Madeleine McCann: Kate At Book Libel Hearing

The parents of Madeleine McCann were "devastated" by a book that claimed they had covered up the death of their daughter, a court has heard.

Kate and Gerry McCann have launched £1m libel action against the book's author, former Portuguese police chief Goncalo Amaral, in a Lisbon civil court.

Amaral's book, published in 2007, claimed Madeleine died accidentally and the McCanns had been negligent.

The McCanns have strongly denied the accusations.

Goncalo Amaral's book 'poisoned public opinion', it is claimed

The first witness in the case was Susan Hubbard, a friend of the McCanns and the wife of the family's priest.

Mrs Hubbard said the couple were forced to use all their energy to defend themselves, instead of searching for their daughter.

Kate McCann attended the hearing this morning without her husband. She was accompanied by her mother Susan Healy.

It is understood Mr McCann is staying at the family home in Rothley, Leicestershire, to look after the couple's children.

Their lawyer, Isabel Duarte, is setting out the case on behalf of the McCanns and their twins Sean and Amelie, now eight, at the court.

Mrs McCann could have been called as a witness but is not expected to give evidence.

UK police have launched a new investigation into Madeleine's disappearance

Instead, a number of relatives will also appear in the witness box.

They will speak about the "damage" caused by Mr Amaral's book which, they claim, poisoned public opinion in Portugal against the family.

Earlier, spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: "Kate and Gerry McCann remain very confident that they will win the case.

"They have a strong case against Mr Amaral. The matter is now in the hands of their lawyer as it goes through court."

Madeleine, who was nearly four at the time, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3, 2007, as her parents dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

The McCanns pose with a computer-generated image of their daughter

British detectives launched a fresh investigation into her disappearance in July - two years into a review of the case - and believe she could still be alive.

The Portuguese investigation into Madeleine's disappearance is officially closed.

The libel case will be heard today and tomorrow. It will then be adjourned until next Thursday when the court will sit again for two days. 

A final hearing is due on September 27, with the judgement expected to be deferred.

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