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 1:12 pm
Jo
Actually doggy is a British slang term that would have made sense in that sentence if you were referring to sex scandals.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
brandon flours, what bits of what cross eyed spinner says do you and don’t you believe, I believe everything, then at least something will be true sometime.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
291
brandon
They are so fucking arrogant!
I mean it comes up very conveniently just before they are quizzed again.
It comes up very conveniently coz the fund is dying….any money will go in the fund.
WHO do they think they are kidding?
March 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
290
That was a famous Polish tongue-twister, and my partner is of an opinion my surname sounds similar
It will be so much easier now 
March 7th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
He said: “Yes, it’s true that the fund is roughly half-way spent, but the main thing we require is an apology.”
He added that any money won as a result of legal action would go straight back into the fund.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Brandon
Not that this is in any way a reflection on Andi Peters whose private life I know absolutely nothing about….
My GBF has the same dichotomy. Camp gossip when he’s chatting. He-man when he’s got his shirt off.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I don’t think Malinka was in the taxi.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
A small white guy goes into an elevator, when he gets in he notices a huge black dude standing next to him. The big black dude looks down upon the small white guy and says: “7 foot tall, 350 pounds, 20 inch dick, 3 pound left ball, 3 pound right ball, Turner Brown” The small white guy faints!!
The big black dude picks up the small white guy and brings him to, slapping his face and shaking him and asks the small white guy. “What’s wrong?”. The small white guy says; “Excuse me but what did you say?”. The big black dude looks down and says “7 foot tall, 350 pounds, 20 inch dick, 3 pound left ball, 3 pound right ball, my name is Turner Brown.” The small white guy says, “Thank god, I thought you said ‘Turn around. ‘”
March 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Madeleine McCann Parents May Sue Express Newspapers Over Coverage
Last Edited: Friday, 07 Mar 2008, 8:00 AM EST
Created: Friday, 07 Mar 2008, 8:00 AM EST
03/07/2008 —
Lawyers for Kate and Gerry McCann are considering taking legal action against British newspapers whose coverage they feel to have been incorrect and unfair.
Principally they are looking at the publications in The Express Group: The Daily Express, The Sunday Express, The Daily Star and The Daily Star Sunday.
Clarence Mitchell, the spokesman for the McCann family, confirmed that their lawyers were in discussions, but denied that any writs had yet been issued.
“It’s wrong to say that we’re actually suing, but our lawyers have been assessing all articles, in all papers.
“We are extremely unhappy with The Express Group’s coverage. We always said it was the worst amongst all the tabloids.”
He also added that the figures that have been quoted in the media are wildly speculative and that The Express Group had made no initial offer for an out-of-court settlement.
Under UK law, the McCanns and their lawyers have a year from the publication of an article to decide whether they wish to take legal action against its content.
It is thought that in the case of the coverage they are assessing, that year would be up some time in mid-May, and a decision must be taken by then.
Clarence Mitchell denied the family were taking this action because the Find Madeleine fund was running low.
He said: “Yes, it’s true that the fund is roughly half-way spent, but the main thing we require is an apology.”
He added that any money won as a result of legal action would go straight back into the fund.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
285
Candy
This will be your married surname? I will train myself with stones in my mouth.I wont leave any stone unturned.Promised
Happy wedding then!
March 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
287 Brandon
Thanks
March 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
280 Gandolf
chastity belt then
no mercy 
March 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Congrats Candy!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Sometimes even THREE minutes is one heck of a long time
March 7th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
281 jo
In April
I can’t wait 
(well, we do live together for almost three years now, so nothing will change in practical terms - however, I will have pronounceable surname now ! 
anyone can pronounce that: w szebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie?
he he
March 7th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
280
Gandolf Says:
March 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Candy, its not his wedding ring you should be worrying about.
*****************
the priest then?
March 7th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Directly through the mobile phone provider. But there is also an “anti-crime” organisation who offers it (but obviously they also go through the providers). You obviously have to give your approval for the phone to be located upon request, but in the case of someone under 18 this right belongs to the parents.
I have a button on my phone which is programmed as a panic button, and if need be it can be pushed, and then five nominated people will receive a SMS giving them the exact location of my phone (this is also another option that we have over here).
March 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
275
yeah, that’s true - God, what people can do in three minutes
March 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
278
Candy
I know you are
When do you get wed then?
March 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Candy, its not his wedding ring you should be worrying about.
March 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
274
Karen
jajajajaja…yes I realised my mistake.Surely you have corrected
March 7th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
276 jo
I do not have any suspicions
I am joking 
March 7th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Karen
I know!
My childhood schemas for men has been flung into dissaray
March 7th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
273
Candy
Excellent idea.
ejem….why do you marry him if you are already suspicious?
March 7th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Candy,
Three minutes is a long time!
March 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Jo
What have they been doing to the doggies?
March 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
267 jo
I was thinking about some special alarm installed in his wedding ring; the moment he takes it off, local commandos strike force is being notified and he’s captured within 3 minutes
March 7th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
261
Julie
I tend to believe the priest is somehow involved.
Involved in NOT saying what he knows.
It wouldnt be the first time the church is involved in a doggy business is it?
March 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
266
SteveT
Not pin mate :chip for life
March 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
251
Julie
+++++
Through the mobile phone provider, or a private company?