Craig Meehan
The stepfather of Shannon Matthews has appeared in court accused of possessing child pornography and been remanded till April 18.
Craig Meehan arrived at Dewsbury Magistrates Court shortly before 9am this morning in a white prison van. He was flanked by three security officers, as he appeared in a packed courtroom.
For some reason newspapers like to print what ‘arrestees’ are wearing? I’ve never got that? Does it matter if Craig Meehan is wearing a pair of converse or a pair of jellies? Actually that is a poor example because should he be wearing jellies on his feet we would know he had a psychological problem. But nevertheless, Meehan was wearing much the same as the last time in court - a Manchester United away shirt under a ‘casual waterproof coat.’ So I hope this excites the Trinny and Suzannas amongst you.
Legal arguments were heard which delayed the case and so it was adjourned until 2.15 this afternoon.
Bail declined
The charges are still the same; possession of 140 indecent images of children graded at levels one to four — on a scale in which one is the least serious and five is the most serious. Meehan has been taken back to jail until next Friday April 18, and bail refused probably for his own safety. The home he shared with Karen Matthews for five years, has been boarded up to prevent vigilante attacks and a meeting has been held at the local school by the police to try and calm down the fury of residents within the local area. Leaflets have been dropped and Chief Supt Barry South urged: “Whatever the anger and whatever you are feeling right now, for God’s sake put it to one side.”
Chief Inspector Vince Firth told the audience: “The main point of this meeting was to say thank you. I’ve never come across a community so committed to helping police.” Let’s hope it works.
Keeping it in the Family
As a side matter, Craig’s sister and mother were re-arrested yesterday with another sister; “All are being held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice at police stations in West Yorkshire." Said a statement from Detectives. Amanda Hyett, 25, Caroline Meehan, 29 and Alice Meehan, 49, spent the day chatting to officers. Caroline Meehan, a mother-of-two was reportedly astonished (well she would be), and declared she knew nothing; "I'm not worried because I've nothing to hide. What would I gain from something like this? "I didn't even know Shannon was missing until a day after she disappeared. I was as shocked as everyone."
Of course she didn’t know she was missing till the day AFTER! She would not be missing BEFORE!? Sounds fishy to me?
Pictured here are Alice Meehan and Amanda Hyett
Meanwhile……..
I’ve been thinking, If Craig and Karen have been living together five years then they got together when he was 17….. Yes I know it took a long time for the penny to drop but it paints that picture of how Karen Matthews chooses badly and adds Craig to the other four fathers of her seven children.
Karen is now in prison awaiting her next remand hearing next Wednesday. She has been charged with perverting the course of justice by; "repeatedly concealing information in relation to the whereabouts of Shannon Matthews in interviews and other contacts with officers with the West Yorkshire police and claiming to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.” She is also accused of 'willfully neglecting or abandoning nine-year-old Shannon in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to her health.'
When bail was declined last Wednesday, an audible “YES”
was heard from the packed public area of the court. But outside a group of friends led by her sister-in-law and my old favourite, tenants association chair Julie Bushby is there also, stood holding hands all agreeing to stand by her - Some of them may be standing by her in prison.
There will be those who condemn Karen Matthews but anyone who has read my blog knows I support her. She is a victim in this as much as Shannon is. I think she has been parented badly by her own parents and when Shannon was taken I doubt she
knew what was going on and was too scared to say or do anything about it. That’s called being a victim – Not a criminal.
She needs help to learn how to parent and I do believe her kids need some time away in foster care especially as she will be spending time in prison but she does not deserve to lose them for good. Any one of us who is a parent has made one mistake (or a lot more in my case). My daughter told me that her friend had a great relationship with her mum and they never argued and at first I felt a bit hurt, however then I felt proud – I’ve been the best mother I can be and I think my children should be able to battle with me! That’s called growing up. Life is not about giving in all of the time is it?
McCanns
We then have the McCann’s who I can’t stand but the Europe-wide Child Alert system is a fantastic idea. Yet the sleazy tabloids have to have a go at them and take a sentence out of context from a conversation the day before and make them look like poor parents. Yes they made a huge mistake the day they lost their daughter – I think they know that! What has been ignored is what they were publicizing - the Alert System which would be fantastic. If only Maddy's money could go on something like this instead of paying detectives to NOT find anything which is what is happening now. I hate to say it but I think they need to find her body and grieve and the McCanns probably know that too.
To the people of the Dewsbury Moor Estate, (as if anyone reads my blog ha) I grew up in a council home and did not have much. My parents did not have a car until I brought one at the age of 17 and my mum commandeered until I passed my test. I do remember one thing though, there is a spirit of camaraderie and I wonder if that still exists? It looks as though it was still there when searching for Shannon, remember she was missing in her eyes. I’m sounding like Jeremy Vine now and I hate that so I shall shut up. Hope Shannon is seeing her siblings and father (the real one). Doubt he had anything to do with this.
My hope still as always goes out to Karen Matthews………She needs confidence and friendship.
The stepfather of Shannon Matthews has appeared in court accused of possessing child pornography and been remanded till April 18.
Craig Meehan arrived at Dewsbury Magistrates Court shortly before 9am this morning in a white prison van. He was flanked by three security officers, as he appeared in a packed courtroom.
For some reason newspapers like to print what ‘arrestees’ are wearing? I’ve never got that? Does it matter if Craig Meehan is wearing a pair of converse or a pair of jellies? Actually that is a poor example because should he be wearing jellies on his feet we would know he had a psychological problem. But nevertheless, Meehan was wearing much the same as the last time in court - a Manchester United away shirt under a ‘casual waterproof coat.’ So I hope this excites the Trinny and Suzannas amongst you.
Legal arguments were heard which delayed the case and so it was adjourned until 2.15 this afternoon.
Bail declinedThe charges are still the same; possession of 140 indecent images of children graded at levels one to four — on a scale in which one is the least serious and five is the most serious. Meehan has been taken back to jail until next Friday April 18, and bail refused probably for his own safety. The home he shared with Karen Matthews for five years, has been boarded up to prevent vigilante attacks and a meeting has been held at the local school by the police to try and calm down the fury of residents within the local area. Leaflets have been dropped and Chief Supt Barry South urged: “Whatever the anger and whatever you are feeling right now, for God’s sake put it to one side.”
Chief Inspector Vince Firth told the audience: “The main point of this meeting was to say thank you. I’ve never come across a community so committed to helping police.” Let’s hope it works.
Keeping it in the Family
As a side matter, Craig’s sister and mother were re-arrested yesterday with another sister; “All are being held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice at police stations in West Yorkshire." Said a statement from Detectives. Amanda Hyett, 25, Caroline Meehan, 29 and Alice Meehan, 49, spent the day chatting to officers. Caroline Meehan, a mother-of-two was reportedly astonished (well she would be), and declared she knew nothing; "I'm not worried because I've nothing to hide. What would I gain from something like this? "I didn't even know Shannon was missing until a day after she disappeared. I was as shocked as everyone."Of course she didn’t know she was missing till the day AFTER! She would not be missing BEFORE!? Sounds fishy to me?
Pictured here are Alice Meehan and Amanda Hyett
Meanwhile……..
I’ve been thinking, If Craig and Karen have been living together five years then they got together when he was 17….. Yes I know it took a long time for the penny to drop but it paints that picture of how Karen Matthews chooses badly and adds Craig to the other four fathers of her seven children.
Karen is now in prison awaiting her next remand hearing next Wednesday. She has been charged with perverting the course of justice by; "repeatedly concealing information in relation to the whereabouts of Shannon Matthews in interviews and other contacts with officers with the West Yorkshire police and claiming to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.” She is also accused of 'willfully neglecting or abandoning nine-year-old Shannon in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to her health.'
When bail was declined last Wednesday, an audible “YES”
was heard from the packed public area of the court. But outside a group of friends led by her sister-in-law and my old favourite, tenants association chair Julie Bushby is there also, stood holding hands all agreeing to stand by her - Some of them may be standing by her in prison.There will be those who condemn Karen Matthews but anyone who has read my blog knows I support her. She is a victim in this as much as Shannon is. I think she has been parented badly by her own parents and when Shannon was taken I doubt she
knew what was going on and was too scared to say or do anything about it. That’s called being a victim – Not a criminal.She needs help to learn how to parent and I do believe her kids need some time away in foster care especially as she will be spending time in prison but she does not deserve to lose them for good. Any one of us who is a parent has made one mistake (or a lot more in my case). My daughter told me that her friend had a great relationship with her mum and they never argued and at first I felt a bit hurt, however then I felt proud – I’ve been the best mother I can be and I think my children should be able to battle with me! That’s called growing up. Life is not about giving in all of the time is it?
McCanns
We then have the McCann’s who I can’t stand but the Europe-wide Child Alert system is a fantastic idea. Yet the sleazy tabloids have to have a go at them and take a sentence out of context from a conversation the day before and make them look like poor parents. Yes they made a huge mistake the day they lost their daughter – I think they know that! What has been ignored is what they were publicizing - the Alert System which would be fantastic. If only Maddy's money could go on something like this instead of paying detectives to NOT find anything which is what is happening now. I hate to say it but I think they need to find her body and grieve and the McCanns probably know that too.To the people of the Dewsbury Moor Estate, (as if anyone reads my blog ha) I grew up in a council home and did not have much. My parents did not have a car until I brought one at the age of 17 and my mum commandeered until I passed my test. I do remember one thing though, there is a spirit of camaraderie and I wonder if that still exists? It looks as though it was still there when searching for Shannon, remember she was missing in her eyes. I’m sounding like Jeremy Vine now and I hate that so I shall shut up. Hope Shannon is seeing her siblings and father (the real one). Doubt he had anything to do with this.
My hope still as always goes out to Karen Matthews………She needs confidence and friendship.
No comments:
Post a Comment