Robert Murat wins £600,000 in libel damages
Thursday, 17 Jul 2008 19:57
Madeleine McCann went missing last year
Robert Murat, the first official suspect in the Madeleine McCann investigation, has accepted £600,000 in libel damages from 11 British newspapers in the high court today.
He had originally brought the libel action over allegations about his involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Speaking outside the London court Mr Murat said the sensational headlines about him had caused the "total and utter destruction of my and my family's life".
He said that he felt "vindicated" after receiving the apology from the publications and claimed he could "now start to rebuild my life".
Mr Murat said today was a recognition that what was said in the newspapers had been "wholly untrue".
Madeleine went missing from the holiday resort of Praia da Luz in Portugal in May last year.
She was just three years old at the time and her disappearance sparked an international search headed by her parents Kate and Gerry McCann.
Mr Murat and the McCanns were later named as official suspects, arguidos, by Portuguese police during the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, with the status yet to be dropped.