Madeleine McCann's parents win €500k in damages against former police chief.

[Alfred R Jones]

Last night I predicted that yesterday's victory for  the McCanns would, in 24 hours, be re-written off as a failure by the "sceptics". It seems I was right.  How absolutely, hilariously predictable.

[Alfred R Jones]

No, they were not. She didn't have a copy of the document. These are her words:

When the judge left the room after distributing the document to the lawyers, as if the benches for the public were empty, looking literally through the three members of the public, I entered the “sacred” area and asked the clerk if I could read the document. The clerk looked embarrassed, hesitated but then said “no”, adding, as a justification, that it was “informal”.

Who translated the document parts of which appeared on this forum and led "sceptics" to believe that Amaral was going to win the case?

[Alfred R Jones]

Why did the Judge award the McCanns the unprecented sum of 500,000 euros plus interest?  Let's hear the rationale please..

[faithlilly]

Each Party pays it's own Court Costs.  But someone has got to pay Isobel Duarte.  There's the rub.

I have read that the McCanns gave been ordered to pay 58.30% of the costs.

[Lyall]

Who translated the document parts of which appeared on this forum and led "sceptics" to believe that Amaral was going to win the case?

Someone who isn't Anne.

[Brietta]

Libel has not been proven in this case as the cause of Maddie's disappearance is as yet unknown.  Have you forgotten the constant reminder by Davel et all pointing out that the claim is for damages for suffering and anxiety caused and is not a libel trial.  No doubt the learned judge was persuaded of this in her decision.  A decision which I might add only fulfilled a part of the initial claim.

Then I am in world wide good company ... to name but a few ...

Gerry and Kate McCann win Portugese libel case http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/gerry-and-kate-mccann-win-portugese-libel-case-1-3757147

Madeleine McCann’s parents win libel payout over false cover-up claims http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1779897/madeleine-mccanns-parents-win-libel-payout-over-false-cover-claims

Madeleine McCann's parents win libel case over allegations they were involved in disappearance http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_28004275/madeleine-mccanns-parents-win-libel-case-over-allegations?

Whether or not what happened to Madeleine McCann is known ... the ruling in Portugal underlines that it is committing libel to write a book accusing anyone of involvement in her disappearance, perhaps if the lead detective at the time had devoted less time to his literary career and more to finding Madeleine we would not be having this discussion.

[John]

If Amaral was not wrong why is he having to shell out half a million euros?

You really haven't grasped this yet Alfred, have you?

The judge has ruled that the Amaral book and DVD caused injury and distress to Madeleine's parents.  The truth or otherwise of the content is quite another matter since nobody (except the abductor if there was one) knows yet what happened to Madeleine.

I take it you do recall the judge commenting on this at the end of the trial when Gerry McCann testified?

GMC - I want to speak about the sniffer dogs. They never alerted to any blood in the car and they never alerted to cadaver odour...

Judge [interrupts] – We are not here to ascertain that, our perspective here in this court is to analyse your claim.
GMC – But the book mentions facts that aren't true.

Judge – To decide that there are already forensic experts. We are not here to prove if the contents of the book are truthful or not. Here we are only trying to establish if the freedom of expression of the defendants has affected the rights of the claimants. This court cannot be a substitute of the criminal investigation. [Turns to the interpreter] Tell the gentleman that he is excused.

www.miscarriageofjustice.co/index.php?topic=4746.0

[jassi]

Then I am in world wide good company ... to name but a few ...

Gerry and Kate McCann win Portugese libel case http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/gerry-and-kate-mccann-win-portugese-libel-case-1-3757147

Madeleine McCann’s parents win libel payout over false cover-up claims http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1779897/madeleine-mccanns-parents-win-libel-payout-over-false-cover-claims

Madeleine McCann's parents win libel case over allegations they were involved in disappearance http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_28004275/madeleine-mccanns-parents-win-libel-case-over-allegations?

Whether or not what happened to Madeleine McCann is known ... the ruling in Portugal underlines that it is committing libel to write a book accusing anyone of involvement in her disappearance, perhaps if the lead detective at the time had devoted less time to his literary career and more to finding Madeleine we would not be having this discussion.

Had he not been removed from the case by the time he wrote the book?

[Alfred R Jones]

You really haven't grasped this yet Alfred.

The judge has ruled that the Amaral book and DVD caused injury and distress to Madeleine's parents.  The truth or otherwise of the content is quite another matter since nobody (except the abductor if there was one) knows yet what happened to Madeleine.

John, with respect it is YOU who hasn't grasped this.  If the book was deemed a fair and accurate account of events then in what universe would the author be ordered to pay half a million euros to the subject for writing it?

[Jean-Pierre]

Libel has not been proven in this case as the cause of Maddie's disappearance is as yet unknown.  Have you forgotten the constant reminder by Davel et all pointing out that the claim is for damages for suffering and anxiety caused and is not a libel trial.  No doubt the learned judge was persuaded of this in her decision.  A decision which I might add only fulfilled a part of the initial claim.

What is your definition of "defamation" and 'libel' , Angelo?

[Alfred R Jones]

John, if I were to write a book in which I speculated that you abducted and murdered Claudia Lawrence would we have to wait until the truth was uncovered before deciding that the book was libellous? 

[Brietta]

Had he not been removed from the case by the time he wrote the book?

Then how was it based on the police files to which he should have had no access while being excluded from the investigation?

[Alice Purjorick]

Why did the Judge award the McCanns the unprecented sum of 500,000 euros plus interest?  Let's hear the rationale please..

Because the part of the writ that dealt with damages for the McCanns and its value was upheld by the judge?
The interest bit is common practice in Europe.

[faithlilly]

"“I informed them immediately by email and Kate wrote back to say they were absolutely delighted and so very happy."

You'd have thought they'd found Madeleine, wouldn't you ?

[Alfred R Jones]

Because the part of the writ that dealt with damages for the McCanns and its value was upheld by the judge?
The interest bit is common practice in Europe.

Yes, but WHY was it upheld?