Judge backs ban on book claiming Madeleine is dead

Kate and Gerry McCann have expressed their relief at successfully banning a book that claims they faked their daughter's abduction

It has been a long and emotional struggle, but Kate and Gerry McCann expressed joy and relief last night after blocking an attempt to overturn a ban on the book that claims they faked their daughter's abduction.

The Lisbon court upheld a ruling to ban the book written by Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral, ‘Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie', as well as the documentary he made on the same subject.

Amaral, who initially led the investigation, claims in his work that three-year-old Madeleine died in her apartment and that her parents faked her abduction.

Kate and Gerry, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have insisted that there is no evidence that their little girl has come to any harm. They also argue that the book, published in July 2008, has caused ‘significant ongoing damage' to the search for Madeleine.

‘The motives of those who have tried to convince the world that Madeleine is dead, and who have disgracefully and falsely tried to implicate us in her disappearance, need to be seriously questioned,' they added in a statement.

In separate civil proceedings against the detective, the McCanns are seeking £1million compensation for defamation. Amaral has vowed to fight yesterday's ruling.

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