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LONDON - Two British newspapers were forced to offer apologies to Kate and Gerry McCann over accusations they were somehow involved in the abduction of their baby girl Madeleine.
The Daily Express and The Daily Star both ran front page headlines and stories on their papers and websites saying the suspicion they had created would be lifted.
Both papers also admitted paying substantial damages over the false accusations.
The move came after legal action from the McCanns over suspicions cast in the two papers and their Sunday editions.
"We acknowledge that there is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory and that Kate and Gerry are completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance," The Daily Express wrote.
..."Kate and Gerry, we are truly sorry to have added to your distress."
A similar sentiment was expressed in the less upmarket Daily Star newspaper.
"The Daily Star today makes a wholehearted apology to Kate and Gerry McCann for stories suggesting the couple were responsible for, or may be responsible for, the death of their daughter Madeleine and for covering it up.
"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."
AFP reported that The Daily Express sells around 700,000 copies each day in Britain, while The Daily Star has approximately 610,000 readers.
Both publications admitted paying 'substantial damages' to the Find Madeleine Fund.
The McCanns complaints related to more than 100 articles in four Express Newspapers, the parent company which owns both The Daily Express and The Daily Star.
Madeleine McCann disappeared from a hotel room in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz, shortly before her fourth birthday.
Despite numerous false sightings and a worldwide publicity campaign there have been no sightings of her and no arrests, nearly a year after she went missing.
- NZ HERALD STAFF