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

KARENJANE

merlynsam wrote:I know Pam....thanks for reassuring me (that I am not the only one feeling uncomfortable with this situation).

What worries me now (and I gave it some thought this morning when I walked the dog) is if this story turns out to be a fabrication or something, will it affect the volunteers when the next child goes missing?

I have promised myself that if another child goes missing in drivable distance, I WILL turn out with the dog and help with the search. I WON'T sit and wonder if it is truth or fiction first......

But I have a terrible feeling that some of the people I walked with on Dewsbury Moors when we were searching for Shannon won't think like I do - and I am not blaming them at all.

If, God forbid, another child goes missing Merly, I don't think this case will deter volunteers from searching again.

The motivation is the missing, vulnerable child, not the family they live with. Thankfully.

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

Maybe our gut reactions are wrong though as KM did look distraught, so really not sure. I have great hope in my heart and soul, people will search for a child Merly, it is human nature to help, if one goes missing near you. Don't be worrying.

KARENJANE

pam supportfromireland wrote:Maybe our gut reactions are wrong though as KM did look distraught, so really not sure. I have great hope in my heart and soul, people will search for a child Merly, it is human nature to help, if one goes missing near you. Don't be worrying.

Surely if there was any truth in the story from Craig Meehan's sister then Karen Matthews herself would've been arrested for sure?

Yet if there's NO truth in the story Karen Matthews surely has a case to sue the paper?

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

Wish the tangled web would stop! Think of the children before you speak adults of this family!! Sorry had to get rants out.

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

Sorry but wasn't Craig Meehan supposed to be on suicide watch??

Sky News

Updated:03:54, Monday April 07, 2008

Shannon: Police Arrest Woman

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1311965,00.html

Breaking News Sky news (TV)

Shannon Matthews' mother arrested in connection with case!

Micheal Donavan attempted suicide!!

just going to check for news online!

Sky News

Monday April 07, 2008 Updated:07:11

Police Arrest Mother

Police investigating the Shannon Matthews case have arrested the nine-year-old's mother. Karen Matthews, 32, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Also included in this report:
In another development, prison sources have confirmed that the man accused of abducting Shannon has tried to kill himself in jail. Michael Donovan, 39, the uncle of Shannon's stepfather, Craig Meehan, was taken to hospital after "a case of serious self-harm" at Leeds Prison.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1311968,00.html

The Sun

07 April 2008

Shannon's mum Karen is nicked

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1008262.ece

The Sun

07 April 2008

There was blood everywhere.. his life was hanging by a thread

THE suspected kidnapper of Shannon Matthews was found with his wrists slashed in jail yesterday – just MINUTES from death.

<Continues>

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1008256.ece

Daily Star

7th April 2008

SHANNON SUSPECT IN JAIL SUICIDE BID

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/34254/Shannon-suspect-in-jail-suicide-bid/

Daily Express

Monday April 7,2008

MAN ACCUSED OF SHANNON’S KIDNAP TRIES TO KILL HIMSELF

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/40427/Man-accused-of-Shannon-s-kidnap-tries-to-kill-himself

Daily Mail

07 April 2008 Last updated at 07:41am

'Shannon Matthews' mother arrested over her daughter's disappearance'

and

Shannon's abductor attempts suicide in prison


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=557643&in_page_id=1770&ct=5

BBC News

Monday, 7 April 2008

'Mother' held in Shannon inquiry

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7333898.stm

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

oops late night reading, it was the Uncle who attempted suicide. Sorry about that. Twiggy thanks for all the updates. I'm wrecked today, can't take it all in! If it is true, all a sham, I should trust my gut instincts more often!!! What on earth is life going to be like for those children. Hope to goodness they are being sheltered from media etc.

SHELLINGTON

Quick visit today as half term. What a shock, I said from the beginning there was more to this than met the eye but didn't think her mum was involved. What a mess.

SARAHK

BBC News

7th April 2008

BBC Video report on Shannon Mathews Mother Karen's Arrest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7330000/newsid_7334100/7334159.stm

MERLYNSAM

karenjane wrote:

pam supportfromireland wrote:Maybe our gut reactions are wrong though as KM did look distraught, so really not sure. I have great hope in my heart and soul, people will search for a child Merly, it is human nature to help, if one goes missing near you. Don't be worrying.

Surely if there was any truth in the story from Craig Meehan's sister then Karen Matthews herself would've been arrested for sure?

Yet if there's NO truth in the story Karen Matthews surely has a case to sue the paper? :? :?

KJ - so sad! Look at today's story. I heard the rumour yesterday that Karen was going to be arrested - it filled my heart with dread!

But it has happened.

That poor little girl!

Times online

April 8, 2008

Karen Matthews ‘told friends she knew where Shannon was from start’

<Snippet>
The girl’s mother has now confessed, according to the source, that she had known that he was holding her daughter. She is also said to have admitted that, before Shannon’s disappearance, she had been planning to end her relationship with 22-year-old Mr Meehan and had intended to move in with Mr Donovan.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3701834.ece

TEZZA

Can someone please explain to me how Michael Donovan can now be charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment? Does this now mean that these charges will be dropped and a lesser charge of perverting the course of justice be given after the investigation has revealed that Karen Matthews knew where her daughter was being held?

If she knew then Michael Donovan had parental consent to hold Shannon?
Am I right in thinking this?
This is all mind boggling.

MERLYNSAM

Tezza wrote:Can someone please explain to me how Michael Donovan can now be charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment? Does this now mean that these charges will be dropped and a lesser charge of perverting the course of justice be given after the investigation has revealed that Karen Matthews knew where her daughter was being held?

If she knew then Michael Donovan had parental consent to hold Shannon?
Am I right in thinking this?
This is all mind boggling.

Tezza, I was just popping onto this thread to ask the same question. I have just read the The Times article which seems be giving a pretty categoric pictures that there were several members of the family involved.

Can it be an abduction/kidnapping if it was with the knowledge and approval of Karen Matthews?

I, personally, don't think he can be charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment now.

Oh what a tangled web!

MERLYNSAM

TAMSIN

Shannon Matthews' mother 'may have copied TV kidnap plot'
By Paul Stokes
Last Updated: 1:56am BST 08/04/2008



The mother of Shannon Matthews has been accused of knowing her daughter's whereabouts from the start of the £5 million search for her, sources have disclosed.

Karen Matthews, 32, was being questioned by detectives on Monday night on suspicion of perverting the course of justice after allegedly breaking down in tears in front of a police family liaison officer.


Karen Matthews, Shannon's mother, has been arrested


The Daily Telegraph understands that officers are examining alleged similarities between Shannon's disappearance and a storyline from the Channel 4 drama series Shameless shown in the month before the nine-year-old vanished.

In it, the teenage daughter of Frank Gallagher, the head of a dysfunctional family, staged the fake kidnap of his youngest son, Liam, in an attempt to obtain a £500,000 ransom. All along, Liam was hidden a few doors away with a friend of his sister.

The episode attracted 2.5 million viewers when it was shown on Jan 22.

PAM SUPPORTFROMIRELAND

I was so hoping this would not be the case. It is looking like it is and probably explains the depths the Uncle has gone to in prison too, as we all know how prisoners in for abuse of children are treated. It is a very tangled web and EXTREMELY SAD too that we're talking about adults here. I am so glad the children are being cared for.

TEZZA

I personally think the kidnapping and false imprisonment charges will be dropped and the lesser charge of perverting the course of justice will be given to Michael Donovan.

But this whole tangled web of lies seems to of backfired pretty nastily.
It seems that Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan were having an affair and planned this 'kidnap' for whatever purpose. But it doesn't seem like Karen was aware that her partner Craig Meehan was into some pretty unsavoury stuff himself.

But if any good has come out of this crazy situation, it is the fact that this filth was detected on Craig's PC and hopefully it will lead to more arrests.

Have I got things right here?
I really don't know, but this is how it appears to be to me.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

MERLYNSAM

I am reading it the same as you Tezza. Up to now, 4 people seem to have been in on the scam:

- Michael Donovan
- Amanda Hyett
- Craig Meehan's mother
- Karen Matthews

(But then it begs the question that if his mother and sister were part of the cover-up, how come they kept Craig in the dark? he has been charged with offences relating to child pornography and NOT the kidnapping and false imprisonment, or perverting the course of justice).

Did anone notice the Star article which says:

"Karen’s step-sister Caroline Meehan, 29, said last night: “If she has duped everyone, she has let down all her friends and wasted police time.”

How is a Caroline Meehan her step-sister?

So we have another Matthews who is partner to Leon (Shannon's Dad) and now a Meehan who is said to be Karen's step-sister. The same surnames keep re-appearing! It could all be that 'c' word that Tezza doesn't like us to say!