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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Court 'vindicates' McCann suspect | Court 'vindicates' McCann suspect |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Madeleine McCann suspect Robert Murat says he feels "vindicated" after reaching a £600,000 settlement from 11 British newspapers in a libel claim. | Madeleine McCann suspect Robert Murat says he feels "vindicated" after reaching a £600,000 settlement from 11 British newspapers in a libel claim. |
| Mr Murat said the more than 100 articles and sensational headlines about him had caused the "total and utter destruction" of his life. | Mr Murat said the more than 100 articles and sensational headlines about him had caused the "total and utter destruction" of his life. |
| He said an apology from the papers allowed him to "rebuild his life". | He said an apology from the papers allowed him to "rebuild his life". |
| Mr Murat is still an official suspect - or arguido - in the three-year-old's disappearance in Portugal in May 2007. | Mr Murat is still an official suspect - or arguido - in the three-year-old's disappearance in Portugal in May 2007. |
| The 34-year-old had travelled from his home in the Algarve to accept the settlement at London's High Court. | The 34-year-old had travelled from his home in the Algarve to accept the settlement at London's High Court. |
| The behaviour of the tabloid journalists and their editors has been grossly irresponsible demonstrating a reckless disregard for truth Louis CharalambousMr Murat's lawyer Profile: Robert Murat | The behaviour of the tabloid journalists and their editors has been grossly irresponsible demonstrating a reckless disregard for truth Louis CharalambousMr Murat's lawyer Profile: Robert Murat |
| His then girlfriend Michaela Walczuch and IT consultant Sergey Malinka also brought proceedings against Associated Newspapers, Express Newspapers, MGN Limited and News Group Newspapers and were awarded "substantial six figure settlements". | His then girlfriend Michaela Walczuch and IT consultant Sergey Malinka also brought proceedings against Associated Newspapers, Express Newspapers, MGN Limited and News Group Newspapers and were awarded "substantial six figure settlements". |
| Mr Murat's solicitor, Louis Charalambous, said they had taken the action over "baseless inaccurate media coverage". | Mr Murat's solicitor, Louis Charalambous, said they had taken the action over "baseless inaccurate media coverage". |
| He said the newspapers had accepted that they had not been involved in Madeleine's disappearance. | He said the newspapers had accepted that they had not been involved in Madeleine's disappearance. |
| Robert Murat speaks exclusively to the BBC | |
| "They accept that Mr Murat's actions after the abduction were entirely proper and were motivated by a desire to help find Madeleine McCann," Mr Charalambous said. | "They accept that Mr Murat's actions after the abduction were entirely proper and were motivated by a desire to help find Madeleine McCann," Mr Charalambous said. |
| "Until now Robert Murat has had to watch silently as the worst elements of the British media have gone about destroying his good name and reputation. | "Until now Robert Murat has had to watch silently as the worst elements of the British media have gone about destroying his good name and reputation. |
| "The behaviour of the tabloid journalists and their editors has been grossly irresponsible demonstrating a reckless disregard for truth." | "The behaviour of the tabloid journalists and their editors has been grossly irresponsible demonstrating a reckless disregard for truth." |
| The settlement, he said, would allow all three to "bury the lies published about them". | The settlement, he said, would allow all three to "bury the lies published about them". |
| £600,000 between several very rich papers is pocket change Andrew NeilFormer newspaper editor | £600,000 between several very rich papers is pocket change Andrew NeilFormer newspaper editor |
| Unreserved apology | Unreserved apology |
| The 11 papers involved are the Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Metro, Daily Express, Daily Star, Sunday Express, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record (Scotland), Sun and News of the World. | The 11 papers involved are the Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Metro, Daily Express, Daily Star, Sunday Express, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record (Scotland), Sun and News of the World. |
| All the papers have agreed to publish reports of the statement to recognise the immense distress and damage which they have caused. | All the papers have agreed to publish reports of the statement to recognise the immense distress and damage which they have caused. |
| "The defendants apologise to each of the claimants for publishing false allegations about them", Keith Mathieson the papers' solicitor said. "They very much regret the distress these publications caused". | "The defendants apologise to each of the claimants for publishing false allegations about them", Keith Mathieson the papers' solicitor said. "They very much regret the distress these publications caused". |
| Outside the court Mr Murat said: "I am pleased that the publications concerned have today admitted the falsity of all their allegations and I can now start to rebuild my life. | Outside the court Mr Murat said: "I am pleased that the publications concerned have today admitted the falsity of all their allegations and I can now start to rebuild my life. |
| "Today's statement of full apology in open court means I can emerge from this action vindicated and with the recognition and acknowledgement that what was said against me was wholly untrue." | "Today's statement of full apology in open court means I can emerge from this action vindicated and with the recognition and acknowledgement that what was said against me was wholly untrue." |
| In March, Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann reached a libel settlement and got an apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they were responsible for her death. | In March, Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann reached a libel settlement and got an apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they were responsible for her death. |
| Former Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil said the pay-out to Mr Murat would not stop a similar barrage of stories happening again because the damages were too low. | Former Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil said the pay-out to Mr Murat would not stop a similar barrage of stories happening again because the damages were too low. |
| "The papers have not been hurt enough," he said. | "The papers have not been hurt enough," he said. |
| "£600,000 between several very rich papers is pocket change." | "£600,000 between several very rich papers is pocket change." |