Madeleine McCann's parents lose 14-year libel battle against Portuguese cop

20 September 2022, 09:22 | Updated: 20 September 2022, 12:59

The parents of Madeleine McCann have lost their libel battle against a former Portuguese police officer who suggested they were responsible for her disappearance.

Kate and Gerry McCann took action against Goncalo Amaral, 62, for statements in his 2008 book - The Truth of the Lie - and they have been locked in a bitter courtroom fight ever since.

Lawyers for the couple had argued that Portuguese authorities had breached their right to a private and family life in the way the courts there dealt with their libel claims against Mr Amaral.

In a judgment published on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights found that the couple's reputation had been damaged by the fact that they were made official suspects in the case for a short time, rather than Mr Amaral's comments.

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The pair initially won the first round and an injunction was granted to prevent further sales of the book.

However, Mr Amaral appealed the decision and after years of litigation won the case in 2017.

In a last ditch appeal, the McCanns took the case to the European Court of Human Rights and have been waiting for a ruling ever since.

Madeleine disappeared while on holiday with her family in Portugal in May 2007.

Her parents now have three months to appeal the decision.

It comes after German investigators earlier this year found new evidence against the prime suspect in her disappearance, a prosecutor revealed in an interview on Portuguese television.

Convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner was declared a suspect in the case by Portuguese officials in April as a 15-year legal deadline approached, and he has been under investigation by German officials for two years.

In May the McCanns said it was essential they find out the truth as they marked the 15th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance.