Irish children of man accused of cruise ship murder taken into care in Italy

TWO Irish children whose father is a suspect in the disappearance of their mother are being held in a home in Italy that is normally reserved for children who are homeless, or whose parents are in jail or drug addicts.

Bernhard, five, and Sven, four, the children of Daniel Belling and his Chinese wife Xing Lei Li (also known as Angie) are in Italian state care following their father’s arrest earlier this week.

The Irish Mail on Sunday understands that the children are being held in care until Monday when extended family member can come to collect the children.

Xing Lei Li disappeared from a luxury cruise, where she was holidaying alongside her family, but was not reported missing by Mr Belling.

Her husband, originally from Germany, was arrested at Ciampino Airport in Rome on Thursday while attempting to return to Ireland with his Ireland-born children.

He was then transported to Regina Coeli Prison in Rome, while his wife’s suspected murder is investigated.

An Italian security source said: ‘The children are being cared for at a “family-house” which is run by social services which usually takes care of homeless children or children who don’t have a family any more because their parents are in jail or are drug addicts.

‘It’s understood that extended family members are due to travel to Rome on Monday morning to take the children home to Ireland.’

‘According to Italian penal code procedures, the “preliminary” phase has begun. Mr Belling is now officially under probe. Investigations can last up to six months but in major cases [like murder] the judge can extend up to another 18 months. As the crime has been committed on Italian territory, Belling must be tried in Italy.’

Mr Belling appeared before a court hearing on Friday, where his lawyer Luigi Conti said his client was innocent and appealed for him to be let out on bail. Mr Belling told the judge that his wife had been acting strangely and had left the cruise voluntarily.