The images of the conditions in which the six children were growing up in a small attic in Peristeri were shocking, with local residents describing a picture of abandonment and intense weakness. A neighbour of the family, speaking to Action24, said the children’s appearance was so neglected that it was difficult to tell if they were boys or girls.
“I had been meeting them for years in the neighbourhood. Both parents and children seemed neglected. The children had long hair, they were very skinny and they all looked alike,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal handed down a 16-month suspended jail sentence to the two parents, aged 37 and 33, finding them guilty of misdemeanor child endangerment. The sentence imposed on each is convertible to 10 euros per day.
The case was uncovered after an anonymous complaint led authorities to the 27-square-metre apartment where the family and their six children aged 3 to 11 were staying. The inspection found serious hygiene problems and unsuitable living conditions.
The children are still being treated at the Aglaia Kyriakou Children’s Hospital, where they are undergoing medical examinations, while the competent services are looking for a suitable place to stay.
