“We have completed the report as part of our inquiry into inspection services, and it will be submitted to the competent authorities next week,” stated Eduardo Nicolau, President of the Azores Social Security Institute (ISSA), today.
On May 30, the Açoriano Oriental newspaper disclosed that the Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe, located in the Ribeira Grande municipality on São Miguel island, filed a criminal complaint against four staff members for allegedly mistreating children aged between 1 and 3 years.
“We did our part, I believe in an appropriate timeframe, as we were able to carry out the investigation in two to three weeks,” noted the ISSA president, indicating that the report will be forwarded to the relevant authorities, including the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Eduardo Nicolau emphasized that the Public Prosecutor’s Office “will be the competent authority to review what has been reported,” without divulging details of the investigation, stating he cannot “say more than that.”
The official admitted that the findings by Azores Social Security are “well-documented, with all necessary evidentiary material”.
A source from the Public Prosecutor’s Office told Lusa on Tuesday that the case is proceeding with the normal legal procedures and is under judicial secrecy.
The images accessed by Notícias ao Minuto are shocking. They depict slaps and shoves, as well as staff forcing children to swallow their own vomit and pushing food with utensil handles down the throats of children aged between 1 and 3 years.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 15:36 – 08/07/2025
Meanwhile, Lisandra Faria, the mother of one of the children allegedly mistreated, also told Lusa that day that the four staff members at the daycare center have been suspended for two weeks.
Lisandra Faria, who has since withdrawn her child from the institution due to “a lack of trust” in some staff members, stated that the case follows normal legal processes.
Four staff members from the Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe daycare in the Azores are being investigated for alleged mistreatment of children at the institution, with the case proceeding under judicial secrecy, a source from the Public Prosecutor’s Office said today.
Lusa com Notícias ao Minuto | 19:30 – 08/07/2025
On Tuesday, Lusa also attempted to confirm the suspension of the four staff members with Carlos Estrela, President of the Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe, but he was on vacation.
Lusa also sought to get a response today from the Azorean Social Security’s oversight, so far without success, as well as from the President of the Rabo de Peixe Parish Council.
Alexandre Gaudêncio, President of Ribeira Grande Municipality, declined to comment on the case, stating it does not relate to the municipality.
CNN Portugal reported that the President of the Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe suspended the staff in May, with the court later ordering that they “be reinstated to work, albeit under supervision”.
Bruno Rego, another parent, mentioned having no additional information aside from the ongoing legal proceedings, similar to Tânia Raposo, another parent with a child in the institution, who noted that there are images evidencing the alleged mistreatment.
Several children, aged 1 to 3, were assaulted by four daycare staff members in Rabo de Peixe, on São Miguel Island, the Azores. Despite the violence evident in the images, there has been no reaction yet from the regional government or the majority of political parties.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 15:33 – 11/07/2025
Parents and the community of Rabo de Peixe have organized a petition, which has collected 2,661 signatures as of 18:45 local time (one hour ahead in Lisbon), addressed to the President of the Regional Government, the administration of Casa do Povo de Rabo de Peixe, and the Rabo de Peixe Parish Council, demanding the “immediate suspension of the four staff members named in the criminal complaint” while the case and investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office are underway.
The document states that “it is unacceptable that, given such a serious accusation – brought forth by the employer itself – the employee(s) remain in their positions or in contact with minors”.
“This situation violates the principle of precaution and disrespects the fundamental rights of the children and their families,” reads the petition.
