Anyone enjoying the prospect of Amaral sueing the McCanns may have to prepare to have their bubbles burst:
Amaral on the possibility of sueing the McCanns: "I've to tell you another thing, to sue the McCann couple alone, what for? They're over there in England, I would have to go there, for an eventual thing, that would take years, and then would the sentence be executed there in England? It would have to be done by a number of people".
It would be interesting to know if there are even any realistic grounds on which Mr Amaral might raise a case.
His assets were frozen by a Portuguese court, so I cannot see an English court permitting an action on that.
His book sale income etc likewise was decided by a Portuguese court.
That seems to leave defamation of character. As far as I am aware, the McCanns have used litigation, not defamation, so how could that work?
That appears to leave Mr Amaral with the Portuguese courts as a route, and I can't see how he could bring an action in Portugal. We're back to the sticking points that it was Portuguese courts that froze assets, stopped sale of the book and DVD.
Could Mr Amaral raise an action on the basis that his right to a good name has been infringed? I can't see that either as it was Portuguese courts accepting the McCann action.
Even if he could raise a case in either country, it would take years, cost a pretty penny, there is no guarantee of a successful outcome, and would a victory amount to much?
I suspect he is smart enough to stand back from that and simply deploy freedom of expression instead.