Re: Shannon Matthews hoax abduction

Guest Sun 12 Feb 2017, 6:10 pm

It was probably Tony Bennett and he's at this very moment looking for proof of a conspiracy.

bluebell Sun 12 Feb 2017, 6:21 pm

One viewer out of the 7.2 million who tuned in, contacted the TV watchdog to complain. lol!

Oh well, can understand all the reported reactions then. Rolling Eyes

By the way, I watched it, thought it well portrayed and quite believable and informative throughout.

unreorganised Sun 12 Feb 2017, 6:47 pm

unreorganised wrote:

No takers on this? It appears as part of a short segment beginning "Shannon missing 3 Days" where the helpers are handing out leaflets, making T-shirts etc. In the whole sequence (the whole programme, as far as I could tell), only in this two second or so shot of somebody putting a poster in their window is the word "Missing" stylised in the same manner as the Missing People logo - their font, and with the two "i"'s picked out in pink.

I thought it was weird, anyway.

**Freedom** Sun 12 Feb 2017, 6:51 pm

I'm not sure why you think it's weird.

Presumably Missing People really did have Shannon as one of their cases and posters were produced.

unreorganised Sun 12 Feb 2017, 7:01 pm

Freedom wrote:I'm not sure why you think it's weird.

Presumably Missing People really did have Shannon as one of their cases and posters were produced.

They did - apparently it was a call to them that led to the resolution of the case.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1581845/Shannon-Matthews-police-had-no-tip-offs.html

A spokesman for Missing People said: "We received information suggesting Shannon was at Lidgate Gardens and this was passed to the relevant authorities. We cannot say when we received it until it has been verified.

So if they were providing/putting up the posters why was that not reflected in the programme? It was portrayed as purely a community effort.

**Freedom** Sun 12 Feb 2017, 7:11 pm

There was a bit of artistic licence generally with the telling of the story.

For instance, it was said in the programme that the police knew about all the sundry family members and associates but they hadn't been told about Craig's uncle who had a conviction for abducting his own daughter.

The actual happening I think was that a neighbour of his reported that there was a child in his flat when there shouldn't have been.

**candyfloss** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 11:11 am

Front page today - ..

Shannon Matthews hoax abduction - Page 5 C4f5F0MXAAEScGs

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/karen-matthews-wasnt-mastermind-behind-9806728

Karen Matthews 'wasn't the mastermind behind Shannon kidnap plot', claims her close pal

Julie Bushby has spoken out to defend the woman dubbed "Britain's worst mum", saying she could not have carried out the snatch plot alone

snipped
Julie said Matthews does not have the intelligence to have thought up such a cynical plan, that many believed was hatched to cash in on reward money.

And the shop worker believes others involved in the false kidnap have created a shroud of silence around the case to protect themselves from prosecution.

Julie said: “I think there are at least three other people who know far more than they let on. This is a horrible conspiracy of silence and it’s time for those people to speak out and tell the truth.

**Freedom** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 11:21 am

I think that we can safely say that Karen has no friends in high places who were involved!

Could there have been anyone else in on it other than she herself and Craig's uncle - forgotten his name for the moment.

It seems unlikely that any of her neighbours would have been in on it as well but maybe Craig and his other relatives were; but then again, why were they not charged?

Andrew Mon 13 Feb 2017, 11:37 am

That chap is called Michael Donovan, Freedom. And if I remember rightly had some sort of 'previous' with some type of abduction.

I doubt there are others involved myself. I should imagine that it was probably more this Michael chaps idea initially and Karen just went along with it. It wasn't an elaborate hoax as such. Shannon was moved from Karen's house to Michael's house and kept at Michael's house. You don't need a load of people to be 'in on it' to cook that one up.

Here's an article from the Sun about Shannon being offered book deals:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2851075/shannon-matthews-kidnap-offered-book-deal/

**Freedom** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 11:42 am

His original name was Paul Drake which is the one I could remember.

This is his history according to The Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3547779/Shannon-Matthews-trial-Oddball-loner-Michael-Donovan-and-the-Child-on-Board-car-sticker.html

**candyfloss** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 12:11 pm

The question I would ask is why is this suddenly coming out now. We have had plenty of programmes about this case, three I think about the press conferences and how to spot a liar.... There have also been a couple of very good documentaries about the Matthews case, well before this programme/drama , so why has this friend spoken out now.. I find it very interesting, particularly this line printed in the Mirror..

And the shop worker believes others involved in the false kidnap have created a shroud of silence around the case to protect themselves from prosecution.

Andrew Mon 13 Feb 2017, 1:33 pm

I was just reading this article that's just come out in the DM:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4219236/PICTURED-Britain-s-hated-mum-Karen-Matthews.html

I didn't realise that she's changed her name to 'Kate'.. Shocked

**Freedom** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 2:05 pm

Now that is funny!

It's supposedly the name of a "Hollywood idol" of hers.

I can't think of anyone very famous with the name though I'm not up-to-date on the current scene.

chirpyinsect Mon 13 Feb 2017, 2:08 pm

Freedom wrote:Now that is funny!

It's supposedly the name of a "Hollywood idol" of hers.

I can't think of anyone very famous with the name though I'm not up-to-date on the current scene.

Winslett, Blanchett, Hudson.

Bampots Mon 13 Feb 2017, 2:35 pm

Kate M...........

Middleton!!

**Freedom** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 2:38 pm

I think of her as Catherine because, as she has said, she has never been known as Kate - that's just a media invention.

Andrew Mon 13 Feb 2017, 3:14 pm

Bampots wrote:Kate M...........

Middleton!!

Her idol was Kate McCann.

How to lose a child and become millionaire celebrities.

She might've pulled it off she was Dr Karen Matthews as well.

**Freedom** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 3:36 pm

I don't know whether it was definitely established that Karen was primarily inspired by the McCann case though it does seem very likely that she was.

Poor deluded soul for thinking that she could get away with it too!

Andrew Mon 13 Feb 2017, 4:03 pm

Freedom wrote:I don't know whether it was definitely established that Karen was primarily inspired by the McCann case though it does seem very likely that she was.

Poor deluded soul for thinking that she could get away with it too!

I would say it was a given that the McCann circus was exactly what inspired them.

Missing child = Money.

**candyfloss** Mon 13 Feb 2017, 7:02 pm

The Moorside's new trailer reveals latest twist in the controversial Karen Matthews drama

The net starts closing in on Karen as her friend Julie Bushby starts to question the 'distraught' mum's connection to daughter Shannon's disappearance

BySuchandrika Chakrabarti Vicki Newman

13:30, 13 FEB 2017

Karen Matthews ' devoted friend Julie Bushby is getting suspicious in the second and last episode of acclaimed BBC One drama, The Moorside .
There are dramatic scenes as Shannon is found in this episode; Julie asks a very emotional Karen: "You won't lie to the police? Or to us?"

Julie is later shown looking sad and resigned as she is asked, "You haven't lost your faith in people, have you?"
TV viewers showered Sheridan Smith with praise for her role, after the first episode aired last week.
One wrote: "Good to see @ Sheridansmith1 back on the tele. Amazing in everything she does. # Moorside" [sic]
"Watching The Moorside , what a brilliant actress @ Sheridansmith1 is, big fan of all the stuff she's done," wrote another.
Another fan commented: "Sheridan Smith is totally believable in every role she plays # Moorside"
And another wrote:"Sheridan Smith is an absolute belter the girl can literally play any character. Only 5 mins in and she has you glued. # Moorside"
"How amazing is @ Sheridansmith1 in Moorside. It's even hard to tell it's her brilliant," another wrote.

And another said: "@Sheridansmith1 you are an amazing actress. Didn't want to watch Moorside but I can't stop now. So gripping."
Others said the casting for the whole show was spot on.
One said: "The casting for this is they look so much like that actually people! # Moorside # TheMoorside"

The West Yorkshire Police questioned 1,500 motorists and searched 3,000 houses.
By 5 March, more than 250 officers and 60 detectives were involved in the investigation, about 10% of the West Yorkshire force's operational strength.
It became the largest police search for a missing person since the Yorkshire Ripper investigation 30 years previously

She was found on 14 March 2008 at a house in Batley Carr, a short distance from Dewsbury - which belonged to 39-year-old Michael Donovan, the uncle of Shannon’s mother Karen’s boyfriend Craig Meehan.

It soon emerged that the whole abduction had been planned by Donovan and Shannon's mother Karen to generate money from the publicity.
Shannon had been tied to a bed in the house, and given a list of rules to follow to prevent her discovery, including keeping away from windows and not making noise on the floor with her feet.

The second of The Moorside will be shown on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 14th February

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/preview-second-half-moorside-controversial-9797334

Andrew Mon 13 Feb 2017, 7:44 pm

From Tracey K:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2852963/maddie-mccanns-parents-anguish-as-shannon-matthews-drama-the-moorside-reveals-they-offered-shamed-mum-karen-financial-support/

Andrew Mon 13 Feb 2017, 7:50 pm

'WE'RE HURT AND PERPLEXED' Maddie McCann’s parents hit out at BBC over ‘insensitive’ way their daughter has been dragged into Shannon Matthews drama The Moorside
They sent a message of solidarity to mum Karen Matthews telling her: “The continued disappearance of Shannon is deeply concerning and our thoughts and prayers are with your family."
EXCLUSIVE
BY TRACEY KANDOHLA 13th February 2017, 3:39 pm

THE parents of Madeleine McCann have hit out at the “insensitive” way their daughter has been drawn into the controversial TV drama about the fake kidnap of Shannon Matthews.

As Kate and Gerry McCann face the heartbreaking tenth anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance they criticised the screening of BBC mini series The Moorside, which kept alluding to their experience, as being in “poor taste and bad timing”, a close friend revealed.

A close friend of the couple said: “They are still doing the best they can while coping with the trauma of their daughter’s disappearance after nearly 10 years.

"Then a supposedly responsible broadcaster makes a programme about a bogus kidnap and brings Madeleine McCann into it. Kate and Gerry are naturally hurt and very perplexed.

"Their hearts went out to Shannon’s mother at a time their own daughter’s kidnap was so raw for them.

“They feel it in insensitive and bad timing and the show tried to glorify a terrible crime involving a young girl.”

The show follows the story of nine-year-old Shannon who “vanished” from The Moorside council estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February 2008. The schoolgirl’s own mum Karen Matthews had callously made it all up.

With no idea the schoolgirl’s snatch was a hoax brave Kate and Gerry reached out to desperate relatives saying how “deeply concerned” they were as they pledged to do “all we can to help.”

They sent a message of solidarity to mum Karen Matthews telling her: “The continued disappearance of Shannon is deeply concerning and our thoughts and prayers are with your family.”

They were even prepared to beg officials controlling their own public fund to find their daughter to amend strict rules and release some money to aid the search of another missing girl.

But the nine-year-old was found tethered and drugged inside the base of a double bed at the flat of Matthews' accomplice Michael Donovan 24 days after she disappeared.

Inspired by the huge Maddie police hunt just nine months before, Matthews' sole purpose was to cash in with a relative by grabbing the reward and any media interview fees.

She was eventually arrested, charged and jailed for eight years. She had been an accomplice in her daughter’s drugging and kidnapping.

Shannon’s shocking “disappearance” after failing to return home from a school swimming trip bore a chilling similarity to that of three-year-old Maddie, who had been snatched from her bed in a holiday apartment in Portugal’s Praia da Luz in May 2007.

Maddie’s plight was highlighted at least three times in the well-publicised opening episode. In one scene Matthews' pal and search co-ordinator Julie Bushby, played by Sheridan Smith, is discussing a candelit vigil after the mum’s TV appeal.

A friend, viewing the papers the next day, said: “It must be working all this, they are offering a reward of £20,000.”

Julie’s young son chips in: “They are offering two-and-a-half million pounds for Maddie McCann. Is that because they’re posher than us?”

His mum replies: “It’s not a contest.”

In another clip, while discussing how best to launch the media plea with a detective, Matthews tells her: “I’ve got my cuddly bear that you wanted, like Maddie’s mum wants her Cuddle Cat.” The police officer asks: “Is that Shannon’s favourite” and her mum takes a long pause before answering: “Probably!”

Matthews' appearance before cameras clutching the toy was a near carbon copy of Kate's genuine pleas to her daughter's abductor.

Maddie’s favourite soft toy Cuddle Cat had been left lying on her bed when she vanished. In the early days Kate kept the grubby pink animal which she later recalled was dirty and “smelled of suntan lotion” close to her. The grief-stricken mum was photographed carrying the toy everywhere.

During the show’s appeal Matthews shed crocodile tears as she echoed some of Kate’s words, begging: “I need her home. If anyone’s got my beautiful princess, bring her home.”

A source close to Kate and Gerry said: “The whole Shannon Matthews saga only came about because of Madeleine’s disappearance and what the family wrongly thought they could claw through rewards and interviews.

"The BBC have been trailing it for a few weeks. Kate and Gerry think the whole thing is appalling, and in really poor taste and bad timing.

“They may not sit down and watch every minute of these programmes but they are aware of them and references to their family.

"They feel is very insensitive and the show tries to glorify a terrible crime involving a young girl.”

Neither victim Shannon, now aged 18, nor her family say they were asked to cooperate in the prime time programme and even tried to ban it being aired.

The drama, which continues next week, describes the frantic £3.2million police search for the schoolgirl. Hundreds of neighbours joined in the 24-day hunt unaware that her mum, inspired by the outpouring of grief and huge public donations to help find Maddie, had plotted an elaborate hoax.

Shannon was eventually discovered just a mile away, drugged inside the wooden base of a double bed at the home of Michael Donovan, the uncle of Matthews' boyfriend at the time Craig Meehan.

They had orchestrated the plot to bag the £50,000 reward money.

As well as re-telling the search the two-parter deals with the fallout of the community after they discovered they had been lied to.

The Moorside writer Neil McKay defended not making contact with Shannon’s family, insisting he didn’t want to put Matthews' back in the public eye. He said: “We don’t defend her or condemn her, and we don’t make an apology for her crime.”

Neither victim Shannon, now aged 18, nor her family say they were asked to co-operate in the prime time programme and even tried to ban it being aired PA
11
Neither victim Shannon, now aged 18, nor her family say they were asked to co-operate in the prime-time programme and even tried to ban it being aired

Maddie’s mum Kate, a former GP, and heart doctor dad Gerry, believe their daughter – who would now be 13, could still be alive. The couple, both 48, from Rothley, Leics, are hoping “a miracle” reunites them with their daughter soon.

Scotland Yard are working on one last “throw of the dice” lead which Kate and Gerry are praying could solve the mystery.

BBC1 drama The Moorside aired last night, with Sheridan Smith praised for her portrayal of Julie Busby - Matthews' pal who helped lead the efforts to find Shannon.

Julie has also revealed she believes she knows the real reason Matthews lied about Shannon's kidnap.

Meanwhile viewers took to Twitter to show their disgust at Matthews, with some even sending death threats - while other views mocked Sheridan's attempt at a Yorkshire accent.

And Loose Women panellist Janet Street-Porter has revealed her shame at lending her support to Matthews when Shannon first went missing in 2008.

Châtelaine Mon 13 Feb 2017, 7:53 pm

How much does she get paid? TK?
Or what does she have to hide? Or promote?
And why?
At least, Matthews did go to prison.
I'm counting the days, when the dogs are witnesses and the "friends" do fold ...
IMO, OF COURSE.

Oh, and I'm getting weary of "a [pinky] friend" who says ....

Helenmeg Mon 13 Feb 2017, 7:55 pm

Firs three comments under this article:

No body believes the McCanns anymore too many people have learned the truth about the case. When will the media report the fact that the general majority of the public don't believe them!
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Rachael Ainge
Rachael Ainge
20 minutes ago

The McCanns need to stop this sham now and come clean, too many people have read the police files and know that Madeleine is dead, many more will find out when Goncalo Amaral's book goes on sale and then what? people are already angry at the injustice and angry at how our corrupt governments and msm have helped and supported these two all down the line. It's utterly despicable as is the waste of 12 million pounds spent on pretending to look for a child who is dead. How can spending such a huge amount of money on a scam be justified? I really hope that the McCanns and all those who helped them cover up a crime are punished and that dear little Madeleine finally gets justice, she deserves that
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Walter Oldfartknocker
Walter Oldfartknocker
38 minutes ago

You tube search

Madeleine McCann - Sniffer Dogs Eddie and Keela

Andrew Mon 13 Feb 2017, 7:58 pm

Comments left:

Nicola Barlow 8 minutes ago
No body believes the McCanns anymore too many people have learned the truth about the case. When will the media report the fact that the general majority of the public don't believe them!

Rachael Ainge 19 minutes ago
The McCanns need to stop this sham now and come clean, too many people have read the police files and know that Madeleine is dead, many more will find out when Goncalo Amaral's book goes on sale and then what? people are already angry at the injustice and angry at how our corrupt governments and msm have helped and supported these two all down the line. It's utterly despicable as is the waste of 12 million pounds spent on pretending to look for a child who is dead. How can spending such a huge amount of money on a scam be justified? I really hope that the McCanns and all those who helped them cover up a crime are punished and that dear little Madeleine finally gets justice, she deserves that

Walter Oldfartknocker 37 minutes ago
You tube search
Madeleine McCann - Sniffer Dogs Eddie and Keela

Bob Bob 42 minutes ago
They lost the majority of public some time back. Perhaps silence would be more appropriate these days.

gamebird justsayin' 56 minutes ago
They were even prepared to beg officials controlling their own public fund to find their daughter to amend strict rules and release some money to aid the search of another missing girl.
hahahahaha, utter guff! strict rules, no, pure greed.

Walter Oldfartknocker 1 hour ago
Youtube and search for the following:
McCann's Embedded Confessions - PART 1 OF 3. (Richard Hall)

Madeleine McCann Kate and Gerry Body Talk (DonnyDarko)

FULL Documentary BANNED by the McCanns (Overturned) Truth of the Lie - Gonçalo Amaral

Some interesting educational content on the McCann case.

josh kellaway 1 hour ago
If the McCanns killed Maddie I hope capital punishment is back before their trial.

james wilson 1 hour ago
Maddie's parents looked guilty the day she was reported missing; and they sure as hell look guilty now.
I just hope that definitive proof turns up sometime soon and they get what they deserve !

Pail smith 1 hour ago
Well ateleast they didn't cover up her death ffs them two deserve electric chair DNA doesn't lie ask the British sniffer dogs that found maddies DNA in the trunk of the rental car you hired after she apparently went missing

rugbyrebel 2 hours ago
Errrrrr, didn't they put themselves into it?? Noone mentioned them until they piped up saying it was in bad taste blah blah blah. Vile pair of f u c k i n g liars (amongst other things)

Chris McPhie 2 hours ago
Well, if they hadn't killed their daughter, it wouldn't be an issue now, would it...

Gary Barlow 2 hours ago
Dragged into the story? Bit like you dragged her dead body somewhere and then gained a fortune on the back of it?

hayley neill 3 hours ago
I hate these people with a passion and they need to stop being given media time. They are child abuser, murderers, and should be in jail. Even if they didn't personally kill her their selfish actions led to it. Vile scum

Sian Ann 1 hour ago
Totally agree!

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