Portuguese police took our girl because of 'Maddie effect', beat father & stole money.

The couple claim the allegations they were drunk are 'ludicrous'   


DAILY MAIL

Police took our girl into care because of the 'Maddie effect': Parents deny being drunk on holiday in Portugal
James Moreland and Lee-Ann O'Donoghue 'handcuffed by armed police'
Accused of throwing 14-month-old daughter into pool on their first holiday
Couple claim allegations are unfounded, and say Mr Moreland was beaten
Police told them heavy-handed response was due to 'Madeleine Effect'

By Rebecca Evans

22 May 2014    
 
A British couple whose baby girl was seized by police during a holiday in Portugal have furiously denied being too drunk to look after her.

James Moreland and Lee-Ann O’Donoghue said they had been handcuffed by police with guns, who told them their heavy-handed response was because of the ‘Madeleine McCann effect’.

The couple’s 14-month-old daughter, who we have been asked not to name, was taken into emergency care on Sunday after reports they had drunkenly thrown her into a pool and staggered around with her on an eighth-floor hotel balcony.

Ordeal: James Moreland and Lee-Ann O'Donoghue with their 14-month-old daughter before she was removed

Miss O’Donoghue and Mr Moreland, on their first family holiday together since the baby’s birth, said they were at a loss as to why their daughter was placed in a hospital, and branded reports of their antics as ‘ludicrous, downright lies’.

They also claim Mr Moreland, 29, was beaten by police and £500 – all of their holiday spending money – was stolen during the assault.

Miss O’Donoghue, 34, who is on maternity leave from her job as a hospital personal assistant, said: ‘We are so scared and shaken up.

‘The police told us they had acted like they did, that they had been heavy-handed, because of the Madeleine McCann effect. They said the case had been very bad for them and that they had to be very careful when it came to the welfare of British children on holiday.’

Vanished: Portuguese police said their heavy-handed response was due to the 'Madeleine McCann effect'

The family were staying at the Hotel Paraiso in Albufeira – 40 miles from Praia da Luz where Madeleine vanished in 2007 – as part of a week-long Thomas Cook package trip.

Their story first emerged in the Portuguese press, which quoted unnamed hotel guests as saying that while sat by the pool, they had seen Miss O’Donoghue on the balcony behaving dangerously.

The reports also said the daughter had bruised legs after her mother dropped her and that a drunken Mr Moreland hurled her into the pool in front of horrified holidaymakers.

But both parents vehemently deny any of this took place – especially as their room, which they showed to the Mail, does not overlook the hotel pool but a car park, from where Miss O’Donoghue could not possibly have been seen.

Looking drained, she said: ‘You can see from my daughter’s legs there are no bruises. I did not drop her, I have never dropped her and I was not drunk.

‘She is my first and only baby and I adore her. I am such a protective mother. I just can’t believe the lies I am hearing.’ Mr Moreland, who is covered in bruises he says were inflicted by the police, said: ‘To say I threw my daughter in the pool is just ridiculous.’

Their ordeal began on Sunday afternoon when they joined friends at a bar in Albufeira. Miss O’Donoghue said: ‘I had three cocktails and was merry, not drunk by any stretch.’ At 8pm, after they returned to the hotel, police knocked on the door.

‘They said they wanted to check on the baby,’ said Miss O’Donoghue. ‘My daughter was crying because she is teething so I gave her some Calpol (a brand of paracetamol for children).

‘The police saw the bottle and said that it was an “illegal drug in Portugal” and  they were taking her to hospital for tests to see if we had sedated her. They were very brusque and had guns.’

Miss O’Donoghue was allowed to go to the hospital too. But when medics ‘started sticking needles’ in her baby for drug tests, she protested and was handcuffed. Soon afterwards, Mr Moreland arrived at the hospital but was refused entry.

He claimed: ‘I did get angry and started to shout and swear as I wanted to see my baby. A group of about seven policemen started hitting me, they put me in handcuffs and threw me on the floor in the back of a police car.

‘They yanked my arms up behind me until I screamed. They checked my wallet for ID and when I got home I saw that all of our spending money had gone.’

The couple, from Belfast, were not arrested but the case was referred to the local equivalent of social services.

They were finally given their baby back on Tuesday.

A Portuguese police spokesman said: ‘We were called to the hotel because of reports of a drunk and disorderly disturbance.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2636767/Police-took-girl-care-Maddie-effect-Parents-deny-drunk-holiday-Portugal.html#ixzz32UKNS2VN

What a load of tosh,still it makes the pj look bad and it seems that's all that matters to the msm

 

So funny. 

Now this really helps people to see who the real fools are, that these stories are ludicrous about the portuguese police.

Bring more! Laughing is good for you.

What a fat wallet he must have had carrying £500 that the Pj are supposed to have stolen from him, not euros?

 

That photograph of the innocent couple - I wish some people didn't feel the need to breed.   

Seek truth wrote: 

So funny. 

Now this really helps people to see who the real fools are, that these stories are ludicrous about the portuguese police.

Bring more! Laughing is good for you.

What a fat wallet he must have had carrying £500 that the Pj are supposed to have stolen from him, not euros?

 

Its sad because some WILL believe it, no matter how stupid it sounds. Some people believe everything and question nothing !!! 

Brilliant Innit ?  
Couple bringing young child on holiday and getting themselves drunk disorderly and disruptive leaving their child unattended is now termed "Maddie-Effect" by of all people, the Brits !   I like that, but I bet the Mccanns must be furious; especially Kate, her blood must be boiling.

This couple drew negative attention to themselves no matter the version of their story, which at the end of the day is only their words anyway.

It's so transparent they were out to make some quick and easy bucks by only having to work their mouth muscles to earn it.
Wonder how much they got paid ( for bad mouthing the PJ) which's the real motive (and $$$ of course) else there is no need to embellish a bad situation they left themselves in, at the same time blew their identities into it.

One is left wondering are they proud of themselves for having told the entire nation they were reported (by public members) for Drunk and Disorderly behaviour while having a baby under their care.  The PJ were only doing their duty and it seems that they were very competent (the couple told us so in not so many words)  in ensuring the child was not left in an endangered situation while there by her drunkard parents silly behavior.

tigger wrote:That photograph of the innocent couple - I wish some people didn't feel the need to breed.   

You'd think any decent couple would feel highly embarrassed that Public members had reported them.
At least you'd know people look out for your child --  but no, not this couple.

If they'd an issue with PJ, you'd have thought it will be better to lodge an official complaint.
Unless they lied of course and knew they have no leg to stand on.
I don't get it how using the press to bad mouth the PJ can resolve their disgruntle.

Ah the daily mail large dose of salt required

Very similar to the "useless police" propaganda in this earlier story.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/portugal/9555120/British-couple-reunited-with-their-child-in-Portugal.html

It's a pity that the UK Madia do not print the story of the OC workers who were 'dismissed' from their jobs due to the 'Maddie effect'!

Oh come on everybody they were 'just a bit merry' whilst by the pool and in charge of a baby. It didn't occur to them that one of them could have abstained from drinking and been the sensible one for the day, they didn't have to because they were just a bit 'merry' and being on holiday in the sun absolves all possible parenting pitfalls and dangers.

  I get a sense of deja-vu with the denial in this story.

Hardy, Shakespeare and Dickens would turn in their graves at the red top newspapers deplorable use of the English language.  The quality of journalism, now that's a different matter, almost unearthly but not quite from another planet.  I f****** hate the red tops, scum bag parasites the lot of them.  I hope when the revolution comes they will be the first against the wall. W******.  Bloods boiling...

tiny wrote:What a load of tosh,still it makes the pj look bad and it seems that's all that matters to the msm

I know them and the story is basically correct.

TozerDerry wrote:

tiny wrote:What a load of tosh,still it makes the pj look bad and it seems that's all that matters to the msm

I know them and the story is basically correct.

only basically,right ho

 TozerDerry.

I'm not sure if you mean that the police report is basically correct or the couple's version of events is.

No Fate Worse Than De'Ath wrote: TozerDerry.

I'm not sure if you mean that the police report is basically correct or the couple's version of events is.

The couple's version:

They were investigated by the police. The police were acting on information from third parties. Nothing was proved. The Child was returned. No further action is contemplated. about 500 Euros did go missing from their wallet. They were restrained by the police. The police falsely said that Calpol was illegal in Portugal.

ChippyM wrote:Oh come on everybody they were 'just a bit merry' whilst by the pool and in charge of a baby. It didn't occur to them that one of them could have abstained from drinking and been the sensible one for the day, they didn't have to because they were just a bit 'merry' and being on holiday in the sun absolves all possible parenting pitfalls and dangers.

  I get a sense of deja-vu with the denial in this story.

A previous story about another couple from the North shows a pattern of behaviour:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/may/06/childprotection

The previous case:

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local-news/statement-from-antoinette-and-eamon-mcguckin-1-2124625

which has the McGuckin's response and ends with a copy of posts on the Sky site from an independent witness:

"http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1315051,00.html



hi i never ever usually comment publicly but myself and my husband were in vilamoura last week annd actually got in to the lift with the father of these children between 6.30 and 7 on friday evening as we were heading out,he seemed a smashing bloke and on the way out he and his wife and children walked behind us,lovely children very clean,the couple did not look as though they had been drinking then,we saw them again an hour or so later and i would not say they were binge drinking,not at all,the father and son i believe were playing pool,i think they left the pub just before we did at around 9,it did concern me as to what did cause them to become they way they did,by the time we got back to the apartments it was the talk that they had been taken away to hospital,i would be the last person to agree with any one binge drinking with children,it was our first break abroad in 20 years after bringing up 3 sons but i do feel they were not binge drinking not at all

Posted by cathy leeds from leeds



this is my second message today and i do not as stated previously ever comment or leave messages on here never have but i would like to say to all of you calling this couple WE WERE THERE AND THEY WERE DEFINITELY NOT BINGE DRINKING,it does not make sense from the time they left the bar to arriving at the apartments to become so ill.i am obviously taking more interest after speaking with the father on the way out so please do not judge,it makes me so angry and very upset to think this couple could even loose their children, it is a disgrace there is something more to this

Posted by cathy from leeds"

TozerDerry wrote:

No Fate Worse Than De'Ath wrote: TozerDerry.

I'm not sure if you mean that the police report is basically correct or the couple's version of events is.

The couple's version:

They were investigated by the police. The police were acting on information from third parties. Nothing was proved. The Child was returned. No further action is contemplated. about 500 Euros did go missing from their wallet. They were restrained by the police. The police falsely said that Calpol was illegal in Portugal.

Different stories, 
The telegraph and daily mail.

Right so it's now 500 euros and not £500 that the police stole from the guys wallet and he was beaten.

Did this couple tell other tourists what the police had done? Or did they only tell the papers ?

Seek truth wrote:

TozerDerry wrote:

No Fate Worse Than De'Ath wrote: TozerDerry.

I'm not sure if you mean that the police report is basically correct or the couple's version of events is.

The couple's version:

They were investigated by the police. The police were acting on information from third parties. Nothing was proved. The Child was returned. No further action is contemplated. about 500 Euros did go missing from their wallet. They were restrained by the police. The police falsely said that Calpol was illegal in Portugal.

Different stories, 
The telegraph and daily mail.

Right so it's now 500 euros and not £500 that the police stole from the guys wallet and he was beaten.

Did this couple tell other tourists what the police had done? Or did they only tell the papers ?

There seem to be three stories which have the following in common:
1/ British families with small children
2/ Behaviour noted by public and police called
3/ Police attended and investigated 
4/ No evidence found that would lead to prosecution; no independent corroboration of original allegations
5/Child returned to couple.

I am quite worried about the Calpol comment which I now find after a bit of Googling was also misinterpreted in the Mccann case.

tigger wrote:That photograph of the innocent couple - I wish some people didn't feel the need to breed.   

Amen to that

What is her definition of binge drinking?

She doesn't tell us they weren't drinking only that they weren't binge drinking

Hobs wrote:What is her definition of binge drinking?

She doesn't tell us they weren't drinking only that they weren't binge drinking

25 pints but she only had 21   


Portugal Resident

May 23, 2014

“Baby-hurling” British couple allege police brutality and theft

Safe home in Northern Ireland, the couple whose allegedly drunken holiday antics in Albufeira led to their baby daughter being removed by the authorities last week claim the whole story was “ludicrous downright lies”. Talking to the Daily Mail, James Moreland and Lee-Ann O’Donoghue further allege police brutality and say they lost 500 pounds during their altercations with police.

Officers “yanked” Moreland’s arms up behind him until he screamed, said the 29-year-old father, adding: “They checked my wallet for ID and when I got home, I saw that all of our spending money had gone.” Claiming the whole incident was the result of “The Madeleine Effect”, the couple vehemently deny eye-witness reports from Hotel Paraíso that they were drunk. They also deny that they had hurled their daughter into the hotel swimming pool, after ‘sedating’ her. The sedation claims - mentioned in Correio da Manhã newspaper - may have been related to the discovery of a bottle of Calpol in the couple’s Albufeira hotel room. “‘The police saw the bottle and said that it was an ‘illegal drug’ in Portugal,” the child’s mother told the Mail.

Both she and her partner described how they were handcuffed after police arrived to remove their daughter. O’Donaghue was handcuffed after protesting about the needles hospital staff were using to test her daughter for drugs, and Moreland was handcuffed after getting “angry and starting to swear”. “A group of about seven policemen started hitting me, they put me in handcuffs and threw me on the floor in the back of a police car,” Moreland told the Daily Mail. Needless to say, neither the police nor witnesses in Portugal appear to corroborate the couple’s claims. A spokesman for the GNR said they could not comment on the (DM) news report and the couple’s accusations. “We can, however, confirm that the GNR were called to the scene because hotel staff and guests - both Portuguese and foreign - feared the child was at risk,” said the spokesman. “We called the INEM ambulance because the child required medical treatment and informed the Public Prosecutor about the situation. “Following this procedure, a decision was taken by the latter that the child should be removed from the parents until further assessment of the case. “We also confirm that the couple was not arrested. But we won't make any further comments."

TV reports on the couple’s return to Belfast yesterday featured the hotel manager in Albufeira saying police had been called twice to his hotel as a result of the parents’ behaviour - once to take the child to hospital, and the second time because the child’s father had started to “cause trouble”. As to the ‘Madeleine Effect’, this is the term used allegedly by police. Said 34-year-old O’Donaghue: “The police told us they had acted like they did, that they had been heavy-handed, because of the Madeleine McCann effect. They said the case had been very bad for them and that they had to be very careful when it came to the welfare of British children on holiday.”

Welfare of all children - on holiday or otherwise - came under the spotlight as a result of this case with children’s rights campaigner Dr Luís Villas Boas saying it is high time stricter parental controls were put in place on a pan-European level. “In England, a story like this would have been dealt with far more severely than it appears to have been dealt with in Portugal,” he told The Resident. “Laws have to be put in place to stop parents treating children anyway they like. I am not aware of the full details of this case, but it smells bad.” - http://portugalresident.com/%E2%80%9Cbaby-hurling%E2%80%9D-british-couple-allege-police-brutality-and-theft#sthash.8KhPWQEk.dpuf

http://www.rtp.pt/play/p1047/e155087/sexta-as-9-ii

Report (from 6.50) on Portuguese TV. Please could someone help with a translation?   

This story has been in the Irish media all week and the couple have been slated over it. Apparently she was staggering around the balcony of the appartment while holding the child.