Wikipaedia Account of Daily Express payouts to the Tapas 9

Madeleine McCann


In the second half of 2007 the Daily Express gave a large amount of coverage to the missing child Madeleine McCann. From 3 August 2007, the Express
dedicated at least part of the next 100 front pages to Madeleine in a
run that lasted until 10 November 2007. Of the 100, 82 of these were the
main headline (often stylised by "MADELEINE" in red block capitals,
plus a picture of the child).

Though the family initially said that some journalists may have
"overstepped their mark" they acknowledged the benefits in keeping the
case in the public eye,^[27] but argued that the coverage needed to be toned down since daily headlines are not necessarily helpful.^[28] However, in March 2008, the McCanns launched a libel suit against the Daily Express and its sister newspaper, the Daily Star,
as well as their Sunday equivalents, following the newspapers' coverage
of the case. The action concerned more than 100 stories across the four
newspapers, which accused the McCanns of causing their daughter's death
and covering it up.^[29] One immediate consequence of the action was that Express Newspapers pulled all references to Madeleine from its websites.^[30]

In a settlement reached at the High Court of Justice,
the newspapers agreed to run a front-page apology to the McCanns on 19
March 2008, publish another apology on the front pages of the Sunday
editions of 23 March and make a statement of apology at the High Court.
The newspapers also agreed to pay costs and substantial damages, which
the McCanns said they would use to fund the search for their daughter.^[29]Guardian media commentator Roy Greenslade
said it was "unprecedented" for four major newspapers to offer
front-page apologies, but also said that it was more than warranted
given that the papers had committed "a substantial libel" that shamed
the entire British press.^[31]
Craig Silverman of Regret the Error argued that given how many of the
stories appeared on the front page, anything less than a front page
apology would have been "unacceptable."^[32]

In its apology, the Express stated that "a number of articles
in the newspaper have suggested that the couple caused the death of
their missing daughter Madeleine and then covered it up. We acknowledge
that there is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory and that
Kate and Gerry are completely innocent of any involvement in their
daughter's disappearance."^[33] This was followed in October by an apology and payout (forwarded to the fund again) to a group who had become known as the "Tapas Seven" in relation to the case.^[34]

In the Accounts to 31/3/09 John McCann states a "donation" was made by the Tapas 7 to the Fund , but not how much!!!!!The Accounts showed a Debtor of £550,000 which must have been the McCann payout.