Madeleine McCann’s parents will ‘fight to the bitter end’ to silence ex-cop Goncalo Amaral who accused them in daughter’s disappearance
THE parents of Madeleine McCann have vowed to “fight forever” against an ex cop they say is still hampering the search for their daughter.
Despairing Kate and Gerry, who have lodged an appeal to the highest court in the land in their latest bid to silence Goncalo Amaral, will “never give up the battle against him”, a close friend said today.
The pal said: “They are hoping the court will decide that evidence submitted by their Portuguese lawyer to support their appeal is admissible, that’s the first hurdle to clear.
"They believe they have a strong chance of the appeal being allowed but it could drag on and on for ages. These decisions are not made overnight.
“If the appeal goes ahead they have been told not to expect a result for four years.
“But they are prepared to be patient. Mr Amaral has been fighting them for the past nine years and during this time his poisonous lies have hindered the search for Madeleine because he claims she is dead and that stops people coming forward with information which could be vital.”
The source told The Sun Online: “He will always remain a thorn in Kate and Gerry’s sides. They are determined to continue fighting him to the bitter end, forever if needs be.
"They will never give up and hope ultimately they can defeat him and stop him spouting false and malicious lies.”
Mr Amaral, 57, who led the bungled hunt into Maddie’s disappearance in May 2007, claimed in his book that she had died accidentally in her holiday apartment in Portugal’s Praia da Luz.
He wrote in his 2008 best seller “The Truth of the Lie” that her parents had covered up her death and disposed of her body.
Medical worker Kate, a former GP, and heart doctor Gerry, both 49, of Rothley, Leics, sued him for libel and won their case after a bitter eight year battle only to lose it on appeal in April.
That decision in Portugal’s Supreme Court paved the way for the retired Portuguese cop to sue the McCanns for damages.
Their pal said: “It could amount to tens of thousands of pounds which could wipe out a huge chunk of the Madeleine Fund set up to find their daughter.”
In a last ditch bid to prevent them from paying out and to clear their names, the couple lodged an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights in July.
The court acknowledged their application last month and its admissibility is now being examined, family spokesman Clarence Mitchell confirmed.
He added: “Kate and Gerry will not be commenting on any aspect whatsoever as it remains entirely a matter for their Portuguese lawyers.”
If their application to appeal is allowed the couple are not expected to face a Strasbourg showdown with Mr Amaral until next year.
Maddie’s parents said in a TV interview to mart the painful 10th anniversary of their daughter’s kidnap in May that it was important to challenge Mr Amaral.
Gerry said they had to continue fighting him because “the last judgment I think is terrible.” Kate added: “It has been very upsetting, and it has caused lot of frustration and anger which is a real negative emotion. I find it all incomprehensible.”
Three-year-old Maddie vanished from her holiday flat while her parents were dining with pals in a nearby tapas restaurant.
She had been left alone sleeping with her younger twin siblings.
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