British toddler taken into care after being abandoned by her drunken ‘teacher’ parents in Portugal

Keela wrote:Well, it was their holiday as well.

Yes, and all the celebs have been saying that kate mccann is an inspiration and "we all do it". they thought it's reasonable parenting. kate and gerry and thei PR and lawyers told them and the world so. Way to go UK...

mariang wrote:Havent read this article (moved house - no internet/tv for a few days) ......was just wondering if this actually happened or is it the media having a dig indirectly at the mccanns????
Anyone know if there is real truth in the story???

hope the press have started to turn --- hope they start next week

we all knew there would bea mcann copycat case one day and they will gte away with it too becaus ethe mcanns did........

Justiceforallkids wrote:we all knew there would bea mcann copycat case one day and they will gte away with it too becaus ethe mcanns did........

But is it a McCann copycat case? What exactly is the McCann case and what exactly did they get away with? At the moment all we know is that the McCanns, on their own admission neglected their kids and that again, on their own admission, one of them, namely Madeleine, was abducted. But actually, we don't know anything for certain, except that an admission by the McCanns isn't worth a lot because they are proven liars.

I agree with T4two. (No sugar in mine, thanks).

I've been trying to think of other cases where children have been left alone (not that I believe that any of the Tapas 9 children were) and they have either been abducted or something dreadful like a fire broke out.

The only one in the first category I can think of was back in the 1980s with a child abducted from a caravan and murdered. The mother was not charged with any offence but how she was torn to shreds by the media.

I'm sure that there have been cases of children who have died inside their homes while left unattended but any specific examples escape me. It would be interesting to hear if any parents have been prosecuted in such circumstances.

T4two wrote:

Justiceforallkids wrote:we all knew there would bea mcann copycat case one day and they will gte away with it too becaus ethe mcanns did........

But is it a McCann copycat case? What exactly is the McCann case and what exactly did they get away with? At the moment all we know is that the McCanns, on their own admission neglected their kids and that again, on their own admission, one of them, namely Madeleine, was abducted. But actually, we don't know anything for certain, except that an admission by the McCanns isn't worth a lot because they are proven liars.

Actually, it's even vaguer than that as we only know that Healy & McCann led us to believe they neglected their children. (Caveat: Whichever way one carves it up, they clearly were neglected - but not necessarily in the way popularly understood).

I have said before that I think the McCanns love their children, but put themselves first every time. Not only did they go out every night but the children were in a creche every day so they might as well have not taken them to Portugal.

What I find incomprehensible is that when Madeleine told her parents she and Sean had been crying they still went out that night.!!! However, it might have been the case that Mrs Fen reported the crying to the OC Receptionist who told the McCanns and they went straightaway to the Apartment. They mentioned it "in passing" by trying to convey it was nothing serious, that Madeleiene promptly dropped the subject. Would any responsible Parent go out that night?

The McCanns love themselves. People who love themselves are incapable of loving anyone else - the children are accessories.

Didn't know richard and judy had another kid ?

Richard and Judy

They have two children together, both born in Manchester: Jack Christopher (born 1986) and Chloe Susannah (born 1987).[1] Finnigan has twin sons - Dan and Tom (born 1977) - from her first marriage with journalist David Henshaw.[

T4two wrote:The McCanns love themselves. People who love themselves are incapable of loving anyone else - the children are accessories.

I think that's what the children are for them, accessories. Twins looks good, boy and a girl. Hyperactive, as kate said, Maddie, not really fitting in the pretty picture.
She wanted children, "everybody else had" she said. The twins were crying... front of the press. Police will question us, what will the press say... what will our parents say..etc.
All about "how do I look"

From the Mail Online - "First pictures of British parents who 'abandoned their toddler on street in Portugal while they drank themselves senseless'. The article contains more details.

marxman wrote:

Iris wrote:Why do we need to know about the King of Portugal sending wine to the Chinese in 1782? Is it relevant?

Bit of useless trivia or a plug for the tourist
industry? but as you say, I didn't need to know
that but I thought it was 1781....

Indeed, 1781 was a pretty good year for plonk...

Had the parents been sober enough to think straight, they could have talked their way out of any problems by claiming to be carrying out 30 minute checks, as did the McCanns and their freebie buddies.

The mccanns couldn't have cared less for the safety of their children,just as this couple couldn't,that is no expression of love they would not even begin to understand that as they gorge themselves in their own company and the casual acceptance of such behaviour by the 'celebs' and like minded media trash simply perpetuates more examples of mccannerisms. This will continue untill proper punishment is dished out to those who neither love nor care for their children.

The article is the same but the comments are interesting and show what many people think about the Mccanns.


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/girl-two-abandoned-portugal-102602689.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2199854/Teacher-parents-abandoned-British-toddler-Portuguese-street-drunk-vow-win-custody-her.html

Just love the comments!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317772/Doctor-Suzanne-Wills-left-son-outside-bar-charged-child-neglect.html

Does anyone remember this case and what the outcome of the case was?

kathybelle wrote:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317772/Doctor-Suzanne-Wills-left-son-outside-bar-charged-child-neglect.html

Does anyone remember this case and what the outcome of the case was?

The case here; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317772/Doctor-Suzanne-Wills-left-son-outside-bar-charged-child-neglect.html

Charged with child neglect, the paediatrician who left her son, 3, outside hotel bar in his bike buggy
By Mike Larkin
UPDATED: 08:29, 5 October 2010

A paediatrician has been charged with neglect over claims that she left her three-year-old outside a bar on a freezing evening.
Suzanne Wills, 37, and her partner, Graeme Smith, who is also a doctor, were camping at a music festival when they are alleged to have left their son strapped into a bicycle trailer while they were in the hotel.
The family were at the annual folk festival on the Hebridean island of Jura. The event attracts around 200 fans.

Questioned: The couple were in the Jura Hotel when police were called about the incident
But at 10pm one evening, a member of the public is thought to have called police after seeing the child outside alone while the couple were inside the bar at the Jura Hotel.
One bystander said: ‘The bar was mobbed and there was a lot of noise.
‘Many people had a lot to drink and it was perhaps not the best environment for a young kid.’
Following a complaint, the couple were charged. A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal, who has yet to decide whether to take further action. If found guilty, they could face jail and their son could be taken into care.
However the couple, who live in the smart Renfrewshire village of Kilbarchan, in Scotland, said that the whole affair was the result of a misunderstanding.

In a statement they said: ‘We love our son dearly.

Taking a ride: Cyclists can attach children's buggies to the back of their bikes
‘We have never and would never do anything to harm him. We deny this allegation, which we find horrifying. We believe the charge to be due to a misunderstanding.
‘Our lawyers are seeking a meeting with the Crown to put matters right.
‘We have taken the appropriate steps to inform the medical authorities.’
Mr Smith, 41, is a consultant bowel surgeon at Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital. Miss Wills specialises in the treatment of sick children.
They were not at their terraced home yesterday and neighbours said they had packed to go on a trip on Saturday.
A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: ‘They have been charged with offences under section 12 of the Children and Young Persons Act.
‘They were charged on September 25.’ An NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde spokesman said: ‘We are aware of the incident, but it would be inappropriate to comment further.’
The two-day festival on Jura in the Inner Hebrides has become a popular event since it was established in 1993.
This year’s acts included fiddle band Session A9, Gaelic singer Darren McLean and musician Mary Ann Kennedy.

The alleged incident happened as the family enjoyed a camping trip to a music festival on the Hebridean island of Jura (pictured)
The island is virtually crime-free and is more usually known for its breathtaking scenery.
The 1792 Statistical Account of Scotland said of Jura: ‘The appearance of the island is very romantic and calculated to raise sublime emotions in the spectator’s soul.’
George Orwell lived in an isolated cottage at the north end of the island in the 1940s while writing his novel 1984, and described it fondly as ‘an extremely un-getatable place’.
The main link with the outside world is the ferry from the nearby island of Islay, which has eight malt whisky distilleries.
Jura, which is 29 miles long and mostly deserted, has its own distillery behind the only hotel in the island’s only village.
It is famed for its deer stalking, salmon fishing and white sand beaches and is instantly identifiable because of its distinctive mountains, the 2,600ft-high Paps of Jura.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317772/Doctor-Suzanne-Wills-left-son-outside-bar-charged-child-neglect.html#ixzz25oer6axy

The case either hasn't come to trial kathybelle, come to trial and not reported or it's been swept under the carpet. I can't find any info regarding outcome on the net... Perhaps someone else knows the verdict. ms.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/child-neglect-charges-dropped-against-1074885

Why am I not surprised.

malena stool wrote:The case either hasn't come to trial kathybelle, come to trial and not reported or it's been swept under the carpet. I can't find any info regarding outcome on the net... Perhaps someone else knows the verdict. ms.

Hi Malena

Sorry I've just seen your reply to my post, as you can see, I put a link on here to say the charges were dropped. The couple's solicitor probably quoted McCanns law, which is what the two teachers will probably quote, if they face charges of neglect.

kathybelle wrote:

malena stool wrote:The case either hasn't come to trial kathybelle, come to trial and not reported or it's been swept under the carpet. I can't find any info regarding outcome on the net... Perhaps someone else knows the verdict. ms.

Hi Malena

Sorry I've just seen your reply to my post, as you can see, I put a link on here to say the charges were dropped. The couple's solicitor probably quoted McCanns law, which is what the two teachers will probably quote, if they face charges of neglect.

Hi kathybelle, no probs.
The McCanns abandonment of Madeleine does seem to be allowing a lot of new precedents to be set in cases of child abuse...

'It's all lies... we want our little girl back': Teacher parents who let daughter, two, 'play by road as they got drunk' vow to fight for custody

English language teachers Stephen Street and Colette McPartland have told social workers they dispute the police version of events
They intend to fight 'tooth and nail' to win back custody of Scarlett, two

By Gerard Couzens, Jaya Narain and Anthony Bond

PUBLISHED: 15:33 GMT, 7 September 2012 | UPDATED: 09:39 GMT, 8 September 2012

Comments (225)
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Two middle-class teachers accused of leaving their two-year-old daughter wandering next to a road while they got drunk have claimed the allegations against them are 'all lies'.

Police claim that British couple Colette McPartland, 38, and Stephen Street, 42, were drinking white wine at a bar in Portugal while their daughter Scarlett played 100 yards away.

She has now been placed in an emergency centre for children while Portuguese authorities decide whether to bring charges against her parents for neglect.
Stephen Street
Colette McPortland

Accusations: Stephen Street (left) and Colette McPartland (right) seen out in the Portuguese town of Carcavelos today after their daughter was taken into care. They claim they did not abandon her in the street while they went drinking
Home: The apartment block in Carcavelos where the couple are living with their little girl

Home: The apartment block in Carcavelos where the couple are living with their little girl

However, the couple have told a neighbour: ‘It’s all lies. We want our little girl back.’

The couple, who live in Portugal, are said to be ‘fighting tooth and nail’ to get their daughter back.

Officers claim the ‘clearly drunk’ couple showed little concern for Scarlett, could not give them the child’s full name and became verbally abusive when questioned.


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Yesterday, the pair were spotted making their first visit to the care home carrying a giant teddy bear.

But there was no sign of them yesterday at their cramped ground-floor flat near to the square where they went drinking.

The incident happened on Monday evening in the village of Carcavelos, 15 miles west of the capital Lisbon.
With a social worker: A British two-year-old named Scarlet was left abandoned in her buggy while her 'drunk' parents were 100 yards away in a Portuguese village near Lisbon on Monday

With a social worker: A British two-year-old named Scarlett was left abandoned in her buggy while her 'drunk' parents were 100 yards away in a Portuguese village near Lisbon on Monday
The girl was found alone, crying in her buggy in seaside village Carcavelos, Portugal

Idyllic: The girl was found alone, crying in her buggy in seaside village Carcavelos, Portugal

The couple had been drinking in a bar called the Manhas do Chocolate in a tree-lined square in the village, where they are both believed to work as English language teachers.

They were sitting at a table drinking white wine on a pavement terrace which faces the busy two-lane street that runs through the middle of the square. The owner of the bar said that, after the girl was taken into care, Mr Street returned at midnight and began shouting.
Well known for wine: The little girl was handed to social workers after police found her and her parents in the holiday destination which became famous for its strong white wine

Well known for wine: The little girl was handed to social workers after police found her and her parents in the holiday destination which became famous for its strong white wine

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: ‘The poor girl’s father obviously thought I was the one who called police and came looking for me. I was cashing up in the basement with my two young children but heard him screaming.

‘I just wanted to get out of there as fast as I could.’

Scarlett is expected to undergo a psychological assessment in the next few days. The final decision on her future rests with a youth court.

A neighbour at their block, who asked not to be named, added: ‘It came as a total shock to learn they were the couple involved. They speak very little Portuguese. They’ve told a neighbour they are fighting to get their daughter back.’

The couple met while they were both teaching English in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2002, and, after discovering they lived just eight miles from each other in Teesside, their relationship blossomed.

They married in the UK in 2004 and moved to Portugal around five years ago.

Last night the couple declined to comment.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Mr Street's father Ray, 70, said: 'I just can't believe it. My son is not a drinker and my daughter-in-law doesn't drink. She is a lovely little girl and they wouldn't do anything to harm her.'

Miss McPartland’s family in Middlesbrough declined to comment.

Miss McPartland told a local Teeside newspaper before emigrating from Britain for a second time how they were planning a move to Portugal partly because of her partner's love of surfing.

Speaking on her Friends Reunited page about her new life in the sun and daughter, she wrote: 'I've been living in Portugal for the last five years and recently had a beautiful baby girl

gosh drinking wine leaving 2 year old to fend for herself sounds eerly familier