2:59pm UK, Thursday February 18, 2010

Hannah Thomas-Peter,
Sky News Online

Kate and Gerry McCann have said they are “pleased and relieved” at a judge’s decision to uphold a ban on a former detective’s book about the Madeleine case.

Goncalo Amaral’s book Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie claimed Madeleine died in the family’s holiday apartment and her parents covered up her death by faking her abduction.

A judge granted Mr and Mrs McCann a temporary injunction last September halting further sale or publication of Mr Amaral’s book and a TV documentary he made about the case.

Mr Amaral, who was the lead detective in the Madeleine investigation, launched an appeal against the ban last month, but a Portuguese judge has rejected his challenge.

The McCanns reacted to the ruling by vowing to continue looking for their daughter and appealing for help from the public.

In a statement, the couple from Rothley, Leicestershire, said: “”By upholding the injunction against Goncalo Amaral’s book and DVD, the judge has rightly agreed that there has been significant, ongoing damage to the search for our beloved daughter Madeleine and to the rights of our family.

“We are grateful to the judge for accepting that this injustice must not continue.

“The court case has demonstrated, once again, that there is no evidence that Madeleine has come to any harm.

“It has also clearly shown that no police force is actively looking for Madeleine, even, shockingly, when they are presented with new information and leads.

“As painful and personally damaging as the slanderous claims of Mr Amaral and his supporters have been to us and our family, our primary focus has always been, and always will be, to find Madeleine through our own best investigative efforts.”

The McCanns said their main motive for challenging the former policeman is the

fear that people will stop looking for Madeleine if they think she is dead.

Mr Amaral’s lawyers argued his book’s material was contained in official Portuguese police files, many of which were made public when the case was shelved in August 2008.

His lawyers and the Portuguese television company that made and distributed the documentary based on his book have said they will appeal the decision.

In a separate civil case, the McCanns are seeking over £1m in compensation from Mr Amaral for defamation.

The McCanns are due to respond to the court’s ruling at a news conference in London on Friday.