Kate and Gerry McCann have been refused permission to give evidence at the Portuguese libel trial against Gonçalo Amaral and his book 'The Truth of the Lie' according to their spokesman. No reason has been given.
The McCanns had asked to give evidence at the Lisbon trial but an unamed source 'close to the family' said that judge Maria Emilia Melo e Castro refused permission for the McCanns to give evidence at the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday 7th January.
The Leicestershire couple are reported to be disappointed by the decision. Isabel Duarte, the McCann's lawyer, may be instructed to appeal against the decision.
The McCanns launched a £1 million legal action against the 51 year-old former Portuguese police inspector Gonçalo Amaral, the publisher of his book, and the makers of a documentary that was based on the opinions expressed in the book. The McCanns claim that the former detective's printed allegations damaged the hunt for their daughter Madeleine and made their distress that much more unbearable.
Amaral's assertion that Madeleine died from an overdose of sedatives and that her parents covered up her death did nothing to improve relations with the McCanns. Amaral initially led the Madeleine enquiry before he was sacked.
Last October Trish Cameron, Gerry McCann's sister, told the Lisbon court that the couple's anguish over the disappearance of their 4-year old daughter was "multiplied 100 times" by Amaral's book. The McCanns have referred to Amaral as a 'poisonous liar' and have accused him of being a manipulative money-grabber.
Madeleine disappeared from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Lagos (pictured) in May 2007 where she was sleeping with her twin siblings. Her parents were dining at a nearby restaurant with friends.