Portuguese detective fails in court bid to overturn Madeleine McCann book ban

A DETECTIVE who led the search for missing British girl Madeleine McCann today failed to overturn a ban on his book about the case, a McCann family spokesman said today.

Goncalo Amaral's book about the case, in which he alleges that Madeleine is dead, was published in July 2008. A Portuguese judge allowed a temporary injunction last September preventing further further sale or publication of the book.

In 'Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie', Mr Amaral claims Madeleine, then 3, died during a family holiday to Praia da Luz in 2007 and her parents Kate and Gerry faked her abduction.

The ex-policeman appealled against the ban last month but Judge Maria Gabriela Cunha Rodrigues rejected his challenge today.

Madeleine's parents today welcomed news of the ruling, which is expected to be confirmed in writing tomorrow.

They said in a statement: "We are very pleased and relieved with the judge's decision in Lisbon today.

"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.

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

"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.

"It is still incumbent upon the British and Portuguese authorities to ensure that every credible lead has been investigated and that a meaningful search for our innocent and vulnerable little girl is properly carried out.

"We must and will keep looking for Madeleine and those responsible for her abduction.

"We implore the public, especially the Portuguese people, to help us look for Madeleine, to remain vigilant and to give us any information that could help us find our daughter."