Fund to find Madeleine could be wiped out if McCanns lose to Amaral

MADDIE HUNT CRISIS Fund to find Madeline could be wiped out if McCanns lose £750k case against cop who claimed they were responsible for daughter’s death


Goncalo Amaral, 58, claimed in a book that Madeleine, three, died in Portugal and her parents Kate and Gerry McCann covered it up


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By Nick Pisa


17th September 2018, 10:40 pm
Updated: 17th September 2018, 11:23 pm

A FUND set up to help find Madeleine McCann could be wiped out within weeks — by a huge payout to a disgraced cop.

Parents Kate and Gerry are fighting to avoid paying £750,000 to the ex-detective who shamefully claimed they were responsible for her death.

They face a Euro court showdown as public cash to probe the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine is about to dry up.

Goncalo Amaral, 58, ludicrously claimed in a book that Madeleine, three, died in Portugal and that her parents covered it up.



Kate and Gerry, both 50, won a 2015 libel case against him but it was later overturned and Amaral was awarded compo.

The McCanns’ lawyers have now lodged final paperwork at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, with a hearing expected this year.

Amaral shamelessly repeated his allegations last week in a glossy magazine interview — and even claimed: “My family has suffered a lot.”

A source close to the McCanns said: “It seems you can say anything you like about someone in Portugal, no matter how awful, and get away with it.



“If the European Court rules against them the trustees will decide on how best to make any payments.

"It would be a blow but Kate and Gerry would keep their heads up and carry on searching.”

The Met Police said last week it was “in dialogue” over extra funding for its investigation which has so far cost £11million.

"But public cash is expected to dry up in a fortnight.

The latest figures show £728,508 is in Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned — mostly from public donations.

That could all go if the decision to award Amaral £430,000 is upheld — with the McCanns paying costs on top.

It is thought the family have drawn on the fund to pay for previous hearings.

No significant clues have so far been thrown up in the search for Madeleine.

Retired Det Chief Insp Mick Neville, who last year investigated the case, said: “It is tragic that funds to try to find her could be lost because of this legal action
"There is every reason to believe she may be alive.”

The McCanns’ Portuguese lawyer Isabel Duarte said: “This will be our final appeal.

"The basis is the violation of my clients’ fundamental rights.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7281872/madeline-mcann-fund-750k-case/

HAVE THEY EVER REGRETTED LEAVING HER ALONE?

Just look at the comments on the Daily Mail's site. So many questioning the use of donations for legal fees.

"The fund could be wiped out" - This is the real reason for Gerry's recent "distress", just as I suspected.

they have lost to Dr. Goncalo Amaral. they are pursuing the county Portugal through ECHR not an individual. such crap incorrect reporting never goes away. Not one of the publications has looked at the facts just regurgitated what theyre fed. whatever happened to proper journalists.

where were Madeleines fundamental rights to be provided with appropriate care and supervision and not left alone (if that s what happened). is it really up to the Trustees to decide on payment. Can the Portuguese court not say when payment is made. really makes you laugh didn't the McCs put a hold on Amaral s home and funds.

When will this all end?

Thank you cherry

The fact is that they have, for the past 11.5 years cynically used donations from children and adults who are/were completely unaware of the doubts and the enigma surrounding Madeleine's disappearance and continued absence from the family home.

Instead this fund has has been seen to further their own agenda. To harass and persecute the Portuguese officer who challenged the veracity of their statement of events.

Her Majesty's Government have, despite National cutbacks and slashing of police numbers, poured £millions into the search for clues and have never exceeded the findings of Dr Amaral.

Yet Dr Amaral has apparently never recovered any of the moneys awarded to Madeleine's parents that the courts have ordered them to return.

Madeleine's parents Portuguese lawyer Isabel Duarte has said: “This will be our final appeal, and that is a violation of her clients’ fundamental rights.”

Madeleine's 'fundamental rights' seem to have been forgotten and violated somewhere along the way from the apartment to the Tapas bar where the parents enjoyed a ME ME ME night out with their buddies and 3 year old Madeleine was left babysitting her 18 month old twin siblings on her own.