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Madeleine McCann's parents 'distressed' by libel trial delay Madeleine McCann's parents 'distressed' by libel trial delay
(35 minutes later)
Kate and Gerry McCann have criticised the former Portuguese police chief who led the search for their daughter for delaying a libel action against him.Kate and Gerry McCann have criticised the former Portuguese police chief who led the search for their daughter for delaying a libel action against him.
The couple said the 10-day adjournment of his trial was exasperating and caused them "pain and distress". The McCanns are suing Goncalo Amaral following claims he made about them in a book and had been due to tell a court how his comments damaged the search.
They had been due to explain in court how accusations by the officer, Goncalo Amaral, in a book damaged the search. The couple said the 10-day adjournment of his trial was exasperating and caused them "more pain and distress".
The couple said there was a "good chance" that Madeleine, who vanished in 2007, aged three, was still alive. They said there was still a "good chance" that Madeleine was still alive.
The McCanns say Mr Amaral's book discouraged people from coming forward with information after Madeleine disappeared. She went missing in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007, aged three.
They say claims they hid Madeleine's body and faked an abduction after she died in an accident damaged the search for her and exacerbated their anguish. The McCanns say claims made by the former police officer in his book - called The Truth Of The Lie - discouraged people from coming forward with information after Madeleine disappeared.
Police recently spent 10 days searching the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine was last seen alive. In the book - published in 2008 - Mr Amaral wrote that the couple had hidden her body and faked an abduction after she died in an accident - claims the McCanns say also exacerbated their anguish.
The McCanns had been expected to deliver statements at Lisbon's Palace of Justice.
However, a 10-day adjournment to the libel trial was granted at the court after Mr Amaral sacked his legal team at the last minute. It is the fourth delay in the case.
'Distress'
Speaking afterwards, Mr McCann vowed to return to Portugal for the next hearing - which has been set for 8 July - despite the latest delay to the trial.
He said the fresh delay was a "blatant and cynical attempt to wear us down".
"We're exasperated that the hearing has been cancelled once again at Mr Amaral's request," he said, adding: "We're not going to give up. We're going to keep going."
Mrs McCann said the family had taken on the case because of the "pain and distress that Mr Amaral has bought to us and our children".
"We just want justice, this is not fair," she said.
Mr McCann also said the family had not given up hope of finding Madeleine.
He said: "As far as we're concerned there's a good chance she's still alive and we have to keep searching for her."
It comes after police recently spent 10 days searching the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine was last seen alive.
'Purgatory''Purgatory'
Mr and Mrs McCann were originally told they could not make statements at the long-running trial but the decision was overturned after an appeal by their lawyer. Mr and Mrs McCann were originally told they could not make statements at the long-running libel trial but the decision was overturned after an appeal by their lawyer.
They are expected to deliver emotional statements at Lisbon's Palace of Justice, describing how the claims by Mr Amaral caused them unnecessary grief. In October last year, Mr McCann's sister, Trish Cameron, told the trial that the couple's pain over their daughter's disappearance had been "multiplied 100 times" by the book.
Their appearance will mark the end of the trial but a final ruling in the case is not expected until later this year.
In October last year, Mr McCann's sister, Trish Cameron, told the libel trial that the couple's pain over their daughter's disappearance was "multiplied 100 times" by the book.
She added they had been left in "purgatory" by the disappearance of Madeleine and claims that they were somehow involved.She added they had been left in "purgatory" by the disappearance of Madeleine and claims that they were somehow involved.
If the case against Mr Amaral succeeds, the family could be awarded a substantial amount in damages.If the case against Mr Amaral succeeds, the family could be awarded a substantial amount in damages.