Holiday Couple Defend Actions

The real story of what happened to a Co Londonderry couple whose three children were temporally taken into care while the family was on holiday in Portugal last week has begun to emerge.

In a statement, Eamon and Antoinette McGuckin said they were "deeply saddened and hurt" by what happened.

"We live and breathe for our children and would never ever place them in any kind of danger," they said.

They have also said they did not consume excess alcohol despite national reports that their children, aged one, two and six, were taken into care after their parents allegedly passed out drunk.

In a statement issued today, the McGuckins - who have been roundly defended by many local people who know the family well - said they had their first alcoholic drink of the day with their evening meal, and "the amount of alcohol they consumed would not have been sufficient to render them incapable of being responsible parents".

However, when they returned to the hotel, Mrs McGuckin became "violently ill", and Mr McGuckin arranged with hotel management to care for the children while he accompanied his wife to hospital.

They said that an 'official report' from the health centre confirmed that Mr McGuckin was in fact, conscious, orientated and helpful with staff whilst his wife was unconscious - although the tabloids reports at the weekend said both were semi conscious and incapable at the same time.

What is undisputed is that the couple rushed to a local health centre in Loule after arriving at the Aparthotel Mourabel for a weeklong holiday last Friday afternoon.

The children were taken into tremporary care, but later returned on the order of a magistrate.

The couple then flew home yesterday, and didn't as expected appear at a local court to face questioning on the matter.

However, as their attendance wasn't mandatory and the whole issue had become a 'media scrum', the family returned to their home at Upperlands near Maghera on Tuesday instead, but are now believed to be staying with friends.

The couple said they wanted to return to daily life as soon as possible.

"We hope that this traumatic experience is now closed as we want to get back to our normal routine of loving our beautiful children and getting on with life," they said.

See: Portuguese Holiday Couple Had 'Three Beers'

(BMcC)