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Madeleine detective plans to speak his mind in UK
Goncalo Amaral invited to Britain by group who claim Maddie was never abducted
Goncalo Amaral, the Portuguese detective who initially led the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance on the Algarve in 2007, and who has since become the bane of her parents' lives, is due to come to England next month to speak at a conference in Nottingham organised by a group who claim - like him - that the girl was never abducted.
Amaral was the officer responsible for having Kate and Gerry McCann (above) declared official suspects - arguidos - following their daughter's disappearance from the holiday apartment. He argued that they had neglected their children by leaving them alone while they went to eat with friends and he questioned why they needed to employ a spokesman.
He was finally sacked by the Portuguese from the inquiry after criticising British police involvement in the case.
He has been invited to Britain by the Madeleine Foundation, a lobby group who also claim Madeleine was never abducted and who are campaigning for a law to be enacted that would prevent parents leaving children under the age of 12 alone.
The news of Amaral's planned visit comes on the eve of his appearance in a Lisbon court to fight the £1m libel action brought by the McCanns against him for his book A Verdade Da Mentra (The Truth of the Lie) in which he claimed Madeleine died in an accident or from an overdose of sedatives in the apartment.
In September, the McCanns won a temporary injunction against Amaral as a result of which thousands of unsold copies of his book destined for sale in Britain were handed over to their lawyers. The couple are now seeking a permanent ban.
As The First Post reported in December, the McCanns' argument for having the book banned was that it potentially damaged the chances of finding their daughter. "If people read it and believe she is dead then they will not keep looking for her and may not come forward with information they may have," said Gerry McCann.
It is not yet clear how the outcome of the libel hearing could affect Amaral's right to speak his mind at the Nottingham conference in February. He is not a man who gives up easily: he has had his book translated into English, even if it cannot be sold in Britain, and he has followed up his first book with a second, A Mordaca Inglesa (The English Gag). ·
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How terrible that people can claim this poor couple's child is not genuinely missing when they are clearly so anguished. It beggars belief that a group even has the time to form and host conferences to dispute the facts - what are they getting out of it?
Posted by Deborah Hatch at 5:29pm on January 11, 2010
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Deborah there are many evil people out there that get a sick pleasure from other peoples distress. Having followed this story since this little girl went missing, I have seen many sick comments by these sados. Most of them now are running to the hills to hide from the people who will be tracing them, because of the slander and libel they have spouted.
Amaral did this to the McCanns because he got fired for his incompetence and accusing the British Police of leaking information to the McCanns. He never even met the McCanns, but he had determined that they were guilty after just 3 days. He spent most of his time in bars or restuarants, which is usual for him!!!! He hates them so much because of his own incompetence as if this was their fault! Disgraceful and dishonest man.
Would he be allowed in this country considering he has a Criminal Record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please can someone advise me! Thanks.
How terrible that people can claim this poor couple's child is not genuinely missing when they are clearly so anguished. It beggars belief that a group even has the time to form and host conferences to dispute the facts - what are they getting out of it?