SHANNON MATTHEWS 9 - Dewsbury, Yorkshire (UK) - 19/02/08

MERLYNSAM

We seem to have missed this article published on Easter Sunday.

The Sunday Times

March 23, 2008

Shannon Matthews close to being taken into care before kidnap

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3602644.ece

SMOKIE

~Merly it was lovely to see that letter.

SMOKIE

Sunday 30th March 2008

News Of The World

I'll fight to see my Shannon
Mum faces 42-week wait

SHANNON Matthews' mum is planning a legal battle to see the daughter she STILL has not hugged—more than a fortnight after cops found her.
Anguished mother Karen's only contact has been ONE GLIMPSE of Shannon, who went missing 40 days ago, through frosted glass.

She's not even allowed to know WHERE her daughter is. It could be as far from their West Yorkshire home as Lancashire.

Now Karen is believed to be seeking legal help to challenge the separation — which it is feared could stretch to an agonising 42 WEEKS.

Desperate

The painful wait has made her and partner Craig Meehan doubt their hasty agreement to voluntarily place the nine-year-old in care.

One friend said: "Karen is getting desperate to see Shannon — and only seeing her through glass is heartbreaking for her.

"She knows there's an investigation to be carried out, but one option being considered is seeking legal help to get Shannon back."

A social services insider explained: "Parents are not told the fostering address to prevent them trying to reach their kids in these situations."

Detectives want to avoid Shannon's evidence being affected by her speaking to other people.

Due to the slow, intense questioning needed about her disappearance, Karen agreed to Shannon being "voluntarily accommodated" by Kirklees local authority.

Our source added: "Under the Children's Act, the parent has no right to access. If they try to remove their child, Kirklees can instantly go to court for a care order on Shannon.

"The voluntary arrangement can stay in place for 42 weeks before it is reviewed — or unless the police decide they have finished all their inquiries."

Gagged by the probe into the schoolgirl's alleged abduction, stepdad Craig, 22, spoke briefly of Karen's agony at being parted from her "little Princess".

At their home in Dewsbury Moor, he said: "She's in tears all the time, like any mother would be."

Computer programmer Michael Donovan, 39, faces trial in November charged with kidnapping Shannon and holding her captive in his flat for 24 days. He is Craig Meehan's uncle.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/3003_shannon.shtml

Telegraph.co.uk

02/04/2008

Police arrest Shannon Matthews's stepfather Craig Meehan

Police investigating the disappearance of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews have arrested her stepfather Craig Meehan, sources said.
The 22-year-old was held on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

He has lived with Shannon's mother Karen Matthews for around five years. Sources said the indecent images that prompted the arrest did not involve any of the Matthews children.

<Continues>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/02/nshannon102.xml

SKY NEWS

Wednesday April 02, 2008

Shannon Stepdad Held Over Indecent Pics

The stepfather of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. Stepdad Craig MeehanCraig Meehan was detained after West Yorkshire Police examined a number of computers during the search for the nine-year-old, who went missing for nearly four weeks.

<Continues>

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1311474,00.html

HIPPY

BBC News

2/4/2008

Shannon stepfather in porn arrest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7326006.stm

HOPE4MADDY

IMO...this really does not surprise me. I don't know what will turn out from this, but I have some suspicions of why Shannon doesn't want to go home...but only my gut feeling. I'm glad she is feeling safe right now. I hope she can recover from whatever she had/has gone through.

TEZZA

Maybe it's a wake up call for Shannon's mother.
Did she know that this man was looking at these vile images?
If not, can she ever trust this man to share the same roof as her children, knowing he has looked at the vile images found on his pc?

Is this man the reason that Shannon didn't want to return home and could the uncle of thought he was doing Shannon a favour by holding her at his flat?

Well, at least something good has come out of all this, I hope there will be more arrests when the police discover who else has these vile images on their pc's.

HOPE4MADDY

Tezza wrote:Maybe it's a wake up call for Shannon's mother.
Did she know that this man was looking at these vile images?
If not, can she ever trust this man to share the same roof as her children, knowing he has looked at the vile images found on his pc?

Is this man the reason that Shannon didn't want to return home and could the uncle of thought he was doing Shannon a favour by holding her at his flat?

Well, at least something good has come out of all this, I hope there will be more arrests when the police discover who else has these vile images on their pc's.

I agree with everything you said Tezza.

I feel sorry for Shannon's father, Leon Rose, he came out and stuck up for Craig Meehan when all the accusations were being thrown around while Shannon was missing! If this reported story is true, I bet he doesn't believe Craig to be the decent guy he thought he was! I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but the guilt he must be feeling now must be unbearable.

HEIDISTAR

Hi all,

I've just come over to this thread to see the horrible news about Shannon's stepdad.

But, I've also just seen the reply from the Police to Merly's letter, they sound so appreciative of receiving the letter and grateful for our thanks. That's really nice to read and I bet Merly was feeling proud and happy for sending that letter when she received that response!

EWE 2

Poor Shannon. I think we may be able to guess why she didn't want to go home, but will have to wait and see. :cry:

MERYLNSAM

Heidi, it was sent on behalf of the Find Madeleine forum because we all agreed that we should thank the police for their successful recovery of Shannon. So the response is to all of us. I think we are all pleased that we decided to take the trouble to express our appreciation of their efforts. It is a super response isn't it?

EWE2 - I hope and pray that nothing more sinister comes out from the police investigations into Shannon's family life. My brain was in over-drive when I read the articles - but we should just wait and see. If the allegations are true then he is guilty of exploiting other people's daughters anyway. I hope they throw the book at him.

It isn't looking good though is it? The step-father into child pronography, and his uncle abducted Shannon. Two unsavoury characters surrounding this family. Do you think the father will apply for custody? I have not read anything about him since Shannon was found. Have I missed anything?

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

Hi all

I come home to the news and I will be the first to admit, I did not expect this. I was all for not being ageist of stepdad and his abilities etc. Oh dear, this is shocking and my husband is even angry, not normally interested in this type of thing in our world! So glad she is protected now but what about her siblings?

Merly, you are so right, this will be a long drawn out situation now for best care for Shannon and her siblings too. Maybe dad will be primary carer. Wait & see.

TEZZA

Has it actually been established that Shannon was abducted as such?
I mean, I know that is the charge against the uncle, but it might of been more a case of him failing to tell anyone Shannon was with him.

Leon (Shannon's real dad) seems a genuine person, he was out physically searching for Shannon, night after night.
Shannon even expressed her feelings by writing on her wall that she wanted to live with him.

SKY NEWS

Thursday April 03, 2008
Updated:06:53

Shannon Stepdad On Child Porn Charges

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "A 22-year-old man has been charged with 10 specimen offences of possession of indecent images of children.

<Continues>

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1311593,00.html


Editing to add: from Sky News (TV) He will have been told that there were many other images but for now he would be charged with 10 offences!

Daily Mail

3rd April 2008
Last updated at 08:01am

Shannon Matthews's stepfather charged with possessing child porn pictures

The stepfather of Shannon Matthews is due in court this morning charged with 10 offences of possessing pornographic pictures of children.

<Continues>

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=553732&in_page_id=1770

Daily Express

Thursday April 03 2008

SHANNON'S STEPFATHER ARRESTED OVER CHILD PORN PHOTOS

THE stepfather of Shannon Matthews was dramatically arrested yesterday.
Craig Meehan, 22, was held in an early morning raid after police discovered hundreds of child porn pictures on a computer he kept in the living room.

<Continues>

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/40032/Shannon-s-stepfather-arrested-over-child-porn-Photos

Mirror.co.uk

3/04/2008

Shannon Matthews back with mum for first time in six weeks as stepdad is charged over child porn

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/04/03/shannon-matthews-back-with-mum-for-first-time-in-six-weeks-as-stepdad-is-charged-over-child-porn-89520-20370918/

HIPPY

BBC News

3/4/2008

Stepfather on child porn charges

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7327680.stm

HIPPY

Sky News

3/4/2008

Shannon Sees Mum As Stepdad Charged

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1311593,00.html

The Sun online

Published: Today, April 3rd 2007

Shannon stepdad's vile child porn stash

editing to add Headline and report has changed!
Shannon's stepdad in court
The court was told Meehan faced 11 charges of possessing 140 indecent images of children graded at levels one to four. The images were found on two computers recovered from Meehan’s address in Dewsbury Moor. There were NO pictures of any family members.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article993299.ece

KARENJANE

I wonder how much of a coincidence it is that Shannon's been reunited with her mother the minute the stepdad is remanded in custody?

MERLYNSAM

I think you have something there KJ. However, Shannon isn't back home as far as I understand - she and her mother were allowed to have a meeting.

The newspaper reported that they were allowed to have a meeting now because the initial police questioning has been completed. Hmmmm.....I think I go along with your suggestion - the step-dad is locked up so the Mum and Shannon can be allowed to speak without it prejudicing the investigation.

Did you notice that he didn't apply for bail because he could not supply an address?

But should we take some good news from this? Surely, the police must think that Karen Matthews has nothing to do with the child pornography issue. (Apparently, she had her own computer and Craig Meehan had his which the children were not allowed to use.)

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

Hi all

I understand yes a meeting between Shannon and her Mum. However, I heard that 2 computers discovered images.

Can you imagine the upheaval in that home on top of what life was like already?