Madeleine McCann Parents In Court Setback

A request by Madeleine McCann's parents to give evidence at a Portuguese libel trial over a book by a former local police chief has been rejected, according to a family source.

Kate and Gerry McCann are suing Goncalo Amaral over claims he made in The Truth of the Lie, which they say damaged the hunt for their missing daughter and greatly added to their anguish.

The McCanns are also taking legal action against his publisher and the makers of a documentary based on the book.

They had wanted to testify in the court case, which is taking place in Lisbon.

Goncalo Amaral at the launch of his book in 2008

But a family source said permission had been refused ahead of the next hearing date, which is on Tuesday.

The couple are said to be disappointed by the decision, and their lawyer Isabel Duarte is likely to appeal against the judge's decision.

An application by Mr Amaral to give evidence is also understood to have been turned down.

Mr McCann's sister Trish Cameron told the court last October that the family's pain over Madeleine's disappearance was "multiplied 100 times" by the book, while the trial previously heard how Mrs McCann had considered suicide in the aftermath of its publication in 2008.

Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in 2007

Madeleine's mother travelled to Lisbon at the start of the trial, and her husband has attended several times in the hope of being able to give evidence.

Madeleine, who was then nearly four, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve on May 3, 2007, as her parents dined at a nearby restaurant with friends.

British detectives launched a fresh investigation into the youngster's disappearance in July this year - two years into a review of the case - and made renewed appeals on television in the UK, the Netherlands and in Germany.

After shelving their inquiry into Madeleine's disappearance in 2008, Portuguese authorities said in October that a review had uncovered enough new information to justify reopening it.

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Mark Denton: Two Men Charged With Murder

Two men have been charged with the murder of Mark Denton, who died from serious injuries in Hartlepool on New Year's Eve.

The pair, aged 21 and 23, will appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court today, said a statement from Cleveland Police.

A 17-year-old has been released without charge.

Police said Mr Denton had been at a party in Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, on December 31.

Officers cordoned off the property on New Year's Day to carry out a forensic examination.

Police cordoned off a house in Hartlepool on New Year's Day

Mr Denton's family said his death had left them "devastated and heartbroken".

A statement said: "He was a loving uncle, brother, son and boyfriend and he will be sadly missed by everyone.

"Our hearts will never heal from the loss of Mark, he was a larger than life character and our loss is immeasurable."

Mr Denton is understood to be have been a promising middleweight amateur boxer when he was younger and was well-known in the local boxing community.

A Facebook page has been set up in tribute to him.

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Riot Payouts: Victims 'Failed By PM And Mayor'

Labour has accused David Cameron and Boris Johnson of breaking promises to more than 130 victims of the London riots who have made compensation claims but are yet to receive a single penny.

The Opposition said of all the claims, less than 16% of the requested cash has been paid out more than two years after violence and looting broke out across the capital.

Shadow home office minister Steve Reed, who uncovered the figures through freedom of information requests to the police, claimed  the riot victims felt "abandoned and ignored by the Government and the Mayor of London".

"With the eyes of the country on him, David Cameron promised the victims of the riots they would not be forgotten and would not be left out of pocket," he said.

"It's disgraceful there are still residents and business owners in London facing financial hardship because they have received either too little compensation or nothing at all."

But a spokesman for Mr Johnson's mayoral office for policing and crime said it was "simply untrue to say that people are yet to receive a penny" following the violence.

A carpet showroom in Tottenham was among the buildings torched

"All of the outstanding claims are either funds owed to insurance companies, or to settle under-insured elements of claims," he said.

"Everyone who wasn't insured and made a valid claim has been paid, and over 96% of insured claims have been settled. Only the most complex cases remain.

"In the last year the number of outstanding claims has reduced by over two thirds. During the summer the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime met with a number of claimants and the insurance industry to hear their concerns and to help resolve the final issues around remaining cases, so that they are moved forward in a timely manner."

Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims Minister Damian Green said the Met police and the Mayor's office were "working hard to resolve" the outstanding claims "as quickly as possible".

He added: "In order to make sure the compensation is as quick and efficient as possible in future, the Home Secretary commissioned an independent review in to the Riot Damages Act, which made several recommendations. We will be launching a public consultation on next steps early this year."

The figures released by the Met showed 3,447 claims had been made by March 31, 2013, and 3,535 claims by November 6, 2013. By March 31, 2013, £250.1m had been claimed, and by November 6, 2013, claims had reached £299m.

Cash totals paid out by the Met Police were £35.8m(14.3%) on March 31, 2013, and £46.9m (15.7%) on November 6, 2013.

The total number of outstanding claims on November 6, 2013, was 133.

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Weather: Aberystwyth 'Damage' As Tides Hit UK

Flood warnings remain in place as parts of the UK were hit by high tides, causing widespread flooding and evacuations in coastal areas.

The main beach in Aberystwyth was "destroyed" as 6ft waves broke up paving slabs and slammed into buildings.

Around 100 people living close to the sea front were advised to move to higher ground, with many taking shelter in rest centres

Millie Farmer, 19, a second-year undergraduate at Aberystwyth University, said she had never seen anything like it before.

Barmouth sea front in west Wales also suffered extensive damage

She said: "There were six foot waves crashing on to the beach. It was scary - and quite exciting. It must be awful for people whose businesses and homes have been damaged.

"The promenade has been closed. North Beach has been completely destroyed. The slabs on the promenade have been uprooted."

Images taken on the seafront in the town showed paving slabs and tiles littering the road surface.

The town's university told its students it was deferring the start of examinations for a week because of the extreme conditions.

The worst affected area is the Severn Estuary

Not far away, rail lines in north Wales were left buckled by the power of the sea and a road collapsed in Amroth, Pembrokeshire.

High tides and large waves also flooded streets in Looe in Cornwall and Salcombe and Kingsbridge in Devon.

Harry Martin has not been seen since Thursday

Hundreds of homes have already been flooded inland across the UK as well after rivers from Cornwall to Scotland burst their banks.

The worst affected area is the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire where two of the three severe flood warnings - which indicate a risk to life - are in place.

The other severe warning is on the River Stour in Dorset which broke its banks in Christchurch on Friday.

The danger has been created by a combination of the effects of widespread heavy rain mixed with exceptionally high tides along the west of the UK.

Water levels at the part of the River Severn affected by tidal flows are approaching the highs of 2007 that left huge areas inundated.

The Environment Agency say that defences put in place after the 2007 floods are holding so far.

Forecasters warn the bad weather conditions will continue over the next few days, with many areas already saturated.

The south of England is still subject to dozens of flood warnings

Up to 30mm (1.25ins) of rain is forecast in south east England on Saturday and similar amounts on higher ground on Sunday.

On Friday, it emerged that Scotland had suffered its wettest December on record.

The Met Office has also revealed the month was the UK's "stormiest" (meaning it endured the largest number of Atlantic storms) since 1969.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Outbreaks of rain will push up from the south and spread northwards, but by this afternoon further rain will follow in behind, where it may linger across East Anglia and south-east England.

"Here we could see around 20-30mm of rain fall in just 6 hours, so the greatest risk of flooding will be across these areas.

Weather watchers risk a soaking at Westward Ho!, Devon. Pic: Chris Wileman

"Tomorrow more rain is expected from the south-west, spreading across most of the UK and the Republic of Ireland."

:: Send us your weather photos or video to news@sky.com or text your pictures to 84501. But don't take unnecessary risks.

Other areas that have been hit by the latest bout of flooding are the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, and parts of Dorset and Wales.

A major search is ongoing for an 18-year-old who has not been seen since he left his home to take pictures of the weather.

Harry Martin left his home in Membland, near Plymouth, at around midday on Thursday.

River Severn levels are reaching historic highs at Epney, Gloucestershire

Devon and Cornwall Police said Mr Martin was last seen walking towards the coastal path near his home.

Police, Coastguard, the RNLI and helicopters from the police and RNAS Culdrose are conducting extensive searches around the coast.

The Thames Barrier was shut for three hours on Saturday morning to prevent high tides causing widespread flooding.

Evacuation sirens were also sounded in Portland, near Weymouth, Dorset, due to a severe risk of flooding. Members of the public are understood to have been evacuated on Saturday.

A canoeist on Worcester racecourse. Pic by Dave Key

Homes in Newport, South Wales, were evacuated on Friday and rough seas caused part of a cliff at Rock-A-Nore, outside Hastings in East Sussex, to collapse.

Nearly 100 flood warnings remained in place across the UK.

Numerous transport services and routes have been hit by the storms.

Trains were cancelled in Wales and the south and south west of England and several roads and bridges close to the coast have been subject to restrictions.

Parts of Gloucestershire are underwater after the Severn's banks broke

Dozens of lower league football matches across the UK have been postponed because of the weather or water logged pitches.

The Government has been forced to deny claims that austerity cuts will hit flood defences - despite reports that hundreds of frontline jobs are being cut.

Belfast escaped major flooding on Friday, but similar weather conditions are forecast for Sunday and Monday and sandbag barriers along the Connswater River will remain in place.

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Mental Health Nurses In Police Stations Pilot

A £25m pilot scheme aimed at reducing reoffending by mentally ill criminals will place mental health nurses in police stations and courts.

Police officers spend an estimated 15% to 25% of their time dealing with mental health problems - the equivalent of around 26,000 officers.

But the pilot, which is to be tested in 10 areas across England, will mean that people with mental health problems will be treated "as early as possible".

Care and support minister Norman Lamb said identifying people with mental health needs who come into contact with the criminal justice system at the earliest possible stage will help to "divert" them away from offending again.

He said that "too often" criminals with mental health problems, learning difficulties or substance misuse issues are only diagnosed once they reach prison.

The majority of people who end up in prison have a mental health problem, a substance misuse problem or a learning disability, and one in four has a severe mental health illness such as depression or psychosis, a Department of Health spokeswoman said.

Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb (front) at a police station

According to the Mental Health Foundation, more than 70% of the prison population has two or more mental health disorders and the suicide rate in prisons is almost 15 times higher than in the general population

Over the next year, the money will be used to join up police and courts systems with mental health services in Merseyside, London, Avon and Wiltshire, Leicester, Sussex, Dorset, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, Coventry, south Essex and Wakefield.

Mentally ill people, as well as those with substance abuse problems and learning disabilities, will be assessed when they come into contact with police.

The information will be shared with officers and the courts system to ensure charging and sentencing decisions take into consideration a person's health needs, the spokeswoman said.

It will also mean treatment is given sooner which will help stop reoffending, she added.

Paul Jenkins, chief executive of charity Rethink Mental Illness, said: "All too often, the way our criminal justice system deals with people with mental health problems leads to poor outcomes for individuals, frustration from police officers, magistrates and others, and such a waste of resources as people are needlessly sent to prison through a failure to respond to some of the underlying issues in their lives.

"We welcome this initiative, which has the potential to stop people going unnecessarily to prison, reduce reoffending rates and save millions in taxpayers' money."

If the pilot is successful, the measure will be rolled out across the rest of the country by 2017.

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Robert Cerqua Charged With Murder Of Twin

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his identical twin brother in a fight on New Year's Eve.

Robert Cerqua, 31, is accused of inflicting serious injuries on his brother Christopher at the home they shared in Hythe, Hampshire, on Tuesday.

Police were called to the address in Langdown Road, Hythe, at 9pm.

Christopher Cerqua was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he died later.

Robert Cerqua was remanded in custody when he appeared at Southampton Magistrates' Court.

He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Trevor Vidler, chairman of the magistrates' panel, asked him if he understood the charge, to which he replied "Yes".

Mr Vidler told him: "You are being sent for trial to the Crown Court and that first hearing will be on Monday.

"You will attend for that preliminary hearing and remain in custody until that date and time. Go with the officers, please."

He is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday.

The murder inquiry is being led by detectives from the Hampshire Major Investigation Team.

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A&E Visits: Third Of GPs Back £10 Charge

By David Crabtree, Sky News Correspondent

A third of GPs are in favour of making people pay if they make unnecessary visits to hard-pressed accident and emergency departments.

A new survey asked GPs whether people should pay £5 or £10 for each visit, with the money being refunded if their attendance was found to be justified.

The poll was carried out by the Press Association for Doctors.net.uk, an online network for doctors, and involved canvassing 800 GPs across England.

One in three (32%) family doctors said introducing patient fees for some visits would be the most cost effective way of cutting unnecessary A&E attendance.

Four in 10 (39%) said placing a GP surgery, with extended opening hours, adjacent to every emergency department would help reduce the numbers seeking A&E help and cut spiralling hospital admissions.

Another 11% thought more NHS walk-in centres would help ease the strain, while 8% believed that an improved 111 phone service - set up to replace NHS Direct - could provide the answer.

People using the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham were sceptical about paying for A&E.

George Price said: "It might stop people going because of the cost and others might think that paying a tenner was a good deal to be seen by an A&E doctor, it sounds like a bad idea to me."

Carole Bailey, who was visiting a relative, had reservations about how it would work.

She said: "Who is going to say someone is wasting their time?

"Most people who go must think they are really ill and where do you draw the line?"

Dr Tim Ringrose, chief executive of Doctors.net.uk, said: "It may be a clear departure from the traditional NHS vision, but many doctors are now saying that radical action has to be taken to reverse the 'free at the point of abuse' culture that is a key contributor to the current emergency care crisis in some areas."

Helen Stokes-Lampard, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "Charging patients for the use of emergency departments would put us on the slippery slope towards the Americanisation of healthcare - where only those who can afford it get the care and attention they need.

"Doctors have a duty to provide healthcare to patients regardless of their ability to pay.

"Patients seek healthcare when they are at their most vulnerable and if they attend A&E, it is usually because they don't know where else to turn.

"Emergency departments are really struggling but the way to solve the crisis is to adequately fund general practice, so that family doctors can provide more care for patients in the community.

"GPs conduct 90% of the NHS contacts for just 8.39% of the NHS budget.

"If general practice was better funded many people who are seen in emergency departments could be seen by a local GP."

The survey revealed the overwhelming majority believed changes announced by the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in November regarding GP contracts would do little to ease the pressure on A&E units.

It also found that three quarters of GPs (74%) disagreed that giving older people a named GP would cut the numbers ending up in A&E.

Just one in 10 doctors agreed this would help alleviate pressures on the system.

:: All next week Sky News will have live coverage examining the crisis in the NHS. Watch 'A Matter Of Life And Death' on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Libya: Briton 'Found Dead With Gun Wounds'

A British man has been found dead in western Libya, with reports suggesting he had suffered gunshot wounds.

The Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the tragic death of a British national in Libya. We stand ready to provide consular assistance."

A woman from New Zealand was found dead alongside the Briton, according to a Libyan security source.

The pair are said to have been found near the Mellitah oil and gas complex, about 60 miles west of Libyan capital Tripoli.

The complex is co-owned by Italian company Eni

Sky News Foreign Affairs correspondent Lisa Holland said: "There are reports that these two people were teachers which begs the question 'what were they doing in this area'.

"What we don't know at the moment is whether they were connected with the oil and gas complex."

She added that the deaths, along with the unrelated death of an American teacher a month ago, show "Libya is a very unstable, insecure place at the moment without a coherent police or army".

After the US teacher was shot dead in the eastern city of Benghazi, the Foreign Office said further attacks against Westerners were likely.

The Mellitah facility is co-owned by Italy's Eni and Libya's state-owned National Oil Corp (NOC).

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Nick Griffin: BNP Leader Declared Bankrupt

Nick Griffin, chairman of the British National Party, has said his bankruptcy will not prevent him from "being or standing as an MEP".

He insisted he would continue as a member of the European Parliament and run for re-election in May.

"This order will not prevent me fighting for the interests of the British people or leading the British National Party to a fresh round of electoral victories. It's of no political significance whatsoever," he said in a statement on the BNP website.

The MEP revealed he had been declared bankrupt on Twitter - and said he would use the experience to produce a leaflet on how to deal with debt.

He tweeted: "A note for all: Being bankrupt does NOT prevent me being or standing as an MEP. It does free me from financial worries. A good day!

"Party funds are not affected in any way. Our campaign in May will be our most professional yet & I will be lead candidate in the North West.

"I am now turning the experience to the benefit of hard-up constituents by producing a booklet on dealing with debt. No surrender!"

A listing at the Insolvency Service showed he was declared bankrupt at Welshpool and Newtown County Court on Thursday.

He had offered to pay 42p in the pound over five years to all his creditors. This was rejected by the petitioning creditor.

The politician will be automatically discharged from bankruptcy in one year, on January 2, 2015, in accordance with the Insolvency Act.

He was elected to represent the North West region of England in 2009.

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Weather: Flood Warnings As Tidal Surges Hit

Some roads are now under water and rivers have burst their banks as parts of the UK are deluged by further flooding.

At least eight severe flood warnings, which indicate a risk to life, were in place for England and Wales as heavy rain and strong winds, combined with exceptionally high tides, struck western parts.

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Among the areas affected were the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Newport in South Wales as the latest violent storm swept in from the Atlantic.

Two of the severe warnings were for the South West, with three in Wales and three in the Midlands.

Over the next few hours, high tides will threaten coastal communities further north up to Liverpool and Belfast.

Further inland, the risk is that rivers - already swollen from weeks of rain -  will rise still further and burst their banks.

Eight severe flood warnings have been issued

Around 130 flood warnings (meaning flooding is expected) and 230 less serious alerts are also in place, affecting every region of England and Wales.

Flooding in Lynmouth, north Devon

The Thames Flood Barrier has been closed due to a high flow of water over Teddington Weir combined with a spring tide.

It is has also been announced that December 2013 was the wettest month in Scotland since records began in 1910.

In Cornwall, there has been flooding in areas including Penzance, Newquay, Looe and Polperro and there have been road closures. In Devon, towns including Kingsbridge and Salcombe were affected.

This was the scene in Kingsbridge, Devon. Pic: norsphoto/Twitter

But the situation in the two counties has been slightly better than was anticipated, according to the RNLI.

Spokesman Tom Mansell said: "There has been flooding in places like Looe, Kingsbridge and Salcombe but it is not as bad as we had been expecting."

He added a man in Cornwall had a "very lucky escape" when his car was swept away as he wave-watched.

There are around 130 flood warnings for England and Wales

"People think they are in a strong metal box but moving water on tarmac becomes very buoyant," he said.

One man in Penzance was evacuated from his home after it was "severely affected" by floods.

In Christchurch, Dorset, the River Stour burst its banks. Sky's Stephen Douglas at the scene said: "A number of homes have been evacuated so people are listening to the warnings hoping it doesn't get any worse than this."

In Burrowbridge, Somerset, the River Parrett burst its banks as did the River Severn in Minsterworth, Gloucestershire.

The scene in the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire

Some roads in Gloucestershire were "impassable" due to flooding, including in Tewkesbury.

In the South East, Yalding in Kent was deluged again overnight but not on the same scale as over Christmas, according to reports.

The unsettled conditions in the UK are expected to remain for the next few days, forecasters say.

Flooding in Salcombe, Devon. Pic: RNLI

Sky's weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "We will continue to see the risk of further flooding as more rain falls on already saturated ground. However, this is not our only concern.

"Very strong winds today, combined with spring tides will bring big waves that could cause coastal flooding, mainly across western and southern coasts of the UK.

"The area most at risk today will be the south-west of England where the second high tide today will be during this evenings rush hour time.

Floods in Newport, South Wales

"Tonight the winds will ease, but rain is expected across southern parts of England and Wales by the morning. This rain will spread north on Saturday. On Sunday more rain will spread across all parts of the UK and next week remains unsettled with further downpours."

There are also suggestions that there may be snow across northern England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Saturday.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 38 flood warnings for Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway, Skye and Lochaber, Tayside and West Central Scotland.

There are flood warnings all across the UK

In Northern Ireland, police have warned the docks area close to Belfast city centre could flood in a tidal surge later.

Residents of Sydenham in east Belfast had been told to pack a bag and prepare for potential evacuation. Sandbags were distributed to the public through the night while the authorities built up river defences.

But later, officers said the densely-packed neighbourhood may avoid "serious flooding".

Assessments for Londonderry, Killough, Newcastle, Newry, Larne and Strangford areas also showed a slightly reduced flood risk from what had previously been expected.

A train passes through the coast at Saltcoats in Scotland

In the Irish Republic, forecasters have issued a "status orange" weather warning, with gusts of up to 80mph hitting Connacht, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

High tides, strong winds and rainfall have caused flooding in parts of Cork, Galway, Salthill, Waterford, Tralee, Clare and Mayo, while the River Shannon has burst its banks in Limerick.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who will chair another emergency meeting later in London, said: "The Environment Agency and local authorities have teams on the ground monitoring the situation as it emerges.

"With a number of severe flood warnings still in place I urge everyone to follow the advice from the Environment Agency and police and to take every precaution."

A search for a 27-year-old man who was swept out to sea while celebrating the new year on the beach with friends near Porthleven, in Cornwall, was called off on Thursday after a body was found.

That came after a woman, thought to be on holiday with her family, died in the surf in north Devon.

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