Ward of Court: Decision issued by Judge in Civil Trial

Judge rules that Kate and Gerry McCann do not possess the authority to sue Gonçalo Amaral in their daughter’s name. 


The judge at the Civil Court of Lisbon who is trying the civil case which Kate and Gerry McCann have filed against Gonçalo Amaral and 3 other parties has issued a decision concerning the matter of Madeleine McCann being a Ward of Court.

On the 3rd of January 2014, Gonçalo Amaral had argued before the Lisbon Court that Madeleine’s parents do not possess the necessary power to represent their daughter in this action, since the child had been made a Ward of Court in the United Kingdom.

The judge decided that Mr Amaral should present a certificate of the relevant British judicial ruling. That certificate was delivered to the Court on the 2nd of May, after a lengthy, expensive process.

The judge then had to decide whether or not Madeleine’s parents were entitled to represent their daughter in this lawsuit. In the judge’s recent ruling, it is mentioned that “within the 'Wardship', the High Court holds ultimate responsibility over the child, but it does not suppress or annul the exercise of the parental responsibilities”. The High Court takes control over “the most important decisions for the life” of the child. The judge further considers that “the decision to file a judicial action in the name of the child” is a decision “of the magnitude that is demanded for the agreement or consent of the court”.

The judge’s ruling further notes that the matters that have been brought before the High Court that holds the Wardship have been matters of an “eminently judiciary nature, like the revelation of confidential information and documents, that are related to the child’s disappearance and were in the possession of the local police”. 

The text continues with the consideration that because Madeleine was made a Ward of the Court on the 2nd of April of 2008, her parents did not possess, in 2009, “the necessary capacity of representation of their daughter to file the present action without the authorization from the British court”.

Nevertheless, the judge has decided that the final court session, which will include a statement from Gerald McCann and the presentation of closing arguments from all sides, should take place regardless of the matter of the Wardship.

After that hearing is completed, the proceedings will be suspended for 30 days. During that period, Madeleine’s parents “shall arrange for the collection and documentation in the records of the British Court’s authorization for the bringing of this action on behalf of the minor Madeleine McCann”. If they fail to do so, the defendants will be “acquitted of the proceedings concerning the requests that have been formulated on behalf of the latter”.

The judge has proposed the date of 16th June for the final session, but each of the lawyers involved have the possibility of declining said date and suggesting alternative dates.

Julgamento: Decisão da Juíza sobre 'Ward of the Court'

Juíza considera que Kate e Gerry McCann não detinham autorização para intentar acção contra Gonçalo Amaral em nome da filha. 


A juíza do Tribunal Cível de Lisboa que julga a acção que os McCann intentaram contra Gonçalo Amaral e 3 outras partes emitiu uma decisão sobre o estatuto de Madeleine como ‘Ward of Court’.

A 3 de Janeiro de 2014, Gonçalo Amaral havia argumentado perante o tribunal que os pais de Madeleine não possuíam a autoridade necessária para representar a sua filha nesta acção, pelo facto de a criança ter sido colocada sob a tutela de um tribunal britânico, ou seja, uma ´Ward of Court’.

A juíza decidiu que Gonçalo Amaral deveria apresentar a documentação relevante sobre a decisão judicial britânica. Esse certificado foi apresentado ao tribunal no passado dia 2 de Maio, após um processo moroso e dispendioso.

Cabia então à juíza decidir se os pais de Madeleine tinham ou não o direito de representar a sua filha nesta acção cível.

A decisão recentemente produzida pela juíza menciona que “no âmbito da "Wardship" o Tribunal toma sobre si a responsabilidade máxima pela criança, mas não suprime ou anula o exercício das responsabilidades parentais”. O High Court britânico assume o controlo sobre “as decisões mais importantes para a vida do tutelado”.

A juíza considera ainda que “a decisão de instaurar uma acção judicial em nome do menor, como é a presente, deve considerar-se, salvo melhor juízo, uma decisão da magnitude exigida para o acordo ou consentimento do tribunal”.

Esta decisão nota ainda que os assuntos que foram trazidos perante o High Court que detém a custódia têm sido assuntos “do foro eminentemente judiciário, como foi a revelação de informações e de documentos confidenciais, relativos ao desaparecimento da criança e que se encontravam na posse da polícia local”.

O texto prossegue com a consideração que pelo facto de Madeleine ter sido constituída como ‘Ward of the Court’ no dia 2 de Abril de 2008, os seus pais não possuíam, em 2009, a “necessária capacidade de representação da sua filha para, sem a autorização do Tribunal britânico, intentar a presente acção”.

No entanto, a juíza decide que a audiência final, que irá incluir um depoimento de Gerald McCann e a apresentação das alegações finais de todas as partes deverá ter lugar independentemente do assunto da tutela de Madeleine.

Após a conclusão dessa audiência, a instância será suspensa por 30 dias. Durante esse período, os pais de Madeleine “deverão providenciar pela obtenção e documentação nos autos da autorização do Tribunal britânico para a propositura da presente acção em nome da menor Madeleine Maccann, sob pena de não o fazendo, os réus serem absolvidos da instância quanto aos pedidos formulados em nome desta última”.

A juíza marca a audiência final para o dia 16 de Junho, mas os representantes legais das partes podem sugerir datas alternativas, caso se encontrem impedidos de comparecer.

Civil Trial: Thank You!

I would like to personally thank everyone who has supported Gonçalo Amaral in meeting his legal defence costs after our latest appeal - by donating their time in spreading the message, their money or both. 

The goal was achieved and the relevant documentation has been filed with the Court in Lisbon. 

We await further news as we continue our efforts.

Thank you.

Civil Trial: Update & Appeal

As many of you will know, the trial of the action that opposes the McCann couple to Gonçalo Amaral, and others, has been suspended, awaiting information about the status of Madeleine McCann as a Ward of Court. 

The documentation that attests that status has been requested and obtained by Gonçalo Amaral's lawyer through a lawyer in London from the competent court, and will soon be delivered to the judge at the Civil Court of Lisbon. 

The obtainment of said evidence was time-consuming and expensive, and the costs will be fully met by Gonçalo Amaral. 

We appeal, once more, to those who are able to help us to collect the funds that are needed to cover this expense, to contribute through Projecto Justiça Gonçalo Amaral. 

Thank you.