An appeals court in Portugal has overturned the libel conviction of a former Portuguese detective who published a book alleging the parents of Madeleine McCann were involved in their daughter's disappearance, their lawyer said.

Kate and Gerry McCann’s decision to close their Find Madeleine Campaign Twitter account because of online abuse has been criticised by the mother of snatched toddler Ben Needham.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe has sent hundreds of letters to female devotees from his cell in Broadmoor, including a Valentine’s card to one to say he loves her.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann were expected to begin questioning 11 people yesterday.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are expected to begin questioning 11 people today.

Police officers acting on behalf of a coroner will investigate the run-up to the death of Brenda Leyland — whose body was found after being accused of directing online abuse against Madeleine McCann’s parents.

A woman who was accused of targeting internet abuse at Madeleine McCann’s parents has been found dead in a hotel.

A woman who was accused of targeting internet abuse at Madeleine McCann’s parents has been found dead in a hotel.

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have won £55,000 in libel damages from the Sunday Times over a story which suggested that they had kept evidence from authorities investigating their daughter’s disappearance.

A dossier of online abuse directed at the parents of Madeleine McCann is being examined by police.

A dossier of online abuse directed at the parents of Madeleine McCann is being examined by police.

Kate and Gerry McCann are back in Portugal today for the latest hearing in their ongoing libel trial against a former police chief.

The parents of Madeleine McCann have branded the latest delay in their libel case against former Portuguese police chief Goncalo Amaral as a "blatant and cynical" attempt to hold up the trial after he sacked his legal team.

Kate and Gerry McCann have criticised the former police officer in charge of the hunt for their missing daughter after he delayed their libel action against him again.

Kate and Gerry McCann will appear in a Portuguese court today to deliver personal statements on how accusations in a former police chief’s book have affected them.

Welcome to your Monday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Residents and business owners in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz spoke of their frustration at learning police activity is set to go on in the search for missing Madeleine McCann with one telling British police to "go home".

British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann were focusing their attention today on a new patch of scrubland close to where she went missing in Portugal seven years ago.

The parents of Madeleine McCann have hit out at the coverage of the latest developments in the probe into the disappearance of their missing daughter, as Scotland Yard detectives arrived in Portugal to meet with their counterparts.

Detectives from Scotland Yard are understood to have arrived in Portugal to help with the excavation of a number of sites as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for a lone intruder who sexually abused five girls during break-ins at holiday homes.

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have said they hope a renewed investigation into their daughter’s disappearance could lead to her finally being found.

Missing Ben Needham’s mother said she is “delighted” at the news that a blonde girl with blue eyes has been recovered from in a gypsy camp in Greece, the country where her own son was last seen.

The sister of a child who went missing in Greece more than 20 years ago says she wants her own DNA to be tested against that of a little girl found in a gypsy camp in the country in the off chance the girl is related to her missing brother.

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have received nearly 1,000 calls and emails in response to a fresh appeal for information.

Kate McCann has asked to give evidence at the Portuguese libel trial over a book by a former local police chief.

The parents of Madeleine McCann have said that they are “greatly encouraged” by new information about the disappearance of their daughter.

Madeleine McCann’s parents are “greatly encouraged” by new information about the disappearance of their daughter, they said in a statement.

Kate and Gerry McCann are to make a significant television appeal in light of “fresh, substantive” material unearthed as part of a British police investigation into their daughter’s disappearance.

Kate and Gerry McCann are to make a television appeal next week in light of “fresh, substantive” material unearthed as part of a British police probe into their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance.

The McCanns’ pain over the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine was “multiplied 100 times” by a book by a former Portuguese police chief, a court has heard.

It has been confirmed by the family of Fair City actor Gerry McCann that the body found on Dollymount Beach yesterday was his.

The McCanns’ pain over the disappearance of their daughter was “multiplied 100 times” by a book by a former Portuguese police chief, a court has heard.

Family and friends of missing actor Gerry McCann have said they are increasingly concerned for his safety.

The wife of a man who is missing in Dublin is appealing for help to try and find him.

Gardaí are renewing their appeal for information on a missing 47-year-old man in Dublin.

Gardaí have appealed to the public for help in finding a 47-year-old man missing in Dublin.

Detectives in Britain have launched their own probe into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and say they have “genuinely new” lines of inquiry and believe there is a chance she is alive.

The Scotland Yard police chief leading the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann said his team has carried out new witness interviews and was in a “unique position” in analysing information from police in Portugal and Britain, as well as seven private detective firms.

British detectives have launched their own investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance and say they have “genuinely new” lines of inquiry and believe there is a chance she is alive.

Madeleine McCann’s parents are said to be “very, very pleased” with Scotland Yard’s review of their daughter’s disappearance, as it emerged detectives have identified “more than a handful of people of interest” in the case.

THE news from Ohio, while sending reverberations of disbelief around the world, may offer a shred of hope to one mother and father many thousands of miles away.