Shannon Matthews: Karen Matthews ‘Arrested’, Michael Donovan’s Suicide And A Scam
SHANNON Watch: Anorak’s look at the case of Shannon Matthews in the media
THE SUN (front page): “SHANNON SUSPECT SLASHES WRISTS”
Page 5: “There was blood everywhere.. his life was hanging by a thread”
Unconscious Mike Donovan, 39 – who also took a drugs overdose – was saved by quick- thinking prison officers who raced to give first aid as he lay in a pool of blood.
A jail source said grimly: “His life was hanging by a thread. There was blood everywhere. He would have died but for the prompt action of staff.
“It was a deadly serious suicide bid.”
“KIDNAP QUIZ GRAN’S GRIN” – Alice Meehan is the “grinning mum” of Craig Meehan. The policeman behind her is also smiling. But he is not mentioned.
“GIRL’S SNUB STUNS MUM” – Shannon would rather play with her kitten than go home. Karen Matthews is on “suicide watch”
Karen Matthews is in a secret location. Although, the police know where she is:
“Shannon’s mum Karen is nicked” – Karen Matthews, 32, was being held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
PA NEWS: A West Yorkshire Police spokesman says: “Police investigating the alleged abduction of a nine-year-old girl have arrested a 32-year-old woman in Dewsbury on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.”
DAILY MIRROR (front page): “SHANNON ACCUSED SLITS HIS WRISTS – Warders foil suicide bid”
Shannon Matthews’ accused kidnapper Michael Donovan has slit his wrists.
What of Shannon’s family?
Fishmonger Craig is accused of possessing 130 indecent images of children on his computer. His mother Alice Meehan and sister Amanda Hyett were both arrested and freed on bail in connection with Shannon’s kidnap.
Alice, 49, Donovan’s sister, was quizzed on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Amanda, 25, who lives next door to the house Craig shared with Shannon’s mum Karen was questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender. Karen, 32, is mother of six other children.
DAILY EXPRESS (front page): “SHANNON SUSPECT SLASHES WRISTS”
Page 9: “MAN ACCUSED OF SHANNON’S KIDNAP TRIES TO KILL HIMSELF”
Michael Donovan:
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said it was a “serious case of self harm” and that the warders who found him had acted “with great professionalism”.
A jail source said: “His condition is being assessed by a psychiatrist who will try to determine how serious a bid it was to end his life.
“He has apparently tried to claim it was more of a ‘cry for help’. But he will now be viewed as a genuine suicide risk and watched extremely closely.”
And Shannon?
During a three-hour visit on Wednesday – only the second time Karen had seen Shannon since she was found – the mother-of-seven broke down and begged her daughter to come home.
Shannon is said to have replied: “No. I don’t want to come home. I want to go back to my kitten.”
Karen’s mother, June Matthews, who is planning to launch a custody bid for Shannon, said: “During the meeting both Karen and Shannon seemed quite happy but Karen broke down when it was time for Shannon to leave and begged her to come home.
“That must have been devastating for Karen. But it is good news that Shannon is so happy.”
DAILY STAR (front page): “SHANNON SNATCH SUSPECT SLASHES WRISTS”
THE man accused of snatching little Shannon Matthews was rushed to hospital yesterday after trying to kill himself in jail.
Not big Shannon, then?
Detectives are probing claims the youngster’s “abduction” was a family scam to rake in cash after they had seen public donations pour into a fund set up to help find missing Madeleine McCann.
A scam?
Posted: 7th, April 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (112) | TrackBack | Permalink
