The decision of a Portuguese policeman to launch his second book on the day a libel trial is to start concerning his first book on Madeleine McCann has been described as "regrettable" by her parents' spokesman.
Goncalo Amaral, who was involved in the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, will launch his second book, A Mordaca Inglesa (The English Gag), at a Lisbon bookshop on Friday.
The launch, set to take place in the evening, coincides with the start of a libel trial in the Portuguese capital on the same day.
Kate and Gerry McCann were set to travel to Portugal ahead of the trial opening.
Their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "It's regrettable that Mr Amaral chooses to do this on the same day as the trial opening.
"Most people would expect him to concentrate on the trial rather than launching any new book and the court will take its own view of his activities."
Madeleine was nearly four when she went missing from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007 while her parents dined with friends nearby. Despite a massive police investigation and huge publicity worldwide, she has not been found.
Mr and Mrs McCann, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were at one point made arguidos, or formal suspects, by Portuguese police investigating their daughter's disappearance. They were questioned by detectives but their arguido status was later lifted.
Mr Amaral was involved in the initial investigation but was later taken off the case. In his first book, The Truth Of The Lie, he claimed Madeleine was dead and questioned the McCanns' account that she was taken while they were eating with friends.
After a year-long campaign by the McCanns' lawyers to prevent the publication of the book and a subsequent DVD, in September a Portuguese judge granted an injunction banning its further sale or publication.
