, but without being arrested or charged - were finally cleared in July 2008 after being interviewed several times by Portuguese detectives. Three days later Amaral's book was published in Portugal. Kate and Gerry lodged a 36-page writ in June 2009 describing Amaral as a "self-obsessed, manipulative money-grabber" and accused him of libel and breaching their human rights. Speaking today, their Portuguese lawyer Isabel Duarte said: "It was never about the money. It was about stopping awful lies being printed, which hindered the search for Madeleine." Missing: Madeleine As the couple prepare for the agonising eighth anniversary of Maddie's disappearance this Sunday, Isabel said: "This verdict could not have come at a better time for them. "I informed them immediately by email and Kate wrote back to say they were absolutely delighted and so very happy. "Those were her words. She really believes it can help the chance of finding Madeleine alive because their accuser suggested the little girl was dead. "This is the news we have been waiting for after six long years. "We were always confident of a victory but in recent months had a few doubts. But the fact that Mr Amaral has now been silenced is very good news. "He has to hand all copies of his book and the DVD to Kate and Gerry. Nothing he has produced about Madeleine can ever be on the shelves again. There is a total ban and that is all my clients ever wanted." Search goes on: Eight years have passed She added: "I now hope and pray that they can find their daughter. That was always our goal and with Mr Amaral being silenced there is now more of a chance. "They want the money to go into the fund to find Madeleine. "The case has been very hard work but worthwhile and an important victory for my clients. "I think they expected this decision. Mr Amaral's book which was available across the world was very harmful to the search for Madeleine. "I am happy and relieved for Kate and Gerry. They never deserved to be put through this extra agony." Front page: How Mirror reported her disappearance Maddie, who would now be aged 11, vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz in May 2007. She was aged three and just days away from her fourth birthday. Judge Maria Emilia Melo e Castro announced her decision in a 52-page document today. She ruled 84 facts had been proven, including that Amaral's book caused the McCanns "rage, desperation, anguish and worry and insomnia" by claiming Madeleine had died in their Algarve holiday apartment and they had faked her abduction to cover up the tragedy. She concluded 14 facts had not been proven, ruling Amaral's statement in his book had not led to Portuguese police halting their search for Madeleine. Amaral and publishers Guerra & Paz have been given 60 days to hand over any remaining copies of the book. The judgement also bans them from publishing new editions of the book. Kate, 47, from Rothley, Leics, said Madeleine's twin siblings Sean and Amelie, now ten, knew about Amaral's allegations, which also formed the basis for a subsequent TV documentary. Asked by the judge how she felt after reading the book, she said: "I was devastated. It made me feel quite desperate because of the injustice I felt towards my daughter and our family as a whole. "It was very painful to read and I felt sad for Madeleine. I also felt anxious and fearful because of the damage I felt it was doing in Portugal." She went on to accuse Amaral, thrown off the Madeleine McCann investigation in 2007 for criticising British police, of "consistently smearing" her and Gerry. She believes the book may have stopped people coming forward with information about their daughter's whereabouts. Amaral, 56, earned around £286,000 from his book and a TV documentary. He always denied defamation, insisting what he wrote was based on case files which had already been made public. Damages: Amaral made money out of book His lawyer Miguel Cruz Rodrigues claimed in the last open court hearing in December the McCanns had taken legal action against his client "to rid themselves of guilt for their negligent conduct" in leaving Madeleine and her siblings alone. He also claimed their lack of cooperation with the Portuguese police authorities had led to the archiving of the investigation in 2008. In that hearing Ricardo Correia Afonso, representing the McCanns, told the court: "What he published distorted the facts, and as a result the parents were judged and sentenced by public opinion. "His book is written like a novel and that's exactly what it is. The book and the DVD were produced to convince whoever saw or read them that the parents are guilty." Fatima de Oliveira Esteves, representing publisher Guerra e Paz at the same hearing, said Amaral "appeared to have invented" large parts of the book but argued: "The fact is those children were left alone and because of that fact one of them disappeared. Anxiety and depression were caused by the disappearance of the child, not because of the book." Portuguese prosecutors reopened their probe into Madeleine McCann's disappearance last year and are conducting a separate investigation to one led by Scotland Yard.

Cop who tried to frame McCanns must pay £350k, 29 April 2015

Cop who tried to frame McCanns must pay £350k Metro (paper edition)   by NICOLE LE MARIE Wednesday, April 29, 2015 A FORMER Portuguese detective who accused Kate and Gerry McCann of faking their daughter's abduction was yesterday ordered to pay them £350,000 after a long-running libel trial. Goncalo Amaral (pictured right) was sued after claiming in both book and documentary that the couple were involved in Madeleine's disappearance. With interest he will have to pay about £434,000, although the McCanns had sought almost double that figure in damages. The couple, who also have ten-year-old twins, said they were 'delighted' with the verdict. They stressed the action 'was never about money' adding: 'It was entirely focussed on the effect of the libels on our other children and the damage that was done to the search for Madeleine. 'We would like to remind people that there is still an innocent little girl who is missing and that those responsible for her abduction remain at large.' Madeleine was three when she -------------- Continued on Page 4 » ---------------- Book banned for claiming kidnap faked --------------------   « Continued from Page 1 ----------------- went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007, as her parents dined at a nearby tapas bar with friends. Portuguese police initially declared the parents suspects, but they were cleared in 2008 and the investigation was closed. Amaral, who led the initial investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, released his bestseller, The Truth Of The Lie, three days later before taking part in a documentary for Portuguese television. His book sold about 120,000 copies, and he earned a combined £286,000 from it and his TV appearance. Judge Maria de Melo e Castro banned further sales after ruling Amaral had acted 'illegally'. She declared 84 facts had been proven, including that the tome had caused the McCanns 'rage, desperation, anguish, worry and insomnia' by claiming Madeleine died in their holiday flat and they had faked her abduction. Amaral is expected to appeal.

Maddie lies cop to pay McCanns £434k, 29 April 2015

Maddie lies cop to pay McCanns £434k The Sun (paper edition, page 17) 'He has been silenced...that is good news' - LAWYER ISABEL DUARTE 'We're delighted, but it was never about the money' - KATE & GERRY LAST NIGHT ---------------- Six-year libel win By BEN PERRIN Wednesday, April 29, 2015 A FORMER Portuguese cop who claimed Kate and Gerry McCann were behind their missing daughter Madeleine's death must pay them £434,000 in damages. They were "delighted" after winning their six-year libel battle yesterday and will put the payout towards the search for their child. Ex-detective Goncalo Amaral, 56, who once led the hunt for Maddie, claimed the tot, then aged three, had died in her parents' Algarve holiday apartment in 2007. He said they faked an abduction to cover it up. But a judge in Lisbon ruled his book The Truth of the Lie, which has now been withdrawn, had not proven the allegations and caused "rage, anguish and worry" to the McCanns. Kate, 47, of Rothley, Leics, said: "It was never about the money. "It was about stopping awful lies which hindered the search for Madeleine." As the McCanns urged people to continue helping the hunt for Maddie, their lawyer Isabel Duarte said: "The fact Amaral's been silenced is good." Amaral, who earned £286,000 from his book, was thrown off the search for criticising British police.

McCanns £357,000 libel win, 29 April 2015

McCanns £357,000 libel win Daily Star (paper edition) The parents of Madeleine McCann won a £357,000 libel pay-out in Portugal yesterday and said they were "delighted with the judge's verdict". Full story: Page 9 ------------------- Maddie's parents get £357,000 libel compo Daily Star (paper edition, page 9) by JERRY LAWTON Wednesday, April 29, 2015 MADELEINE McCann's parents are hoping a £357,000 libel payout may help to find her. Former policeman Goncalo Amaral has been ordered to pay Kate and Gerry McCann damages over claims he made about their alleged involvement in her disappearance. The couple vowed to use the cash to help fund their continuing search for their daughter. Amaral, who initially led the hunt for Madeleine before being axed, claimed in his book the youngster was not abducted, was dead and the McCanns had covered it up and hidden her body. The couple were "devastated" by his allegations, which they insisted were false and had harmed their search for Madeleine. They had sought £1million in damages in a six-year libel battle. Yesterday a Portuguese court found in their favour and ordered all remaining copies of the book and DVDs of an accompanying TV documentary to be handed over to the McCanns. They said the payout would significantly boost their chances of finding Madeleine, who vanished from their holiday apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007 while they dined with pals in a nearby tapas bar. In a statement last night the couple said they were "delighted with the judge's verdict". But they added: "We would like to remind people that there is still a little innocent girl who is missing and that those responsible for her abduction remain at large. "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 to the search for Madeleine. We are pleased there is still an active investigation in both Portugal and the UK." Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell added: "Obviously this was the right verdict. It has been far too long but I am very pleased for Kate and Gerry, Sean and Amelie, that morally the right conclusion has been reached." A team of 31 Met police detectives is continuing to work exclusively on the search. But a Police Federation chief recently called for the Brit probe to be wound down so that the resources could be focussed instead on fighting crime in London.

Maddy: Detective did lie about death cover-up claim, 29 April 2015

Maddy: Detective did lie about death cover-up claim Daily Express (paper edition) The parents of Madeleine McCann yesterday won a £428,000 court victory McCANNS' LIBEL WIN: SEE PAGE 11 ------------------ McCanns win £428,000 over police chiefs slurs Daily Express (paper edition, page 11) By Tracey Kandohla and John Twomey Wednesday April 29 2015 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.

McCanns win £358k payout from cop, 29 April 2015

McCanns win £358k payout from cop Daily Mirror (paper edition) Court victory over Maddie abduction lies By DAVID COLLINS Wednesday, April 29, 2015 MADELEINE McCann's parents Kate and Gerry have won £358,000 in libel damages from a former police chief. A Portuguese judge ruled against Goncalo Amaral who claimed the couple staged their daughter's abduction in 2007. FULL STORY: PAGE 5 ------------------ Cash from cop lies will help Maddie hunt Daily Mirror (paper edition, page 5) Parents thrilled by libel ruling By DAVID COLLINS Wednesday, April 29, 2015 A LARGE libel payout awarded to Kate and Gerry McCann will help fund the search for their missing daughter Madeleine. The couple said they were "delighted" by the court's decision and believe it will give them a better chance of finding their girl alive. A judge ruled yesterday that ex-police chief Goncalo Amaral libelled the McCanns by claiming they faked their daughter's abduction from their holiday apartment in Portugal to cover up her death. Amaral, who led the initial investigation into the disappearance in 2007, has been ordered to pay Madeleine's parents £358,000 in libel damages. Kate and Gerry, who have 10-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, said: "We are delighted with the judge's verdict today. We want to emphasise the action was never about money. "It was entirely focused on the libels on our other children and the damage that was done in the search for Madeleine." Amaral, 56, made the claims in his 2008 book, The Truth of the Lie. The judge has banned further sales of the book which earned the now-retired police chief around £275,000. Her ruling in the Civil Court of Lisbon comes six years after the McCanns launched the libel action. RAGE Yesterday their lawyer Isabel Duarte said Amaral's "awful lies" had hindered the search for Madeleine. Sunday will mark the eight anniversary of her disappearance and Ms Duarte said: "This verdict could not have come at a better time. "She [Kate] really believes it can help the chance of finding Madeleine alive because their accuser suggested the little girl was dead." She added: "They want the money to go into the fund to find Madeleine." The judge ruled 84 facts had been proven, including that the book caused the McCanns "rage, desperation, anguish, worry and insomnia". She concluded 14 facts had not been proven, saying Amaral's claims had not led to Portuguese police halting their search in 2008. Amaral, who denied libelling the couple, must also pay £76,000 in interest. His lawyer Miguel Cruz Rodrigues insisted he knew nothing about the court's decision. Madeleine was three when she vanished from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz. Kate and Gerry, of Rothley, Leics, were named as arguidos, a Portuguese term similar to being a formal suspect, but were completely cleared in 2008. The Portuguese probe into the disappearance was reopened in 2013. Scotland Yard is also investigating.