Express says 'sorry' to McCanns

The damages - for the "utterly false and defamatory" allegations suggesting that Kate and Gerry McCann were responsible for the death of their daughter - will be paid into the fund set-up to finance the search for the four-year-old.

The McCanns welcomed the outcome and said there was no evidence that Madeleine was dead or had been seriously harmed.

It's always been the hardest word to say but this morning The Express and Star Newspapers were forced into an unprecedented front page apology to the parents of Madeleine McCann for suggesting the couple caused the death of their missing daughter.

The apology in the Daily Express read: "We accept that a number of articles in the newspaper have suggested that the couple caused the death of their missing daughter Madeleine and then covered it up. We acknowledge that there is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory.

"Kate and Gerry we are truly sorry to have added to your distress."

On top of this the newspaper group apologised in the High Court this morning, after it was sued for defamation by the McCanns.

Afterwards the family spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, read out a statement from Kate and Gerry McCann.

The family complained about more than 100 articles in the Express and Star.

In court their solicitor said many false claims were made: that the couple disposed of their daughter's body and covered up the evidence. The Star even claimed they had sold their daughter for money. Today the two sides reached an out of court settlement.

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