Children taken into care in Portugal

THE British parents of a two-year-old twins taken into care in Portugal could be forced to wait SIX MONTHS to get them back.

Gery McCann 42, and wife Kate Healy, 42, were yesterday desperately awaiting news on when toddlers Amelie and Sean will be allowed to come home.

Cops say the couple were spotted drunk at a tapas bar in Praia da Luz village, near Lagos, on Monday as the twins were left in an unlocked apartment 100 yards away.
Officials say they are still evaluating the case and the pair — doctors from Leicestershire who now live in Rothley — may wait months for a ruling.

They were laid low in their flat in the village yesterday, refusing to speak about the case. But Mr McCann briefly came out at around 3.30pm to throw out some rotting meat.
An onlooker said: “He seemed very serious and like he had a lot on his mind. It looked like he was throwing stuff out to try and tidy up the flat.”
Before the twins come home, officials will be expected to take a detailed look at her circumstances.
They will speak to neighbours and will visit the family home. Authorities will also want to see how each toddler acts around her parents.
They were taken into care after a tourist phoned cops, who say they seemed desperately frightened.
They were given soup and water before being fed again by officers and handed over to a shelter in nearby town Portimao.

THE British parents of a two-year-old girl taken into care in Portugal could be forced to wait SIX MONTHS to get her back.
Stephen Street, 42, and wife Colette McPartland, 38, were yesterday desperately awaiting news on when toddler Scarlett will be allowed to come home.

Cops say the couple were spotted drunk at a cafe in Carcavelos village, near Lisbon, on Monday as the girl played 100 yards away.
Officials say they are still evaluating the case and the pair — teachers from Teesside who now live in Portugal — may wait months for a ruling.
They were laid low in their flat in the village yesterday, refusing to speak about the case. But Mr Street briefly came out at around 3.30pm to throw out some furniture.
An onlooker said: “He seemed very serious and like he had a lot on his mind. It looked like he was throwing stuff out to try and tidy up the flat.”
Before Scarlett comes home, officials will be expected to take a detailed look at her circumstances.
They will speak to neighbours and will visit the family home. Authorities will also want to see how the toddler acts around her parents.
She was taken into care after a tourist phoned cops, who say she seemed desperately hungry.
She was given soup and water before being fed again by officers and handed over to a shelter in nearby town Oesiras.