The McCanns partially
won their libel action against the author and former lead detective Gonçalo
Amaral, but the matter is far from over.
Amaral intends to
appeal. In his first comment on the verdict he said: “I find that the court’s decision is unfair and
questions my right and every Portuguese citizen's right to freedom of
expression and of opinion. For that reason, I do not resign myself to the
decision and I will appeal it until the very last judicial instance.”
Apart from Amaral’s
assertion on the “unfairness” of the court’s decision, there were two remarkable
features about the verdict and the way in which it was announced that got
little or no mention in the mainstream media coverage.
The first unusual
aspect was the huge sum awarded. It may be normal in the UK
Kate and Gerry
McCann had sought a total of €1.2 million. In addition to €250,000 each, they
claimed €500,000 for Madeleine and €100,000 for each of their twins. The judge
ruled against the claims on behalf of the children.
The
McCanns successfully claimed that Amaral’s book, Maddie, the Truth of the Lie, caused them great
personal distress. The judge did not agree, however, that the book had hindered
the search for Madeleine or had caused damages to the twins.
Should Amaral on appeal get the verdict
overturned, or the compensation figure greatly reduced, the McCanns may lodge a
counter appeal. The deadline for appeals is 40 days. The legal battle that has
been going on for more than five years looks like continuing for some time yet.
A defiant Amaral
supporter noted that, “a decision from a Portuguese court can only be enforced
after all appeals are exhausted. No money will change hands until a final
decision is reached by the very last appeals court.” With this in mind, other
well-wishers are being urged to make donations to a Gonçalo Amaral defence
fund.
The second oddity
was the way in which the announcement of the verdict was handled. The judge’s
ruling was not read out in court. It was contained in a 52-page report, which
was received by the McCann’s Lisbon lawyer
Isabel Duarte who swiftly passed it on to media organisations in Portugal
Soon after the
news appeared on media websites on Tuesday, Kate and Gerry McCann said they were
“delighted” with the outcome.
In a statement
issued by their spokesman Clarence Mitchell, they said the case had never been
about money. “It was entirely focused on the effect of the libels on our other
children and the damage that was done to the search for Madeleine.”
When contacted by
journalists the same day, Gonçalo Amaral chose not to comment because neither
he nor his lawyer, Miguel Cruz Rodrigues, had received a copy of the ruling. They only received it the following day, by which time to many in the mainstream media it was old news.
Madeleine went missing on 3rd May 2007.
Madeleine went missing on 3rd May 2007.
30 comments:
When will all of this end? The McCanns have gained financially and socially from their daughter's disappearance. Operation Grange trundles on, "making progress". It seems that snobbery and xenophobia rule. The things that have been printed about this man in British newspapers would keep the Press Complaints Commission busy for a year. A schizophrenic man is being pursued on the grounds of a mobile phone call. Other Portuguese citizens have been vilified in the British press because of the uncorroborated sighting by one attention seeker of Madeleine McCann.
And the good old British taxpayer foots the bill.
For background information and discussion and to continue the fight for justice for Maddie and Amaral join us here https://www.facebook.com/groups/jkjoannekilcoyne/
According then to "Clarence" the court action was never about money but “It was entirely focused on the effect of the libels on our other children and the damage that was done to the search for Madeleine.”
Yet it would seem a) the judge did not agree that there was libel on the twins and b) the search for Madeleine had not been affected.
Seems a bit strange therefore that they were delighted, when none of the aims of the actions, which allegedly was not about money, were not achieved.
The Appeals process will be very interesting and I know who my money's on!
Another thing the fawning Media in Britain did not bother to report was that the McCanns have to pay 58.7% of the costs of this action - which may give hint at the judge's attitude toward them and their witnesses. They also have to pay 50% of the costs of the previous action over the book, which is to be paid by the parents AND the children, since they were included in the action. So no pocket money until 2042 !
Good luck to this honest decent man. losing a child should of cause the mccanns distress not a book. they are evil money grabbing parasites more intrested in money than their own daughter. Amaral has the truth and most of the population on his side, the truth should be enough to get justice for this decent man but like the mccanns have proved time after time, crime pays when it comes to the mccanns. they are the ones that say they left babies alone, that is child neglect, they are the ones that lied and changed their stories a few times, they are the ones that the dogs alerted to yet they get paid, shouldnt it of been their assests got frozen till the truth came out. How many more lives lost or destroyed before the mccanns lies finally catch up with them, Justice for Maddie, Amaral and Brenda. Good luck Amaral you can do this x
its disgusting what the mccanns can do and get away with worse still they get paid for it, this circus needs to stop
As Mr Amaral's lawyer has selected to be uncontactable by any digital or electronic means, it's not surprising he was late getting the verdict! He needs to move into the 21st century.
As does the disgusting libellous comments aimed at the McCanns
Go Goncalo Amaral! The significant majority of the public world wide are behind you as public comments testify x.
The court said it was not proven that the allegations made in the book “contributed to hindering, in any way, the course of the investigation” into Madeleine’s disappearance. Only 2 points counted, they lost on all the others...Ruling was for compensation only to them and not for their 3 children as they originally wanted. And when and how can a civil court overrule a Supreme court regarding the books/documentary! NO comments were libellous towards the McCanns...Amarals book was of the investigation and FACTUAL!!! And when he WINS his appeal, perhaps Kate can retract the "f***ing tosser" comments towards the portuguese who investigated their daughters disappearance NOT abduction!
The McCanns deserve to get nothing. They are the ones that are neglectful of their child. (I bet they think twice about leaving the twins). GA only wrote the truth, which is something the G&K know nothing about. And why are the comments libelous, if its the truth?
I suppose all the journalists that contacted Mr Amaral's lawyer and reported that he had no comment to offer, contacted him via smoke signs.
I also presume that Dr Cruz Rodrigues, who was notified of the decision yesterday, received said notification from drummers in the jungle.
Do you really have nothing better to offer than insults?
All practising lawyers in Portugal have to have access to Citius - otherwise they would not be able to work. All notifications go through Citius and carry an electronic time stamp.
Let's stop the disgusting libelous comments aimed at Mr Amaral, as well. Just for the sake of equality.
That should be "As do the disgusting......."
Hi,
What is this about a man suffering from schizophrenia being pursued for making a phone call? Didn`t hear about that. Do you have any links to it? It doesn`t surprise me they would stoop to persecuting the mentally unwell, though. Just adds to my never ending depths of disgust for the McMobsters. They are evil incarnate.
My sentiments to Jill Wilkinson.....I think there should be an open court where the McCanns have to answer all that we ask them....and no one there to guide them or protect them....and I think we the Residents of Luz should be able to sue them....the book tells the truth why is it that this lovely man has been stigmatized by these two greedy money grabbing smug faced liars !!! I could go on and on but nobody seems to be able to do anything....even for leaving their 3 baby's alone they have never been brought to justice.......Its a sham !!!!
Am reassured reading all the support for GA and the PJ. They were the people doing their jobs - the parents were delinquent in theirs and should be grateful for all the help and support they received in Portugal. I hope GA is vindicated in due course with all my heart
There ARE a lot of good reasons the large majority believe most parents of missing children but that the same folj DO NOT believe the McCanns.
Perhaps you are just gullible.
Or perhaps you are one of `them`.
Oh come on. The solicitor acting for the McCanns and the courts were always able to contact them quickly until then.
Are you determined to believe every negative lie said or written about Mr Amaral and his team, and supporters? As in `obtuse`?'
What a daft thing to believe. Really.
Hello Anonymous. Here is the link; three of these men made mobile phone calls that allegedly coincide with the Tapas timeline. Now, stop laughing!
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/488488/Former-Ocean-Club-driver-is-suspect-in-McCann-case
According to the MSM there has been ''world wide searches for Madeleine & she has still not been found''. How can the McCanns say that the book has hindered the search for her when the world has been searching for her? They cannot have it both ways in order to make cash from their ''allegedly'' missing child.
Kate Mortimer, I take it you are a resident of Luz? Everything the McCanns touch, turns necrotic unless it is connected to bringing in the money for themselves. They never left their children alone in my opinion. Something sinister happened on that holiday & I have a feeling it will all come out soon. Fingers crossed.
I do not think they left the children alone. I think Madeleine had a 'Playdate', and there was a disaster, and she died.
Of course only my opinion, and I may well be quite wrong, but so many people seem to think this!
I may be prosecuted for this if they search my ID.
I TOO AM A MCCANN DISBELIEVER.
This statement almost certainly makes me a criminal troll.
Smoke signals? Drummers? Really. They are not THAT backward. Dontcha know they moved on to carrier pidgeons that lose their way? Lol.
If the msm said that then some fools would believe it, too.
Highmyrope 1955,
Thank you. I now remember briefly reading that before. I just hadn`t taken in that the older man suffers from schizophrenia.
Seems to me that it is only by keep pointing fingers at the innocent the hope they can justify the 12 million £ (at least) of public money spent, and rising.
Apparently, official secrets prevent answers to Freedom of Information requests as to breakdowns and proofs of that expenditure. So, we haven`t any idea where that vast sum has been paid - or how much may have been diverted to whom. Says it all.
Thank you. I remember reading that before.
Fact is I think tht they hope to justify the £12 million at least, and rising, of public money so far spent.
Apparently, due to secrecy laws being misapplied to many aspects of this case, there have been no divulgences under the Freedom of Information Act as to breakdown and proofs of this vast expenditure.
Thus, we the public are disallowed from being assured of to whom monies have been paid to, for what and if monies have beee fraudulently diverted and if so, to whom.
Plus, it is I think likey they are hoping to frame some innocent or relatively innocent person/s at some point, just to get that horrible pair, their horrible friends and family, and their horrible contacts in high places internationally of the hook. At least officially, for the sake of creating resolvement and yet more fictional history.
There is not one person alive who can prove that Mr Amarals conclusion in his book was wrong.If this is what justice is then it's a sad day for justice indeed.So called justice to silence the truth ? People have brains and form their own opinions .I have never read this book but I have opinions which I am entitled to have .I hope Mr Amaral success with his appeal.
Agreed
Any news as to what the verdict on appeal by Mr Amaral is? Everything seems to have gone very quiet apart from the made up stories in newspapers. Stories about the Mc family sell papers!
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