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| | From:  tin-lizzy (Original Message) | Sent: 7/16/2008 12:23 PM |
LEICESTER MERCURY http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=132407&command=displayContent&sourceNode=132390&contentPK=21091134&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch 'MEDIA IN LARGE PAYOUT TO MADELEINE SUSPECT' BY TOM BENNETT
10:30 - 16 July 2008 The first named suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has settled libel claims against British news organisations for around £550,000, it was reported today.
Robert Murat was questioned by police but denied any involvement in the disappearance of the little girl from Rothley.
Madeleine was aged three when she vanished from her parents' holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in Portugal, in May last year.
Mr Murat is still an official suspect - or arguido - in Portugal.
The lawyers acting for the 34-year-old property consultant announced the libel action in April.
His law firm - Simons, Muirhead and Burton - confirmed that a statement would be read at the High Court today, but refused to comment further.
The media outlets named in the original libel action were Sky, Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Metro, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, News of the World, The Sun and The Scotsman. In May, Mr Murat secured an apology from The Scotsman for a piece it ran about the disappearance of Madeleine.
A spokeswoman for Sky said the TV station was not involved in the current legal action and had not been served any papers by Mr Murat's lawyers.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Mr Murat said the settlement and written apology had been agreed for about £550,000, and included an apology.
The reported settlement follows legal action by Kate and Gerry McCann, which led to front page apologies from the Daily Express and Daily Star in March. The newspapers also agreed to make payments to the couple's Find Madeleine fund.
Mr Murat, who owns a villa 150 yards from the flat where Madeleine went missing, was first questioned about the case 11 days after she disappeared.
He strenuously denied any involvement, saying he was at home with his mother at the time.
Police searched the nearby villa where he lived with his mother after Sunday Mirror journalist, Lori Campbell, spoke to the British Embassy and the police about Mr Murat.
The expatriate, who described himself as half-Portuguese, told journalists he had been helping police with translation work during the search.
Last month Mr Murat said he hoped the return of computers seized from him by police signalled they were to drop his arguido status soon.
His mother, Jenny, has always maintained she was with her son at home on the night of Madeleine's disappearance. |
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