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
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March 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
723
Julie
Its interesting, the Pro-McCann group are beginning to reveal their true colours, they do not appear to believe in parental responsibility.
This is despite earlier claims that ‘we all accept the neglect’.
Regarding libel actions, I’d love to see this go to court - there is no way the McCanns can allow it - I hope the Express Newspapers dont cave in and cut a deal. It is confusing though, as the media has been 103% behind the McCanns - what did they say that could have given the McCanns something to attack? Did they claim that the McCanns were good parents?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Ian
Is ‘fair comment’ comment still a defence in a libel? Or was it ever?
I would have thought that what the Express has said is fair comment.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
720
Gandolf - well done! You have learned since we had our disagreement about the caution!
Yes thats correct, in the US, the burden of proof in a libel suit lies with the plaintiff (in the UK now called the ‘claimant’). In Britain, it lies with the defendant.
Thats probably why we see some people on here getting confused.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
733 Julie Says:
“ONE guess Ferdinand, and no reading back on the posts
”
I think I remember now. I wanted to answer first that I travelled with a friend when we were 15 in a foreign country. But that was in the Netherlands.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
732 see 730
March 11th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Julie - re 733
I know I know (I’m jumping up and down excitedly hand in the air…)
March 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Val - strange eh?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
ONE guess Ferdinand, and no reading back on the posts
March 11th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
721 Dave
Just read the Report on Sky News. It”s not certain he committed suicide, apparently,
he was out walking in Snowdonia, his family raised the alarm and his body was found
at the bottom of a cliff.
March 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
723 Julie Says:
“I challenge ANY mother to leave their 15 year old alone in my country (and I consider us to be a more civilized country than India), and I can guarantee you that this teenager will not last 12 hours on our streets!! They WILL be raped and/or murdered - and this is a cold, hard fact!”
What is your country?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
“Yesterday our Chief Constable Michael Todd was off duty walking in Snowdonia. Last night we became concerned for his welfare and as a result searches started to find him.
“These searches have continued today and unfortunately this afternoon a body has been found. I believe that it is Michael but we have not been able to formal identify him at this time.
“The weather conditions are extremely bad at the moment and are hindering our inquiries. There will be a coroner’s investigation which means I can’t say anymore at this time.
“As you can imagine all of his friends and colleagues are extremely upset. Our hearts and thoughts are with his family, and I would ask that they be left in peace to come to terms with this tragic shock.”
Greater Manchester Police, Chester House, Boyer Street, Manchester, M16 0RE, 0161 872 5050
March 11th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Sorry Julie - couldn’t resis
March 11th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
647 Supporter
I am 103% sure that I dont belong t ay set you would know…Not one of my friends or aquantancies belive that child neglect is ok…..
March 11th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
A South African that whispers?
It beggars belief ;-)O
March 11th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
723 Julie
My elderly dad still phones all his kids when he hears there will be ice on the roads in the morning!
March 11th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
701
March 11th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Administrator: You whisper the sweetest things -agw
———————————
OMG …. am I headed for the chill room
March 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1308775,00.html
“Mother’s Anger Over Negligence Inquiry”
I’m going to give my 20c now over Scarlett Keeling’s mother. (I did bring this up over the weekend, but no-one wanted to discuss it).
My question then was (and still is) - “should there not be culpability from the mother?”
And yes, I am very, very glad to see that the Indian police ARE in fact investigating her for negligence. She WAS negligent in leaving her daughter in the care of others in a FOREIGN country!!
I challenge ANY mother to leave their 15 year old alone in my country (and I consider us to be a more civilized country than India), and I can guarantee you that this teenager will not last 12 hours on our streets!! They WILL be raped and/or murdered - and this is a cold, hard fact!
Where does the responsibility of being a parent stop? In my mind … NEVER! You do not leave your children at the mercy of the unknown. When they become adults themselves, you can advise them of experiences that you have had, although at this stage you cannot force your authority down on them. I have yet to come across one adult who is wiser than their own parents!!!
March 11th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Good luck against Blackpool :_)
March 11th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Goodnight Brandon
Chief COnstable of GMP is found dead…
March 11th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Brandon flours, you surprise me sweetheart, “”its only libel if its not true and we all know it is”"
You have to prove its true, the plaintiff need prove nothing.
Administrator: By George! I think he’s got it! -agw
March 11th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
709 Scarlett Says:
“And there lies the Catch 22. If the info is accurate, it could potentially help any suspects prepare their case. If the info is inaccurate, what is the poster’s motivation?”
There could be a motivation to post either accurate or inaccurate information. From this we can conclude that any posted info may intentionally either be correct or not.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
717 Julie
Yes, I agree with you.
And, incidentally, I realise it is a failing of mine but, Coco, some of your imagery has made me feel totally sick. To the point that I have been unable to eat. So I’m off again for a while.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
· 679
coco Says:
March 11th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Just needed to see how far he would go before the mods blocked him coz I think he’s a dangerous personality to be on here.
————————————————
coco, in defence of Gandy here … we’ve managed to calm him from what he used to be, he’s actually a pleasure to have around nowadays, there are FAR more dangerous personalities lurking here, just wait a while and you will see them crawling out from every filthy corner!!
Administrator: You whisper the sweetest things -agw
March 11th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
715 brandon flours
Sorry! Just when you said come on the rrrrrrrrs, hubby mad on them and watching them later
March 11th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
?????? WTF!!!!
No QPR !!
Have to go!!
March 11th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
713 brandon flours
Are you a liverpool fan?
March 11th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
its only libel if its not true and we all know it is
Eddie Eddie Eddie WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!
March 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
val, no they don’t sue the sources, they sue the paper for repeating the libel, and every time a libel is repeated it is actionable.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
batman
Night ! Thanks for asking after him