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New neglect case shocks Austria New neglect case shocks Austria
(about 6 hours later)
A row has erupted in Austria over three girls who were kept cut off from the outside world by their mother for seven years, Austrian media report.A row has erupted in Austria over three girls who were kept cut off from the outside world by their mother for seven years, Austrian media report.
After the mother's separation from her husband the girls were reportedly kept in darkness at the family home and lived amid human filth.After the mother's separation from her husband the girls were reportedly kept in darkness at the family home and lived amid human filth.
Authorities in Poestlingberg near Linz removed the girls from the house and placed them in care in October 2005.Authorities in Poestlingberg near Linz removed the girls from the house and placed them in care in October 2005.
Details of the case only emerged in the Austrian media at the weekend.Details of the case only emerged in the Austrian media at the weekend.
The case has drawn comparisons with the case of Natascha Kampusch, a girl who was kept hostage in a basement for eight years in a quiet Austrian suburb.The case has drawn comparisons with the case of Natascha Kampusch, a girl who was kept hostage in a basement for eight years in a quiet Austrian suburb.
'Failure to act''Failure to act'
The solicitor for two of the Linz girls, Margreth Tews, told Austria's Der Standard newspaper that "for years the youth welfare organisation and foster care authorities just looked on without acting".The solicitor for two of the Linz girls, Margreth Tews, told Austria's Der Standard newspaper that "for years the youth welfare organisation and foster care authorities just looked on without acting".
The situation was completely underestimated - more questions should have been asked Margreth Tews, solicitor System fails Austrian girls
She said neighbours in Poestlingberg "had on numerous occasions told social workers that they were worried about the girls, and the school authorities and doctors had also done so".She said neighbours in Poestlingberg "had on numerous occasions told social workers that they were worried about the girls, and the school authorities and doctors had also done so".
In a separate interview, she said the situation had been "completely underestimated - more questions should have been asked".
A spokesman for the Urfahr district authorities rejected Ms Tews's criticism, saying there had been insufficient evidence of neglect.A spokesman for the Urfahr district authorities rejected Ms Tews's criticism, saying there had been insufficient evidence of neglect.
According to Ms Tews, the authorities should have acted in 2001 when the mother - a lawyer - was treated in a Linz clinic for hallucinations and delusions.According to Ms Tews, the authorities should have acted in 2001 when the mother - a lawyer - was treated in a Linz clinic for hallucinations and delusions.
The girls' father had also been pressing for visiting rights, but the mother had refused to let him see the girls, Ms Tews said.The girls' father had also been pressing for visiting rights, but the mother had refused to let him see the girls, Ms Tews said.
Austria's Der Kurier news website reports that the girls had developed their own language and played with mice, isolated in the filthy house. Their isolation had begun when they were aged six, 10 and 13.Austria's Der Kurier news website reports that the girls had developed their own language and played with mice, isolated in the filthy house. Their isolation had begun when they were aged six, 10 and 13.
Their mother - who is now in custody - had kept the curtains permanently drawn, unscrewed the light bulbs and shunned all social contact, the paper said.Their mother - who is now in custody - had kept the curtains permanently drawn, unscrewed the light bulbs and shunned all social contact, the paper said.
The girls are now undergoing psychotherapy in a clinic near Klagenfurt, while their mother faces prosecution for wilful neglect and grievous bodily harm, Der Kurier reports.The girls are now undergoing psychotherapy in a clinic near Klagenfurt, while their mother faces prosecution for wilful neglect and grievous bodily harm, Der Kurier reports.