'Tapas Seven' accept libel damages

The friends known as the Tapas Seven, who were on holiday with Kate and Gerry McCann when daughter Madeleine vanished, have accepted £375,000 (€480,000) libel damages from Express Newspapers.

The damages – which will be donated to the Find Madeleine Fund – relate to articles in the 'Daily Express', the 'Sunday Express' and the 'Daily Star' between July and December last year.

British Solicitor-Advocate Adam Tudor told Mr Justice Eady at London’s High Court today that they suggested that at least some of the seven – particularly Dr Russell O’Brien – had been identified as potential suspects by the Portuguese authorities, and also suggested that the friends had covered up the true facts and misled the authorities.

Solicitor Keith Mathieson, for Express Newspapers, apologised to Jane Tanner, Dr O’Brien, Fiona Payne, David Payne, Matthew Oldfield, Rachael Oldfield and Dianne Webster, and accepted that the allegations were wholly untrue.