UK:ONE OF the formal suspects in the Madeleine McCann case is to sue 12 media outlets in what may be one of the largest libel claims in the history of the British media.
Robert Murat is demanding damages from 11 newspapers and one TV station. It is the largest number of claims ever made against different British media outlets on the same issue.
Simons Muirhead and Burton, a London-based law firm, confirmed it was "representing Robert Murat in respect of a number of libel actions".
The case is being brought against Sky, the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, Metro, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, News of the World, Sunand the Scotsman.
Mr Murat, who lived close to the Praia da Luz apartment in Portugal where Madeleine went missing, was the first formal suspect, or arguido, named in the McCann case and has denied any involvement in her disappearance last May.
He has been the subject of relentless media scrutiny since a Sunday Mirrorjournalist expressed concerns about the 34-year-old property developer to Portuguese police shortly after Madeleine went missing.
Francisco Pagarete, Mr Murat's lawyer in Portugal, said he could not comment on the British legal case but that Mr Murat's decision to pursue damages was understandable.
- (Guardian service)