The father of the two French children abandoned in Portugal has spoken publicly for the first time, expressing his anguish and his hope for a swift reunion. In an interview with the French channel Ici Alsace TV, the man, who asked not to be named, said he keeps his phone by his side day and night, waiting for authorities to contact him.
In an email sent to the broadcaster, the father wrote: “It is only a matter of days before I get my children back. I have thought about them every second since the Colmar police station contacted me to report that they were missing.”
Background of the Case
The two boys, aged four and five, were abandoned on 19 May in southern Portugal. A passer-by found them wandering near the 253 National Road in the district of Setúbal. Their mother, Marine Rousseau, 41, and her partner, Marc Ballabriga, 55, were arrested and are now in pre-trial detention in Portugal. Rousseau is being held at Tires Prison in São Domingos de Rana, Cascais, while Ballabriga has been transferred to a facility in Lisbon.
French authorities have formally requested the return of the children. On Friday, António José Fialho, President of the Setúbal judicial district, confirmed in a press release that the children had been living with their mother in France and that the parents are separated, with the father having limited, supervised visiting rights.
Father Calls for Restraint
In his statement, the father also appealed for limited media attention, stressing the need for his children to rebuild their lives without being reminded of the trauma. “My children will have to rebuild their lives, just as I rebuilt mine, and they do not need to be reminded of this tragedy,” he said. “I am not trying to defend or play down the acts that were committed. The facts remain serious and deeply shocking. I refuse to add words of hatred, insults or labels aimed at dehumanising a person, even if they are deemed guilty.”
The father said he would speak again only once he has been reunited with his children. The case has drawn attention across Europe, highlighting the complexities of cross-border family law and child protection. For more on the legal proceedings, see our earlier report: Portuguese Court Orders Pretrial Detention for French Couple in Child Abandonment Case.
The children’s mother and her partner remain in custody in Portugal, suspected of abandoning the boys. The investigation continues, with both French and Portuguese authorities coordinating on the children’s welfare and potential repatriation.
