Kate and Gerry McCann will launch their libel action against former police chief Goncalo Amaral in Lisbon on Friday.

They want a permanent ban on his book The Truth of the Lie, in which he challenged their version of events the night their daughter Madeleine vanished in May, 2007.

And they want around a million pounds in damages, money they say will go to the Madeleine Fund to support the continuing search for her.

I'm not expecting them to give evidence at the opening of a hearing that may drag on for several months.

In September, the McCanns got a temporary ban on the book, which they claim is hampering public support for the search.

Mr Amaral had many of his assets frozen and thousands of unsold copies of the book were returned to the McCann lawyers.

It sounds like a potentially explosive courtroom confrontation, but I understand Mr Amaral may not even be there.

Rumours on the ground suggest he may be across the city launching a new book.

  Gonçalo Amaral's new book,
"The English Gag - The story of a forbidden book",
will be publicly launched on Friday, the 11th of December, 2009, at the Ler Devagar - Lx Factory bookshop, in Lisbon, at 6.30 p.m.
With a preface by Francisco Moita Flores, the book will be presented by Professor José Adelino Maltez.