Madeleine McCann’s parents lose legal battle over Portuguese detective’s remarks

File photo dated 30/4/2017 of Madeleine McCann’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, who have said they welcome the news that Portuguese authorities have declared a German man a formal suspect in her disappearance. It comes a day after convicted sex offender Christian Brueckner, 44, was declared an official suspect by Portuguese authorities. Issue date: Friday April 22, 2022. (Joe Giddens/PA)

The parents of Madeleine McCann have lost the latest stage of their legal battle over comments made by a retired Portuguese detective claiming they were involved in her disappearance.

Lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann argued that Portuguese authorities had breached their right to respect for a private and family life in the way the courts there dealt with their libel claims against Goncalo Amaral.