The Mystery of Ben Needham

I'm reading the book published last year by Ben's mother, Kerry.

It is hard not to make comparisons between the treatment which his family received and that of the McCanns. Even allowing for some exaggeration on Kerry's part, they were treated abominably by the Greek authorities and even the British Embassy and were forced to abandon their own searches and return to England as they were destitute.

There is also the case nearly 10 years earlier of Katrice Lee, whom many people won't even have heard of.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-16928490

I don't remember any publicity about that case at the time.

Whatever is it about the McCanns that makes them and their missing child be treated in a way unlike any others?

I read it some time ago too. She has shown such courage and determination and I admire her restraint when she refers to the McCanns, I wonder how she really feels about them. 

It's interesting how she promotes him with such a limited budget and over the years has superimposed his image with the grown up photofit to ensure that people might still notice him. IMO it's the clearest indicator that the McCanns don't ever expect to see Madeleine again. 

He seemed like such a cute little boy, such a tragedy.

http://www.itv.com/lorraine/hot-topics/ben-needham-mum-sister-kerry-leighanna

Ben's mother talking to Lorraine Kelly today. I haven't been able to watch it because of the dreaded Lorraine but perhaps the rest of you have stronger stomachs.

Freedom wrote:http://www.itv.com/lorraine/hot-topics/ben-needham-mum-sister-kerry-leighanna

Ben's mother talking to Lorraine Kelly today. I haven't been able to watch it because of the dreaded Lorraine but perhaps the rest of you have stronger stomachs.

No - sorry.

When the words 'kelly' and 'lorraine' mix together then my stomach is all over the place.

Ben Needham ‏@FindBenNeedham 17 mins17 minutes ago
@TheSunNewspaper isn't it time you covered Ben Needham lack of funds for an active investigation?NOT 1 INVESTIGATOR activ working 2 find Ben

Freedom wrote:http://www.itv.com/lorraine/hot-topics/ben-needham-mum-sister-kerry-leighanna

Ben's mother talking to Lorraine Kelly today. I haven't been able to watch it because of the dreaded Lorraine but perhaps the rest of you have stronger stomachs.

Constitution of an ox here - selective hearing helping too

Kerry came across extremely well, just asking Cameron to afford her search similar resources to those afforded the doctors.

'It's only fair'

and so it blooming is

Happy birthday Ben - on the 29th - wherever you are

I also read Kerry Needham's book "Ben" and noticed the huge difference between it and "madeleine"(not even a capital letter for her name). Kerry is amazing,still trying to find out what happened to her beautiful son and has to have car boot sales to raise funds to continue her search whilst the McCann's have two police forces " looking" for Madeleine. It's so unfair that she had no help while everyone was falling over themselves to help the McCann's. Kate's book is very cold and had no real detail about Madeleine, in Kerry's book her maternal love and pride for her son is clearly seen. I hope Kerry will be reunited with Ben someday soon and that the McCann's finally get justice too. IMHO

Agreed - Madeleine was absent in the book - it was all about damage limitation and assuaging of guilt for Kate.

I too wish Kerry all the very best - that lady has been through the mill - and to be so composed and positive after all those years - hats off to her.

Today, in the Guardain. http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/15/ben-needham-family-to-sue-home-office



Lawyers for the Needham family are preparing to go to the high court to force the home secretary to make a decision on the application for financial support.

The Home Office has spent more than £7m on the investigation being run by the Metropolitan police into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, officials said on Friday. British officers were in Portugal this week supporting their Portuguese counterparts as they interrogated 11 individuals – seven Portuguese and four Britons – as part of the investigation.

The money being sought by South Yorkshire police is understood to be a sum in thousands not millions.

Ben's mum sues for 'Maddie style' cop hunt


THE family of missing Ben Needham are demanding the Government should fund a Madeleine McCann style police hunt for him.

By Jerry Lawton / Published 16th December 2014



Police chiefs asked for Home Office cash 10 months ago to hunt for the tot who vanished on the island of Kos in 1991. But no resources have been set aside – despite a £10million bill for the continuing hunt for Maddie in Portugal.

Now lawyers for the Needhams are preparing to go to the High Court to force Home Secretary Theresa May, 58, to make a decision on funding. Ben’s grandmother Christine said: “We feel ignored and abandoned by the Government.

It’s very difficult.” Ben was just 21 months old when he vanished on Kos while mum Kerry, now 42, was working at a local hotel. A Home Office spokesman confirmed that South Yorkshire Police had made a request for funding and said: “This is under consideration.”



http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/415526/Maddie-cop-hunt-Ben-s-mum

I hope this makes front page news.     Let's hope the threat of a court case gets it all moving.

I feel so dreadfully sorry for Kerry, a woman who has always portrayed dignity in what is such an incredibly frustrating situation here.
How heartbreaking it must be for her to read of the McCanns, all their tv appearances, photoshoots, the Fund, all the assistance (govt and otherwise) they have been given, and she has had zilch -         .

It makes me so very, very, angry, but I dearly hope she knows that we have not forgotten Ben nor her plight.

The Home Secretary will have some considerable difficulty with this.

'Doing a McCann' The careing doctors who left three babies home alone night after night whilst gorging on tapas food and wine and getting into their friends whilst somehow managing to run around like jack rabbits checking their kin every few minutes ! Get £10 mill + rising at some considerable rate.

V

Caring dignified parent who lost her child through no fault of her own gets treated like crap.

One thing for sure, they are going to have to come up with something, because Kerry's not going to just shut up and go away.

Ben Needham ‏@FindBenNeedham · 6m6 minutes ago
******Breaking News *****

Home Office has granted SY Police funding to investigate disappearance of Ben Needham






Ben Needham ‏@FindBenNeedham · 40s40 seconds ago
Exclusive: Major development in hunt for Ben Needham @FindBenNeedham #FindBenNeedham http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2015-01-06/major-development-in-hunt-for-ben-needham/ …"

Yeah, bout time too!

Great news, his mum must be so relieved to have help at last. It's an absolute scandal she has been ignored for so long.

(This wouldn't have anything to do with an upcoming election would it ?)

6 January 2015 at 3:49pm  

Exclusive: Major development in hunt for Ben Needham


There's been a major development in the search for missing Ben Needham as the Home Office announces it's to fund all further investigations. It follows years of pleas from the family for help from the British Government after the toddler, from Sheffield, went missing 24 years ago on the Greek island of Kos.




Ben Needham: Missing for 24 years  


Last updated Tue 6 Jan 2015

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2015-01-06/major-development-in-hunt-for-ben-needham/

Very good news and i hope SY have 35 staff ready for the job.Maybe there will be a few going spare soon now the Maddie case is moving on a bit !

Hallelujah! what ever the reason.

Home Office agrees to fund missing Ben Needham investigations

There's been a major development in the search for missing Ben Needham as the Home Office announces it's to fund all further investigations. It follows years of pleas from the family for help from the British Government after the toddler, from Sheffield, went missing 24 years ago on the Greek island of Kos.

6 January 2015 at 6:08pm
Ben Needham funding will help police investigate new leads
The Home Office has announced that funding is to be made available to investigate leads in the case of Ben Needham, who disappeared from a Greek island 24 years ago. The funding, thought to be around £600,000, will help South Yorkshire Police form a team to follow up witnesses and sightings which the family claims have never been fully investigated. The initial request for financial help was made last February - Ben's mother Kerry has been campaigning for years to get Government backing she feels has been denied to her son's case. Mark Witty reports.

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2015-01-06/ben-needham-funding-will-help-police-investigate-new-leads/

Interview with Kerry in the link.

After all this time Kerry has won her fight for funding, £600,000 IMO a drop in the ocean to what the McCanns have been given. I hope Kerry and her family can find some answers to what happened to Ben.

I merged your post here Anne as this was put up yesterday.

Latest story, Ben's mum now saying she may see the government in court for taking too long.



Ben Needham's mum over the moon with extra search fund but still angry over delays


[snipped from article]

After hearing the news they had won extra funds, she said she is happy they have finally stumped up the cash but furious her family had been “degraded” by the Government.

She feels they have not been given the same support as Madeleine McCann’s family whose little girl vanished from Portugal in 2001.

The McCann investigation was promised eight million pounds after Prime Minister, David Cameron, stepped in personally.

Last night it was unknown how much South Yorkshire Police have been allocated.

Kerry said: “We are still angry that it has taken so long for this funding to come through.

“I have not finished with this Government yet, I will see them in court one day.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ben-needhams-mum-over-moon-4930261

The Mirror are only 6 years out with the disappearance of Madeleine.

It just seems as if it's been going on that long!

Either way Cameron knows he's in the shit now.