debunker said: I would suggest that the way they have used the courts so far points to a reason. They only sued the Express Group who were admittedly the most vociferous and most defamatory. Once that action jhad been settled, the whole British Press (and foreign press distributing in the UK) stopped the defamation. They did not sue other media as it was stopping more than the money that was the goal. Job Done. The McCanns have largely ignored the internet, the forums and the blogosphere except where people were gaining traction with defamation. They sent a cease and desist letter to Amazon abot a pretendy profiler and had her book withdraw. Amazon will not sell any other book that would be defamatory. Job Done. Tony Bennett left the blogosphre and started defamation in the real world. He has been stopped. Job Done. They did not even bankrupt him as was their right.
I suggest that the major aim with Amaral is for him to stop the defamation. I suspect that there is some sort of similar offer as to Tony Bennett- give up the fight to defame and we will stop pursuing you for money.
I agree with all you've said, db. In my opinion, it's not about the money for Kate and Gerry McCann. They just want these people to stop. They could have got the papers into court and got 5 times the payout. They didn't. They could have bankrupted Bennett - they didn't. Ed Smethurst could have pursued the £50k damages from Bennett - he didn't. They just want these people to stop.
I have a point for debate; If they were involved in Madeleine's disappearance, why on earth would they have dared to mount legal action - especially against the UK Press as they were still arguido at this time. Why did they push for the SY Review? Surely if they were involved, they would have just breathed a big sigh of relief in July 2008 when the case was shelved, and slunk away never to be heard of again?