Anne Guedes: Libel Damages Trial Reports 

Photos: from McCann Libel trial by Anne Guedes

Dr. Goncalo Amaral's Book "Truth of the Lie" English Translation

McCann family libel case to resume in Portugal, 19 September 2013

McCann family libel case to resume in Portugal ITV Central 5:00am, Thu 19 Sep 2013 Last updated Thu 19 Sep 2013 Missing girl Madeleine McCann Credit: PA/PA Wire The libel case against a former local police chief who initially led the inquiry into Madeleine McCann's disappearance is expected to resume today in Portugal. Goncalo Ameral published a book making allegations about the three-year-old's disappearance, claiming her parents Kate and Gerry McCann had covered up her death during a family holiday.

Witness Cláudia Nogueira pictured in the Palace of Justice, Lisbon, 19 September 2013

Witness Cláudia Nogueira, Managing Director of the Portuguese Public Relations and Communications Company 'Plus - People Development' pictured in the Palace of Justice, Lisbon, on Thursday. Photo: Anne Guedes

Testimony on Kate McCann's distress after the release of a book which incriminates her in the Maddie case, 19 September 2013

Testimony on Kate McCann's distress after the release of a book which incriminates her in the Maddie case Le Soir 19 September 2013 [15:30 pm] The lawsuit filed by the McCann family upon Gonçalo Amaral, the former head of the investigation into the disappearance of Maddie and author of a book which incriminates them, resumed on Thursday in Lisbon, and was marked by testimony on the psychological distress of the mother the girl. The hearing, which took place in the absence of Kate McCann, reached a high point when the psychologist Alan Pike spoke of the suicidal feelings of Kate McCann.

Parents of Madeleine McCann due to continue bid to win libel damages from cop Goncalo Amaral in Lisbon today, 19 September 2013

Parents of Madeleine McCann due to continue bid to win libel damages from cop Goncalo Amaral in Lisbon today Twitter - Jerry Lawton   Text version of above: Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 8:48 AM - 19 Sep 13 Parents of Madeleine #McCann due to continue bid to win libel damages from cop Goncalo Amaral in Lisbon today Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 8:50 AM - 19 Sep 13 Madeleine's parents claim Amaral's book's allegation that they covered up her death stopped people looking for her #McCann Text version of above: Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:20 PM - 19 Sep 13 Kate #McCann contemplated suicide over Goncalo Amaral's book claims she covered up daughter Madeleine's death, psychologist tells court Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:24 PM - 19 Sep 13 Kate #McCann experienced 'secondary trauma' due to Amaral's claims which could be 'more profound' than 'primary trauma' of disappearance Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:25 PM - 19 Sep 13 Kate #McCann spent 'many days in tears sobbing about the injustice being done to Madeleine' by people who should have been looking for her Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:27 PM - 19 Sep 13 Kate #McCann was 'incensed' by Amaral & his friends & could not understand why he was allowed to make his claims - psychologist Alan Pike Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:28 PM - 19 Sep 13 Pike: Kate #McCann feared if Portuguese believed Amaral's claims they would stop looking for Madeleine in the country where she vanished Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:34 PM - 19 Sep 13 Pike: Kate #McCann 'wasn't very well', 'referred to killing herself as an option to end the trauma she was experiencing' Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:36 PM - 19 Sep 13 Pike deduced it was indicator of how Kate #McCann felt 'rather than something she ever intended to do' but she had some 'very dark thoughts' Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 16:40 PM - 19 Sep 13 Pike on Kate #McCann suicidal thoughts: 'I think I was the only person she shared this with.' Text version of above: Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 17:57 PM - 19 Sep 13 #McCann PR expert Claudia Nogueira said 2.2 million people - half TV viewing audience - watched Amaral documentary in Portugal Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 17:58 PM - 19 Sep 13 Nogueira: Most press coverage in Portugal at time was 'slanted' and mentioned the claims made in Amaral's book #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 18:01 PM - 19 Sep 13 Alipio Ribeiro, ex-director of Portuguese police, dismissed as witness after 10 minutes after admitting not read book or seen doc #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 18:03 PM - 19 Sep 13 Outside court Amaral's lawyer says #McCann should be suing 'Portuguese state' not detective as the 'state decided to close the case' Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 18:08 PM - 19 Sep 13 #McCann libel trial adjourned until tomorrow

Missing Maddie's mom had 'suicidal thoughts', court told, 19 September 2013

Missing Maddie's mom had 'suicidal thoughts', court told AFP (AFP) – 1 hour ago [Approx 19:00 PM] LISBON — The mother of missing British girl Madeleine McCann has had suicidal thoughts, a psychologist on Thursday told a Portuguese court hearing a libel case against the author of a book on her daughter's disappearance. Alan Pike was testifying on the psychological distress suffered by Kate McCann since the publication of a book in July 2008 by Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral on Madeleine's disappearance. Then three-years-old, Madeleine went missing as the family holidayed on the Algarve. Amaral's book advances the theory that Madeleine died accidentally and that her parents were implicated in her death. The McCanns have strongly denied the accusations and say the former inspector's claims have hampered the search for their daughter and exacerbated the anguish suffered by her relatives. "She says she spent a few days in tears. Kate talks about not being around anymore, and refers to killing herself as an option," Pike told the court. McCann was not present for the hearing. However he added: "I deduced an indication of how she felt rather than something she would ever intend to do." Pike first met the McCanns two days after Madeleine's May 3, 2007 disappearance, when he offered them psychological support. He has been in touch with them ever since. The libel suit began last Thursday, but proceedings were halted on the second day of the hearing as the court was due to hear evidence from members of the McCann family. "The judge had a problem. We are going to propose that the witnesses give their testimonies in written form so they do not have to return from Britain again, but it is not certain that this will be accepted by the court," a lawyer for the McCann family told AFP last Friday. The testimony of family members such as Kate's mother Susan Halley, has been postponed. The family is seeking the equivalent of £1 million (1.2 million euros, $1.6 million) in damages. The McCanns have unsuccessfully tried to ban the book. It was taken off sale but is now back on the shelves. British police said in August they were opening their own investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. She was just a few days short of her fourth birthday when she vanished. Her parents believe she was kidnapped and is still alive.

Kate McCann came close to suicide after Portuguese former police chief unleashed a 'smear campaign' against her, reveals her psychologist, 19 September 2013

Kate McCann came close to suicide after Portuguese former police chief unleashed a 'smear campaign' against her, reveals her psychologist Daily Mail Alan Pike, Kate McCann's psychologist, told a civil court she confessed 'dark thoughts' to him after the former detective's book was published Police chief claimed the McCanns hid their daughter's body after a car crash Kate's psychologist Alan Pike said she experienced a 'second trauma' Evidence heard in Lisbon in £1million libel case against Goncalo Amaral By GERARD COUZENS PUBLISHED: 18:15, 19 September 2013 | UPDATED: 18:31, 19 September 2013 Kate McCann contemplated suicide after a 'smear campaign' by a Portuguese police chief who claimed she had covered up daughter Madeleine's death, a libel trial heard today. A British psychologist who counselled Mrs McCann revealed she confessed to secret 'dark thoughts' after disgraced detective Goncalo Amaral's shocking book was followed by a TV documentary based on it. Alan Pike, a trauma expert who has been helping the McCanns since Madeleine's May 3 2007 disappearance on the Algarve, told a Lisbon court: 'Kate thought about not being around anymore. 'She referred to killing herself as an option to end the trauma she was experiencing. 'I deduced it was an indicator of how she felt rather that something she ever intended to do. 'Kate in particular wasn't very well and she shared with me some very dark thoughts which she hadn't done before. 'When people are going through trauma they sometimes feel helpless and one of the things they say is, "I wish I wasn't here". 'One solution some people formulate is to take themselves away from it all. 'To share that with anyone will often alarm or worry the people they live with so I think I was the only person Kate shared this with.' Mr Amaral, the Portuguese policeman who led the botched hunt for Madeleine, claimed in his bombshell 2008 book 'The Truth of the Lie' the McCanns hid their daughter's body after she died in an accident and faked her abduction. He also suggested the couple cashed in on £2million of public donations. Mr Amaral's book was published in July 2008 just three days after the McCanns - made suspects over their daughter's death in September 2007 - had their status as 'arguidos' formally lifted. Around 120,000 copies of the book were sold before it was withdrawn when the McCanns won an injection against him. The couple, both 45, from Rothley, Leics, launched £1million libel proceedings against the former police chief, sacked as head of the Madeleine McCann investigation after he attacked British detectives. They are also suing his book publishers and a TV station which broadcast an April 2009 documentary repeating Mr Amaral's claims. Mr Pike, who has stayed in touch with the McCanns after being called in by their tour operator Mark Warner when Madeleine disappeared, told the court the book and documentary caused Kate 'secondary trauma' after the 'primary trauma' of Madeleine's disappearance. He said she relapsed into despair at the idea people would believe the claims and stop searching for Madeleine after she, Gerry and their twins Sean and Amelie, now eight, made good progress on their return to Britain in September 2007. 'She spent many days in tears sobbing about the injustice being done to Madeleine by the very people who ought to have been helping her,' Mr Pike told the court. 'There were times when she felt so incensed by Amaral and his friends, by which she meant his publishers, that she simply couldn't get through each day with the panic and the anguish she felt. 'These were things Kate told me when I spoke to her that she'd recorded in her diary in September 2008.' He added: 'I remember Kate being further devastated by the content of the film. 'The second traumatic reaction we have is sometimes more profound than the first one, more deep-seated, more entrenched and often more extreme. 'They can be more difficult reactions to deal with. When I spoke to the family about the film this is what I found. 'They were extremely angry and very disappointed and very frustrated. 'It was broadcast on TV in Portugal and the McCanns felt there was little or no chance of Madeleine ever being found in Portugal.' Mr Pike, a partner at a trauma after-care centre based in Skipton, Yorkshire, said the McCanns viewed Mr Amaral's book as a 'gross breach of confidentiality' because it showed he had been speaking to publishers while he and colleagues claimed laws on secrecy prevented them from discussing the Madeleine case with the couple. He added: 'The judge said there was no evidence whatsoever that Kate and Gerry had been involved in any way in Madeleine's abduction and Kate was wondering how it was possible for a police officer involved in the search to reach his conclusions and for no-one in Portugal to challenge them. 'One of the most devastating effects of the book was that the family were worried it would influence public opinion in Portugal and people they would believe the book. 'Basically if people believed what was written in the book they were concerned people in Portugal would stop looking for her. 'Even now Kate and Gerry believe the most likely chance of finding Madeleine would originate from Portugal and so the publication in their minds meant the finding of their daughter in Portugal would be diminished.' Amaral, 56, is denying defamation and insists everything he published in his book is already contained in police and court case files on Madeleine which have been made public. The case, due to finish hearing evidence in November, continues.

Kate McCann contemplated suicide after detective's book, 19 September 2013

Kate McCann contemplated suicide after detective's book The Telegraph Kate McCann considered suicide and shared "dark thoughts" with her psychologist after a Portuguese detective published a book accusing her of faking her daughter Madeleine's disappearance, a libel trial has heard. By Ben Farmer and Catarina Chase Aleixo 10:00PM BST 19 Sep 2013 Mrs McCann spent days weeping after the book alleged she and her husband Gerry hid their daughter's body because she had died of an accident, her psychologist said. Alan Pike said the McCann family had been trying to return to a normal family routine after the loss of Madeleine in May 2007, when the book by Gonçalo Amaral was published and traumatised them once again. Mr Pike, who was assigned to the McCanns by tour operator Mark Warner just days after Madeleine's disappearance, said: "She spent many days in tears and sobbing at the injustice done to Madeleine by the very people who should be helping her." Mr Pike who works for a centre treating traumatised families, said the book published in July 2008 had provoked "secondary trauma" that can be "more profound, deep-seated and often more extreme," than the initial shock of losing a child. He told the court: "Kate in particular wasn't very well and she shared some dark thoughts with me about not being around anymore. "She said killing herself was an option to end the trauma she was experiencing. To share that with anyone will often alarm or worry the people they live with so I think I was the only person Kate shared this with." Mr Pike gave evidence at a court in Lisbon, Portugal, as part of a libel case against former Polícia Judiciária detective Gonçalo Amaral. Mr Amaral's book, The Truth of the Lie, as well as a documentary based on it broadcast in Portugal in 2009, allege that Madeleine died accidentally in a Praia da Luz holiday apartment, and that Mr and Mrs McCann hid her body and faked her abduction. The couple are suing the former policeman for damages equivalent to £1 million. Mr Pike said the couple were "horrified" at the content of the book and its conclusions caused them more distress. "One of its most devastating effects was that the family worried about its influence on public opinion in Portugal," he said. "People would believe that Madeleine was dead and they would stop looking for her. Publishing the book meant that the chances of finding Madeleine were diminished." Mr Amaral's book was published just three days after the criminal case into Madeleine's disappearance in which the McCanns were named as "arguidos", or formal suspects, was closed. The book sold 120,000 copies before it was removed from bookshops after the McCanns won an injunction against Mr Amaral and his publishers. In an afternoon session the McCann's former press advisor in Portugal, Cláudia Nogueira, told the court that the documentary based on Mr. Amaral's book broadcast by Portuguese channel TVI, who are co-defendants in the libel case, was seen by 2.2 million people in Portugal and had a 50 percent share of the viewing audience. Mrs McCann has written before that she was plagued by depression and suicidal thoughts after the abduction of Madeleine. In a book chronicling her daughter's disappearance and the toll it took on her family, she wrote that she had an overwhelming urge to swim out to her death at sea. She wrote: "I had an overwhelming urge to swim out across the ocean, as hard and as fast as I could; to swim and swim and swim until I was so far out and so exhausted I could just allow the water to pull me under and relieve me of this torment. "I wasn't keeping that desire to myself, either. I was shouting it out to anyone who happened to be in the room. Both this urge and the expression of it were, I suppose, an outlet for the crucifying anguish. "Somehow, inflicting physical pain on myself seemed to be the only possible way of escaping my internal pain," she wrote in the book published two years ago. The libel case continues.

False Maddie claims 'drove mum Kate to suicidal thoughts', 19 September 2013

False Maddie claims 'drove mum Kate to suicidal thoughts' The Sun By GARY O'SHEA Published: 19 September 2013 KATE McCann was driven to thoughts of suicide by claims she faked daughter Maddie's disappearance and hid her body, a £1million libel trial has heard. She poured out her "dark thoughts" to psychologist Alan Pike in Sign in to Sun+ for the full story.

Kate had very dark thoughts..she spoke of suicide - The Sun, paper edition, 20 September 2013

Kate had very dark thoughts..she spoke of suicide - The Sun, paper edition, 20 September 2013

Kate had very dark thoughts..she spoke of suicide The Sun (paper edition) McCann shrink's evidence By GARY O'SHEA in Lisbon, Portugal Friday, September 20, 2013 KATE McCann talked about suicide over smears that she faked daughter Madeleine's disappearance and hid her body, a £1million libel trial heard. She told psychologist Alan Pike of her "dark thoughts" in 2009, soon after the broadcast of a TV documentary - based on a book by ex-detective Goncalo  Amaral. Mr Pike gave dramatic evidence yesterday on behalf of Kate and husband Gerry, both 45, who are suing Mr Amaral, 56, his publishers and a Portuguese TV station for damages. He said at Lisbon's Palace of Justice: "Kate thought about not being around any more. She referred to killing herself as an option to end the trauma. "I deduced it was an indication of how she felt rather than something she intended. She shared some very dark thoughts which she hadn't done before." Crisis trauma psychologist Mr Pike jetted to Praia da Luz, Portugal, days after Madeleine vanished from her family's holiday apartment in May, 2007. He said the McCanns began to make progress after returning home to Rothley, Leics, in September that year. But the 2008 book and 2009 TV show plunged them into even deeper despair. Mr Pike said Kate suffered "secondary trauma" worse than that following the original loss of her daughter. He said: "She sent many days in tears." Mr Amaral, who led the Madeleine probe for six months, is defending the action, saying the material in his book is publicly available in police files. The case continues.

Maddy's mum thought about suicide, 20 September 2013

Maddy's mum thought about suicide Daily Express (paper edition)   She was driven to despair by detective's lies, court told TURN TO PAGE 5 --------------- Kate McCann was sucidal over dectective's lies about Madeleine Daily Express [headline spelling later corrected] KATE MCCANN contemplated suicide after a police chief wrongly accused her of covering up the death of her daughter Madeleine, a court heard yesterday. By: Gerard Couzens and John Twomey Published: Fri, September 20, 2013   The anguished mother was tormented by dark thoughts as she struggled to cope with a "smear campaign" by the senior Portuguese detective. British psychologist Alan Pike told a Lisbon court: "Kate thought about not being around any more. She referred to killing herself as an option to end the trauma she was experiencing." He stressed: "It was an indicator of how she felt rather than something she ever intended to do. "Kate wasn't very well and she shared with me some very dark thoughts which she hadn't done before. When people are going through trauma they sometimes feel helpless and one of the things they say is, 'I wish I wasn't here.' "One solution some people formulate is to take themselves away from it all. To share that with anyone will often alarm or worry the people they live with so I think I was the only person Kate shared this with." Mr Pike also revealed Mrs McCann spent days weeping at the "injustice" done to Madeleine. Kate and her husband Gerry, both doctors, are suing former police inspector Goncalo Amaral for £1million over claims in his 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie. Mr Amaral, who headed the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the Algarve in 2007, accused the McCanns of hiding the little girl's body after she died in an accident. He alleged they faked her abduction as part of a cover-up and accused them of setting up the £2million Find Madeleine fund to cash in on the tragedy. According to Mr Pike, the couple view the book as a gross breach of confidentiality because the detective was clearly talking to publishers while claiming the law barred him from discussing the case with them. In April 2009, a documentary on Portuguese television repeated the devastating claims. The true extent of the agony suffered by former GP Kate was revealed by Mr Pike, a trauma aftercare specialist based in Skipton, Yorkshire. He told the court her daughter's disappearance had been the primary trauma while the book and documentary were a secondary shock causing her to sink back into despair. She feared the public would be convinced by the false allegations and stop searching for Madeleine while she, Gerry and twins Sean and Amelie, now eight, returned to Britain. Mr Pike told the court: "She spent many days in tears sobbing about the injustice being done to Madeleine by the very people who ought to have been helping her. "There were times when she felt so incensed by Amaral and his friends, by which she meant his publishers, that she simply couldn't get through each day with the panic and the anguish she felt. "These were things Kate told me when I spoke to her that she'd recorded in her diary in September 2008. I remember Kate being further devastated by the content of the film. "The second traumatic reaction we have is sometimes more profound than the first one, more deep-seated, more entrenched and often more extreme. "They can be more difficult reactions to deal with. When I spoke to the family about the film this is what I found. They were extremely 'I think I was the only person she shared this with' angry and very disappointed and very frustrated. "It was broadcast on TV in Portugal and the McCanns felt there was little or no chance of Madeleine ever being found in Portugal." Around 120,000 copies of the book were sold before it was withdrawn when the McCanns won an injunction. They are also suing the TV station over the documentary. The couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, say there is no evidence that Madeleine is dead and are convinced she will be found. Mr Amaral, 56, denies defamation and insists everything in his book is already in police and court case files on Madeleine which have been made public. His lawyer Vitor Santos de Oliveira said outside court: "The McCanns should be suing the Portuguese state. It was the state that decided to close the case. The book was not the cause of the case being closed." The hearing continues.

Tormented Kate McCann was suicidal at her lowest point, 20 September 2013

Tormented Kate McCann was suicidal at her lowest point Daily Star TORMENTED Kate McCann thought about suicide at her lowest ebb, a court heard yesterday. By Jerry Lawton / Published 20th September 2013 It came after a "smear campaign" by a Portuguese police chief. Goncalo Amaral's book claimed Kate and husband Gerry, both 45, had covered up daughter Madeleine's death in 2007. British psychologist Alan Pike, who counselled Kate, said she confessed to "dark thoughts" after Amaral's allegations He said: "Kate thought about not being around any more. She referred to killing herself as an option to end the trauma she was experiencing." In his 2008 book, The Truth Of The Lie, Amaral, 56, claimed the McCanns hid their daughter's body after she died in an accident, faked her abduction and then cashed in on public donations. UK police, who recently identified 38 suspects in Madeleine's abduction, have cleared Kate and Gerry of involvement. The couple, from Rothley, Leics, are seeking £1million in libel damages from ex-detective Amaral, 56. He denies defamation. The case in Lisbon continues.

Kate McCann was close to killing herself, 20 September 2013

Kate McCann was close to killing herself Daily Mirror (paper edition)   MADDY MUM'S SUICIDE AGONY Cop's 'smear campaign' drove her to the edge, court told -------------- Madeleine McCann: Mum Kate close to killing herself over 'smear campaign' Daily Mirror By Don Mackay | 20 Sep 2013 00:00 A British psychologist who counselled the mum told a court she had "dark thoughts" after Goncalo Amaral's shocking book Devastated Kate McCann considered suicide after a police chief claimed she covered up Madeleine's death. Psychologist Alan Pike helped the mum and yesterday told a court she had "dark thoughts". She told him there were times she was "so incensed she couldn't get through each day". Kate and husband Gerry are suing shamed detective Goncalo Amaral, who should have been looking for missing three-year-old Madeleine instead of making the shock claims, described at the court in capital Lisbon as a "smear campaign". British Mr Pike told judges yesterday that he had been helping the McCanns, both 45, since Madeleine's disappearance on the Algarve on May 3, 2007. He said: "Kate thought about not being around anymore. She referred to killing herself as an option to end the trauma. "I deduced it was an indicator of how she felt rather that something she intended to do. Kate wasn't well and she shared very dark thoughts." Amaral's book Maddie: The Truth of The Lie accused Kate of staging her daughter's disappearance, despite no evidence. He claimed Madeleine had not been abducted but died in an accident and the McCanns hid her body. He also suggested the couple cashed in on £2million of public donations. It was published in 2008, three days after the McCanns – made suspects over their daughter's disappearance – had their status as "arguidos" lifted. The book was withdrawn after they got an injunction. The McCanns, of Rothley, Leics, have campaigned tirelessly to keep Madeleine in the headlines. Mr Pike said of Kate: "She spent days sobbing about the injustice done to Madeleine by the very people who ought to have been helping her. "There were times she felt so incensed by Amaral she couldn't get through each day with the panic and anguish she felt." The couple are suing sacked Amaral, 56, in a £1million libel case. They are also suing his publishers and a TV station. Amaral denies defamation and said everything in his book was already made public in police files. The case continues.

'Anti-McCann' websites plotted to kidnap one of Madeleine's siblings 'to find out what they knew about her disappearance', court hears, 20 September 2013

'Anti-McCann' websites plotted to kidnap one of Madeleine's siblings 'to find out what they knew about her disappearance', court hears Daily Mail Friend of the McCanns found examples of forum members encouraging kidnap so one of the twins could 'throw some light on the matter' Police chief claimed the McCanns hid their daughter's body after her death Evidence heard in Lisbon during £1million libel case against Goncalo Amaral By GERARD COUZENS PUBLISHED: 15:09, 20 September 2013 | UPDATED: 16:16, 20 September 2013 Internet trolls fuelled by an ex police chief's claims about the McCanns incited conspiracy-theorists to plot to kidnap the couple's twins Sean and Amelie, a court heard today. Goncalo Amaral's claims they faked daughter Madeleine's abduction to cover up her death in their Algarve holiday apartment was to blame for the threats, close family friend Michael Wright said. Gerry and Kate McCann, 45, from Rothley, Leics, are suing the former Portuguese detective over his bombshell July 2008 book 'The Truth of the Lie.'   The couple have also launched £1 million libel proceedings at Lisbon's Palace of Justice against Mr Amaral's book publishers and a TV station which broadcast an April 2009 documentary based on his claims. Mr Wright, husband of Kate McCann's cousin Anne-Marie, told the court the theories in Mr Amaral's book gave conspiracy theorists on anti-Mccann Internet forums 'focus' because he had been in charge of the botched investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. He said: 'There were several examples of them inciting forum members to abduct one of the twins as they felt they would be able to throw some light on what may have happened. 'On one of the Internet forums, called The 3 Arguidos, there was an Internet conversation in great length where a member was suggesting that someone should abduct Sean or Amelie because they may be able to get information out of them that would confirm Mr Amaral's theories.' Mr Wright, who helped monitor Internet activity on missing Madeleine for the couple, said he felt compelled to tell Gerry and he was interviewed by police from his home county of North Yorkshire after they decided detectives should be alerted. He said the threats also made Gerry and Kate more vigilant about the use of the Internet by their twins, now eight.   'I know Amelie has Googled her name and discovered sites to do with the conclusions of Mr Amaral's book,' he told the court. 'I do not know if she opened any of the pages and fortunately she told Gerry and Kate. 'But I know they will definitely be in a position where over the coming years they will search on the Internet and they will find people who will be saying their parents killed their sister.' Mr Amaral's book was published just three days after the McCanns - made suspects over their daughter's death in September 2007 - had their status as 'arguidos' formally lifted. Around 120,000 copies of the book were sold before it was withdrawn when the McCanns won an injunction against him. It formed the basis for a documentary screened on TVI - the Portuguese equivalent of ITV - in April 2009. Company director Mr Wright, from Skipton, North Yorks, said Gerry had suffered one of his darkest hours when they marked the second anniversary of Madeleine's May 3 2007 disappearance together in a remote cottage. The couple were told on the way to the cottage locals on the Algarve were ripping up posters they had put up as part of a campaign to find their daughter. He told the court: 'I had a discussion with Gerry where he talked about not being able to go on.   'I had never heard Gerry speak like that before. 'It was a very upsetting conversation for me to hear Gerry talk like that. 'Both he and Kate are incredibly strong and driven people.' He said Kate, who flew to Lisbon last week for the start of the libel trial, changed whenever she was in Portugal where she felt most people believed Mr Amaral's theories. 'She feels she can't be seen to smile,' he told the court. 'Almost any form of relaxation is a problem, she wouldn't even go to the gym on her own, because there's still a belief most people in Portugal think she and Gerry are responsible for killing Madeleine. 'What is normal behaviour for her at home is very different when she is in Portugal.' Revealing he had received an email informing him Mr Amaral had asked for £67,000 for an interview with Channel 5 in September 2009, he added: 'Kate's reaction was this was confirmation this was not about justice or truth. 'This was about greed.' Amaral, 56, is denying defamation. He insists everything he published in his book is already contained in police and court case files on Madeleine which have been made public - an argument disputed by the McCanns. The case, due to finish hearing evidence in November, continues next Friday. It is believed Kate's mother Susan Healy, cousin Michael Corner and Gerry's sister Bridget Cameron, known as Trish, will be called as witnesses.

Dr Gonçalo Amaral and Dr Santos Oliveira exit smiling from the Palace of Justice, 20 September 2013

Dr Gonçalo Amaral and Dr Santos Oliveira exit smiling from the Palace of Justice, in Lisbon, as they depart for lunch during a break in Friday's proceedings. Photo: Anne Guedes

Internet trolls plotted to kidnap one of Madeleine McCann's siblings to get them to reveal what happened to her, libel trial hears, 20 September 2013

Internet trolls plotted to kidnap one of Madeleine McCann's siblings to get them to reveal what happened to her, libel trial hears Twitter - Jerry Lawton Text version of above: Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:21 PM - 20 Sep 13 Internet trolls plotted to kidnap one of Madeleine McCann's siblings to get them to reveal what happened to her, libel trial hears #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:22 PM - 20 Sep 13 Kidnap plot was discussed in internet forum and taken so seriously police were called in, family friend says #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:25 PM - 20 Sep 13 #McCann pal Michael Wright says Goncalo Amaral's book's claim the couple covered up Madeleine's death incited internet bigots Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:27 PM - 20 Sep 13 Michael Wright, who monitored web traffic on Madeleine for her parents, claimed Mr Amaral demanded 80,000 Euro for a TV interview #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:28 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright: Kate's reaction to Amaral's cash demand was 'this was not about justice or truth..this was about greed'. #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:32 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright said the kidnap threat was discussed on the 3 Arguidos internet forum & investigated by Brit police #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:46 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright: Gerry #McCann talked about 'not being able to go on' when he heard Find Madeleine posters were being ripped up on Algarve Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 3:49 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright: Kidnap threat was reported to North Yorkshire Police (his local force). Gerry #McCann reported it Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 4:30 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright said he was aware Brit sniffer dogs used in Portuguese police probe detected 'smell of death' in #McCann apartment Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 4:34 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright said dogs' intelligence was called into question later and no evidence couple involved in disappearance in police report #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 4:35 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright: 'For me the conclusions of Mr Amaral's book prevailed over the conclusions of the official police inquiry.' #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 4:36 PM - 20 Sep 13 Wright: 'More people saw the book and the TV documentary based on it than read the police case files.' #McCann Jerry Lawton ‏@JerryLawton 6:59 PM - 20 Sep 13 #McCann libel trial due to resume next Friday (Sept 27)

Gerry McCann contacted police after abduction threat to twins, 20 September 2013

Gerry McCann contacted police after abduction threat to twins The Telegraph Gerry McCann was forced to contact police after threats were made to kidnap one of their twins by vigilantes, inspired by a detective's book on the case, in a bid to find out what really happened, a court heard. By Claire Carter 5:12PM BST 20 Sep 2013 Some of the threats against the couple and their twins, Sean and Amelie, were so "disturbing" that Michael Wright, a close friend of the family, didn’t want to tell Kate McCann. A court in Lisbon heard that the release of a book which implicated the McCann's in Madeleine's disappearance in 2007 sparked suggestions by vigilantes about abducting one of the twins to find out the truth. Mr McCann eventually contacted police over the threats. Michael Wright monitored internet activity after Madeleine was abducted from a holiday apartment in Portugal and said forums exploded after Goncalo Amaral, a former policeman and head of the investigation, published his book The Truth of the Lie. He told the court: "There were several instances of inciting forum members to abduct one of the twins as they felt they could throw some light on what had happened. On the 'The 3 Arguidos' forum there was a thread of great length where one member was suggesting that someone should abduct Sean or Amelie as they would be able to confirm Mr Amaral's theory." Gerry McCann contacted Leicestershire Police about the threats and Mr Wright was interviewed at his home in Skipton, Yorkshire by officers. Mr Wright said he was concerned about the twins being able to read about the allegations on the internet after Amelie McCann had already found her name through an online search. He told the court how he and his wife, Kate's cousin Anne-Marie Wright, had spent the weekend with the McCann's on the second anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance. This followed a documentary broadcast on Portuguese TV channel TVI in April 2009. He said: "The weekend we all spent together was horrible. They arrived at the cottage having received phone calls from friends they had made in Praia da Luz telling them that people were tearing down posters we had put up saying 'we know what happened. The child is dead.' "That news had a terrible impact. To hear that people were accepting the thesis of the book caused them huge, visible distress and great anger." Around 2.2 mllion people in Portugal watched the documentary – leading Mr McCann to admit to his friend that for the first time he felt he could not go on. Mr Wright told the court: "Both he and Kate are very strong and driven people and for two years they had been dealing with the disappearance of their daughter, the media backlash, being made arguido... Through all this they had led the rest of the family and other people in helping find Madeleine. So to hear G Talk about it being too much to carry on and to see him almost broken was a great shock." The McCann's are suing Amaral, his publishers Guerra & Paz, TVI and filmmakers VC Filmes for libel and damages equivalent to £1million. The book sold 120,000 copies until an injunction filed by the McCann's removed it from bookshops. The injunction was later lifted when the court ruling was overturned. The trial is due finish hearing evidence in November.

Madeleine McCann trolls 'threatened to KIDNAP her siblings in twisted plot to solve disappearance mystery', 21 September 2013

Madeleine McCann trolls 'threatened to KIDNAP her siblings in twisted plot to solve disappearance mystery' Daily Mirror By: Martin Fricker 20 Sep 2013 22:00 The conspiracy theorists – convinced her parents were behind her disappearance – incited bigots to back the kidnap of Sean and Amelie Sick internet trolls discussed kidnapping Madeleine McCann's twin siblings in a twisted plot to solve what happened to her. The online conspiracy theorists – convinced that her parents were behind her disappearance – incited bigots to back the kidnap of Sean and Amelie. Kate and Gerry McCann were so shocked they contacted police. Details of the internet debate emerged during the libel trial of ex-police chief Goncalo Amaral, 56. The Portuguese officer claimed the couple faked Madeleine’s abduction to cover up the three-year-old's death at their Algarve holiday flat in 2007. The McCanns, both 45, of Rothley, Leics, are suing Mr Amaral over his 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie. The couple have also a £1million libel action against the publishers and a Portuguese TV station. Richard Wright, husband of Kate's cousin, told the hearing in Lisbon: "There was an internet conversation where a member suggested someone should abduct Sean or Amelie to get information to confirm Mr Amaral's theories." The case continues.

Evil plot to kidnap Maddy's sister or brother, 21 September 2013

Evil plot to kidnap Maddy's sister or brother Daily Express (paper edition)   SEE PAGE 7 -------------- Evil internet plot to kidnap Madeleine McCann's twin brother or sister Daily Express INTERNET trolls called for the kidnap of missing Madeleine McCann's brother or sister as her parents reeled from a police chief's smear campaign, a court heard yesterday. By: Gerard Couzens Published: Sat, September 21, 2013   The bigots hatched the sickening plot in the wake of false allegations about Kate and Gerry McCann's involvement in their daughter's 2007 disappearance. Police investigated the sinister internet chatroom exchanges as some residents of the Algarve tore down posters put up by the McCanns as part of their campaign to find Madeleine, who vanished while on holiday there. Threats to twins Sean and Amelie, now eight, added to the anguish of the couple, close friend Michael Wright told the court in the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Mr Wright said the second anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance was a particularly hard time for Mr McCann. He told a judge: "I had a discussion with Gerry where he talked about not being able to go on. "I had never heard Gerry speak like that before. It was a very upsetting conversation for me to hear Gerry talk like that." The McCanns, of Rothley, Leics, are suing former Portuguese police inspector Goncalo Amaral over claims in his 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie. In the £1million libel action, they are also suing Mr Amaral's publishers and the makers of a 2009 TV documentary which repeated his claims. Company director Mr Wright said the detective's memoirs acted as a focus for conspiracy theorists on internet forums. It was published three days after the McCanns were told they were no longer "arguidos" or suspects over their daughter's disappearance aged three from the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz. Mr Wright said: "There were several examples of them inciting forum members to abduct one of the twins as they felt they would be able to throw some light on what may have happened. "On one of the internet forums, called 'The 3 Arguidos', there was a conversation in great length where a member was suggesting that someone should abduct Sean or Amelie because they may be able to get information out of them that would confirm Mr Amaral’s theories." Mr Wright, of Skipton, North Yorkshire, told the court he felt compelled to tell Mr McCann and they decided to alert police. The threats also made Gerry and Kate more vigilant about the use of the internet by their twins, he said. "I know [the twins] will definitely be in a position where over coming years they will search on the internet and find people who will be saying their parents killed their sister," he said. Around 120,000 copies of Amaral's book were sold before an injunction forced its withdrawal. It formed the basis for a Portuguese documentary watched by 2.2 million viewers. Mr Wright said nothing in the final police report suggested the couple were involved in the disappearance of their daughter. He said: "For me, the conclusions of Mr Amaral's book prevailed over the conclusions of the official police inquiry. More ­people saw the book and the TV ­documentary based on it than read the police case files." The case continues.

Maddie twins kidnap horror, 21 September 2013

Maddie twins kidnap horror Daily Star (paper edition)   -------------- Internet trolls threaten to snatch one of Madeleine McCann's siblings Daily Star INTERNET trolls plotted to kidnap one of Madeleine McCann's siblings, a court heard yesterday. By Jerry Lawton / Published 21st September 2013   The online weirdos believed the child would reveal what had happened to the missing girl. The sick plan was fuelled by former police chief Goncalo Amaral's claim that Kate and husband Gerry faked their daughter's abduction to cover up her death, a close pal of the couple told the court. Michael Wright, married to mum Kate's cousin Anne-Marie, said the Portuguese ex-detective's allegation was to blame for a kidnap threat against twins Sean and Amelie, now eight. He said Mr Amaral's book The Truth Of The Lie gave cranks on anti-McCann forums a focus because initially he was in charge of the probe into the three-year-old's disappearance from a holiday flat in the Algarve in May 2007. Mr Wright said: "There were several examples of them inciting forum members to abduct one of the twins as they felt they would be able to throw some light on what may have happened." Vigilant Mr Wright, who helped monitor internet activity on Madeleine for the family, passed on the information to heart specialist dad Gerry, who called in police. He said the threats made the McCanns, both 45, from Rothley, Leics, more vigilant about the use of the internet by their twins. Mr Wright, a company director, told the court in Lisbon he was aware Brit sniffer dogs used in the investigation had detected the "smell of death" in the holiday apartment. But he said the dogs' intelligence was called into question later. And there was no evidence in the final police report to suggest the couple were involved. But Mr Wright added: "The conclusions of Mr Amaral's book prevailed over the conclusions of the official police inquiry. "More people saw the book and the TV documentary based on it than read the police case files." The McCanns are suing Mr Amaral, 56, for £1million in libel damages. He denies defamation. The case resumes next Friday.

Maddie's 'siblings grab plot', 21 September 2013

Maddie's 'siblings grab plot' The Sun (paper edition) By GARY O'SHEA in Lisbon Saturday, September 21, 2013 KATE and Gerry McCann called cops over threats to abduct their four-year-old twins and quiz them on Madeleine's disappearance, a £1million libel trial heard yesterday. Michael Wright, 50, who is married to Kate's cousin, said the online threats were triggered by ex-cop Goncalo Amaral's book which accused the McCanns of staging the May 2007 abduction in the Portuguese Algarve. Cops investigated but no one was arrested. Posters to find Madeleine were torn down after a TV show based on the book went out, Mr Wright told the Lisbon hearing. He added: "It caused huge distress for Kate and Gerry." Amaral denies libel and the case continues.