Évora Court today confirmed the archiving of the case of the drowning of six university students at Meco beach on December 15th, 2013.
"We will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights," said António Soares, the father of Ana Catarina Soares who was part of the group of young people who were ‘swept into the sea by a wave,’ according to the only survivor, João Gouveia.
"The process started. Nobody believes that the six young people were swept away by a wave," said Fernanda Cristóvão, Ana Catarina Soares’ mother who said the parents will not give up fighting to prove that what happened on the beach of Meco was not a simple accident.
Setúbal Court last year ordered the case to be closed on the grounds that there were no new facts to show that João Gouveia of Lisbon’s Lusophone University has committed a crime.
"The young people who died on the beach of Meco were there because they wanted to be there," said the investigating judge at the time.
The families have even received an audience with the Pope but now will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights while moving forward with civil liability petitions, one for each student who died, against Gouveia and the Lusophone University which they claim failed in its duty of care.
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Failed Duty of Care is a constant complaint of north Europeans in Portugal. Once recognition by Portuguese professionals of them having a Duty of Care for their clients and anyone affected by their actions becomes routine then Portugal will begin the long, slow journey towards reaching developed status. But don't hold your breath waiting. Pass the time by waiting for Hell to freeze over first.