Shannon Matthews: The McCanns, A Shameless Scam And Paul Donovan
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Shannon Matthews
THE STAR: “SHANNON SNATCH ‘SCAM’”
A scam? Who would have thought it?
The mum of Shannon Matthews has allegedy confessed that her daughter’s abduction was just a Shameless scam.
Sobbing Karen Matthews, 32, was arrested on suspicion of perverting justice after reportedly telling a woman detective she had known where Shannon was all along.
Shameless? Ashamed?
In an episode of the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless, screened just four weeks before Shannon vanished, family head Frank Gallagher’s teenage daughter Debbie staged the fake kidnap of her younger brother Liam in a bid to pocket a £500,000 ransom.
“Missing” Liam – played by Johnny Bennett, nine, – was hidden by Debbie (Rebecca Ryan, 16) at a pal’s home just down the road.
Missing children are a form of entertainment.
DAILY EXPRESS: “MUM: ‘I ALWAYS KNEW WHERE SHANNON WAS’”
The mother of kidnap girl Shannon Matthews has allegedly told police: “I knew where she was, right from day one.”
And the McCanns..?
A spokesman for the McCanns confirmed they had received approaches from “people purporting to be members of Shannon’s family” for donations from the Find Madeleine Fund, but said it had been decided not to get involved.
But the McCanns did get involved.
Gerry and Kate were “deeply concerned” at the plight of Shannon’s family. Kate, 39, said: “My heart goes out to them. We always hoped and prayed that no other family would have to suffer like we have.”
And singer Leona Lewis seized the moment to make an appeal.
THE SUN: “’Family’ beg from McCanns”
Kate and Gerry McCann got a string of emails and letters demanding financial help to find Shannon, nine. One man even turned up on their doorstep claiming he represented her family.
Karen Matthews has seven children by five men. Which man was it who turned up?
A source close to the couple said: “Kate and Gerry were getting ready to go to church. He opened the door to find this man who basically demanded cash.
“Gerry was stunned. It was as if he thought he was just going to pull out a cheque book.
“When he explained that the fund is governed by trustees who approve all expenditure, the man got annoyed and said, ‘But I’ve driven all the way from Dewsbury.’
“Kate and Gerry found it quite disturbing. They didn’t even know if these people were who they said they were, and what the cash would actually be used for.”
DAILY MAIL: “Did Shannon’s mother invent kidnap to make money… and base it on TV drama Shameless?”
Well…
It was revealed that Miss Matthews had wanted to leave 22-year-old fishmonger Craig Meehan and had spoken to his uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, who offered her a place to stay. She has denied having an affair with Donovan.
When he allegedly picked up Shannon on February 19, Miss Matthews is said to have “bottled it” and reported Shannon missing instead.
Which, if true, rather put Mr Donovan in an awkward position? But he did, allegedly, have plenty of room, a compact bedroom for Shannon – a room in an actual divan bed…
A source told the Daily Mail: “Her friends started asking her about apparent inconsistencies in her story. They asked her several questions, hoping she would dispel the rumours.
“Then, one of her friends said she had had enough and wanted to know what really happened. She put it to her that she knew right from the very start where Shannon was and who she was with.“At that moment Karen apparently broke down in tears and was shaking uncontrollably.”
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “Shannon Matthews’ mother ‘may have copied TV kidnap plot’”
The Daily Telegraph understands that officers are examining alleged similarities between Shannon’s disappearance and a storyline from the Channel 4 drama series Shameless shown in the month before the nine-year-old vanished.
In it, the teenage daughter of Frank Gallagher, the head of a dysfunctional family, staged the fake kidnap of his youngest son, Liam, in an attempt to obtain a £500,000 ransom. All along, Liam was hidden a few doors away with a friend of his sister.
A missing child. Money. Reward. A kind of fame? A TV entertainment show or a TV news else?
It has emerged that police are examining allegations that people claiming to be connected to Shannon’s family asked for donations from the fund set up to find Madeleine McCann, the four-year-old who vanished from a Portuguese holiday apartment last May. A spokesman for her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, said they had received “a number of approaches” for aid from the Find Madeleine Fund from purported representatives of the Matthews family.
THE TIMES: “Karen Matthews ‘told friends she knew where Shannon was from start’”
Ms Matthews is said to have told her friends that as the hours after her daughter’s disappearance turned into days, “everything got out of control and she didn’t know how to stop it” because she was too ashamed to tell the truth.
Mr Donovan, a former computer programmer, is understood to have maintained from the day of his arrest that other members of Shannon’s family, including the girl’s mother, had known that she was with him.
THE INDEPENDENT: “Shannon’s mother arrested as abduction inquiry widens”
Ms Matthews’ cousin, Vicky Saunders, said the arrest had come as a shock to the community. “I was just shocked. I can’t believe it myself,” she said. “I was with Karen when Shannon first went missing, I went and helped, she was in a state.”
Ms Saunders described Ms Matthews as a loving mother. “She loves all her kids no matter what. It’s just upsetting,” she said.
She added that the community was “sticking together like we did when she went missing.” “Everybody is just all shocked and can’t believe it. I’m still there for all the family and the kids,” she said. “She knows I’m always here for her, being a cousin of hers. Unless anyone’s been charged or proven I’m still sticking by everybody. We’re still all friends on this street.”
Posted: 8th, April 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (202) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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April 9th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
200
paul Says:
April 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
scum, this is the the whole reason why i am moving to new zealand to get away from what the uk has turned into
………………………………….
Wait for me !! …my son is over there, he has lived there five years, he had to come back to the UK for a Concerence November before last and was gobsmacked at what a shite-hole this place has turned into and couldn’t wait to get on the plane to get away from here… We have been twice and are planning to go again but I think we will be looking for a job there the way things are going to the dogs here !!
April 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Karen Matthews - What were you thinking of………
April 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
scum, this is the the whole reason why i am moving to new zealand to get away from what the uk has turned into
April 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Once again the old adage is appropriate: “Money is the root of all evil.” A pity therefore that these awful people were not sufficiently intelligent to realise that police officers would quickly see through their lies and half-witted plans. However, it has brought into sharp focus the fact that those who claim that there are ‘paedophiles and child abductors’ on every street corner are sadly misguided. THe plain fact is that most paedophile activity goes on in the home and classroom by dysfunctional families and dirty teachers. Yet these are the very people who are constantly bleating about ‘child protection issues.’
April 9th, 2008 at 10:32 am
see yas later
have fun watching them suffer
April 9th, 2008 at 10:30 am
have to go out soon and was plucking yesterday - sadly missed the fun.
i love this pj proposal of a reconstruction on pdl.
of course to a family who want to co-operate and concentrate on finding their missing child this is a very sensible and welcome idea.
to some odiates who just want to clear their name - this is not a good idea, of course
pj have them in a win-win situation
if they agree their lies will be exposed
if they do not agree it is clear the do not want to co-operate and have a big secret to hide.
it’s fun fun fun
and squirm squirm squirm
:smiley for arrogant lowlife squirming:
such enjoyable sport
April 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am
mornin’ all
so it looks like groups of family and friends can come up with money-making scams involving alleged abduction of children and fake tv interviews.
but we knew that in may last year of course
brilliant fun and much suffering to come yet
excellent sport
i’m really enjoying this
April 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Charged with Child neglect.
Come on Clarrie. Spin that one !
April 9th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Things don’t look good for Karen Matthews do they. Yet, her friend says she, Karen, was in a state when Shannon first went missing. The friend even helped Karen search. Wonder If the mother was put up to it, then had second thoughts.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Where the goddam to hell is everyone. All running scared. I think not. More like a thread upon a thread but there has been too many threads. Dare, I say it… stand and be counted, I think not….. many apologies for the bad translation(s)
Mrs A Connery
April 9th, 2008 at 12:19 am
It will be interesting to find out the neglect details!
April 8th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Hurray!
What Mitchell claims minus spin indicates that police require them to return to Portugal!!!! In my honest opinion only of course!
April 8th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
…. and CHILD NEGLECT.
That is the important one
April 8th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
The revelation that Shannon may not have been kidnapped at all casts some doubt on other cases… if her mother, boyfriend and his family could act so very well for the cameras, who is to say others can’t?
Just a thought.
Oh, and the reconstruction? Just a way to view their reactions reliving the night she went missing. See how good their acting abilities are. I guess. But who am I to read the PJ’s mind?
April 8th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
BBC News website:
(snippet) “The mother of Shannon Matthews has been charged in connection with the nine-year-old’s disappearance.
Karen Matthews, 32, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, faces charges of child neglect and perverting the course of justice.
Shannon vanished on 19 February and was found 24 days later after one of the largest missing person hunt’s West Yorkshire Police had ever conducted. “
April 8th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Clearance M interviewed just now on PM Radio 4. He sounded very dubious and suspicious about PJ request for a reconstruction in PDL. Team MCann were wondering about the value of this, UNLESS it was televised for a mass audience, aiming to jog memories. He could not rule it out but did not think it likely to happen for anniversary (That would be macarbe if televised and the sort of thing you expect Team MCCann to come up with not PJ). But PJ probbably do not intend beaming it out to millions of viewers but instead check timelines and testimonies and watch reactions. IMO whatever way it would be played it would be very heavy emotionally.
Clearance was also asked about Shannon Matthews family members begging for money. C would not touch request for money with a ‘bargepole’ and was suspicious of illiterate emails and agressive visit from one person. But he came across as mean by not willing to support the Find-Shannon missing campaign.
Perhaps all this has been heard today but one interesting news item was the Clearance has released this information to the police in the last 48 hours? why not before? How right Anorak were to link these cases.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I’m sure this won’t apply to anyone here (?) but I’ve seen plenty of comments about how the ‘genuine’ grief on Karen Matthews face showed up the ‘obvious fakery’ elsewhere. So I’m wondering just where this latest news leaves such posters!
Chrissy (who thinks maybe she should stay on the fence a while yet)
April 8th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
SC46
357
SC46 Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Nosey - always good to squeeze in anothjer couple…
————————————————————————–
359
brandon flours Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
sc46
Do you swing?
April 8th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Seven children by five men…..oh my, Pitty’s head is spinning……one woman, one mate - that’s the way it is done…..wolves mate for life but then again life expectancy is very very short in the wilds……..
Shameless Scam - well even the worst of the worst wants a piece of the action, and Pitty says why not, one shameless scam artist robbing another - works for Pitty!
April 8th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Carmen
Sorry I was thinking out loud again I was trying to find a silver lining
April 8th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
166 Pamela
A year later seems very appropriate to me. Same light conditions for the photos, the Tanner sighting, etc.
But, unfortunately, it’s probably spin.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Brandon Flours
This is not a suitable subject for discussion. Take care.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
180
brandon flours
++++++++++
There was never any allegation that she was as far as i know.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Madeleine®
April 8th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
175
Indiansummer Says:
April 8th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
CM;Source Daily Mail
“‘Going to Portugal would send out the strongest possible message that Madeleine could still be alive and the search for her should continue. The family feel the focus should be on finding Madeleine. ”
And Now
Leicester Mercury today
“Portuguese police have asked the parents of missing Madeleine® McC. if they would consider taking part in a reconstruction of the night she disappeared.
The news comes as British officers began questioning members of the Tapas Seven - friends of the McCanns who dined with the couple when Madeleine® vanished.
Three Portuguese detectives, led by Paulo Rebelo, are sitting in on the interviews, believed to be with friends Jane Tanner and her partner Russell O’Brien, at Leicestershire Constabulary’s headquarters in Enderby.
Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ spokesman, has said the couple will not return to Portugal on May 3 - the anniversary of Madeleine®’s disappearance - if they remain arguidos.
What do You mean,Mr. Mitchell ???
In the later afternoon today
Source Sky News
McCanns Consider Portugal Return
The McCanns would welcome a televised reconstruction to help find their daughter Madeleine®, according to their spokesman Clarence Mitchell. He told Sky News the family were still considering a request by Portuguese authorities to return to the country.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
ffs, they are only interested in trying to forward their careers. Highlighting the need for amber alerts and the like…..why dont they just get on and search for their own daughter? and as for Clarrie, well, cant comment on this, cant comment on that….You are in UK Clarrie, out of Portuguese jurisdiction, you can comment!!!!!!!
Steve I love you cockney…..martin brunt lol
April 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
There have been suggestions that the Taparazi didn’t go alone to attend today’s interviews by leics cops whilst the PJs observe.
There’s been some pretty convinced posters in other fora claiming that the legal team of the tapas gang are with the interviewees. All voluntary of course… to cooperate… to help find madeleine… naturally.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
CM;Source Daily Mail
“‘Going to Portugal would send out the strongest possible message that Madeleine could still be alive and the search for her should continue. The family feel the focus should be on finding Madeleine. ”
And Now
Leicester Mercury today
“Portuguese police have asked the parents of missing Madeleine® McC. if they would consider taking part in a reconstruction of the night she disappeared.
The news comes as British officers began questioning members of the Tapas Seven - friends of the McCanns who dined with the couple when Madeleine® vanished.
Three Portuguese detectives, led by Paulo Rebelo, are sitting in on the interviews, believed to be with friends Jane Tanner and her partner Russell O’Brien, at Leicestershire Constabulary’s headquarters in Enderby.
Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ spokesman, has said the couple will not return to Portugal on May 3 - the anniversary of Madeleine®’s disappearance - if they remain arguidos.
What do You mean,Mr. Mitchell
April 8th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
The word in Portugal is that the reconstruction discussion was “allegedly mentioned by the PJ to the Portuguese lawyer of the McCanns some months ago”.
But guess what… the portuguese press confirms that there’s never been a “formal request” for the McCanns to return and make this reconstruction.
Interstingly all portuguese media (and british media) seem to have received this information from a “source” and at around the same time… IMO the PJ’s lack of PR ability leaves not doubt as to who the “source” may be.
Smells like spin? Tastes like spin? Looks like spin? Must be clarence.
.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Shannon case:
“Detectives are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests in the days and weeks ahead.”
April 8th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
prefer donuts