Madeleine McCann: Tapas Sums, Shannon Matthews And GMTV
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann and Shannon Matthews
THE SUN: “Cops plot McCann pals’ quiz.”
“It could involve British police putting questions to the ‘Tapas seven’.”
“Gran’s plea over missing Shannon”
A picture of Karen Matthews wearing a T-shirt bearing the image of her missing daughter. The mother is smiling. Why show this picture?
MISSING Shannon Matthews’ heartbroken gran fought tears yesterday as she pleaded: “I just want to see her little smiley face at my window again.”
June Matthews is a “pensioner”. She suffers from “ill health”. Is interviewing the grandmother now part of the protocol for reporting on missing children?
THE SCOTSMAN: “Madeleine: police may quiz ‘Tapas Nine’ again”
The Sun’s Tapas Seven becomes the Scotsman’s Tapas Nine. Such are the facts.
Detective Superintendent Stuart Prior, of Leicestershire Police, returned from the Algarve yesterday after meeting counterparts in Portugal about how the fresh interviews would be conducted.
The Leicestershire Police spokeswoman says: “Since Madeleine’s disappearance, we, together with other law-enforcement agencies, have been working closely with the Portuguese authorities.
“Mr Prior has attended a series of meetings with his Portuguese counterparts,” she said yesterday. “He travelled to Portugal on Tuesday and returned this morning.
“He went to discuss how the request for mutual legal assistance is to be executed and to seek clarification over elements of the request.”
DAILY MAIL: “Madeleine: British police meet Portuguese detectives to plan fresh interviews with Tapas Nine”
The “so-called Tapas Nine - the McCanns and their seven friends - could still hold the solution to the unsolved mystery that began in May last year”.
Says the McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell: “The sooner this re-interviewing takes place the better. The friends are very keen to help police understand their original statements. No one will be changing their story. We are not aware that Kate and Gerry are to be re-interviewed at this stage, but if so, that’s not an issue.”
Tapas Nine minus Tapas Two equals Tapas Seven.
The McCanns, from Rothley in Leicestershire, were joined at the tapas restaurant on by Dr Matthew Oldfield and his recruitment consultant wife Rachael, Dr Russell O’Brien and his partner Jane Tanner, and medical researcher David Payne, his wife Fiona, and her mother Dianne Webster.
Gerry McCann is a heart consultant. Kate McCann is a GP. Such are the facts.
THE TIMES: “Shannon’s mother, Karen Matthews, defends her partner on TV.”
The mother of Shannon Matthews, the missing nine-year-old girl, insisted yesterday that her boyfriend had nothing to do with her disappearance. Karen Matthews, 32, said that Craig Meehan, 22, “would not hurt anybody”.
The Times hacks are watching mid-morning telly. It was ever so.
Ms Matthews chose an interview on GMTV to confront those making accusations against Mr Meehan, her partner for the past four years, whom she called her “rock”. She said: “I know it has nothing to do with him. He would not hurt anybody. It is very hurtful to think people think he would do something like this, because he would not.”
Mr Meehan said that he had taken no notice of the fingers being pointed at him. He added that the police activity surrounding the family was routine in such cases. “They do it to every family this happens to,” he said.
We watch, voyeurs to suffering. We watch, playing amateur detectives on our sofas. It’s interactive entertainment. It’s just routine questioning on the GMTV sofa.
The family have received messages of support from around Britain, including the family of Madeleine McCann. Mr Meehan said: “They know what we are going through.”
Will GMTV unite the families for a special show?
DAILY EXPRESS: “Shannon: Police dig wasteland.”
It is “grim twist” as police call in a digger to search wasteland.
Says the Express: “There are 1,327 registered sex offenders living within a 20-mile radius of Shannon’s home”
It was 1,400.
No mention of Madeleine McCann in the paper that led with her image for weeks on end.
DAILY STAR: “SHANNON COPS START DIGGING UP WASTELAND”
A “dramatic move” close to Shannon’s fmaily home in Desbuery, West Yorkshire.
Says the Express’s sister paper: “Detectives have been orderd to trace 1,387 convicted sex offenders” in the area.
The number grows.
DAILY MIRROR (front page): “WE SAW SHANNON SOBBING.”
Says a boy, aged 12: “There were tears running down her face. She was proper crying.”
Pages 4 and 5: “THE HUNT FOR SHANNON.”
“’It breaks my heart to think she was so upset on that wall. Why did no one comfort her and bring her home to me?’” Karen Matthews. The missing child’s mother.
A last poignant sighting of vanished Shannon Matthews by two boys has pierced the heart of her stricken mum Karen. Clutching the hand of partner Craig Meehan, despairing Karen, 32, said: “It breaks my heart to think she was so upset and we don’t know why. Why did no one comfort her and bring her home to me?”
Readers are invited to empathise with her pain.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror from her home in Dewsbury Moor, West Yorks, Karen said she was mystified by her daughter’s tears and convinced she was still alive after being snatched. She said: “Shannon was perfectly normal on the day she disappeared. “She came running downstairs already in her uniform because she was so excited about going swimming. “Then she was out of the door, shouting ‘See you at teatime - love you’. She didn’t tell us about being bullied at school and I didn’t think she was upset about anything. I’m sure she’s still alive. It’s just a feeling I have - a mother’s feeling. “Wherever she is, she’s going to be frightened. It’s breaking our hearts. I don’t think she’s run away. I think something sinister has happened.”
We can join in the speculation:
Karen said: “I even hate going upstairs. Just walking past her open door is painful. She loved her room. It seems so empty since she’s been gone. Courtney, who shares the bedroom with her half sister, now sleeps cuddled up to Shannon’s favourite teddy. Karen said: “You can hear her shouting out for Shannon. It’s heartbreaking.” At her side, Craig said: “With 200 police on the case you’d think they’d have picked up something by now. But Shannon hasn’t been seen anywhere. I think someone must have taken her. It could be a person with a grudge or who can’t have children of their own. If someone has her, just let her come home. That’s what everyone wants. That’s what Shannon and her family want. We’re all missing her.”
TYPICALLY SPANISH: “Two Million Euro ransom demanded in Marí Luz case”
A phone call was made to the family yesterday, but it is not considered by police to be genuine
The family of the missing five year old girl, Mari Luz Cortés, who vanished from Huelva in the middle of January, says they have received a ransom demand for two million Euros. They say they received a phone call from an individual yesterday, who demanded two million € to release the child.But at a press conference held today in the Plaza Rosa del Torrejón, in Huelva, the missing child’s uncle, Diego Cortés, lamented the call which he described as ‘upsetting and senseless’, as it was believed the call is a hoax. He said that the family ‘was prepared to negotiate’ in the case of serious calls, adding that if the family would go personally to rescue Mari Luz if necessary. He said there was no chance of the family raising a sum of two million €, but that 300,000€ was possible.
And:
Speculation continues in some media over a possible link to the Madeleine McCann disappearance, but there is no evidence of any relationship, apart from the geographical location of the two cases.
Posted: 7th, March 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (570) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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March 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Candy
I taught him a few tricks! no language was needed as you can see!!
March 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Candy
The polish builder caught naked with a henry hoover last week, said it was his country’s custom
March 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
142 Brandon
Was it you who needed some Polish chat-up lines to seduce a builder?
he he
March 7th, 2008 at 11:09 am
142 Brandon
Do you suggest I should?
March 7th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hi Karen
Hows the kids?
March 7th, 2008 at 11:08 am
140
Apologies this post was in response to AWG’s comment on my post 115
..I’m not arguing with myself yet.. Am I? No. Yes!
Administrator: Electro convulsive therapy was a compulsory pre-requisite of this job. Enjoy the split-personality before everyone turns against you. -agw
March 7th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Ade
I probably live close to Gandolf.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:07 am
candy do you hoover your underwear?
March 7th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Hi
Not only Petardo3 has been boasting unsuncessfully and wasting time and noney, but remember that the detective involved in the search of Madeleine is now in prison to have (allegedly) stolen 400 kg of cocaine. How on earth, after the affair with Antonio Jimenez, M3 is still the better company in the world to follow the case?
Laundry makes the world go round
the word go round
the word go round
Biiiiig laundry!
IMO
March 7th, 2008 at 11:06 am
115
SpongeBob
I understand your point, but I’m afraid I have to disagree that her saying that she was paid is proof that she was paid.
I am sure there are plenty of ways to be ‘disruptive’, even by making a reasonable argument and prolonging their income into the bargain!! At the very least, if she was paid, I would argue that she did a better job for the ‘Antis’
Thanks for the feedback!
March 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am
136 Karen
I’m Polish. I arrived to the UK 3 years ago as my partner is British (we are getting married next month BTW
However, I’ve been in London before, as a teenager - just for one month, to hang around. It was a wonderdul time
(M&A I know we were supposed not to disclose any personal info, but with 400.000 Poles in Britain I think I am not unique enough to be identified through what I’ve just said)
**************
M and A
Are you the 395672nd on the right?
March 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am
137 Ade
Don’t you have some of the Tapas 9 living near you as well. I’m still curious about that night you ‘had a turn’ about something like that. Can you say (or might curiousity kill a cat?)
March 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
125 AgendaWide
yep i’ll probably get it tomorrow.
postie has been today and furnished me with bills and adverts for sofas
drainage is holding out well - no rain in these parts for a few days
ted is down the doom and pasty inn
i’m off to spot some hippies in totnes
discovered yesterday that garthy lives down the road
i hope i don’t bump into him…
it’s bad enough on here
March 7th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Candy
What country are you from? Are you still there or are you over in Britain?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:59 am
132 Karen
Nomen omen
March 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
113
Karen Says:
Surely they could argue that the Arguido status of the McCanns is enough for the suggestion that they did it not to be libel???
——————————————————-
I think in the UK it would be subjudicy. The McCanns, Murat and the PJ should all sue and stop newspaper abusing ‘free speech’ and be more accountable for what they publish. But I am sure there is a thin line here between free speech and accountable reporting/repression.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
123 SteveT
Maybe Des refused to put Kate in one of his publications.
she does appear to crave attention, i fear
March 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
The post just arrived. I got a book on the Culture of Narcissism from a shop on Pope Road.
I wonder if it’s a sign?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
126 Fair
That must have been tough
Poor addicts we are 
At least, I have an excuse; I am practising my English! (well, that’s what I say, but my English partner thinks it’s all bull and - if I ever get a ban - it will be him, beging Anorak editors to give me back to him
March 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Scarlet
But that was boys. It’s disgusting to type it, but wouldn’t they take Sean?
I did Wicca when I was little - me and my friends used to hide all the books in case we got busted by the more orthodox Church-goers. My poor friend got caught and had to endure a massive lecture about the evil spirits - but her Mum was so devout she wasn’t even allowed to read a horoscope.
*************
M and A
‘Wicca’ and ‘evil ‘ in the same sentance? well I’ll be blowed!!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
i wonder what makes Detective Superintendent Stuart Prior, of Leicestershire Police tick.
sounds like he’s been working with pj for some time
i wonder if he’s been leaned on by “important people” or whether he’s playing a straight bat.
excellent fun
March 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Scarlett, craft ? I am of Sages of the Unknown Shadow, do not trifle with a Master of the Eight Levels, and your childish referals to Wicca, polish no Runes in this house.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Maybe the Mccanns could be sued for wasting Leicestershire Police time and money. They say, through their PR man that all of the Tapas group will not be changing their stories and they have nothing to hide. In that case there is no reason why they should not have gone back to Portugal by now. Instead of doing so the Police had to go to Portugal to make arrangements for interviews in UK.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:50 am
121 Candy
Yes!!
In fact I was lying in bed last night wondering if it was for the best & then I would have my life back. But I had to find out what I must have said that caused a ban!
****
m and a
just emailing you now, in case it happens again
March 7th, 2008 at 10:49 am
116 Ade
It is dated 7th March so it is just coming on time to you. (I imagine you live in some remote part - with fields and drainage -sound more fun than my existence on the hamster wheel).
I’m thinking it is maybe a good thing if rags like the greatest newspaper in the world’ have to justify their stories with more evidence, and not prejudice the outcomes of court cases. But will the MCCanns sue for all the postive media coverage which may equally prejudice the outcomes of criminal proceedings over Madeleine’s disappearance?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:47 am
May 99
“But why??? Admitedly I haven’t read their articles, but I never had the impression the press were hostile in general.”
——————————————————
Just try reading them then!!! “Hostile” is an understatement! The Express won’t care if they ARE sued; it may be just another rubbishy rumour but I hope not. They made so much money out of the McCanns that they’ll be well able to afford the costs incurred for lies and smears. They’ll have calculated all that beforehand. Of course, they often covered themselves by putting inverted commas around their appalling headlines, because they were quoting the Potuguese press, or whatever. BUT any decent lawyer will still be able to show it was libel, IF the McCanns are innocent. Different story if they turn out to be guilty of murdering Madeleine or other heinous crime to hide her death and dispose secretly of her body, waste police time, obtain money under false pretences, not to mention destroying the lives of their own families, friends and close contacts in Praia da Luz, all of whom have been steadfast in their support through the last ten months.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:47 am
120
âde
Maybe Des refused to put Kate in one of his publications.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Julie
I’m glad some posters remember.
I didn’t think the McCanns were guilty at first (and even now, I swither) - but I always thought that leaving the door unlocked was stupid and the endless ribbons/balloons/wrist-bands/public appearances/celebrity endorsements etc were over the top and a bit crazed - but even those reasonable enough to me criticisms were met with a barrage of abuse.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
117 Fair
Are your hands still shaking after this involuntary rehab?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
interesting that mcconns are suing “dirty des”
they must be skint
shame
i wonder where the money is coming from to bring the case to court
they will surely have to pay up-front for barristers etc
or maybe some “friend” will do it for nowt