The European Court of Human Rights ruled against the parents of missing Briton Madeleine McCann on Tuesday in a 14-year dispute over whether the parents were defamed. Madeleine McCann disappeared from her bedroom apartment in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in May 2007 when she was 3 years old. Her parents were reportedly eating at a nearby restaurant with friends at the time. Gerry and Kate McCann were questioned about their possible involvement in the disappearance in September 2007, but the investigation was stopped due to a lack of evidence. Authorities subsequently cleared the McCanns of any involvement. The parents had sued Portuguese police officer Goncalo Amaral for implying the couple were involved in Madeleine’s disappearance in his 2008 book Truth of the Lie. MADELEINE MCCANN BREAKS SILENCE ON SLAM RESEARCH Kate and Gerry McCann hold a picture of their daughter from police during a press conference to mark the 5th anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann on May 2, 2012 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) A Portuguese court had initially ruled in favor of the parents in 2015 and ordered Amaral to pay compensation. But Portugal’s Supreme Court overturned the decision two years later. This decision prompted the McCanns to sue the Portuguese state through the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that they were not given a fair hearing and that their right to privacy was violated. But the ECtHR ruled on Tuesday that Portuguese justice gave the parents a fair trial and concluded that their arguments about the presumption of innocence were unfounded. JOSH DUGGAR’S PARENTS, JIM BOB AND MICHELLE DUGGAR, SPEAK OUT AFTER SON’S ARRESTS FOR CHILD PORN An undated photo of Madeleine McCann smiling. McCann disappeared while on holiday with her parents in 2007. (Handout/Getty Images) “Even assuming that the reputation of the applicants had been damaged, this was not because of the argument put forward by the author of the book, but rather as a result of the suspicions expressed against them,” the ECtHR ruled. “[The Supreme Court of Justice] had made no comments implying any guilt on the part of the applicants or even insinuating suspicion against them regarding the circumstances in which their daughter had disappeared,” the judgment continued. manifestly baseless”. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of missing 3-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann hold a press conference June 1, 2007, in Madrid, Spain. (Denis Doyle/Getty Images) It is unknown whether Gerry and Kate McCann will appeal the latest ruling. Reuters contributed to this report.
