In the continuing story of the McCanns and their action against policeman turned best-selling author Gonçalo Amaral, the libel trial resumed this morning at Lisbon's Palace of Justice. The McCanns insisted that Amaral’s book The Truth of the Lie had caused them great distress, was shocking and was an affront to their family.
At play is a cool €1.2 million, the sum the McCanns are seeking in damages.
Mrs McCann this morning gave her account for a hour claiming that Amaral's book has got in the way of efforts to find her daughter Madeleine whose whereabouts is still unknown.
The book suggests that Madeleine died accidentally and that Gerry McCann somehow had removed and disposed of his daughter’s body.
After the final day for the McCanns, Gerry McCann spoke to reporters outside the court suggesting that whoever had taken Madelien must have been having a good laugh at the Amaral theory for the past six years.
Mr McCann said he and his wife were pleased at the recent actions taken by British and Portuguese police in Praia da Luz with diggers and sniffer dogs.
The court will reconvene on Thursday for closing arguments from Amaral's new lawyer, Dr. Miguel Cruz Rodrigues, from his publisher and from the makers and presenters of the TV documentary based on the book.
Comments
That law and order in Portugal is all about controlling their 'little people'. Watching out for holidaying foreigners or criminals passing through is of minimal priority.
So there was no procedure then for activating a professional standard of search following a child abduction.
Why else have this nonsensical Judicial Secrecy on the one hand from 'investigators' - and omerta / silence in response by Portuguese citizens on the other ?
Read up on the Meco Praia Parents ordeal finding out ... anything ! To explain their dead children.
Judicial Secrecy is only ever intended to 'clean up' crime scenes involving 'big people' or allow space for bungs to lose or alter evidence. Or nobble Tribunal staff, Prosecutors or Judges.
Just look at the Portuguese Justice Secretary's 2014 failing attempts to investigate known 'breaches of this secrecy' !!
Perhaps many more unknown ... and Portugal described by Interpol as a Gateway into / out of Europe for this horrendous crime.
A staggeringly high number ... for a country that originally, when Madeline McCann went missing - claimed this sort of thing was unknown in this country. Portuguese parents are known to be good parents.
Fully aware of this via Interpol years ago - helps explain UK efforts to find the missing child.
Shining a light into these dark recesses and continuing to do so .... never letting the light be turned off !