Britons' children taken into care

A British couple on holiday in Portugal had their children temporarily taken into protective custody.

Hotel staff in Vilamoura, in the Algarve, called police after Eamon McGuckin, 34, and his wife Antoinette, 32, became so drunk on Friday night that they passed out, officials said.

They were rushed to a health centre in nearby Loule while their children, aged one, two and six, were taken to the Refugio Aboim Ascensao children's home in Faro.

Dr Luis Villas-Boas, the home's director, said the incident was "very very shocking" and it was the first time such a thing had happened in his 22 years working at the home.

He said: "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."

Dr Villas_Boas added: "They were in severe danger and there could be a risk because it is very unlikely it was the first time for the parents to drink like that."

The McGuckins, who are believed to be from Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, arrived with their children at the Aparthotel Mourabel in Vilamoura on Friday for a one-week holiday.

The incident happened on the eve of the first anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who went missing from her family's Algarve holiday flat while her parents dined nearby.

A barman at the hotel's tapas bar, who did not want to be named, said they were well-dressed, "nice people" with well-behaved children.

On Friday night the parents had been drinking at a nearby bar with a happy hour until 8pm where a pint of lager costs just one euro, he said.

The husband collapsed in the hotel reception while his wife staggered into the bar with her children and fell into a chair, the barman said.

He added: "They were in here this morning and they were very, very upset about their treatment. They were sitting by the bar, looking very unhappy."

A second barman said: "I don't think they meant to drink that much but when they tried to stop I think they just couldn't. They seemed very nice people. It is a great shame this happened."

Dr Villas-Boas said: "There were no problems with the children, they were just exhausted, which is normal for a one or two-year-old."

At just before 11am the home received a fax from the on-duty public attorney for Faro saying that the children should be returned to their parents.

When the couple arrived at about 11.50am on Saturday morning to collect the youngsters, they looked very upset.

The director said the parents had committed an "immense mistake", adding: "I wish them luck."

The three children showed no signs of neglect, and Dr Villas-Boas believe they not will have any lasting ill effects from their ordeal.

He did not know whether the parents would have to appear in court to learn whether they will face charges over what happened.

A spokesman for the local police in Vilamoura said: "Staff called us at 10pm as the children were crying and they could not revive the parents, who were both out cold.

"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.

"The INEM called the social services. We looked after the children until the social services arrived and they took them away."

Mr and Mrs McGuckin refused to comment.

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