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 2:16 pm
Just_me, obviously in Shannon’s case, she could not speak at home about what was bothering her, and perhaps she had no teacher that she felt comfortable enough to confide in (perhaps this other kid wasn’t the only one bullying her?).
March 7th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Phew!
Have just caught up with yesterday & today’s posts, inbetween phone calls & emails.
Maybe it would have been best if I were banned. Only joking!!
Thanks again just-me
Re bullying, which I detest….when my son was little & started school as a rising 5 an older boy (in the top year) used to beat him up. I went to the head that insisted bullying didn’t happen in her school. A lovely part time teacher was however interested & asked me to point out the child. The heads attitude was that this ”poor” boy was from a broken home & we should feel sorry for him!!
Years later this boy saw my son in a pub & said Hi do you remember me we were at the same school? My son said said yes I do, you bullied me. The ”poor” boy turned red & left.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
364 Candy Says:
“The fund has been set up for the purpose of finding Madeleine, but as this objective has not been met and it does not seem it will, I think they should consider passing it to someone else.”
I don’t think it should be their decision to declare the search over as long as there is no justification for that. Apart from that, I think they would be the last to give up anyway.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
378 Julie - Why do these kids feel they cant talk to anyone? I cant comprehend it, probably because my family is very close and we can confide in each other about anything… I can understand some kids not talking to their parents, as my friends daughters always come to me, but to not have anyone is awful. Dont the teachers notice anything? of friends of the family? why does nobody notice and take action when a child looks sad or down in the dumps?
March 7th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
367 Julie
BTW, all this money collecting is not consistent with their ‘faith’. People, who really do have faith - whatever religion - very often (of course, not always) have an attitude like
‘I put my trust in God and I believe that whatever happens it’s for the best. I am not worrying about anything, as it is in His hands and He will find the way’.
They like to be perceived as people of faith, but nothing they’ve done so far proved that.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
377
Ferdinand Says:
March 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I expect that money gained from compromises with the press as well as gained from book deals etc will be given to charities
————————————————–
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91248-1308414,00.html
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.
STRAIGHT BACK INTO THE FUND!!!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
test
March 7th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
379
just_me
+++++++
If i put my name in capitals will it get me binned DCB (and not deb either)
March 7th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
And more here about the McConn -v- Excess story:
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5964866&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.4.1
March 7th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Clarence says the Mcs lawyers will be looking at all articles in all papers not just the Express. How many apologies £££££ are they actually potentially looking at???
March 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
dcd - I know,
March 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
It’s so sad that kids like this feel that there’s no-one that they can confide in, and then resort to drastic measures, when if they’d had someone that they could talk to who could have helped them, a lot of heartbreak would have been prevented!
March 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
358 just_me Says:
“Ferdinand - I honestly believe, that a majority of people who gave to the fund, didnt realise it would go towards mortgage payments and the like, they probably thought it would pay for search teams and possibly accomodation for the McCanns in portugal”
I expect that money gained from compromises with the press as well as gained from book deals etc will be given to charities and more than compensate the two mortgage rates. So for me the mortgage story is kind of bad PR, but practically no issue.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
374
just_me
+++++++
And the two year old calls out for her
Never heard anything like this from the twins.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Just_me/dcb
They were comparing it to the McCann case - so I think that’s why it ended up being so mean about it.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Shannons best friend was sitting on the school bench on her own as Shannon was they only friend she had….that is heartbreaking
March 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Nope sorry, sorry no chat up line there, but you’ll be sorry that it wasn’t! Sorry
March 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Sorry if this has already been posted. I have only read the first few postings but noticed the one from Private Eye.
Have you seen this from Sky News: http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91248-1308414,00.html?f=rss
…………………………
Alistair Bunkall
Sky News reporter Updated:13:04, Friday March 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.
Gerry and Kate McCannPrincipally 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.”
snip
……………………………………..
March 7th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
363
brandon flours Says:
god now you asking ok climbs to top of diving board head dives into the world off google to find all old press releases im going in wheres me googles
March 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Are the 10 days up on Tuesday?
March 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Perhaps they need the money so that they can start looking for her.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
364
Candy
+++++
Interest rates falling, stocks and shares collapsing - I would recommend buying gold at the moment.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Candy, very doubtful in my mind that they’re going to let that cash go, now that they’ve worked so hard for it
IMO!
March 7th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
349 pppy
I am really surprised they have a time and energy for that.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
julie ,,
or was that chat up line if so ill get in car now
March 7th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
353 Ferdinand
The fund has been set up for the purpose of finding Madeleine, but as this objective has not been met and it does not seem it will, I think they should consider passing it to someone else. Should the keep the money for the next 30 years?
March 7th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Sorry
Do you have any sources? links for this?
March 7th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
hello julie no i not wrong on all counts there im affraid
March 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Errrm …. “sorry” - you don’t happen to be a single male in the south of London do you???
March 7th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
359 Julie - if it wasnt so tragic it would be a silver lining