Police get more time to quiz Shannon mum
- 00:01:10
- ITN
Police get more time to quiz Shannon mum
Police have been given more time to question Shannon Matthews' mother in connection with the schoolgirl's disappearance.Karen Matthews was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice three weeks after nine-year-old Shannon was found at an address just one mile from her Dewsbury home.Mrs Matthews was arrested on Sunday night and is being questioned by detectives at Wakefield police station. Magistrates have extended the time detectives can question the 32-year-old until mid-morning on Wednesday, West Yorkshire Police said.She is the fourth family member to be held in connection with the case and according to reports was arrested after she told a police family liaison officer she had known where Shannon was all along.The news came as Clarence Mitchell, the spokesman for the parents of missing schoolgirl Madeleine McCann, confirmed someone claiming to represent the Matthews family approached him to ask for money.Mr Mitchell said he spoke to West Yorkshire Police after someone claiming to be a journalist with links to Shannon asked for a donation from the Madeleine Fund.He said the McCanns "on two or three occasions had an approach from a third party, who gave the impression of being associated with the family, or at least in contact with them, demanding money from the campaign".He added: "This person appeared to be a journalist, but very clearly asking for funds.""I was just very concerned with the motives behind it."Mr Mitchell said the administrators of the fund decided not get involved because "that's not a proper journalistic thing to do".Michael Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on March 14 after Shannon was found at his flat.It has been revealed that over the weekend Donovan slit his wrists while on remand at Leeds Prison. He was taken to hospital before being returned to prison.The 39-year-old is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan, 22.Meehan himself has been charged with possessing child porn and has been remanded in custody after appearing at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court charged with 11 counts of possessing indecent images of children.Meehan's sister, Amanda Hyett, 25, who lives next door to Shannon's mother in Moorside Road, and his mother, Alice Meehan, 49, have also been arrested in connection with the case on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The pair were granted bail the following day pending further inquiries.
ITN | April 8, 2008
