Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt

The numbing gale blowing off the moor this week wasn't the only difference between Dewsbury and Praia da Luz.

Few people, it seems, care as much about missing Shannon Matthews as they do about Madeleine.

For journalists, viewers, readers, the poor girl's disappearance hasn't really taken off as a news story.

I joined a media pack outside her home, but it was nothing to the gathering around apartment 5a at the Ocean Club complex a week after Madeleine had vanished.

Is it just because Shannon comes from an extended, chaotic family who live on a scuzzy council estate?

Or is it that she doesn't have parents who can articulate their anguish?

News of an attempted abduction of another schoolgirl on the same day barely rates a mention in the media.

Such a detail would have spawned front-page headlines during the early Madeleine search.

In fact, I think it did.

Expect West Yorkshire police to resolve this case rather quicker than the Portuguese cops.

Comments

[sheffield 29 Apr 2008 02:28:09]

the only reoson why madeleines mum and shannons num has not been treat the same is due to money o u agree

[Sandra Ryan. Spain. 17 Apr 2008 11:51:31]

Hello Martin.

Just a word about little Shannon. She has always looked like an old fashioned little girl to me and that's unusual in todays world. I just want to say that I hope wherever or whoever she eventually goes to live, that she is happy.

Whatever her mother has done, there is no doubt in my mind that Shannon will forgive her and quite likely one day want to go back to live with her.

Children are very forgiving. I hope everything turns out well for her.

Yours Sincerely.
Sandra Ryan.

[mark from essex 10 Apr 2008 14:36:43]

why is it that the mccanns aint getting the same treatment as karen matthews? they willfully neglected their three kids in a foreign country so they could go out and have drink with there friends.i also disaree with one of the statements above about people from scuzzy council estates it dont matter where someone omes from everybody is the same.

[Fiona Dublin 9 Apr 2008 15:00:35]

case solved. Poor Shannon

[Eileen, Bolton 9 Apr 2008 14:50:52]

Bubbles
I have read enough on 3A seeing you trying to be popular and then changing tack on here. I am not a coward either, but if you choose to post on there I am at liberty to read it. Just stop being a hypocrite.
Regards

[Eileen, Bolton 9 Apr 2008 14:48:32]

Jenn
For the hundredth time I do Not support child neglect. Do I make myself clear? Hopefully I do cos I think I am wasting my time repeating it.
Regards

[Hannah UK 9 Apr 2008 14:44:51]

Hiya all,

I can see what Marilyn is saying!!! You need a break every now and again to breathe and remember there's a world out there!!! People seem to have forgotten what all of this is about and decided to make it into a playground split - your forum against mine, come over to my sandpit and me and my mates will 'av you. Don't tell me - Madeleine's in there somewhere isn't she???????!!!!!!!!!! Please tell me at least that. Please???

[Bubbles 9 Apr 2008 13:47:13]

Eileen if you think you're so clever, why not come over to 3A and talk about it there?

Oh wait...because you're too gutless and scared of being attacked! Shame eh? All fine and well to come here and slate me, but you don't have the gall to come where I am and face me. Big surprise! Coward.

You know where I am if you really want to have this out, but somehow I don't think you will ;)

[Jenn 9 Apr 2008 13:43:59]

Eileen get over your vendetta eh? Very childish and immature if you ask me. Are you really here to discuss what happened or just to attack fellow bloggers?
Get over it and move on. We all know you support child neglect so stop banging on about one person here when lots more are saying the same thing. Grow up and move on for goodness sake!

[Eileen, Bolton 9 Apr 2008 12:43:37]

Bubbles, are you just upset at being proved to be a hypocrite? Bubbles speak with forked tongue - one way on Sky blogs, one way on 3A! Taken in by the morons surrounding poor little Shannon. That little girl had a succession of "Uncles" traipsing through her home for at least 7 years of her young life. No wonder she wanted to run away and no wonder she doesn't want to return! By the way, if anyone can be accused of moaning look no further than yourself. Furthermore no-one on her condones leaving the McCann children that night we have repeated that fact many times. Are you thick as well as a hypocrite?
Regards

[Lisa - UK 8 Apr 2008 17:21:30]

Brit in Texas,

Thanks for responding. I have made my case clearly and fairly, now and in the past. I have done so without feeling the need to resort to insults. I hope others give you the sort of response you seek but I hope you understand my unwillingness to go down this path.

Louise - you make some strong points and I always read your posts. Marilyn, welcome back ! Yes, we are hanging in here but its for a good cause.

[POP 8 Apr 2008 17:03:59]

No Bubbles, you are very wrong when you say:

"you lot are just a bunch of moaning, miserable child abuse promoters."

I don't promote child abuse just like I don't indulge your need to be cruel and vengeful. You are very free and easy with your wild accusations against people and I see you completely ignore the decency most of us consider when posting. That doesn't make you special, it makes you excatly what you claimed we are. Miserable, undoubtably. Moaning, constantly. Child abuser - who knows ? Maybe.

Next time you want to call me names count to ten and show some personal restraint.

Oh and Brit you completely missed the point Lisa was clearly making. I don't think she is the one who looks stupid !

[Louise,Ireland 8 Apr 2008 16:59:59]

Louise from Co Clare

I thought your post reflected how many people feel about the McCann's. The McCann's are doing what they feel is the correct way to find their daughter. If they continue to do this while there is a chance she is alive then they should be let get on with it. It is very sad they made such a horribly regrettable decision to leave the kids in the apartment and I see you recognise the pain the mother of the child with no seatbelt on feels afer making a similarily bad decision. There is no point hurting her any more.

To Lisa, Louise from cheshire, Chuck, Claire s.w,
I haven't been able to post in a while and anyway you are doing such a good job explaining how it is possible to not agree with leaving the kids but still suport the parents search for thir daughter. In fairness there are so many possibilities that might have happened to little Madeleine but at the end of the day not one of us have to look at Madeleine's empty bedroom, walk past toys at the toy shop that you would long to by for Madeleine, buy her favourite food every week, see clothes every where that would fit her now, see other mums at the school collecting the girls who were going to be Madeline's friends last september. The feelings of Kate and Gerry every day are for none of us to guess at but it is necessary for them to feel that they are supported by sensible, rational and forgiving people who will try to understand.

Please God there will be a resolution to this families agony. Poor madeleine

Louise from Ireland
(Too many Louise's on this thread!)

[Louise Cheshire 8 Apr 2008 16:44:36]

There are so many of you who have made such good judgements of character!!!

You have stated that the behaviour of Shannon Matthews family has proven how an innocent family acts in the face of a real abduction, versus the way the McCanns have behaved which has always been evidence of their guilt!

Lets take a trip down memory blog-

Now forgive me if I find all your judgements on the McCanns to also be a load of rubbish.

[Bubbles 8 Apr 2008 15:39:05]

Yep Eileen, I wrote that way back when Shannon first went missing (here on sky) and I was attacked for it. So changed my tactics and said I didn't think they were guilty...you lot still jumped down my throat. But if you look back through the blogs you'll see I wrote words to that effect in here when the news first broke...

Just proved my point that no matter what I said, you lot had something to say about it HA! Its got nothing to do with the opinion, it was the fact that you lot are just a bunch of moaning, miserable child abuse promoters. To say what the McCanns did that night was fine, is exactly the same as saying neglecting children is fine.

And am smiling my head off knowing you come to the 3A site!!!! Woo Hoo! Watch out for my next message, I'll personally dedicate it to you when the McCanns are charged :D :D

[Brit in Texas 8 Apr 2008 15:28:52]

Thank you Lisa, though it was unnecessary, your apology was accepted. ;)

It does seem that I misunderstood you.

When I read your words """""Kate and Gerry know someone took their daughter because quite simply, she is gone. They know they didn't do it so that leaves someone else.""""" it did (still does), in a nutshell, read that you believe abduction is the only possibility.

Unless you know the McCann's personally, and were right beside them the night Madeleine "disappeared", I would logically suspect that you do not know if Madeleine was abducted at all, or if her parents are telling the truth when they say that she was.

Therefore, IMO, to assume that Madeleine was abducted, and abducted only, is, yet again, IMO, naive.

It appears that YOU BELIEVE in your heart and mind that Madeleine was abducted -- fair enough.

But you cannot assume that abduction is the ONLY possibility.

And, you typed the words ""they (the McCann's) didn't do it, so that leaves someone else"" (Posted by: Lisa - UK 3 Apr 2008 12:33:56 ), then **abduction only** appears both logically and essentially, to be what you ARE saying.

Once again, I do not need to try and make you look stupid. Honestly, I'm not even trying.

[Eduarda - Braga - Portugal 8 Apr 2008 14:38:33]

Hannah,
is a good point no doubt. However, in Pj site, there is mention of madeleine's passport and it's validity (i don't know if it is well written). You can google policia judiciaria, then you must click in pessoas desaparecidas. The first photo is Madeleine, it has her identification (where her passport is mencioned), her phisical description and a summarize description of the events.

[Eileen, Bolton 8 Apr 2008 13:46:37]

Bubbles ever the hypocrite
Posted by Bubbles on 3A
I suspected this from the very beginning. Then when I saw the t-shirts and balloons, i was even more suspicious. I did mention it on sky blogs but them bunch of pro's were quick to have a go at me...

The whole thing seemed suss to me from the start. My guess is, they were all in it together. Including the uncle, Meehan's sister and mother, and Karen. Watch this space...

Whilst over on Sky Blogs this was posted:
Brit, I beg to differ on your last post about Karen Matthews call to police. If you listen carefully, you can tell Karen is struggling to speak without crying. Naturally, she'll be worried but theres also the chance (at this point in time) that Shannon may simply be at a friend's house who Karen didn't know, yeah?

And to be honest, in the few times i've had to call the police, I always say 'hello' before I blurt out whats going on.

I think this case is genuine to be honest. I think Shannon really was taken by someone she knew. But as the days go by, its looking more and more likely that someone sinister happened. I hope not. I hope whoever has her, lets her go.

See, theres a big difference between the case of missing Shannon and missing Madeleine. One parent shows genuine signs of worry, the othe can't get enough make-up on for the cameras...did we see Karen Matthews all done up with pretty dresses and stuff on? Nope. Even her plea for the abductor to let Shannon go was more convincing because she wasn't reading from a pre-prepared speech..

Posted by: Bubbles 5 Mar 2008 15:36:42

[Lisa - UK 8 Apr 2008 12:42:00]

Louise in Cheshire and others who responded to my post yesterday with understanding and support.

Thanks for getting the point I was trying to make to Bubbles and thank you for having the style and manners to respond politely. Its always appreciated as I too have been brought up to believe good manners maketh the man ! (or woman!) I have come to the conclusion that those who don't have manners also lack reasoning and validity. Therefore there is little point responding to their outburst or aggressive jibes. Better to know ourselves that their opinions are in the main unsubstantiated and usually pointless.

I will look forward to reading of any new developments and the thoughts of those who show and therefore gain respect.

Come back Marilyn - you are missed on here by those of a like mind.

[Lisa - UK 8 Apr 2008 12:31:56]

Brit - I am sorry if I was un-clear in anyway. I do not believe Madeleine being abducted from the apartment was the only possibility. I do believe there is a chance she left the apartment and then to harm. I also believe if she had fallen down nearby - a well etc then she would have been found by now. I also believe others would have spotted her walking out towards the sea(one of your theories) or anywhere that took her far enough from the apartment not to have been found by the sniffer dogs and police (plus local searches). Therefore it is my strong belief that someone removed Mdeleine and concealed her. That I'm afraid, Brit in Texas, doesn't make me stupid but nice try !

[Sandra Ryan. Spain. 8 Apr 2008 12:17:30]

Gillian Hutchinson. 21.40.

In case you have not already found the article yourself, the statement came from Skys home page "Tapas 7 Bullish ahead of Police Quizzing.

[Hannah UK 8 Apr 2008 11:41:26]

Hiya Eduarda,

One thing I've always thought is could there be anything else to indicate the insistance on abduction that can't be revealed due to the importance of it in the investigation? Something that doesn't rule them out of being involved for the PJ, but to them, if innocent, would definately point to an abduction. I'm thinking along the lines of things being missing, like a passport?

[Louise Co.Clare 8 Apr 2008 11:28:45]

Hi bubbles
Why is that that if you don't think the McCanns harmed Madeline that must mean you are endorsing bed parenting.I don't agree wit leaving the children alone and unsupervised butit doesn't mean that I am convinced that they harmed Madeline.
a couple of years ago a neighbour was driving home with her small daughter in the back that daughter was standing between the front seats when the car was rear ended the little girl was flung through the windscreen and died instantly. I consider letting a child stand between the seats bad partenting but I also know the grief this poor woman has gone through. When I see her I don't pull a face and think there is that bad mother - I think God love her I hope she gets through this. This does not mean that I think people should not strap their children in saftley or that I condone bad parenting - I can how ever understand that what this family is going thru is heart breaking whether self inflicted or not.

[Eduarda - Braga - Portugal 8 Apr 2008 07:37:45]

Lisa, in your post you said:
“Louise - Cheshire, hello. I read your response to Brit in Texas last week - with regards to our 'only' believing the abduction theory (implying that made us stupid - thanks for that Brit and telling some bizarre story about a dog called Rover!!) Anyway, as with you I had previously said that I thought it was a possibility Madeleine had wandered out of the apartment and had been taken by an opportunist. As you quite rightly pointed out that is the same as abduction and hence my belief that one way or another Madeleine was taken unwillingly from her family (ie abducted).
I hope that clears it up for Brit - please feel free to read previous posts which substantiate what I have just re-iterated.”
I like to point to you, that I too believe it is possible that indeed Madeleine had wandered out and come to harm (to me the more logical explanation) or to be taken by an opportunist.
But what I find strange, is the families believe in abduction from the beginning.
You see, if a couple of parents and that circumstances, find their daughter missing, call the police, go out to streets looking for her, made appeals, stay in the streets looking and then, after days of not knowing nothing come to the conclusion that someone took the girl that would be logical.
But, in this case, they always said it was abduction! Why? What did they know that they don’t tell? Were they under threat? (but then why leave the children alone?); was Madeleine incapable of moving for herself? (Did they lock the bedroom? Did they tie her to the bed? Did they give her sleeping pills?).
It is their certainty of an abduction that I find bizarre but, maybe Katy (Ireland) has right maybe is just bizarre!!

[GILLIAN HUTCHINSON 7 Apr 2008 21:40:00]

I have kept quite an open mind about this case but if Clarence's statement about none of the group wearing watches then I am afraid that is just quite simply unbelievable. Remember we are mainly talking about Doctors here where wearing a watch is just second nature.

I would really like clarification on this, did anyone actually hear this man say that!. If so then that is one mighty big hole he has dug them in.