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Kate McCann's son 'asked about her role in Madeleine case' Kate McCann's son asked about her role in Madeleine case
(about 1 hour later)
Kate McCann was asked by her son about claims she was involved in the disappearance of her daughter Madeleine, a court has heard. Kate McCann was asked by her son about claims that she was involved in the disappearance of her daughter Madeleine, a court has heard.
Mrs McCann was delivering a statement in a Portuguese libel case relating to the allegations, which were made in a book by ex-police chief Goncalo Amaral.Mrs McCann was delivering a statement in a Portuguese libel case relating to the allegations, which were made in a book by ex-police chief Goncalo Amaral.
The court heard Mrs McCann had told her son Sean that the Portuguese detective had said "a lot of silly things". Mrs McCann told her son Sean that the former Portuguese detective had said "a lot of silly things", the court heard.
Madeleine was three when she went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007.Madeleine was three when she went missing in Praia da Luz in May 2007.
At the time, Sean and his twin sister Amelie were aged two.At the time, Sean and his twin sister Amelie were aged two.
On Tuesday, Mrs McCann told Lisbon's Palace of Justice that Sean had raised the claims made by Mr Amaral after he heard them on the radio on a school bus.
"Sean asked me in October, 'Mr Amaral said you hid Madeleine'. I just said that he said a lot of silly things," she said.
Mr Amaral - who coordinated the original investigation into Madeleine's disappearance - alleged that she had died in the family's holiday apartment in the Algarve, and that Kate and her husband Gerry had simulated her abduction and hidden her body.Mr Amaral - who coordinated the original investigation into Madeleine's disappearance - alleged that she had died in the family's holiday apartment in the Algarve, and that Kate and her husband Gerry had simulated her abduction and hidden her body.
He made the claims in a book about the case that has been a bestseller in Portugal.He made the claims in a book about the case that has been a bestseller in Portugal.
The McCanns are suing Mr Amaral, his publisher and a company that produced a documentary based on his book for one million pounds in damages. 'Severe damage'
On Tuesday, Mrs McCann told Lisbon's Palace of Justice that Sean had brought up the allegations after he heard them on the radio on a school bus.
"Sean asked me in October, 'Mr Amaral said you hid Madeleine'. I just said that he said a lot of silly things," she said.
Mrs McCann also told the court Mr Amaral's claims had done "severe damage" to efforts to find her daughter.
But she added after the hearing: "It's never too late for someone to come forward with key information. And if this action helps us to reach that step, then it's a positive thing, and that's what we're aiming for."
Speaking outside the court, Mr McCann said he feared his daughter's kidnapper could strike again.
He also said the perpetrator must have been laughing at Mr Amaral's claims.
The McCanns are suing Mr Amaral, his publisher and a company that produced a documentary based on his book for 1.2 million euros (£1m) in damages.