A court has overturned a ban on a book by the detective who led the Madeleine McCann investigation.

The Truth Of The Lie by Goncalo Amaral will be allowed back on the shelves in Portugal following a ruling by Lisbon’s Court of Appeal.

In the book, the former police chief claims Madeleine died in an accident and accuses her parents Gerry and Kate of faking her abduction. The couple, both doctors, insist she was snatched and still plan to sue Amaral.

In September last year the McCanns, from Rothley, Leics, won an injunction banning the book from being sold in Portugal.

They said that Amaral’s claims meant people were no longer looking for their daughter. But yesterday the judge said the book did not breach the McCanns’ rights to privacy because they had done TV interviews in a bid to find their daughter.

Now a 50-minute DVD documentary to accompany the book will also be allowed to be sold.

The McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell said last night: “The legal action against Mr Amaral is very much continuing.

“Kate and Gerry’s lawyers are examining this latest court action and are considering an appeal.”