Madeleine Parents Set To Sue Newspapers

Alistair Bunkall
Sky News reporter Updated:12:16, Monday March 10, 2008

Lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann are considering taking legal action against British newspapers whose coverage they feel to have been incorrect and unfair.

Principally they are looking at the publications in The Express Group: The Daily Express, The Sunday Express, The Daily Star and The Daily Star Sunday.

Clarence Mitchell, the spokesman for the McCann family, confirmed that their lawyers were in discussions, but denied that any writs had yet been issued.

"It's wrong to say that we're actually suing, but our lawyers have been assessing all articles, in all papers.

"We are extremely unhappy with The Express Group's coverage. We always said it was the worst amongst all the tabloids."

He also added that the figures that have been quoted in the media are wildly speculative and that The Express Group had made no initial offer for an out-of-court settlement.

Under UK law, the McCanns and their lawyers have a year from the publication of an article to decide whether they wish to take legal action against its content.

It is thought that in the case of the coverage they are assessing, that year would be up some time in mid-May, and a decision must be taken by then.

Clarence Mitchell denied the family were taking this action because the Find Madeleine fund was running low.

He said: "Yes, it's true that the fund is roughly half-way spent, but the main thing we require is an apology."

He added that any money won as a result of legal action would go straight back into the fund.