Cruise couple’s children ‘going to Germany’
THE parents of a Dublin-based IT consultant in prison in Rome on suspicion of murdering his wife are in Italy to claim his children.
Daniel Belling, 45, said he last saw Yinglei Li when their cruise ship docked on the Greek island of Katakolon.
Last night, Mr Belling’s lawyer, Luigi Conti, told the Irish Daily Mail that Mr Belling’s parents arrived in Italy last week and are in the process of applying to the courts to take his two Irishborn children to Germany.
‘Mr Belling’s parents arrived last week,’ said Mr Conti. ‘They came to my office Friday night. They want the children and I think it’s possible.
‘Mr Belling’s mother-in-law has spoken about coming to get the children but she has not arrived in Italy.’
It emerged last week that Ms Yinglei’s mother in China only learnt of her daughter’s disappearance when a friend read about it on the internet.
Speaking on Italian TV, she said: ‘I am very worried for her and just want to know she is okay... I am getting ready to travel to Italy to collect the children, I am their grandmother.’
It is understood that the couple’s two sons, aged four and five, are in the care of authorities in Rome. Both were born in Ireland, however they are believed to have dual citizenship.
A spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office in Germany told the Irish Daily Mail that although the children had German citizenship, they are not receiving consular assistance. ‘Within the EU there should be basically no need to provide consular assistance in those cases as the competent local authorities are obliged to take the necessary steps.’
He added that consular assistance was being given to Mr Belling.
The Department of Foreign Affairs here said that ‘Department Officials are in contact with relevant Italian authorities’ in respect of both children.
Last night, Mr Conti said that his client was still maintaining his innocence.
‘Mr Belling denies any suggestion that he murdered his wife,’ he said. ‘He believes that she should be treated as a missing person and he is concerned for her welfare. There is no body so how can there be a murder? I am applying to the judge for a hearing in the hope of getting him freed.’