Kate and Gerry McCann today launched an angry tirade at the former police officer once in charge of the hunt for their missing daughter after he delayed their libel action against him.
The couple had been due to speak at the trial of Goncalo Amaral, who was accused of making defamatory statements about them in a book he wrote.
But at the last minute this morning, he sacked his legal team and the hearing was postponed.
The McCanns labelled the move a “blatant and cynical attempt” to wear them down adding it caused them “more pain and distress”.
The couple are suing for libel over false claims Mr Amaral made in his 2008 book The Truth Of The Lie and had travelled to Portugal to deliver personal statements on how accusations in the book were affecting them.
Speaking outside Lisbon’s Palace of Justice, Mr McCann said: “We’re exasperated that the hearing has been cancelled once again at Mr Amaral’s request.
“This is the fourth time this has happened and we’ve travelled to Portugal.
“The legal case has been running now for over five years and we want to get justice for Madeleine.
“Today is a blatant and cynical attempt to wear us down and it’s Madeleine who is suffering.
“We’re not going to give up, we’re going to keep going.”
Clearly angry and upset, Mrs McCann added: “We need to make it clear to people, we took on this case because of the pain and distress that Mr Amaral has brought to us and our children.
“And every time he postpones the case like this it brings us more pain and distress.
“And this has happened about four times. We just want justice. This is not fair.”
Mr McCann said the couple would return, with the next hearing set for July 8.
Madeleine, three, disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3 2007 as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant with friends.
If successful the family stand to gain around £1 million in damages.
The McCanns’ return to Portugal comes after police found no evidence relating to their missing daughter during recent searches in Praia da Luz.
