McCanns fly out to see Maddy book libel trial

Kate and Gerry McCann were travelling to Portugal today for the start of a libel trial against a former policeman who was involved in the search for their daughter Madeleine.

In a book called The Truth Of The Lie, Goncalo Amaral claimed Madeleine was dead.

Mr McCann has said that the assertion harmed the search for his daughter.

Mr Amaral will go on trial in Lisbon tomorrow.

The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "They only intend to appear at the opening and I would expect that they will return to the UK fairly swiftly."

In September, a Portuguese judge granted an injunction banning further sale or publication of the book. It also banned Mr Amaral, who was removed from the initial investigation, from repeating claims about Madeleine and her doctor parents.

After the injunction, Mr McCann said the false allegations would have dissuaded Portuguese people from coming forward.

He said: "There's a lot of people in Portugal, who might have evidence, who believe Madeleine is dead.

"If people believe that, they won't search for her and they won't come forward with information."

Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on 3 May 2007.

Despite a massive police investigation and huge publicity worldwide, she has not been found.