Madeleine McCann And Shannon Matthews: And Jamie Bulger
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann and Shannon Matthews
THE INDEPENDENT: “Missing: The contrasting searches for Shannon and Madeleine. Has class influenced the rewards offered and publicity given to two campaigns to find missing children? Cole Moreton goes to Dewsbury to investigate”
Shannon’s parents are not doctors. The child is not blonde, neither is the mother.
Shannon’s uncle, Neil Hyett, lives next door to her, and has had his house and garden searched. The media frenzy of last week bewildered him, but like many others in Dewsbury Moor he says he now wishes he could find a way to make it continue. “It’s all gone quiet, hasn’t it?” he said at the sparse community centre from which the leaflet and poster campaign continues to be run. “Last week, you couldn’t park for television vans. Now they’ve all been sent away on other stories.” Even The Sun’s support yesterday caused disappointment. “I’m devastated, to be honest,” said a coach driver, as others around him agreed. “That poster should have been on the front page.” It was on page 17.
Madeleine McCann
Age: Four. Parents: Kate, 40, a GP. Gerry, 39, a cardiologist. Siblings: Twins, now aged two.
Home: Detached house, Leicestershire.
UK press stories after nine days: 465.
Rewards offered: £2.6m: the ‘News of the World’, Stephen Winyard, Philip Green, Simon Cowell, Coleen McLoughlin, ‘The Sun’, Sir Richard Branson, J K Rowling.
Public donations: £1.1m:
J K Rowling, Bryan Adams, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, John Terry, Phil Neville, David Moyes, the England cricket team.
Wikipedia profile: 2,182 words after nine days.
Shannon Matthews
Age: Nine. Parents: Karen, 32, and Leon Rose, 29. Stepfather, Craig, 22. Siblings: Six boys and girls, from her mother’s partnerships with five different men.
Home: Three-bed council house, Dewsbury Moor.
UK press stories after nine days: 242.
Rewards offered: £25,500. Made up of £20,000 by ‘The Sun’, £5,000 from Huddersfield firm Joseph International, £500 from Wakefield pensioner Winston Bedford.
Public donations: Thousands at most, including Leona Lewis.
Wikipedia profile: 151 words after nine days.
SUNDAY PEOPLE: “Lost little Shannon ’snatched’”
Devastated friends and family of missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews last night insisted the nine-year-old was snatched.
Says cousin Vicky Saunders: “Shannon’s quite a timid girl and wouldn’t like to go off on her own.
Family friend Petra Jamieson adds: “She’s the ideal daughter who behaves well. We want everyone to remember Shannon, like they do Madeleine McCann.”
THE SCOTSMAN: “Madeleine sighting in France is ruled out”
We are all looking for Madeleine McCann, and at her…
A reported sighting of Madeleine McCann in southern France has been officially ruled out. Gerry McCann revealed that French police have established that the young girl seen by a Dutch tourist in Montpellier last month was not his missing daughter.He said it was “disappointing” that it took so long for this to happen after “widespread” media reporting of the sighting.
In his latest blog, Mr McCann writes: “We did hear that the French have officially ruled out the reported sighting of Madeleine in Montpellier.”
We watch the McCanns. And we scrutinise their every word. They now even report on the case.
THE OBSERVER: “’James would be 18 now - the pain of losing him will never go away’
Fifteen years ago, the murder of toddler James Bulger by two young boys horrified Britain and inflicted deep wounds on their home city of Liverpool. In this moving interview, James’s mother Denise Fergus tells Elizabeth Day that the passing years have not diminished the pain over the loss of her son and her anger towards his killers, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables.
In the aftermath of the trial in November 1993, the Daily Star carried pictures of Venables and Thompson underneath the headline ‘How do you feel now you little bastards?’
Denise Fergus still cannot bring herself to walk near the Walton railway line… It has been 15 years since the murder of her son James Bulger on this stretch of track; 15 years since he was beaten to death by two killers who were themselves children.
The pain of losing him will never go away. But there’s so much more in my life that I determined long ago not to be a victim any more. I don’t let things hurt me so easily as I once did. Like it was hurtful when the papers called him “Jamie”. That was never his name. It was like a strange label they invented to sum him up in one word. It’s the same now with Madeleine McCann. The papers call her “Maddy”.
Maddie, Shan And More: the media’s look at missing children
Posted: 2nd, March 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (443) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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March 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Ian
What feelings the parents have doesn’t matter very much, according to me. Feelings are very complex, mixed up, variable. Any parent will tell you that he/she loves his children, and probably genuinely believe it. It is said that husbands who mistreat their wives love her and are very sad about the bad treatments they inflict on her. It is a twisted love, but it is love, with, usually, a very strong attachement. So that the victim of that sort of love can’t even hate the abuser without feeling bad.
So, no point in arguing about it, according to me. But, what can be questioned, is the quality of their love. The criteria would be : what good does it bring to the child? Concern for the well-being of the child and self-effacement seem necessary for a good quality love. Honestly, I don’t care for the love of people people who bring misery over me, even if it is genuine.
To me, love, real love, isn’t just a feeling. It is also a gift.
B. Bettelheim wrote a book about children’upbringing. The French title is : “L’amour ne suffit pas”. (Love isn’t enough?)
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
CORRECTION
238 Candy
“Maybe she did escape from Shannon’s father as he was abusive?”
You could buy that Shannon’s FATHER was abusive if Karen had just one ex but Karen has five exes.
She is a five time loser with the fathers of her children.
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
242
RedRooster
Scroll the troll!!
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
234
i-dont-believe-them Says:
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I am allowed to judge Kate and Karen. They both have come on TV and asked for my help.
If are 32 and you have seven children with five fathers you are a bad mother.
You have failed to show commitment to any man or person.
You have denied your children the benefit of living with their fathers.
You have placed your children at risk by repeatedly bringing strange men into the home of your children.
You have not provided a stable home for them.
You have taught them that men are replaceable or expendable.
If the mother had been in a stable relationship with Shannon’s father there is no doubt in my mind Shannon would not be missing today. That is a choice Karen Matthews made. She chose her own happiness over Shannon Matthews.
If Kate McCann had not left her children alone on May 3, 2007, Madeleine would still be alive. (assuming Kate hadn’t accidentally killed Madeleine, which appears the likely scenario to me)
I feel for Shannon that she had to be born into a horrible home.
can I ask you a question…? Who the hell do you think you are critising single mothers…? I heard you were bleeting on about how bad single mothers are, yesterday. You’re a pratt as far as im concerned. Do you have any idea of how bloody hard it is for a woman to bring up even one child single handed. No you dont do you..? Do you think all single mothers choose to be stuck on their own with a child or children you idiot. Some women are abused by their partners, sexually or physically. Some women just get with the wrong guy and realise when its too late. Some women may have lost their partner through no fault of their own, they may have died or walked out on them. Basically theres loads of bloody reasons they may be single mothers. There is no reason for YOU to critise them just because you’re a fool. So please if you cant talk some sense shut your gob mate ok….some may be deeply offended by your outrageous comments. 
:pratt: :dimwit: :fool: 
I feel for Madeleine that she had to be born into a horrible home.
*****************************************
Good Evening I dont beleive them….I dont believe what im reading
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
228
sorry Says:
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
“[...] i think Shannon realised step father home alone that day and scared to death about it [...]”
****
I don’t know why Sorry’s English is so bad, but did you all miss that …?
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
238 Candy
“Maybe she did escape from Shannon’s father as he was abusive?”
You could buy that Shannon’s ex was abusive if Karen had just one ex but Karen has five exes.
She is a five time loser with the fathers of her children.
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
231
Maria - you said…
‘Courts may judge if certain actions are crimes. That’s their job.’
No it is not.
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
If the mother had been in a stable relationship with Shannon’s father there is no doubt in my mind Shannon would not be missing today.
That is a bit too simple, I-don’t-believe-them. Maybe she did escape from Shannon’s father as he was abusive? Maybe it would not benefit Shannon to live with him? Remember, that the poor girl wanted to live with him, but he failed to see her for months.
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
231
Maria Says:
“You can’t look into another’s heart, especially when you only know them through the media, for Heaven’s sake, and after a tragedy. ”
******************************************
you’re right about ONE thing Maria, you cant look into Kates heart, she hasnt got one
**************************
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:59 pm
234 i-dont-believe-them
Somewhat difficult to disagree with you, however, Kate McCann was born with a silver spoon in her scouse gob, she had every chance and yet still she chose to abandon her child (or worse).
Madeleine could have benefitted from a silver spoon too, but the chance has been denied her by her hedonist parents.
Karen probably had no chance - but I dont know anything about her (though that makes me sound like Maria but from the opposite direction!).
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
i-dont-believe-them
Hard to argue against that.
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I am allowed to judge Kate and Karen. They both have come on TV and asked for my help.
If are 32 and you have seven children with five fathers you are a bad mother.
You have failed to show commitment to any man or person.
You have denied your children the benefit of living with their fathers.
You have placed your children at risk by repeatedly bringing strange men into the home of your children.
You have not provided a stable home for them.
You have taught them that men are replaceable or expendable.
If the mother had been in a stable relationship with Shannon’s father there is no doubt in my mind Shannon would not be missing today. That is a choice Karen Matthews made. She chose her own happiness over Shannon Matthews.
If Kate McCann had not left her children alone on May 3, 2007, Madeleine would still be alive. (assuming Kate hadn’t accidentally killed Madeleine, which appears the likely scenario to me)
I feel for Shannon that she had to be born into a horrible home.
I feel for Madeleine that she had to be born into a horrible home.
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
231
Maria
You always do that, claim one thing to support your own view then try to prevent anyone else from having opposing feelings of their own.
So although we arent allowed to have perceptions of Kate’s ‘feelings’ you are?
OK, heres my take, I have a strong feeling that Kate McCann has no feeling for her child (assuming Madeleine was hers) based on her actions so far and her interviews.
Id like to hear from you what you base your feelings on - blind support of the failed parent?
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
230
Annie_M
So much has happened over the months that I had forgotten about this.
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
198
i-dont-believe-them Says:
March 2nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
185 Jo - agreed. Karen Matthews and Kate McCann have this in common: you get the feeling they don’t like their children very much.
———————-
I get the feeling they both love their children very much BUT I don’t think we’re in a position to judge other people’s feelings anyway. It’s not for us to do that. Who are we to know or decide or judge what other people’s FEELINGS are? We may believe certain actions to appear to be good or bad, kind or unkind,responsible or irresponsible, wise or foolish, unselfish or selfish or whatever. But feelings? No. You can’t look into another’s heart, especially when you only know them through the media, for Heaven’s sake, and after a tragedy.
The family and friends of Karen and Kate may be in a position to guess at their feelings, to empathise, to understand a little, to believe or disbelieve what they say about their feelings, but surely we aren’t? We don’t, and can never, know them as real people. It’s dangerous to even try.
Courts may judge if certain actions are crimes. That’s their job.
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Happy Mother’s Day to all mums everywhere!!!
Interesting thread over at 3A
Talk of a trial…….
http://www.the3arguidos.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5241
We live in hope
March 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
228
sorry
Would you call your mum from Portugal having lost your daughter minutes before and ask to speak to a priest whilst everyone else is out searching for your child?
Would you rush back to a bar having found your daughter not in her room, knowing that your friends have been checking her and one of them is in their apartment nearby and not ask them first?
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
this may cause scrap im sorry
question for any parent
would you leave home go out when kid at school with i idiot there who dont realise she missing then under 18 hours later think tshirts or within 2 days think money (ok they not got much but christ would anyone think money when kids missing ) why that day everything happened mother away step father there but not realy and oh a uncle that basically thinks it funny. even when km finaly get in do she then get cops in no by her own mouth kid comes straight home so why think might be out but then again that is the same mouth that says twin oh not twin daddys girl but others say oposite mummys girl and that also the day shannon didnt want to go home
ask yourself this
everything thats been in the press i think Shannon realised step father home alone that day and scared to death about it and do rest of her family respond in correct way and dont blame breading the answer is NO NO NO
if you were mum would you stay with pals no youd get pal stay with you incase girl comes home
everything is wrong about this and you argue over why there not millions in aide for them
I HOPE TO GOD IM WRONG I HOPE POLICE FIND HER AND IF IM WRONG I WILL SAY SORRY but in truth if press is correct then i fear im not
and to the police you doing good job thank you keep it up
_____________________
Mods and Admin
No, you won’t get strife for this posting, the only thing people want money etc for is for Shannon to find her
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
223 Peter Mac
I am inclined to agree with you. But again celebrities come into this category too. And so many adults who are abused refuse to press charges against their abusers - so what hope have children got when they see this type of role model?
This makes me think of the recent case of a sexually abused and murdered baby of 8 weeks - and there is no mention of the mother. No-one can tell me someone (the mother?) cannot see the results of sexual abuse on an 8 week old baby - that can hardly be explained away by falling off a chair? Or did the mother play no part in looking after the baby?
The world truly is a terrible place.
M and A
Mariab
A friend of mine fosters children whose parents/family abuse them, from tiny babies onwards, more often than not the victims of sexual abuse. What isn’t always abundantly clear is that the mother of the baby can be underage and also the daughter of the abuser herself, and is frequently just used as a breeding machine.
One family who were heavily into incest, the girl’s husband actually caught her father abusing her child, he did wonder about parentage and not much testing proved that the husband was NOT the father, but he reported the case anyway. There were 4 generations involved in the incestuous abuse, and the youngest children were all removed. The older generations all are at HM jails around the country.
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
So as we head toward another Monday morning (aaarrrrghhh!) does everyone think this will be yet another ‘no news’ week?
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I need to set the record straight (child neglect is at the root of the McCann case) and it is this, I do not keep banging on about child neglect being at the root of the McCann case (child neglect is at the root of the McCann case) as Im sure everyone from all sides knows it (child neglect is at the root of the McCann case) and I dont need to say it (child neglect is at the root of the McCann case). So I hope that sets the record straight?
——-
M and A
You sure? Not just one more time?
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Ethel was a bit of a demon in her
wheelchair, and loved to charge
around the nursing home, taking
corners on one wheel and getting
up to maximum speed on the long
corridors. Because the poor woman
was one sandwich short of a picnic
the other residents tolerated her and
some of them actually joined in.
One day Ethel was speeding up one
corridor when a door opened and
Kooky Clarence stepped out with
his arm outstretched. “STOP!” he
shouted in a firm voice. “Have you
got a license for that thing?”
Ethel fished around in her handbag
and pulled out a Kit Kat wrapper
and held it up to him. “OK” he said,
and away Ethel sped down the hall.
As she took the corner near the TV
lounge on one wheel, Weird Harold
popped out in front of her and shouted
“STOP! Have you got proof of insurance?”
Ethel dug into her handbag, pulled
out a drink coaster and held it up
to him. Harold nodded and said
“On your way, Ma’am.”
As Ethel neared the final corridor,
Crazy Craig stepped out in front of
her, Butt-Naked, and holding his
“You-Know-What” in his hand.
“Oh, good grief,” yelled Ethel,
“Not that Damn Breathalyzer Test again!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww6EW2VsCSg&feature=related
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
209 Julie
“I was watching the video earlier of Levi Bellfield’s ex-girlfriend : LINK
I haven’t seen such genuine heartache and sadness for a long time! Her face says it all”
So was I. And perhaps because I am a man I just don’t understand it.
- He was frequently violent towards me.
He raped me for 10 years,
I believe he murdered other girls whilst I was with him, and used my car to move the body.
BUT.. I loved him, and bore him three children -
I simply do not understand. Nor do I understand the people who try to explain about not having anyone to turn to, feeling vulnerable, and so on.
I accept that that is what battered and abused women do, but I do not Understand it
Surely you just walk out. And don’t go back. Go to your parents/ grandparents/aunt/sister/brother/friend/police/samaritans/GP/ police/solicitor/MP/ or just the next town.
Her lack of action would almost be an offence of Harbouring Offender.
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 pm
my mrT that is…
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
220
MrsT,
I printed his post to show mrT how a ‘real man’ does it all [because mrT only irons his shirts, not mine]. I guess now I’d better hold it back, don’t want my pc to go down because of him pulling the plug.
Oh, I forgot, never mind, this is a laptop!
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Me too Totje … it’s Duncans fault … he plugged in the iron !!!!
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Whew!
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Hello everybody, sorry this morning eyes hardly opened yet, I forgot to say “Happy Mothers Day”.
Does anybody else have problems getting at the forums section?
I keep getting this message “Cannot select DB.”
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Me, too.
I thought Clarrie had pulled the plug.
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
After post 211 I kept getting a message about server problems. I was worried!