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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Libel payout for McCann friends | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Seven friends who were dining with Kate and Gerry McCann when their daughter Madeleine disappeared have received a £375,000 libel payout. | |
| Express Newspapers paid the damages for publishing untrue allegations about the conduct of the so-called "tapas seven" in the case. | |
| The seven are Jane Tanner, Russell O'Brien, Fiona and David Payne, Matthew and Rachel Oldfield and Diane Webster. | The seven are Jane Tanner, Russell O'Brien, Fiona and David Payne, Matthew and Rachel Oldfield and Diane Webster. |
| Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing in Portugal in May 2007. | Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, went missing in Portugal in May 2007. |
| In a joint statement outside the High Court in London, the friends said they "strongly" felt that the stories about them had been "detrimental to the search for Madeleine". | |
| Both the Daily Express and the Daily Star newspapers have published apologies to the individuals in Thursday's editions. | Both the Daily Express and the Daily Star newspapers have published apologies to the individuals in Thursday's editions. |
| These are expected to be repeated in the Sunday Express. | These are expected to be repeated in the Sunday Express. |
| 'Completely untrue' | 'Completely untrue' |
| The papers explain that the apologies relate to allegations published between July and December 2007. | The papers explain that the apologies relate to allegations published between July and December 2007. |
| The statement in the Daily Express reads: "We suggested that the holiday companions of Kate and Gerry McCann might have covered up the true facts concerning Madeleine McCann's disappearance and/or misled the authorities investigating her disappearance. | The statement in the Daily Express reads: "We suggested that the holiday companions of Kate and Gerry McCann might have covered up the true facts concerning Madeleine McCann's disappearance and/or misled the authorities investigating her disappearance. |
| "We also reported speculation that one member of the group, Dr Russell O'Brien, was suspected of involvement with Madeleine's abduction. | "We also reported speculation that one member of the group, Dr Russell O'Brien, was suspected of involvement with Madeleine's abduction. |
| "We now accept that these suggestions should never have been made and were completely untrue." | "We now accept that these suggestions should never have been made and were completely untrue." |
| The payout will be donated to the Find Madeleine Fund, the paper said. | The payout will be donated to the Find Madeleine Fund, the paper said. |
| Madeleine disappeared in May 2007 | Madeleine disappeared in May 2007 |
| Madeleine was in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, with her younger twin siblings when she disappeared on 3 May 2007 - just eight days before her fourth birthday. | Madeleine was in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, with her younger twin siblings when she disappeared on 3 May 2007 - just eight days before her fourth birthday. |
| Mr and Mrs McCann were having dinner with their friends at a tapas restaurant 100 yards from the apartment at the time. | Mr and Mrs McCann were having dinner with their friends at a tapas restaurant 100 yards from the apartment at the time. |
| The friends have since been dubbed the "tapas seven" by the media. | The friends have since been dubbed the "tapas seven" by the media. |
| When Mrs McCann returned to check on the children at 2200 local time, she realised Madeleine had disappeared. | When Mrs McCann returned to check on the children at 2200 local time, she realised Madeleine had disappeared. |
| On 15 May 2007, British-born Robert Murat was made an official suspect - or "arguido" - in the case and in September that year Madeleine's parents were also formally named as suspects. | On 15 May 2007, British-born Robert Murat was made an official suspect - or "arguido" - in the case and in September that year Madeleine's parents were also formally named as suspects. |
| But the police inquiry into the girl's disappearance was wound up this July because of a lack of evidence. | But the police inquiry into the girl's disappearance was wound up this July because of a lack of evidence. |
| Previous payouts | Previous payouts |
| The McCanns and Mr Murat - who have always strongly denied having had any involvement in what happened to Madeleine - were then declared to no longer be formal suspects | The McCanns and Mr Murat - who have always strongly denied having had any involvement in what happened to Madeleine - were then declared to no longer be formal suspects |
| Thursday's newspaper apologies are not the first about articles relating to the case. | Thursday's newspaper apologies are not the first about articles relating to the case. |
| Last month The News of the World apologised for publishing extracts of Kate McCann's diary without her permission. | Last month The News of the World apologised for publishing extracts of Kate McCann's diary without her permission. |
| In July Mr Murat accepted a £600,000 damages settlement over allegations in 11 UK newspapers that he had been involved in Madeleine's disappearance. | In July Mr Murat accepted a £600,000 damages settlement over allegations in 11 UK newspapers that he had been involved in Madeleine's disappearance. |
| In March, Madeleine's parents won a libel settlement and apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they had been responsible. | In March, Madeleine's parents won a libel settlement and apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they had been responsible. |
| The newspaper group paid £550,000 to the Find Madeleine campaign and the Daily Express and Daily Star both carried front-page apologies under the headline "Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry". | The newspaper group paid £550,000 to the Find Madeleine campaign and the Daily Express and Daily Star both carried front-page apologies under the headline "Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry". |