Tabloids make unprecedented apology

The mystery of Madeleine McCann's disappearance is back on the front pages of British newspapers.

But this is no ordinary story - the Daily Express and Daily Star are carrying unprecedented front page apologies to Madeleine's parents.

Kate and Gerry took legal action after numerous defamatory articles.

Their lawyer told the court they contained suggestions that they killed Madeleine, were involved in wife-swapping and sold their daughter to pay off their debts.

The newspapers admitted the allegations - the family's spokesman gave this reaction.

SOUNDBITE (English) CLARENCE MITCHELL, SPOKESMAN FOR GERRY AND KATE MCCANN, SAYING:

"We are pleased that Express Newspapers have today admitted the utter falsity of the numerous grotesque and grossly defamatory allegations that their titles published about us on a sustained basis over many months."

Express Newspapers - which published both tabloids - said it "regretted publishing these extremely serious, yet baseless allegations,"

It agreed to pay 550, 000 pounds in damages, that's 1.1 million dollars, to the Find Madeleine Fund.

SOUNDBITE (English) CLARENCE MITCHELL, SPOKESMAN FOR GERRY AND KATE MCCANN, SAYING:

"Express Newspapers, rightly acknowledge that we are innocent of all allegations that we may have been involved in Madeleine's abduction and we would like to reiterate that there is absolutely no evidence that Madeleine is dead or has been seriously harmed."

Madeleine McCann went missing during a family holiday in the Algarve last May.

The three-year-old's disappearance sparked a massive international search.

The McCanns believe she was abducted from a holiday apartment while they dined with friends nearby.

But despite a string of reported possible sightings she's never been found.


SOUNDBITE (English) CLARENCE MITCHELL, SPOKESMAN FOR GERRY AND KATE MCCANN, SAYING:

"We embarked on this course of action reluctantly, indeed with a heavy heart, as we did not wish the pursuit of it to become a distraction from our sole aim - finding Madeleine."

The McCanns remain official suspects in the case.

But they hope that status will soon be lifted - until she's found they say the search for Madeleine never will.

Sonia Legg, Reuters.

ut·ter tr.v. ut·tered, ut·ter·ing, ut·ters

1. To send forth with the voice: uttered a cry.

2. To articulate (words); pronounce or speak. See Synonyms at vent¹.

3. Law To put (counterfeit money, for example) into circulation.

4. To publish (a book, for example).

sus·tain tr.v. sus·tained, sus·tain·ing, sus·tains - to keep in existence; maintain.
re·gret v. re·gret·ted, re·gret·ting, re·grets

v.tr.

1. To feel sorry, disappointed, or distressed about.

2. To remember with a feeling of loss or sorrow; mourn.

v.intr. To feel regret.

n.

1. A sense of loss and longing for someone or something gone.

2. A feeling of disappointment or distress about something that one wishes could be different.
ab·duct tr.v. ab·duct·ed, ab·duct·ing, ab·ducts - to carry off by force; kidnap.

spark v. sparked, spark·ing, sparks

v.intr.

1. To give off sparks.

2. To give an enthusiastic response.

3. To operate correctly. Used of the ignition system of an internal-combustion engine.

v.tr.

1. To set in motion; activate: The incident sparked a controversy.

2. To rouse to action; spur: A cheering crowd sparked the runner to triumph.
pur·suit n.

1. The act or an instance of chasing or pursuing.

2. The act of striving: the pursuit of higher education.

3. An activity, such as a vocation or hobby, engaged in regularly.

sole adj.

1. Being the only one: the sole survivor of the crash.

2. Of or relating to only one individual or group; exclusive: The court has the sole right to decide.

3. Law Single; unmarried.