Madeleine McCann

Couple sought redress from European court of human rights after libel case against detective was overturned. Gerry and Kate McCann at inquiry into press ...

It was the first time Portuguese authorities had [officially identified a suspect](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/21/madeleine-mccann-man-named-as-formal-suspect-by-portuguese-authorities) in the case since Madeleine’s parents were declared as such in 2007. But an appeal court [overturned the decision](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/20/libel-conviction-ex-detective-goncalo-amaral-madeleine-mccann-overturned) the next year and, in 2017, the supreme court also [found against the McCanns](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/01/madeleine-mccanns-parents-lose-libel-case-appeal-in-portugal). The focus is now rightly on the search for Madeleine and her abductor(s).” He later took part in a documentary for Portuguese television. In a statement, they said they were “naturally disappointed” by the decision but much had changed since they started legal proceedings 13 years ago. It followed that the national authorities had not failed in their positive obligation to protect the applicants’ right to respect for their private life.”

The parents of Madeleine McCann have lost the latest stage of a battle over legal judgements made about claims from a Portuguese police detective.

It also said that, in its ruling, Portugal's Supreme Court had not "made comments implying any guilt... In a judgement on Tuesday, however, the court said that the couple were already public figures before Mr Amaral's book was published and that any damage to their reputation had been caused by the fact they had been declared suspects, not Mr Amaral's claims. In their case at the European Court, the couple said the Portuguese courts had failed to uphold their right to a private life and their presumption of innocence.

Lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann argued that Portuguese authorities had breached their right to respect for a private and family life in the way the courts ...

“It followed that the national authorities had not failed in their positive obligation to protect the applicants’ right to respect for their private life.” It said: “While the Court understood that the book’s publication had undeniably caused anger, anguish and distress to the applicants, it did not appear that the book, or the broadcasting of the documentary, had had a serious impact on the applicants’ social relations or on their legitimate and ongoing attempts to find their daughter.” In a judgment published on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights found that the couple’s reputation had been damaged by the fact that they were made official suspects in the case for a short time, rather than Mr Amaral’s comments.

Former Portuguese policeman Goncalo Amaral suggested in a book that Madeleine McCann's parents had been involved in her disappearance.

A convicted child abuser and drug trader emerged as the key suspect. Early investigations by Portuguese police produced no major leads and for a while detectives focused attention on the parents. It followed that the national authorities had not failed in their positive obligation to protect the applicants’ right to respect for their private life."

The parents of Madeleine McCann have lost the latest stage of their legal battle over comments made by a retired Portuguese detective claiming they were ...

In May the McCanns said it was essential they find out the truth as they marked the 15th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance. In a judgment published on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights found that the couple's reputation had been damaged by the fact that they were made official suspects in the case for a short time, rather than Mr Amaral's comments. The parents of Madeleine McCann have lost the latest stage of their legal battle over comments made by a retired Portuguese detective claiming they were involved in her disappearance.