The Ulster couple at the centre of the Portugal binge drinking controversy, have angrily denied they were drunk.

The couple - who were accused of passing out drunk on holiday while their children were taken into care - issued a lengthy statement, saying they had not been binge drinking.

Former bank manager Eamon McGuckin (34) and 32-year-old Antoinette, from from Upperlands, near Maghera, returned to Northern Ireland with their three young children yesterday.

They had left the Algarve early, ahead of a local court hearing into the matter.

In today’s statement the couple said: “We are deeply saddened and hurt by the events of the past days. We live and breathe for our children and would never ever place them in any kind of danger.

“We hope that this traumatic experience is now closed as we want to get back to our normal routine of loving our beautiful children and getting on with life. We will not be participating in interviews and would therefore appreciate that we are left in peace with no further media coverage.”

Their detailed statement said that they did not start drinking until 8pm on the night they arrived and finished at 10pm.

“The amount of alcohol consumed would not have been sufficient to render them incapable of being responsible parents,” added the statement.

The couple said they returned to the hotel before 10pm.

“Antoinette became violently ill on arrival at the foyer of the hotel and required assistance from the management.

"Eamon arranged with the hotel management to care for the children while he would accompany Antoinette to the hospital. Hotel management agreed to this until the parents returned.

"The parents left with the paramedics in the belief that once Antoinette’s condition was established and treated they would return to the hotel to their children,” the statement said.

“The official report from Loule Health Centre confirms that Eamon was conscious, orientated and helpful with staff while his wife was unconscious,” it said.

“On return to the apartment block at 5am they could not ascertain the whereabouts of the children until 6am. A member of staff informedthem that their children were safe in a home in Faro, but no action could be taken until 8am when the hotel manager would be available.

“The parents both went to the hotel manager at 7.45am. He informed them that as a result of paramedics being called the police also had been called,” it said.

“The police informed hotel management that the children would have to be taken into protective custody. The hotel manager informed the couple that they needed to contact the police to gain access to their children.

"Upon this news the couple immediately booked a taxi to the local police station arriving at 8.30am.

"They were waiting there until 9.30am when they met the commander who informed them of the address of the children’s whereabouts in Faro and that he would have it arranged that a fax from the appropriate authorities would be received by the home by 11.30am for the immediate release of the children,” the statement continued.

The couple then said they both immediately proceeded to the Refugio Aboim Ascensao arriving at 10.30am.

“At reception, they were informed they could not see their children or have any access to them until 4.30pm.

“The parents, distressed by this news, demanded to see their three children with staff detailing that there was nothing that could change.

“They repeated the information given to them from the commander at the police station.

"The staff were unaware of this news and again stipulated that 4.30pm would be the time when the children could be seen.

"Both parents told staff that they would be back at 11.30am to collect their children.

“On arrival back to the Refugio Aboim Ascensao, they were left waiting for a period of 20 minutes before Dr Luis Villas-Boas, director of Refugio Aboim Ascensao, met with them.

“This was the first and only meeting that the couple had with this gentleman. He stated that the Press had been in contact with him and asked if they had any contact with the media.

“The parents informed the doctor that their main concern was the children and not what stories the Press were printing.

“There had been no previous meeting with this gentleman. The parents collected their children and returned to their apartments.”

Friends have rallied around to support the McGuckins, saying they are good parents and have accused the Portuguese authorities of “over-reacting” because of “paranoia over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann”.

The couple were not at their home in Maghera, Co Londonderry this morning, but were believed to be staying with friends in a bid to escape the massive media attention the incident has attracted.