Portuguese police took our girl into care because of the "Maddie effect.

[Lace]

IMO, this is a cock and bull story made up by the parents to look like victims.

The parents said the police accused them of throwing their daughter from their apartment into the pool.   The parents say if they had done that she would have been dead,   also their apartment wasn't near the pool.   This could easily be checked out.

The police took their daughter to hospital to check if she had been drugged,   taking a blood test from her.   The test proved to be negative.    This again could easily be checked out.

Why would the parents make this up?

I hope they have complained and it is thoroughly investigated.

[Eleanor]

A waste of time.  It won't be investigated.

The Algarve is a holiday venue of choice with The Irish.  This was a very bad mistake for The GNR to have made.  The Algarve will be a wasteland before much longer.

[colombosstogey]

Having read the Belfast Telegraph face book page regarding this incident I was struck by the number of posters who expressed disquiet about holidaying in Portugal.  Some saying they would never return and others saying that now they definitely would never visit.
It was discussed on our forum that Portugal is a holiday venue of choice for the Irish. 
IMO the publicity given to the couple’s version of events has severely damaged the tourist industry in Portugal. 

I was appalled in particular at the treatment meted out to the child.  She was forcibly separated from her mother.  Invasive procedures were carried out on her without parental consent.

That 'drugging' their child with Calpol seems to have been the motivating factor in this verifies without doubt the effect Dr Amaral's book has had on the psyche of the Portuguese.

YOUR JOKING RIGHT.

These two people were DRUNK and in charge of a child a vulnerable child.

still i suppose you might live by that code and its fine by you, but to me its child abuse.

[carlymichelle]

YOUR JOKING RIGHT.

These two people were DRUNK and in charge of a child a vulnerable child.

still i suppose you might live by that code and its fine by you, but to me its child abuse.

the mcanns and tapas  did the same thing  but  they were worse they were not    with their children at all either  way a parental disgrace

[Brietta]

YOUR JOKING RIGHT.

These two people were DRUNK and in charge of a child a vulnerable child.

still i suppose you might live by that code and its fine by you, but to me its child abuse.

It is no joke to remove a child from the custody of her parents, who witnessed her mum being pushed in the face in the process (assaulted), then to keep her isolated from her parents until the result of blood tests were known.

To traumatise a child in this way is abuse and smacks of a police state.

It verges on the criminal.
 
The belief which seems prevalent in Portugal that Calpol is the drug of choice for Brits to incapacitate their children while they incapacitate themselves with alcohol is more than insulting.

[carlymichelle]

It is no joke to remove a child from the custody of her parents, who witnessed her mum being pushed in the face in the process (assaulted), then to keep her isolated from her parents until the result of blood tests were known.

To traumatise a child in this way is abuse and smacks of a police state.

It verges on the criminal.
 
The belief which seems prevalent in Portugal that Calpol is the drug of choice for Brits to incapacitate their children while they incapacitate themselves with alcohol is more than insulting.

the uk is known around the world for its heavy drinking

[Eleanor]

the uk is known around the world for its heavy drinking

And Australians aren't?  I must have been watching the wrong films.

[jassi]

And Australians aren't? I must have been watching the wrong films.

They are, or rather they were of British and Irish stock so they might display many of the same traits

[Eleanor]

They are, or rather they were of British and Irish stock so they might display many of the same traits

This is true.  They were also largely whores and criminals.

Not that I have got anything against that.  There are a lot of Mitchells in Australia, so I might have found myself there.  Sometimes I wish I had.

[John]

IMO, this is a cock and bull story made up by the parents to look like victims.

I totally agree, a couple of piss heads.  The police don't react unless there is something very seriously wrong.

[John]

This is true.  They were also largely whores and criminals.

Not that I have got anything against that.  There are a lot of Mitchells in Australia, so I might have found myself there.  Sometimes I wish I had.

Are you just a tad disenchanted with La France Eleanor?   

[colombosstogey]

It is no joke to remove a child from the custody of her parents, who witnessed her mum being pushed in the face in the process (assaulted), then to keep her isolated from her parents until the result of blood tests were known.

To traumatise a child in this way is abuse and smacks of a police state.

It verges on the criminal.
 
The belief which seems prevalent in Portugal that Calpol is the drug of choice for Brits to incapacitate their children while they incapacitate themselves with alcohol is more than insulting.

They were drunk get over it. My god do you live in a bubble?

I have lived abroad most of my life and been on holiday many a time, and seen the state people get into when they go on holiday, their whole aim seems to be to get drunk, sunburnt and go home and say what a wonderful time they had.

these people were DRUNK. Simple.

The mother was not assaulted her words now this never happened then. She is twisting the facts.

As to Calpol well yes too many people do use it, and to use it when your drunk is even more irresponsible as it would be quite easy to to give too much of the stuff.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/3314633/Are-we-using-too-much-Calpol.html

what makes me mad about your post is if they were acting like that on holiday in Cornwall in a Hotel they would have been ARRESTED by the british police.

People like you are a sorry excuse for parents if you agree with any of this.

Even without the Maddy case these people behaved badly and irresponsibly.

[Eleanor]

Are you just a tad disenchanted with La France Eleanor?   

No, the people here are nice, and polite, and helpful.  But I am a Neville Shute Fan, and I was on my way to Australia when I ran out of money for the fare.

[Brietta]

They were drunk get over it. My god do you live in a bubble?

I have lived abroad most of my life and been on holiday many a time, and seen the state people get into when they go on holiday, their whole aim seems to be to get drunk, sunburnt and go home and say what a wonderful time they had.

these people were DRUNK. Simple.

The mother was not assaulted her words now this never happened then. She is twisting the facts.

As to Calpol well yes too many people do use it, and to use it when your drunk is even more irresponsible as it would be quite easy to to give too much of the stuff.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/3314633/Are-we-using-too-much-Calpol.html

what makes me mad about your post is if they were acting like that on holiday in Cornwall in a Hotel they would have been ARRESTED by the british police.

People like you are a sorry excuse for parents if you agree with any of this.

Even without the Maddy case these people behaved badly and irresponsibly.

In an hotel in Cornwall they would not have been reported to the police for giving their child Calpol. 

After the disgraceful scapegoating of this couple many more Irish may think Cornwall a more inviting holiday destination than Portugal.

[jassi]

I doubt they would find many cheap package holidays offered in Cornwall.