
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





March 7th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Its sad that some people judge the appearance of a missing child and say unkind things. Shannon is not photogenic but she isnt ugly - just a kid. Her mother is a young woman who looks like her life has been tough and with 7 kids she probably has little time or money to spend on her looks. Most mothers of missing children are too distraught to worry about their hair, make up, earrings etc!
___________
M and A
So one would think.
Hopefully this all might signal the end of the age of celebs and cosmetics, and get down to some reality
The worsening financial status of the country may end the fantasy too
March 7th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
hi brandon flours if you still about just spent umpteen hours reading through back press eyes blown to bits
got to 14 discrepancies in KMs lines to the press there some real corkers (also found one from police saying they having problems over same thing)
decided to hand it to police and the press let them tear her apart over it so may be of some use if she said them means either she not shall we say of sound mind or she telling rather large pack off
if you want to find few yourself read all from the YEP and think about them as they themselves call them in
March 7th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Cheryl,
Thank you so much for your response!
The policeman well recognised the license, the only thing I can guess is that he deliberately did this (ticket) knowing that we have to leave and will not be able to come to court to dispute.
Were told in the court that the fine can be paid instead (and they even agreed to change the matter from “driving no license” to “not shown the license”, but today told again that attendance is needed!
Would the lawyer come to court (there will be no way to check it…)?
Sorry to bother you with that, just Mrs. Watson is in pieces…
March 7th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
did someone raise the question: “Who would you do: Kate or Karen?”
Mods and Admin
Sorry could you enlarge on that, say what you mean?
March 7th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
404
Candy Says:
March 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
**********
What a lovely, sensible and reasonable sentiment, Candy. That’s exactly what the McCs should have done to retain the respect and confidence of the public they are currently duping, IMO.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
541
Dr. Watson Says:
March 7th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Could anyone from US help please?
Sorry to be off topic - If a court appearance is needed to the US local court(the ticket says so) following a motor accident, is it possible that some representative comes instead of coming in person (a fine was issued for a driving offence that has not been committed)? Ple-please, nobody in the UK knows! The policeman looked at the license, gave it back and issued a fine for driving without license! Unbelievable…
_____
Contact a lawyer in the US and see if he’ll go in your stead or file papers for a postponement for you. Are you sure the ticket doesn’t give you the right to pay the fine instead? Do you have a foreign license and the policeman not recognize it as such?
March 7th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
The most recent news is that Mari Luz’s body was found floating near the oil tanker dock in Huelva. She was wearing the pink tights she was wearing the day she went missing and the body was at “an advanced stage of decomposition”. She had a heavy blow on the head. That, in summary, is about it for the moment. Terrible news.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
BREAKING VERY SAD NEWS
The cops have found Mari Luz body.
Sorry mates….2 months later
8 months later no Madeleine….?????
Ok…going to call them now.I am very very upset.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Brandon Flours you are a star
March 7th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
558 Dave
go to a new thread
March 7th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
March 7th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
March 7th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
555 Dave
Uuuuuuu :-lol
I am spooked.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
New thread.
March 7th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Candy, oooh spooky clunks round every corner…
March 7th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
BF
Post 551 was correcting 549 - wasnt just making a thinking smiley up ha ha! (this is where a laughing smiley would go down a treat)
March 7th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Cant seem to do them at all for fecks sake!
Off to pub
whoosh clunk…gone
March 7th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
cheshire set
you cant just make them up
March 7th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
*think*
March 7th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
JO :
Specialist dogs have found blood in a bath in the cellar at the former care home at the centre of a child abuse investigation in Jersey.
Cellar of former children’s home
The dogs indicated to two different spots within the concrete bath in the first room in the cellar at Haut de la Garenne.
Police in Jersey said: “Presumptive tests for blood have given a positive result.
“However, it must be stressed that although the presence of blood in the bath corroborates the allegations made by some victims, there could also be an innocent explanation.
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“The blood will now be forwarded to a laboratory in the UK for further examination.”
The investigation team is likely to gain access to the second cellar next week.
Police have confirmed 100 people claim they were abused at the home.
A total of 25 people are suspected of sex crimes and physical assaults, including senior members of staff and a former politician.
The remains of a child was found buried in a stairwell at the former children’s home last month.
More to follow…
March 7th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Jo
I thonk Clarrie is seeing pink shirts not elephants…
Maddie who?
March 7th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Stupid cow ( me )
: - ) without spaces
: lol : Without spaces
: cry : ditto
: - D
March 7th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Gggggrrrrrrrr cant do em
March 7th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
::-):
March 7th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
539
Cheshire Set
It seems clarrie is losing the plot.Seeing pink elephants and all….they dont know what to do anymore to be in the front page.
NOT a word about Madeleine of course
March 7th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
:
:
dont put spaces in though
March 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Now if I could just get to grips with them darned smileys I would be a happy gal
March 7th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
540
Julie
Sorry,story unavailable…says skynews
March 7th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
538
Cheshire Set
well spotted!
March 7th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Could anyone from US help please?
Sorry to be off topic - If a court appearance is needed to the US local court(the ticket says so) following a motor accident, is it possible that some representative comes instead of coming in person (a fine was issued for a driving offence that has not been committed)? Ple-please, nobody in the UK knows! The policeman looked at the license, gave it back and issued a fine for driving without license! Unbelievable…
March 7th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
OMG Look at this :
“Blood Found In Jersey Care Home Bath”
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1308500,00.html