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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| NI children in care in Portugal | NI children in care in Portugal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A couple from Northern Ireland on holiday in the Algrave area of Portugal have had their three young children temporarily taken into care. | A couple from Northern Ireland on holiday in the Algrave area of Portugal have had their three young children temporarily taken into care. |
| Staff at the Aparthotel Mourabel, Vilamoura, called police after the couple allegedly passed out after drinking too much on Friday night. | Staff at the Aparthotel Mourabel, Vilamoura, called police after the couple allegedly passed out after drinking too much on Friday night. |
| A local court decided the children should be returned to their parents. | A local court decided the children should be returned to their parents. |
| However, the County Londonderry couple's case will be considered by a specialised children's court on Monday. | However, the County Londonderry couple's case will be considered by a specialised children's court on Monday. |
| The children, who are all under six, were taken to a children's home in Faro, while their mother and father were treated at a health centre in Loule. | |
| The couple have not commented on the incident, but the director of the home where their children were looked after described it as "shocking". | The couple have not commented on the incident, but the director of the home where their children were looked after described it as "shocking". |
| "It is the first time it has happened in my 22 years working at this home," said Dr Luis Villas-Boas. | "It is the first time it has happened in my 22 years working at this home," said Dr Luis Villas-Boas. |
| "It's normal for a couple for one to drink while the other doesn't drink. The problem here is they were both passed out. | "It's normal for a couple for one to drink while the other doesn't drink. The problem here is they were both passed out. |
| "It was extreme neglect and abandonment. I hope somebody carries this information to the UK so these parents can at least be seen because these children are indeed at risk." | "It was extreme neglect and abandonment. I hope somebody carries this information to the UK so these parents can at least be seen because these children are indeed at risk." |
| Dr Luis Villas-Boas said his children's home was called shortly after midnight on Friday and asked to provide emergency shelter for the youngsters. | Dr Luis Villas-Boas said his children's home was called shortly after midnight on Friday and asked to provide emergency shelter for the youngsters. |
| 'Out cold' | 'Out cold' |
| A spokesman for the local police said they were contacted by hotel staff at 2200 local time because "the children were crying and they could not revive the parents, who were both out cold". | A spokesman for the local police said they were contacted by hotel staff at 2200 local time because "the children were crying and they could not revive the parents, who were both out cold". |
| He said: "We arrived to assess the situation and called the INEM (Portugal's national medical emergency service) as the parents were unconscious, and they were taken to hospital. | He said: "We arrived to assess the situation and called the INEM (Portugal's national medical emergency service) as the parents were unconscious, and they were taken to hospital. |
| "We called the social services. We looked after the children until the social services arrived and they took them away." | "We called the social services. We looked after the children until the social services arrived and they took them away." |