Madeleine McCann’s parents have lost their latest legal challenge to a decision to dismiss their libel case against a former detective who implicated them in their daughter’s disappearance.
Kate and Gerry McCann sued Goncalo Amaral, who led the initial hunt for the 3-year-old after she went missing in 2007, after he claimed they were involved in their daughter's disappearance.
A court in Lisbon ordered Mr Amaral to pay €500,000 ($500,240) in compensation to Madeleine’s parents, a decision which was overturned the following year.
Two years later, in 2017, the supreme court also found against the couple.
They took the case to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that their right to a fair trial, to private family life and freedom of expression had not been upheld by Portugal.
But on Tuesday the court found against them, saying Portugal had given them a fair hearing.
The ECHR ruling said the Portuguese judiciary had not failed in its duty to protect the rights of the couple and that their arguments concerning presumption of innocence were ill-founded.
“Even assuming that the applicants’ reputation had been damaged, this was not on account of the argument put forward by the book’s author but rather as a result of the suspicions expressed against them,” said the ECHR ruling.
The McCanns have three months to appeal the decision.
Madeleine disappeared from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, 15 years ago.
Early investigations by Portuguese police produced no major leads and for a while detectives focused attention on the parents.
The couple were questioned by police as formal suspects that autumn.
But the following July, Portuguese police dropped their investigation, citing a lack of evidence, and cleared the McCanns of any involvement.
They have since campaigned tirelessly to draw attention to their daughter's disappearance.
The Metropolitan Police, which continues to treat Madeleine’s disappearance as a missing person's inquiry, has said it is “committed” to finding the truth.
In July 2013, Scotland Yard launched its own investigation, Operation Grange, into her disappearance.
DCI Mark Cranwell of the Met Police, who is leading the operation, said: “Fifteen years on from Madeleine’s disappearance in Praia da Luz, our thoughts, as always, are with her family.
“Officers continue to investigate the case and our dedicated team are still working closely with law enforcement colleagues from the Portuguese Policia Judiciaria, as well as the German Bundeskriminalamt.
“At this time, the case remains a missing person’s inquiry and all involved are committed to doing what we can to find answers.”
Christian Brueckner, 44, was declared an official suspect by Portuguese authorities in April, in a development that was welcomed by the couple.
Prosecutors in the Algarve city of Faro released a statement that said a person had been named an “arguido” — a Portuguese legal designation which elevates a witness to the status of a named or formal suspect.
The statement did not name Mr Brueckner but said the person was made an “arguido” by German authorities at the request of Portugal’s prosecutors service.
Mr Brueckner, who was identified as a murder suspect by German prosecutors in June 2020, has reportedly denied any involvement in the case and has not been charged.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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