Madeleine McCann Both the
Daily Star Sunday and its daily equivalent, as well as its stablemates the
Daily Express and
Sunday Express, featured heavy coverage of the
disappearance of Madeleine McCann in May 2007. In 2008 the McCann family sued the
Star and
Express for
libel. The action concerned more than 100 stories across the
Daily Express,
Daily Star and their Sunday sisters, which accused the McCanns of involvement in their daughter's disappearance. The newspapers' coverage was regarded by the McCanns as grossly defamatory. In a settlement at the
High Court of Justice, the newspapers agreed to run a front-page apology to the McCanns on 19 March 2008, publish another apology on the front pages of the Sunday editions on 23 March and make a statement of apology at the High Court. They also agreed to pay costs and substantial damages, which the McCanns plan to use to aid their search for their daughter. In its apology, the
Daily Star apologised for printing "stories suggesting the couple were responsible for, or may be responsible for, the death of their daughter Madeleine and for covering it up" and stated that "We now recognise that such a suggestion is absolutely untrue and that Kate and Gerry are completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance." ==Editors==