Madeleine McCann And Shannon Matthews: Pets And Parents, The Sun Raises And A Disco
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann and Shannon Matthews
DAILY MIRROR: “McCanns diver fury”
Always “fury”.
Kate and Gerry McCann reacted with fury yesterday after divers began a second search of a reservoir for Madeleine’s body.
The couple told friends the search - funded by a Portuguese lawyer who they claim is a “fantasist” seeking publicity - is a distraction from the hunt.
Marcos Aragao Correia claims crime contacts told him she was killed and left in the lake two days after going missing.
Says a McCann “source”: “There’s no evidence Madeleine is in that reservoir. They believe she is alive and are concentrating on finding her.”
IRISH INDEPENDENT: “Divers search remote Algarve lake for Maddy.”
Says Mr Aragao: “If I was Madeleine’s parents, I’d want to be helped. It may not be the outcome they want if I find Madeleine, but it’s important for them that they find out what happened to her and recover her body if she is dead. There may be genetic evidence on the corpse that could help the police discover who killed her.”
Indeed. Any more clues? Can the paper help?
A Portuguese lorry driver told Metodo 3 he saw the German girlfriend of Madeleine suspect Robert Murat handing over a child in a blanket to a mystery man in Silves, a five-minute drive from the reservoir, on May 5 last year.
Michaela Walczuch has claimed she is being framed to protect the McCanns and denied any involvement in their daughter’s disappearance. She has never been made an official suspect and has only ever been quizzed as a witness.
So why mention it?
THE SUN: “Stepfather is innocent says Shannon’s dad”
A picture of Craig Meehan, Shannon’s stepfather
Says he: “I’ve never hit Karen (Shannon’s mother) or any of the children. We play about, as you do, but have a brilliant relationship.”
Says Shannon’s father Leon Rose: “I don’t believe it. “I’m horrified anyone would suggest that. They got on really well. I was not around for some years and he has been a real dad to her. If there had been any problems I am sure she would have told me.”
What of mum? “Karen, meanwhile, has told how Shannon’s pet dog Scania is pining for her. She said: ‘Scania won’t keep still.’”
Watching the parents. Watching the family. Watching the pets.
DAILY MIRROR: “I’VE TOLD THE KIDS SHANNON’S GONE AWAY ON HOLIDAY.”
A friend said: “Every time little Courtney sees a picture of Shannon in the paper or on the TV she points at it and says her sister’s name. Karen can’t bear the thought of telling her Shannon has disappeared so she has said she’s on holiday. “She has got so much to worry about already that she just can’t risk upsetting Courtney.”
Watching the parents. Watching the family. Watching the children.
Yesterday, Karen tried going in to Shannon’s bedroom for the first time since the nine-year-old went missing three weeks ago after a school swimming trip in Dewsbury, West Yorks. But she was overcome with emotion.
We are watching the parents. Watching the family. Looking through windows. Looking through walls.
An anonymous donor has given £10,000 to the appeal to find her.
DAILY EXPRESS: “SHANNON REWARD INCREASED TO £50,000”
The Sun has up its reward from £20,000 - to £50,000. But if a reward of £2.5million has not been not enough to find Madeleine McCann, what good is $50,000?
How is the reward amount set? Is consideration given to the victim’s social status, the competition for headlines, exchange rates?
Leon Rose, Shannon’s father: “No-one can imagine the agonies we are going through. She is a wonderful daughter and we need her home. We are desperate to have her back and we thank The Sun for helping.”
An offer from the heart? Or a hollow offer, a PR-induced offer to get the Sun mentioned?
DEWSBURY REPORTER: “SHANNON MATTHEWS LATEST”
4.07pm - A family disco is being held to raise funds for the Shannon Matthews appeal. It will be on Thursday March 13 from 7pm to 10pm at Staincliffe Cricket Club.
A disco for a missing child. Her face at the disco. Her face on the wall.
2.23pm - A sponsored walk to raise money for the Shannon Matthews appeal has been announced. It will begin at 6pm tomorrow (Tuesday) at Moorside Road.
Posted: 11th, March 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (980) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
March 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
THAT does it Ferdinand! You people are going to make me get a warning here for screeching on the job
March 11th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
More “Troll” references….
http://forums.station.sony.com/mxo/posts/list.m?topic_id=12200012985
March 11th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I wonder why no-one has trained freshwater dolphins to search dams etc for bodies (patent pending)
March 11th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
375 Julie Says:
” WHAT sad news Ferdinand?
(The people at work think I’m crying!!) ”
Allegedly they found a second sock - but then it has turned out they don’t match…
March 11th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
366 Ferdinand
Thank God for your correction - I was wondering……….
March 11th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
WHAT sad news Ferdinand?
(The people at work think I’m crying!!)
March 11th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Thats ok Julie
My poor boy!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Matt - I’d hate to think. I am feeling self-conscious enough!!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
364…Dave
That is one description.
Other’s are even more scathing.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Highly unlikely BF!! Probably something he’s eaten, usually takes a few hours!
I’m sorry, I have tears streaming down my face at the moment, not coz your little one’s sick, but just the thought - no truly, I’m not laughing at your little one at all.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
322 julie
well it was sunny until i posted the word here
the sun shone on the hippies yesterday afternoon
wonderful
we sat outside the pub and watched 1969 walk by
even hummed some pink floyd
marvellous fun
off to the “p” city - the one with the 70-year-old para at the helm
see ya all later
March 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
BF - oh dear. Sorry to hear that. I hope the pig is ok. He probably thought ‘din-dins’ …
I doubt he would have caught something of the animals this quickly but the stench may have made him queazy.
He needs to be a batchelor then he’d be used to it!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
OMG, wrong smiley! I meant
March 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
He said he hated the smell and …………RALPH
Tell me if I need to worry about diseases
????
March 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Seems there is some very sad news from the search of the dam.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
jo362
:) 
:) 
:) 
:) 
:) 
March 11th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Matt - thanks for that. I see that a troll is “someone who posts controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages“.
Oh heck, I feel a confession coming…
March 11th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Julie
If he picked up something from one of the animals it wouldnt happen that quickly would it?
He’s asleep on the sofa now.
I hate the smell of dettol
March 11th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
355
Bâtman
I thought so.
I am trying to find the link mentioning the PJ arriving in the uk today!
I cant have dreamt it!I do not like to say things I cant prove
March 11th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
357 Julie
Glad you wrote that! I was just about to post enquiring whether the pig was okay but thought better of it!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Brandon
(a) can he projectile vomite
(b) can he do it at will
Might be handy for pinkie’s next McLove-In
March 11th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
350
just_me
++++++
Yeah i can’t see a way around that unless it is linked to some “time limit” i.e a child should be reported after x minutes/hours late.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
353…Dave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
March 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
OMG BF, I’m at work, and not supposed to be screeching hysterically with laughter!! The poor pig
March 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Dave - did you get the email
March 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
341 jo
Good article. Raises all those awkward questions again.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Dave I had to pick up a sick son from school, he puked up over the petting zoo pig.
March 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
What exactly is a troll and do they have the capacity to think and type?
March 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
343
mary
before they go to jail or after or while?
I think they need primal therapy and badly
March 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I brought up the Goan thing due to the negligence charges!