McCanns call in heavyweight lawyers to clear their name

Top solicitor Michael Caplan, seen here arriving at court to defend Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet

11th September 2007

The McCanns have chosen one of Britain's leading law firms to lead their fightback to clear their name.

The couple have hired London-based Kingsley Napley, which lists rogue trader Nick Leeson and Chilean dictator General Pinochet among its past clients.

More recently the respected law firm has represented the TV presenter Matthew Kelly over child sex abuse allegations, England football captain John Terry over an alleged London pub brawl, and actor Chris Langham for child pornography and indecent assault charges.

Partners Michael Caplan QC and Angus McBride, who will advise Kate and Gerry McCann, have almost 50 years' experience in criminal and international law between them.

Mr Caplan, 54, is regarded as one of the most formidable solicitors of his generation.

He started practising in 1977 and is described by one legal directory as "the weapon of choice for battleship cases".

He is also one of the country's foremost experts on extradition and he acted for the captain of the Bowbelle, the dredger which sank the Marchioness on the River Thames, killing 51 people in 1989.

Fellow partner Angus McBride, a leading celebrity lawyer, joined Kingsley Napley in 1999.

According to the company's website, he has built up a particular expertise in "managing and protecting the reputation of individuals and companies subject to either media or criminal investigation".

This year he has represented the former Clash guitarist Mick Jones, over allegations arising from the Kate Moss cocaine affair, and was involved in the John Terry and Chris Langham cases.

Praise for the press

Philomena McCann: Gerry's sister praised the British media for their restraint

The sister of Gerry McCann has praised the British media for their restraint in covering Madeleine's disappearance and for keeping the case in the public eye.

Asked by the Today programme's Sarah Montague if she had "any regrets" about the Press's behaviour, Philomena McCann said: "If it hadn't been for the help of the media, Madeleine's case might have disappeared."

She added one of the reasons the McCanns returned to the UK was because Continental journalists had "overstepped the mark" in their intrusive coverage of the McCanns' twins.

She said: "I'm not suggesting that was the British media."

Protests over BBC phone-in

The BBC was accused of "bad taste" after staging a phone-in debate to see whether people still had sympathy for Madeleine McCann's parents.

Victoria Derbyshire asked Radio Five Live listeners: "Are you one of the millions who donated to the Madeleine fund? Do you back the family and feel they have to fight their corner against the speculation?

Home: Kate and Gerry McCann arrive in England after being named as suspects

"Do you think that all those involved, including the media, should shut up and allow the experts to do their jobs?"

But in a heated debate, almost two thirds of callers said the station should not be debating the case while the police investigation was still going on.

One said: "This is the ultimate in bad taste journalism."

Another caller told the presenter: "I think you should stop this. 'You do or don't support the McCanns' is almost a question of saying do you think they're guilty or innocent."

Missing: Four-year-old Madeleine McCann