Murat trio win £800,000 in damages

The "seriously defamatory" allegations in nearly 100 articles were entirely untrue and caused "immense distress and damage", Mr Justice Eady heard at London's High Court.

Mr Murat, his friend Michaela Walczuch and IT consultant Sergey Malinka had each sued Associated Newspapers, Express Newspapers, MGN Limited and News Group Newspapers.

Their solicitor, Louis Charalambous, said that 34-year-old Mr Murat would receive a record settlement of £600,000 to help him and his family rebuild their lives, while Ms Walczuch and Mr Malinka had each secured "substantial six-figure settlements".

All three, who live in or nearby Praia da Luz from where Madeleine went missing in May 2007, will also have their legal costs paid.

Outside court, Mr Murat said: "The newspapers in this case brought about the total and utter destruction of mine and my family's life and caused immense distress. I am pleased that the publications concerned have today admitted the falsity of all their allegations and I can now start to rebuild my life."

In court, Mr Charalambous said: "In particular, the defendants accept that none of the claimants had any involvement whatever in the abduction of Madeleine McCann. They accept that none of the claimants has any paedophile tendencies or connection with paedophiles or paedophile websites and that none of them lied to the police or obstructed the investigations.

"They accept that Mr Murat's actions after the abduction were entirely proper and were motivated by a desire to help find Madeleine McCann. He became a volunteer translator for the Portuguese police and did everything he could to assist the investigation.

"Ms Walczuch was never suspected or accused of any involvement in the abduction of Madeleine McCann. Mr Malinka was not guilty of any sexual misconduct and has no criminal convictions."

Keith Mathieson, solicitor for the newspapers, said they apologised for publishing false allegations and very much regretted the distress caused.