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| Papers paying damages to McCanns | Papers paying damages to McCanns |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A newspaper group is paying £550,000 to the parents of Madeleine McCann after it settled a libel case over reports of her disappearance. | A newspaper group is paying £550,000 to the parents of Madeleine McCann after it settled a libel case over reports of her disappearance. |
| Express Newspapers' titles, including the Daily Express, Daily Star and Sunday Express, are also printing front-page apologies. | Express Newspapers' titles, including the Daily Express, Daily Star and Sunday Express, are also printing front-page apologies. |
| They say they were wrong to suggest the couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, were responsible for Madeleine's death. | They say they were wrong to suggest the couple, of Rothley, Leicestershire, were responsible for Madeleine's death. |
| The McCanns say the money will go to the Find Madeleine campaign. | The McCanns say the money will go to the Find Madeleine campaign. |
| It is understood that the sum donated to the campaign doubles the amount left in the fund. | It is understood that the sum donated to the campaign doubles the amount left in the fund. |
| Madeleine disappeared, days before her fourth birthday, during a family holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on 3 May last year. | Madeleine disappeared, days before her fourth birthday, during a family holiday in the resort of Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, on 3 May last year. |
| 'Wholehearted apology' | 'Wholehearted apology' |
| Her parents, Kate and Gerry, have been named as suspects in the case by Portuguese police but have always denied any involvement. | Her parents, Kate and Gerry, have been named as suspects in the case by Portuguese police but have always denied any involvement. |
| Wednesday's editions of the Daily Express and Daily Star both carry front-page apologies under the headline, "Kate and Gerry McCann: Sorry". | |
| The Express said it accepted that a "number of articles in the newspaper have suggested that the couple caused the death of their missing daughter Madeleine and then covered it up". | |
| Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal in May 2007 | Madeleine McCann went missing in Portugal in May 2007 |
| It also acknowledged there was "no evidence whatsoever" to support that theory. | |
| The paper added that Mr and Mrs McCann are "completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance". | |
| A similarly worded statement appears in the Daily Star. | A similarly worded statement appears in the Daily Star. |
| The Star said it was making a "wholehearted apology to Kate and Gerry McCann for stories suggesting the couple were responsible for, or may be responsible for, the death of their daughter Madeleine and for covering it up". | The Star said it was making a "wholehearted apology to Kate and Gerry McCann for stories suggesting the couple were responsible for, or may be responsible for, the death of their daughter Madeleine and for covering it up". |
| Further apologies are expected in the publications' sister Sunday titles at the weekend. | Further apologies are expected in the publications' sister Sunday titles at the weekend. |
| The libel action related to more than 100 stories across the four titles, including 42 printed in the Daily Express. | The libel action related to more than 100 stories across the four titles, including 42 printed in the Daily Express. |
| I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers Media commentator Roy Greenslade | I think this is an amazing stand-down, u-turn, by the Express newspapers Media commentator Roy Greenslade |
| All four titles are published by the Express Newspapers group, which has agreed to all the McCanns' requests. It is also paying all their costs. | All four titles are published by the Express Newspapers group, which has agreed to all the McCanns' requests. It is also paying all their costs. |
| A spokesman for the company said: "We have nothing to add to what will be said in court and in our titles." | A spokesman for the company said: "We have nothing to add to what will be said in court and in our titles." |
| Under the terms of the settlement - at Kate and Gerry McCann's insistence - Express Newspapers' barrister will also read out an apology before a judge at the High Court, although the BBC understands that the couple do not plan to be present to hear this. | Under the terms of the settlement - at Kate and Gerry McCann's insistence - Express Newspapers' barrister will also read out an apology before a judge at the High Court, although the BBC understands that the couple do not plan to be present to hear this. |
| The McCanns' lawyers said that some of the newspapers' articles were "grossly defamatory". | The McCanns' lawyers said that some of the newspapers' articles were "grossly defamatory". |
| 'Trust and credibility' | 'Trust and credibility' |
| Richard Bilton, BBC News special correspondent, said one of the couple's representatives had said the response of the newspaper group was "much more responsible than they were perhaps initially with these articles". | Richard Bilton, BBC News special correspondent, said one of the couple's representatives had said the response of the newspaper group was "much more responsible than they were perhaps initially with these articles". |
| Media commentator Roy Greenslade said that for two national newspapers to carry front-page apologies at the same time was "unprecedented". | Media commentator Roy Greenslade said that for two national newspapers to carry front-page apologies at the same time was "unprecedented". |
| "I think this is an amazing stand-down, U-turn, by the Express newspapers," he said. The McCanns will receive a public apology, read in open court | "I think this is an amazing stand-down, U-turn, by the Express newspapers," he said. The McCanns will receive a public apology, read in open court |
| "I think when people realise that more than 100 stories have been complained about as being grossly defamatory, it will annihilate the Express' readers sense of trust and credibility in their newspaper." | "I think when people realise that more than 100 stories have been complained about as being grossly defamatory, it will annihilate the Express' readers sense of trust and credibility in their newspaper." |
| Media lawyer Paul Gilbert, from Finers Stephens Innocent, said the courts encourage early settlement of defamation cases. | Media lawyer Paul Gilbert, from Finers Stephens Innocent, said the courts encourage early settlement of defamation cases. |
| "Clearly the Express' lawyers felt this was a case they should settle without a high-profile trial - which it would be - and as a result have saved considerable costs," he said. | "Clearly the Express' lawyers felt this was a case they should settle without a high-profile trial - which it would be - and as a result have saved considerable costs," he said. |
| "It certainly is a warning sign to newspapers in the future - if they're going to speculate, they've got to be very careful about what they speculate about." | "It certainly is a warning sign to newspapers in the future - if they're going to speculate, they've got to be very careful about what they speculate about." |