Truth and fiction

The man who led the initial investigation in May 2007 tried to publish an absurd book, Maddie: The Truth of the Lie, containing offensive claims that the child died in her family's holiday flat and that her parents faked her abduction. Having been heavily criticised for the quality of his inquiry, it would have been appalling if Mr Amaral was subsequently able to profit from his bizarre interpretation of events.

The law on freedom of speech was not designed for books like this, especially when publication could harm the hunt for Madeleine, whose family retain hope she will be found, however slim the chances may appear. Mr Amaral has vowed to fight all the way to the European Court of Human Rights but even this much-mocked chamber will surely dismiss his suit.

The McCanns turned their private sorrow into a public drama in an attempt to uncover clues to Madeleine's abduction. That has not, as yet, been successful, but that is not an excuse for propagating insulting myths about them.