McCanns to sue Portuguese former police chief

The parents of Madeleine McCann are suing the Portuguese former police chief who led the inquiry into her disappearance to prevent further publication of his "deeply offensive" book about the case.

Lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann began proceedings in a Lisbon court yesterday against Goncalo Amaral, after a documentary based on his book, The Truth of the Lie, was broadcast on Portuguese television.

The McCanns said: "We are taking this legal action against Goncalo Amaral over his unfounded and grossly defamatory claims that Madeleine is not only dead, but that we, her parents, were somehow involved in concealing her body."

Mr Amaral was removed in October 2007 from the investigation.