THE parents of missing Madeleine McCann faced the police officer who made them suspects across a courtroom as he tried to overturn a ban on his book that claims they faked her abduction..

Liverpool-born Kate McCann and her husband, Gerry, travelled to Portugal to listen to former detective Goncalo Amaral’s legal bid.

Mr Amaral at first led the Madeleine inquiry for Portugal’s CID, the Policia Judiciaria (PJ).

But he was taken off the case in October, 2007, after criticising the British police in a newspaper interview.

His book, Maddie: The Truth Of The Lie, was published in July, 2008.

A Portuguese judge granted the McCanns an injunction in September last year banning further sale or publication of the book.

The former policeman was also prohibited from repeating his claims about Madeleine or her parents.

His lawyers argue that the material in his book is contained in the official Portuguese police files for the case, many of which were made public in August, 2008.

A series of senior Portuguese officials involved in the investigation are being called to support his allegations.

One senior detective told the hearing in Lisbon that the McCanns were made “arguidos”, or suspects, in the case after concluding Madeleine died accidentally and her parents covered up the death by inventing a kidnapping.

Chief Inspector Tavares de Almeida told the court the main evidence for this was the findings of British police sniffer dogs sent to Portugal to examine the flat.

The McCanns’ lawyer, Isabel Duarte, challenged this claim, arguing that the sniffer dog results did not constitute proof and were not allowed as evidence in the case.

The couple have always strenuously denied having any involvement in the disappearance of their daughter, whom they believe was abducted.

The McCanns sat just yards away from Mr Amaral at the front of the public gallery in Lisbon’s 7th Civil Court.

They occasionally whispered to each other and their Portuguese translators, but made little reaction to what was said.

They are not expected to give evidence during the three-day hearing.