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Kate and Gerry McCann criticise former police chief who led hunt for Madeleine Kate and Gerry McCann criticise former police chief who led hunt for Madeleine
(about 5 hours later)
Kate and Gerry McCann have criticised the former police officer who led the hunt for their missing daughter after he delayed their libel action against him again.Kate and Gerry McCann have criticised the former police officer who led the hunt for their missing daughter after he delayed their libel action against him again.
Kate McCann said every delay caused by Gonçalo Amaral, who sacked his legal team at the last minute, "causes us more pain and distress".Kate McCann said every delay caused by Gonçalo Amaral, who sacked his legal team at the last minute, "causes us more pain and distress".
They are suing for libel over claims he made in his book The Truth of the Lie, and they travelled to Portugal to deliver personal statements on how accusations in the book were affecting them. They are suing for libel over claims he made in his book, The Truth of the Lie, and travelled to Portugal to deliver personal statements on how accusations in the book were affecting them.
The McCanns were originally told they could not make statements to the long-running trial at Lisbon's Palace of Justice, but the decision was overturned after an appeal by their lawyer. The McCanns were originally told they could not make statements to the longrunning trial at Lisbon's Palace of Justice, but the decision was overturned after an appeal by their lawyer.
Outside the court in Lisbon, Gerry McCann said: "We're exasperated that the hearing has been cancelled once again at Mr Amaral's request. This is the fourth time this has happened and we've travelled to Portugal. The legal case has been running now for over five years and we want to get justice for Madeleine." Outside the court in Lisbon, Gerry McCann said: "We're exasperated that the hearing has been cancelled once again at Mr Amaral's request. This is the fourth time this has happened and we've travelled to Portugal. The legal case has been running now for over five years and we want to get justice for Madeleine.
He added: "Today is a blatant and cynical attempt to wear us down and it's Madeleine who is suffering. We're not going to give up – we're going to keep going." "Today is a blatant and cynical attempt to wear us down and it's Madeleine who is suffering. We're not going to give up – we're going to keep going."
Kate McCann said: "We need to make it clear to people: we took on this case because of the pain and distress that Mr Amaral has brought to us and our children. And every time he postpones the case like this it brings us more pain and distress. Every time we come here we have to make arrangements for our children to be looked after, we have to book flights, we have to book hotels, we have to take time off work to come here. Clearly angry and upset, Kate McCann said: "We need to make it clear to people: we took on this case because of the pain and distress that Mr Amaral has brought to us and our children. And every time he postpones the case like this it brings us more pain and distress. Every time we come here we have to make arrangements for our children to be looked after, we have to book flights, we have to book hotels, we have to take time off work.
"Mr Amaral handed that letter in at apparently around nine o'clock this morning. That letter could have been handed in before we left the country. And this has happened about four times. As Gerry said, this can't be seen as anything but blatant and cynical. We just want justice. This is not fair." "Mr Amaral handed that letter in apparently at around nine o'clock this morning. That letter could have been handed in before we left the country. And this has happened about four times. As Gerry said, this can't be seen as anything but blatant and cynical. We just want justice. This is not fair."
Gerry McCann said they would return, with the next hearing set for 8 July. Gerry McCann saidthey would return, with the next hearing set for 8 July. Madeleine, who was then nearly four, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May 2007 as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant with friends.
Madeleine, who was then nearly four, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on 3 May 2007 as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant with friends.
Her parents say that claims in Amaral's 2008 book, including suggestions that they hid Madeleine's body after she died in an accident and they faked an abduction, damaged the hunt for their daughter and exacerbated their anguish. If successful, the family stands to gain around £1m in damages.Her parents say that claims in Amaral's 2008 book, including suggestions that they hid Madeleine's body after she died in an accident and they faked an abduction, damaged the hunt for their daughter and exacerbated their anguish. If successful, the family stands to gain around £1m in damages.
Last week the McCanns said the fact that police had found no evidence relating to their missing daughter during recent searches in Praia da Luz had reinforced their belief that she could still be alive. Last week, the McCanns said the fact that the police had found no evidence relating to their missing daughter during recent searches in Praia da Luz had reinforced their belief that she could still be alive.