Here is another example of the press rushing to judgement and besmirching the character of an innocent man. Unfortunately, this case won't stop the press from negligent reporting when it involves a high profile case. The profits are too great. The media/press could care less about whether they are right or wrong as long as they get the scoop. They are entitled to their opinion ( I personally think the McCann's accidentally killed their child and then tried to cover it up) but not their own unsubstantiated facts. In a free society we should debate the role of the press and their ethical responsibilities. The problem is that there is no debate. The press don't and wouldn't cover such a debate. There are very few stories about how the press gets it wrong. They always get the last word, after all.
A British suspect in the disappearance of 3-year-old Madeleine McCann in Portugal last year won 600,000 pounds ($1.2 million) in libel damages on Thursday for "the utter destruction" of his life.
The 10 British newspapers involved in the case had accused Robert Murat, who lived in the resort where McCann vanished last May, of being involved in the girl's disappearance.
Portuguese police questioned Murat soon after the British girl went missing from her parents' holiday apartment in the southern resort of Praia da Luz and later declared him a formal suspect, but he was never charged and denied any involvement.
"The newspapers in this case brought about the total and utter destruction of mine and my family's life and caused immense distress," Murat said outside London's High Court.
"I am pleased that the publications concerned admitted the falsity of their allegations and I can now start to rebuild my life."
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