Weather Tonight: 4°c Partly Cloudy Night Morning: 8°c Cloudy

News

Madeleine McCann's parents return to Portugal

Ben Bailey
23 Sep 2009


Kate McCann returned to Portugal today for the first time since being quizzed by police over her daughter Madeleine's disappearance.

Mrs McCann and her husband Gerry went to the capital, Lisbon, to update their lawyers on the search for Madeleine, who was three when she disappeared in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007.

Although her husband has been back, this is Mrs Cann's first visit since 2007.

The couple's spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "They will be attending a series of meetings with their lawyers and advisers in Lisbon and they are planning to return to the UK tonight.

"Obviously this is Kate's first return to Portugal since Madeleine's abduction and, whilst this is undoubtedly difficult for her, she remains determined to do whatever is necessary to assist in the search for her daughter."

One of the topics to be discussed will be the recent injunction against further publication of a book by former Portuguese police detective Goncalo Amaral.

Mr Amaral was involved in the initial investigation but was later taken off the case.

In his book, The Truth Of The Lie, he claims Madeleine is dead and questions the McCanns' account that she was taken while they were eating with friends nearby.

Earlier this month a Portuguese judge banned further sale or publication of the book.

The injunction also banned Mr Amaral from repeating his claims about Madeleine or her parents, who are both doctors.

At one point Portuguese police made Mr and Mrs McCann "arguidos", or formal suspects, in their daughter's disappearance.

They were questioned by detectives but their arguidos status was later lifted.

Mr Mitchell said discussions between the couple, both 41 and from Rothley, Leicestershire, would remain private.

But it is understood that, as well as updating lawyers about the search for their daughter, who would now be six, they will be meeting representatives from a new PR agency, whom they hope can turn public opinion in Portugal in their favour.

Earlier this month, Mr McCann criticised Mr Amaral, labelling claims in his book "unforgivable".

Mr McCann said the false allegations had done immense damage to the search for their daughter because Portuguese people would be dissuaded from coming forward with information.

Commenting after the injunction was imposed, he said: "There's a lot of people in Portugal, who might have evidence, that believe Madeleine is dead.

"If people believe that, they won't search for her and they won't come forward with information.

"I know for a fact people have been told Madeleine is dead. There is no evidence to support that and that is unforgivable."

The decision to impose the injunction came after a year-long campaign by the McCanns' lawyers to prevent the publication of the book and a subsequent DVD.

Another topic of discussion between the McCanns and their Portuguese team today is thought to be a possible compensation claim against Mr Amaral.

The couple said earlier that any money awarded by the courts would be ploughed straight back in to paying for private investigators to probe their daughter's disappearance.

Reader views (0)

 Add your view

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • MPs spend £400,000 of taxpayers' cash on 12 fig trees for their offices Fig Trees EXCLUSIVE: Taxpayers are footing a bill of almost £400,000 to rent 12 fig trees to shade MPs in the glass-roofed atrium of their...
  • 10 million Tube passengers fail to claim money back for delays Tube train More than 10 million Tube users are missing out on refunds worth more than £20 million when their trains are delayed
  • The final reckoning: how Boris and Ken measure up in election battle Ken Boris split London goes to the polls on May 3 with the election battle between Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone set to be the capital's closest mayoral...
  • Commuters' favourite swaps busking for the big time with recording deal Tristan Mackay Busker Tristan Mackay has hit the jackpot after landing a record deal with an award-winning producer
  • What a smoothie! Eight-year-old Valentine gives Kate roses and a heart-shaped cupcake Kate Smoothie The Duchess of Cambridge's first Valentine's Day as a married woman was marked with roses, a card and a cupcake - but not from Prince...
  • Kercher family launch appeal over decision to clear Knox of murder Meredith Kercher Meredith Kercher's family today launched an appeal to overturn the decision to clear Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito of her murder
  • PM urged to deport Qatada as he hides in north London safe house Abu Qatada David Cameron was under pressure today to defy European judges by ordering the deportation of extremist cleric Abu Qatada as he holed up in...
  • Now jailed Dizaei could be forced to repay his £1million legal aid bill Ali Dizaei Met commander Ali Dizaei is facing the prospect of paying back tens of thousand of pounds of legal aid as Scotland Yard prepared to sack him...
  • Osborne defends his cuts strategy as inflation falls George Osborne Chancellor George Osborne defended his economic strategy as a fall in inflation finally brought mild relief to some from the tight squeeze...
  • Royal College students to receive scholarships courtesy of Burberry Rosie Huntington-Whitely At the luxury brand Burberry, Christopher Bailey has transformed a designer classic into must-have cool, as epitomised by the models Rosie...
  •  

    Don't Miss