James Moreland and Lee-Ann O’Donoghue say accusations are “ludicrous, downright lies”

May 23, 2014 07:20 GMT  ·  By
Portuguese police seized a British couple's baby after reports they had thrown the girl into a swimming pool
   Portuguese police seized a British couple's baby after reports they had thrown the girl into a swimming pool

A couple of days ago, we reported about an apparent case of violence against children in which a British couple were accused of putting their 14-month-old daughter's safety in danger after they allegedly threw the baby into a hotel swimming pool during a holiday in Portugal. After the news about the baby being seized by police spread across media, her parents decided to come forward and tell their side of the story.

James Moreland and Lee-Ann O’Donoghue have been accused of being too drunk to look after their little girl and acting disorderly during their stay at the four-star Hotel Paraiso in Albufeira. However, the couple firmly denied the allegations made by hotel staff and other holidaymakers, who told authorities the mother was seen staggering around with the baby on an eighth-floor hotel balcony.

The couple told the Daily Mail they were on their first family holiday together since the baby's birth when the infant was taken into emergency care by Portuguese police. They claim the child neglect accusations are completely unfounded, and describe the reports of their antics as “ludicrous, downright lies.”

Moreover, they revealed they had been handcuffed by armed officers, who told them their heavy-handed response was because of the “Madeleine McCann effect.”

“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,” Mrs. O’Donoghue said.

The disgruntled parents also claim Mr. Moreland was beaten by police and say that money was stolen from them during the apparently unjustified assault.

Local reports about the incident also said unnamed witnesses had allegedly seen Mrs. O’Donoghue staggering around and bumping into walls with the little girl in her arms on the balcony, but the couple explained that their room does not overlook the hotel pool but a car park, so the woman could not possibly have been seen.

“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,” the mother said. “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.”

The couple were interviewed at Albufeira Court but they were not arrested. The case was referred to the Portuguese child protection services. After having spent three nights in hospital, the child was finally returned to her parents on Tuesday.