Story By: Marija Petrovska, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

The discovery of unschooled 10-year-old twin girls living in filthy conditions in this garage has sparked outrage in Portugal after it was claimed the authorities knew about the situation since 2013.

The twin girls were found in the garage – pictured here – in the town of Amadora near the western Portuguese capital Lisbon following an anonymous tipoff.

According to the police, the 10-year-olds were living in “deplorable and unhealthy” conditions.

Pictures Credit: CEN

The parents reportedly slept on a sofa next to the door while the girls occupied dirty bunk beds in an adjacent room. The family heated water in the microwave and cooked food on an outdoor grill, according to local media.

Local media said they shared the cramped space with two dogs and four cats.

According to the police, the girls were “poorly dressed, did not go to school” and “witnessed physical and psychological abuse between their parents”, aged 51 and 34.

The parents have been arrested while the girls are said to be living in a temporary shelter.

Their mother told local media that her daughters are illiterate and never attended school because they “lack the documents” needed to register. It is unclear if this was the case.

The unnamed mum added: “The girls are not bad. They do not complain. They cannot read, except for one or two things we try to teach them, but they know how to tell the time, they go to the market, they play with other children in the area.

“They have food, love and affection. It may be wrong, but nobody died because they did not know how to read or write.”

Amadora Council claimed that they have no record of the parents ever attempting to enrol the children in school, according to reports.

A council spokesperson said that they were also unaware the parents asked for help to find a new home after the squat where they used to live was demolished in 2016.

Reports said that the family has been living in the garage ever since.

According to local media, the parents were first reported to the National Commission for the Protection of Minors and Young People back in 2013.

As a result, the story of the illiterate girls’ living conditions has sparked outrage in Portugal.

The investigation continues.

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