This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7303801.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Damages due over McCann stories | Damages due over McCann stories |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Four newspapers are set to pay damages to the parents of Madeleine McCann, after settling a libel case, the BBC has learned. | |
| The Daily and Sunday Express, along with the Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday are to pay a "substantial" sum and print front-page apologies. | The Daily and Sunday Express, along with the Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday are to pay a "substantial" sum and print front-page apologies. |
| Kate and Gerry McCann's lawyers said that some of the newspapers' articles were "grossly defamatory". | Kate and Gerry McCann's lawyers said that some of the newspapers' articles were "grossly defamatory". |
| The couple say all the damages will be donated to the Find Madeleine fund. | The couple say all the damages will be donated to the Find Madeleine fund. |
| The Daily Express is to carry a full front-page apology in Wednesday's paper, while the Star's apology will take over half its front-page. | The Daily Express is to carry a full front-page apology in Wednesday's paper, while the Star's apology will take over half its front-page. |
| The papers are expected to apologise for suggesting Kate and Gerry McCann were involved in their daughter's disappearance. | The papers are expected to apologise for suggesting Kate and Gerry McCann were involved in their daughter's disappearance. |
| The action relates to more than a hundred stories across the four titles, including 42 printed in the Daily Express. | The action relates to more than a hundred stories across the four titles, including 42 printed in the Daily Express. |
| I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers Media commentator Roy Greenslade | I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers Media commentator Roy Greenslade |
| Under the terms of the settlement - at Kate and Gerry McCann's insistence - Express Newspapers' barrister will also read out an apology before a judge at the High Court on Wednesday. | Under the terms of the settlement - at Kate and Gerry McCann's insistence - Express Newspapers' barrister will also read out an apology before a judge at the High Court on Wednesday. |
| The Express group has agreed to all the McCanns' requests. It is also paying all their costs. | The Express group has agreed to all the McCanns' requests. It is also paying all their costs. |
| The McCanns have promised that the damages will be paid into the "fighting fund" set up to pay for efforts to find their missing daughter. | The McCanns have promised that the damages will be paid into the "fighting fund" set up to pay for efforts to find their missing daughter. |
| 'Trust and credibility' | 'Trust and credibility' |
| Media commentator Roy Greenslade said that for two national newspapers to carry front-page apologies at the same time was "unprecedented". | Media commentator Roy Greenslade said that for two national newspapers to carry front-page apologies at the same time was "unprecedented". |
| "I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers," he said. | "I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers," he said. |
| "I think when people realise that more than 100 stories have been complained about as being grossly defamatory, it will annihilate the Express' readers sense of trust and credibility in their newspaper." | "I think when people realise that more than 100 stories have been complained about as being grossly defamatory, it will annihilate the Express' readers sense of trust and credibility in their newspaper." |
| Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal in May 2007 | Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal in May 2007 |
| Media lawyer Paul Gilbert from Finers Stephens Innocent said the courts encourage early settlement of defamation cases. | Media lawyer Paul Gilbert from Finers Stephens Innocent said the courts encourage early settlement of defamation cases. |
| "Clearly the Express' lawyers felt this was a case they should settle without a high-profile trial - which it would be - and as a result have saved considerable costs," he said. | "Clearly the Express' lawyers felt this was a case they should settle without a high-profile trial - which it would be - and as a result have saved considerable costs," he said. |
| "It certainly is a warning sign to newspapers in the future, if they're going to speculate, they've got to be very careful about what they speculate about." | "It certainly is a warning sign to newspapers in the future, if they're going to speculate, they've got to be very careful about what they speculate about." |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing, aged three, in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May last year. | Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing, aged three, in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May last year. |