Madeleine McCann’s parents have lost their appeal over the acquittal of Gonçalo Amaral, a former inspector of the Judiciary Police, who claimed in his book, ‘Madeleine, Truth of the Lie,' that Kate and Gerry McCann had been responsible for her disappearance.
Amaral wrote that the McCanns faked the abduction of Madeleine, claiming that she had died in the Praia da Luz holiday apartment in May 2007.
In April, 2016, the Court of Appeal overturned the judgement that had required Amaral to pay €250,000 to each of Madeleine McCann's parents, plus interest for late payment, but the McCanns appealed to the High Court.
This appeal now has been dismissed and Madeleine’s parents lost the case without leave for any further appeal.
“What we have been told by our lawyers is obviously extremely disappointing,” the couple said in a statement. “It is eight years since we brought the action and in that time the landscape has dramatically changed, namely there is now a joint Metropolitan police-Policia Judiciaria investigation which is what we’ve always wanted.
“The police in both countries continue to work on the basis that there is no evidence that Madeleine has come to physical harm. We will, of course, be discussing the implications of the supreme court ruling with our lawyers in due course.”
Previously, the McCanns' lawyer suggested that her clients would present the case to the European Court of Human Rights if they were unsuccessful in pursuing their civil claim through the Portuguese courts.
This, the McCanns now can do as they have exhausted all legal avenues in the Portuguese system.
Comments
You're perfectly right, there was never need of searching for Madeleine, it'd have been enough to put a bit more pressure on those two vultures who happen to be her parents and they would have said what really happened to Madeleine. Amaral saw right and clearly and spoke the truth but this is the way it is in this upsidedown world, who speaks the truth will be punished, any whistleblower can confirm that.
I hope that you are not living in PT. If so, you'd better Brexit as well and go home! If not, don't come here, it must be like hell to you
Amaral's book is very interesting, as is Tony Bennets. I believe that there is really no need to search any more for this chiild, as the two books suggest.
A decision by what passes as the 'Highest Court' in the least important, most corrupt and most backward country in Western Europe. Surely - if Portugal had an impartial, effective judiciary and police force it would break the cycle of being the 'lowest of the low' ?
They have spent quite enough taxpayers' money with the help of Cameron and the Portuguese legal system. The last thing we want is more expense through the ECHR and more press coverage.
Go away!
Accusations were laid against Mr Amaral and he had the right to defend himself and he did so through his book.