Madeleine McCann: Libel ruling overturned

A former police chief who accused Madeleine McCann's parents of faking her abduction has won his appeal over a court libel loss against them.

Gonçalo Amaral was ordered to pay Kate and Gerry McCann half a million euros worth of libel damages in April last year after making the accusation.

But on Tuesday three judges ruled in his favour and overturned the ruling.

"This decision, not only means my client hasn't got to pay the €500,000 to the parents, but also - equally important and apparently not much highlighted by media - allows him to express his freedom of speech and the chance to republish his book", Mr Amaral's lawyer said.

Madeleine went missing whilst on holiday with her parents in the Algarve, Portugal, in 2007.