Maltese Mother in Court After Children Found Abandoned in Portugal

Imagine, if you will, the sun beating down on the dusty roadside of Portugal’s Algarve region. A car pulls over, a woman steps out, and two young children, aged 2 and 6, are left by the side of the road. This wasn’t a scene from a movie, but a reality that unfolded last week, involving a Maltese mother now facing court in Portugal.

Elisabeth, a 39-year-old Maltese woman, moved to Portugal with her French husband and their two children a few years ago. The family had been living in a small village near Silves, in the southern Algarve, until the shocking incident that has now made headlines across Europe.

Elisabeth’s husband, a French national, is said to have reported the children missing on Wednesday, August 17. The next day, the children were found abandoned by the side of the road in Monchique, a municipality in the western Algarve. They were unharmed but understandably distressed, and were quickly reunited with their father.

News of the incident has through Malta’s close-knit expat community in Portugal. Many are struggling to comprehend how a mother could abandon her children in such a manner. “It’s unimaginable,” says Maria, a Maltese expat living in Lisbon. “We’ve all heard of tough times, but this is beyond anything I could fathom.”

Back on the Maltese islands, reactions have been equally stark. “It’s a parent’s worst nightmare,” says Joseph, a father of two from Birkirkara. “I can’t begin to understand what could drive someone to do this.”

Psychologist Dr. Lorraine Schembri is not surprised by the public’s reaction. “This is a deeply disturbing incident,” she says. “It challenges our fundamental understanding of motherhood and family. It’s natural to feel shocked and upset.”

Elisabeth was arrested and has since been released pending trial. She is facing charges of abandonment and child endangerment. The Portuguese justice system will now decide her fate, with the support of the Maltese authorities.

In the meantime, the children are with their father, who has been granted temporary custody. The family’s future remains uncertain, with some speculating that they may return to Malta, while others suggest they could move to France, where the father is from.

For now, all eyes are on the court case unfolding in Portugal. The Maltese community in Portugal, and back home, await the outcome with a mix of curiosity, concern, and disbelief.

“We’re all hoping for the best for those children,” says Maria. “Whatever happens, they deserve to grow up in a safe, loving environment.”