Hearing in Madeleine McCann case postponed

LISBON, Portugal, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The father of missing British girl Madeleine McCann said he and his wife intend to ask a court to permanently ban a book about their daughter.

Sky News said Friday while the court hearing in Lisbon, Portugal, was postponed a month, Gerry McCann remains dedicated to seeking a permanent ban on a book written by former police official Goncalo Amaral.

Gerry McCann, 41, said Amaral's book "The Truth of the Lie" damaged the ongoing search for his daughter since it suggests the young girl was killed and her death was covered up.

"We're here to make sure that freedom of speech doesn't allow the truth to be distorted," Gerry McCann said of the hearing, which was delayed because Amaral's attorney has swine flu.

"We believe the book has damaged the search for Madeleine."

Madeleine McCann was nearly 4 years old when she disappeared in May 2007 from her family's apartment in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz.

Both Gerry McCann and his wife, Kate, remain convinced their daughter was abducted and is likely still alive, Sky News said.