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McCanns welcome Portugal book ban Officer loses McCann book appeal
(about 3 hours later)
A Portuguese former detective has failed to overturn a ban on his book about missing Madeleine McCann, a spokeswoman for her parents has said. A Portuguese former detective has failed to overturn a ban on his book about missing Madeleine McCann.
Gerry and Kate McCann said Goncalo Amaral's book defamed them and hindered their continuing search for Madeleine.Gerry and Kate McCann said Goncalo Amaral's book defamed them and hindered their continuing search for Madeleine.
The book suggests Madeleine, who went missing from an Algarve holiday flat on 3 May 2007, aged three, is dead. The couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, said they were "relieved" by the ruling at Lisbon's main civil court, but Mr Amaral refused to give up his fight.
The couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, welcomed the decision by a Portuguese judge, saying they were "relieved". The book suggests Madeleine, who went missing from an Algarve holiday flat in May 2007, aged three, is dead.
Mr Amaral was the initial head of the police investigation into Madeleine's disappearance but was taken off the case in October 2007, following his apparent criticism of British police work on the inquiry. Sales banned
His book, Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, which was originally published in July 2008, also questions the couple's accounts of theur daughter's disappearance. The McCanns' lawyer, Isabel Duarte, said outside court that the judge had confirmed the original decision, so the book could not be reproduced or sold and Mr Amaral could not give interviews or statements about his theory in the book.
'No harm' Mr Amaral was the initial head of the police investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, but was taken off the case in October 2007, following his apparent criticism of British police work on the inquiry.
In September 2009, a Portuguese injunction temporarily banned sales and further publication of the book as well as a DVD version of it. His book, Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, which was originally published in July 2008, also questions the couple's accounts of their daughter's disappearance.
Mr Amaral launched a bid to overturn the ban last month, calling a series of witnesses to support his claims. In September 2009, a Portuguese injunction temporarily banned sales and further publication of the book, as well as a DVD version of it.
But Judge Maria Gabriela Cunha Rodrigues, sitting at Lisbon's main civil court, rejected his challenge. Mr Amaral launched a bid to overturn the ban last month, calling a series of witnesses to support his claims, but Judge Maria Gabriela Cunha Rodrigues rejected his challenge.
'New leads'
Mr and Mrs McCann said in a statement: "The court case has demonstrated, once again, that there is no evidence that Madeleine has come to any harm.Mr and Mrs McCann said in a statement: "The court case has demonstrated, once again, that there is no evidence that Madeleine has come to any harm.
"It has also clearly shown that no police force is actively looking for Madeleine, even, shockingly, when they are presented with new information and leads."It has also clearly shown that no police force is actively looking for Madeleine, even, shockingly, when they are presented with new information and leads.
Mr and Mrs McCann said there was no evidence Madeleine had been harmed
"The motives of those who have tried to convince the world that Madeleine is dead, and who've disgracefully and falsely tried to implicate us in her disappearance, need to be seriously questioned.""The motives of those who have tried to convince the world that Madeleine is dead, and who've disgracefully and falsely tried to implicate us in her disappearance, need to be seriously questioned."
The couple also called on the British and Portuguese authorities to continue to search for their daughter.The couple also called on the British and Portuguese authorities to continue to search for their daughter.
Mr Amaral's lawyers said the material in his book came from official police files for the investigation, many of which were made public when the case was shelved in August 2008.Mr Amaral's lawyers said the material in his book came from official police files for the investigation, many of which were made public when the case was shelved in August 2008.
The McCanns are also seeking 1.2m euros (£1.08m) in compensation for defamation in separate civil proceedings against Mr Amaral in Portugal. After the hearing, Mr Amaral refused to consider defeat.
The former detective previously said if he lost the case he would take an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. He said: "It is another step and I always said we were prepared to go to the European Court of Human Rights. Now we have another phase of appeal and we will carry on."
The McCanns are also seeking 1.2m euros (£1.04m) in compensation for defamation in separate civil proceedings against Mr Amaral in Portugal.