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Murat wins libel pay-out from Sky Murat wins libel pay-out from Sky
(about 2 hours later)
Robert Murat has accepted undisclosed libel damages from British Sky Broadcasting over its reporting of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Robert Murat has accepted substantial libel damages from British Sky Broadcasting over some of its reporting of Madeleine McCann's disappearance.
His case related to allegations there were strong grounds for believing he had abducted her in Portugal last year. His case related to allegations he had acted in a manner similar to Soham killer Ian Huntley in the days after she vanished in Portugal in May 2007.
Mr Murat, 34, has always denied any involvement and has had his status as a suspect lifted by Portuguese police. Mr Murat has always denied involvement and is no longer a suspect in the case.
Sky told London's High Court it apologised for publishing the false allegations and the distress caused.Sky told London's High Court it apologised for publishing the false allegations and the distress caused.
Mr Murat's solicitor, Louis Charalambous, told Mr Justice Eady on Friday that his client's action resulted from an article and video on the Sky News website making allegations about his behaviour around the time Madeleine disappeared. The amount involved in the damages pay-out has not been disclosed.
Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, has not been seen since disappearing during a family holiday to Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, in May 2007. Madeleine, of Rothley, Leicestershire, has not been seen since disappearing during a family holiday to Praia da Luz, in the Algarve.
She was days away from her fourth birthday. He has been entirely successful and vindicated Robert Murat's solicitor class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7507545.stm">Profile: Robert Murat She was days away from her fourth birthday.
Mr Murat's solicitor, Louis Charalambous, told Mr Justice Eady on Friday that his client's action resulted from an article and video on the Sky News website making allegations about his behaviour around the time Madeleine disappeared. He has been entirely successful and vindicated Robert Murat's solicitor Profile: Robert Murat
These claimed that in the early days afterwards, the behaviour of Mr Murat, who lives in Praia da Luz with his mother, had been reminiscent of child-killer Huntley.
The website also suggested Mr Murat had deliberately tried to mislead journalists by pretending to be acting in an official capacity for the police.
Mr Charalambous told the judge the allegations made by Sky were entirely untrue and it was accepted that Mr Murat had had no involvement whatever in the abduction of Madeleine.Mr Charalambous told the judge the allegations made by Sky were entirely untrue and it was accepted that Mr Murat had had no involvement whatever in the abduction of Madeleine.
He said: "[Sky] acknowledges that Mr Murat's actions after the abduction were entirely proper and were motivated by a desire to help find Madeleine McCann."He said: "[Sky] acknowledges that Mr Murat's actions after the abduction were entirely proper and were motivated by a desire to help find Madeleine McCann."
He said that Sky's apology would appear on its website for 12 months.He said that Sky's apology would appear on its website for 12 months.
Outside court, Mr Charalambous said the settlement represented the final stage of Mr Murat's claims against those sections of the British media "which defamed him so terribly".Outside court, Mr Charalambous said the settlement represented the final stage of Mr Murat's claims against those sections of the British media "which defamed him so terribly".
"He has been entirely successful and vindicated," he said.Madeleine's parents won a libel pay-out earlier this year"He has been entirely successful and vindicated," he said.Madeleine's parents won a libel pay-out earlier this year
In July Mr Murat, 34, received a record settlement of £600,000 and an apology over "seriously defamatory" allegations in nearly 100 newspaper articles concerning the case. "It was particularly important to him to nail this particular lie - that he acted in some way reminiscent to the Soham murderer Ian Huntley when, in fact, he was working flat out to help try to find Madeleine."
The out-of-court libel settlement was reached with the Sun, Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Mail, London Evening Standard, Metro, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, News of the World and the Scotsman in early July. In July, Mr Murat received a record settlement of £600,000 and an apology over "seriously defamatory" allegations in nearly 100 newspaper articles concerning the case.
In March, Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann, who were also named as suspects but have since had their status lifted, won £550,000 and an apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they had been involved in their daughter's disappearance. The out-of-court libel settlement was reached with the Sun, Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Mail, London Evening Standard, Metro, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, News of the World and the Scotsman.
And last month, seven friends who were dining with the McCanns when Madeleine disappeared received a £375,000 libel payout, also from Express Newspapers. That same month his status as an official suspect in the case was lifted by Portuguese police as they shelved their investigation.
In March, Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann, who were also named as suspects but have also had their status lifted, won £550,000 and an apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they had been involved in their daughter's disappearance.
And last month, seven friends who were dining with the McCanns when Madeleine disappeared received a £375,000 libel pay-out, also from Express Newspapers.
It related to untrue allegations about the conduct of the so-called "tapas seven" in three newspapers.It related to untrue allegations about the conduct of the so-called "tapas seven" in three newspapers.