The parents of Madeleine McCann attended a court hearing yesterday in Lisbon where they heard claims that they had failed to take responsibility for their daughter’s welfare and that after she had died in the couple’s rented apartment they had tried to cover up the accident by fabricating a story about her being abducted. Witnesses were called by the lawyers representing Goncalo Amaral, the inspector leading the investigation into Madeleine’s alleged disappearance, to defend accusations against the couple he makes in a book.

Former chief inspector Tavares de Almeida claims that the investigation into the McCann case led him to believe that Madeleine died after an accident and that her parents then tried to cover up her death. He went on to explain how police sniffer dogs had managed to identify traces of blood in the apartment as well as in the boot of the family’s rental car. He also claimed that the British authorities had hampered the Portuguese investigations by not cooperating. Mr. de Almeida went on to point out that the accidental death and cover up conclusions were not just reached by Portuguese investigators but also by the British police.

The McCanns managed to get Mr. Amaral’s book entitled Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie withdrawn from shelves last September after it had become a best-seller in Portugal. They say they did so because declaring that their daughter was dead was irresponsible and would result in people not continuing to search for her. The pair intend to sue for £1 million in damages. The hearing continues.