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| Portugal mother 'sick not drunk' | Portugal mother 'sick not drunk' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A councillor has defended the couple whose children were taken into care in Portugal after allegations they were drunk. | A councillor has defended the couple whose children were taken into care in Portugal after allegations they were drunk. |
| SDLP Maghera Councillor Kate Lagan, who knows the parents, said Antoinette McGuckin was sick and that was why an ambulance was called to their hotel. | |
| She also said the hotel manager offered to look after the children while Eamon McGuckin took his wife to hospital. | She also said the hotel manager offered to look after the children while Eamon McGuckin took his wife to hospital. |
| She cannot understand why Portugese authorities took the action they did. | |
| "Late last night I spoke to somebody close to the family and there's a very different picture emerging," she said. | "Late last night I spoke to somebody close to the family and there's a very different picture emerging," she said. |
| "Even yesterday it was fairly obvious that there was something very strange about this, for example, how could you possibly go from escorting three children from a bar to being completely comatose in a hotel as suddenly as that. | "Even yesterday it was fairly obvious that there was something very strange about this, for example, how could you possibly go from escorting three children from a bar to being completely comatose in a hotel as suddenly as that. |
| "They went out to dinner at eight o'clock and they were back at 10." | "They went out to dinner at eight o'clock and they were back at 10." |
| At the weekend, duty court officials said they saw no reason to press criminal charges, but a specialised court, which focuses on minors, has yet to examine the case. | At the weekend, duty court officials said they saw no reason to press criminal charges, but a specialised court, which focuses on minors, has yet to examine the case. |
| The couple are expected to appear before a judge at the Family and Minors Court in Faro at 1500 local time on Tuesday. | The couple are expected to appear before a judge at the Family and Minors Court in Faro at 1500 local time on Tuesday. |
| The family were staying at the Aparthotel Mourabel | The family were staying at the Aparthotel Mourabel |
| Eamon McGuckin, 34, and his 32-year-old wife were rushed to a health centre in nearby Loule after arriving at the Aparthotel Mourabel for a week-long holiday on Friday afternoon. | Eamon McGuckin, 34, and his 32-year-old wife were rushed to a health centre in nearby Loule after arriving at the Aparthotel Mourabel for a week-long holiday on Friday afternoon. |
| The manager of the hotel said the couple and their three children went out for dinner nearby at about 2000 local time on Friday. | The manager of the hotel said the couple and their three children went out for dinner nearby at about 2000 local time on Friday. |
| It is alleged that, upon their arrival back at the hotel about two hours later, Mr McGuckin passed out on a sofa in reception while Mrs McGuckin fell asleep in the bar. | It is alleged that, upon their arrival back at the hotel about two hours later, Mr McGuckin passed out on a sofa in reception while Mrs McGuckin fell asleep in the bar. |
| 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". |
| The parents were taken to hospital while social services dealt with the children, he added. | The parents were taken to hospital while social services dealt with the children, he added. |
| Returned | Returned |
| The children were taken to the Refugio Aboim Ascensao children's home in Faro early on Saturday morning but were later returned to their parents. | The children were taken to the Refugio Aboim Ascensao children's home in Faro early on Saturday morning but were later returned to their parents. |
| Dr Luis Villas-Boas said his children's home was called shortly after midnight on Friday and asked to provide emergency shelter for the three 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 three youngsters. |
| But although he described the incident as "very, very shocking", he said the three children showed no signs of neglect and would not suffer any lasting ill effects. | But although he described the incident as "very, very shocking", he said the three children showed no signs of neglect and would not suffer any lasting ill effects. |
| Police officers from Portugal's Guarda Nacional Republicana spent 45 minutes at the couple's hotel apartment on Monday evening. | Police officers from Portugal's Guarda Nacional Republicana spent 45 minutes at the couple's hotel apartment on Monday evening. |
| British consular staff are helping the couple. | British consular staff are helping the couple. |