15/07/2008

Robert Murat Wins Damages From Newspapers

Robert Murat has settled a claim for damages against 11 UK newspapers and will receive a written apology in each over allegations he was involved in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

The libel settlement is valued at around £550,000.

Mr Murat is still an official suspect in Portugal.

The ex-pat, who describes himself as half-Portuguese, was questioned by police 11 days after three-year-old Madeleine went missing from an apartment in the Praia Da Luz resort.

The case due to be heard on Thursday was against the Sun, Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Mail, London Evening Standard, Metro, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, News of the World and the Scotsman.

In a statement in April Mr Murat's lawyers, Simons Muirhead & Burton, also said they were pursuing Sky TV over libellous stories.

In March Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann reached a similar libel settlement and got an apology from Express Newspapers for suggesting they were responsible for her death.

Mr Murat's mother, Jenny Murat, has always maintained she was with her son at home on the night of Madeleine's disappearance.

Police searched the villa where they lived after Sunday Mirror journalist Lori Campbell spoke to the British Embassy and the police about Mr Murat.

Mr Murat told journalists he had been helping police with translation work during the search.

Last month Mr Murat said he hoped the return of computers seized from him by police signalled they were to drop his status as a formal suspect soon. However under Portuguese law someone can remain an official suspect without charge for as long as the investigation is continuing.

Kate and Gerry McCann remain official suspects in the inquiry.

(GK/JM)

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