http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/7088278/Portuguese-detective-who-claimed-McCanns-faked-Maddies-disappearance-after-she-died-in-apartment-wins-libel-appeal.html?CMP=spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-TheSunNewspaper-_-20160419-_-News-_-438921093-_-ImageandlinkPortuguese detective who claimed McCanns faked Maddie's disappearance after she died in apartment wins libel appealGoncolo Amaral wrote a damning book 'The Truth of the Lie' in 2008, in which he blamed the McCanns for covering up Maddie's death
A PORTUGUESE detective who wrote a book claiming the McCanns faked Maddie's disappearance after she died in their holiday apartment has won a libel appeal against her parents.
Goncalo Amaral was ordered to pay Kate and Gerry McCann half a million euros in libel damages in April last year after accusing them of faking their daughter's abduction in an explosive book.
It was today reported three appeal judges ruled in the former Portuguese police chief's favour, meaning he will not have to pay out the cash.
Goncalo launched an appeal a month after losing his long-running libel battle over the controversial 2008 book.
In 'The Truth of the Lie', he said the McCanns faked Madeleine's abduction after she died in their holiday apartment.
He was ordered to pay interest after a Lisbon judge ruled he overstepped freedom of speech limits.
The McCanns announced after the verdict they would plough “every penny” of the payout into the hunt for their daughter, three when she vanished on May 3 2007.
Amaral’s appeal thwarted their hopes of spending the money.
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, was unavailable this afternoon.
Isabel Duarte, the Portuguese lawyer who represented the couple over the libel case, was said by her office to be in court and unavailable.
Amaral could also not be immediately contacted.