KATE and Gerry McCann have launched a new appeal to silence the former Portuguese detective who claims they lied about their daughter Madeleine's disappearance in 2007.

Goncalo Amaral was ordered to pay £360,000 in libel damages after penning a book claiming the couple covered up their child's death.

Read more: Police launch hunt for Madeleine McCann in Paraguay after reported sighting

But the ruling was overturned, meaning Mr Amaral did not have to pay compensation and could republish his book, The Truth Of The Lie.

Glasgow Times:

The McCanns have now lodged a new legal bid at Portugal's Supreme Court, which will have the final say on whether the former detective should pay out damages.

The McCann's have been searching for their daughter for nine years and are reportedly hoping the appeal will bring an end to their seven-year legal battle against Mr Amaral.

Glasgow Times:

If unsuccessful, their legal bill could come from the Find Maddie Fund, which was set up after the three-year-old vanished in Portugal in 2007.

A family source told The Sun: "We hope the appeal will be successful. If they lose there will be a big legal bill to pay which will come from the fund set up to find Madeleine."

The source added that the McCann's plan to finance their own private investigation after the Metropolitan Police's Operation Grange comes to an end.

Glasgow Times:

Mr Amaral's book became a bestseller in Portugal, even though the country’s top lawman insists there’s no evidence to back up his accusations.

The former cop claimed that Madeleine's parents covered up her death in their apartment block in in Praia da Luz by lying about her disappearance.