Kate and Gerry McCann warn ex-cop Goncalo Amaral not to publish his new book in Britain
THE TOP cop who accused Madeleine McCann’s parents of covering up her death has been warned his second book on the case must not be published in Britain.
Kate and Gerry McCann are set to inform former Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral: “Beware, our lawyers are watching!” if he tries to sell his new novel in the UK.
After defeating the couple on appeal last week after an eight-year fight, Amaral is reportedly looking for a British publisher while finishing off the closing chapters of his second novel about Maddie’s disappearance in Switzerland.
Speaking on the upcoming book, family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said on Sunday: “If Mr Amaral’s current book about Madeleine or any new one he may be planning to write is published here in the UK Kate and Gerry’s lawyers will take immediate action.
“He needs to know lawyers are watching.”
He added: “If he thinks his old or new book will appear here he’ll have another think coming.
“If that’s his intention whoever is responsible will be sued.
“Carter-Ruck will have no hesitation issuing a writ for defamation.”
According to a source in Portugal, Amaral is confident his sequel could be a “big hit”.
The insider “Mr Amaral knows that the world is fascinated with the Maddie story and her parents.”
It comes just days after Portugal’s Supreme Court ruled that his first book The Truth Of The Lie, which alleges the youngster had died and Kate and Gerry McCann had covered it up, could be published.
The McCanns, whose daughter went missing while on holiday in Praia da Luz in May 2007, were said to be “extremely disappointed” by the decision.
Mr Amaral led the investigation into Maddie’s disappearance but later resigned after accusing British police officers of not fully cooperating with the Portuguese investigation.
Mr Amaral released the book three days after the case was closed in 2008.
He later took part in a documentary for Portuguese television in which he claimed that Madeleine was dead, there had been no abduction and the McCanns had hidden her body.
Goncalo Amaral was ordered to pay 500,000 euro (£429,000) in compensation to Kate and Gerry McCann in 2015 by a Lisbon court over the claims he made in his book and documentary.
They argued on the grounds the claim was no substantiated by the evidence and was defamatory.
The decision was overturned following an appeal last year but the McCanns took the case to Portugal’s Supreme Court, which has now found against them.
They now face big court costs which they will take from but will eat into the dwindling Find Maddie Fund, which is made up of public donations and proceeds from Kate’s best-seller book.
The libel case reportedly left the ex-detective close to financial ruin and is now planning to write a second book on the case, which he thinks “would sell well in Britain.”
A friend told the : “He could only afford to pay the legal bills thanks to donations, mainly from people in Britain, who have given more than £50,000.
“With the support in Britain he obviously thinks his second book on the case would sell well if translated into English and he is actively looking for a publisher.
“For the time being he is working hard on the second book in Switzerland but he wishes to thank his supporters in the UK for supporting his battle to protect freedom of expression.”
The friend added that he is also looking for a company that would be interested in publishing his first book in English.
However the doctors, both 48, have said they will sue if the book is sold in the UK.
It comes amid speculation the couple, from Rothley, Leicestershire, have been offered huge bids for an exclusive interview on the 10th anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance.
A close friend of the McCann’s said: “They have been bombarded with offers from media around the world.
“They’re already got 30 sitting on the table and are getting new bids every other day particularly from the big American networks.”
After three-year-old Maddie vanished during a family holiday to Portugal in May 2007 Kate and Gerry were in a £1million bidding war by two of America’s biggest chat show stars at the time – Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters.
The McCanns, for an undisclosed fee, finally chose Oprah and in May 2009 told in a heart breaking interview how they felt their snatched daughter was still alive.
Just last month Kate and Gerry were given fresh hope and “buoyed up” when a kidnapped girl Kamiyah Mobley was found alive in the US after an incredible 18-year search.
Maddie, if alive, would turn 14 in mid May just nine days after the anniversary.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.