Police question Karen Matthews

Police investigating the disappearance of Shannon Matthews have been given more time to question the nine-year-old's mother

Investigators are looking into still whether Karen Matthews may have known where her daughter was all along.

Our North of England correspondent Nick Martin reports from Dewsbury.

Arrest history

Karen Matthews, 32, was arrested in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on Sunday night on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Police sources said last night that detectives had been granted a superintendent's extension to allow further questioning.

According to reports, Mrs Matthews was arrested after she told a police family liaison officer she had known where Shannon was all along.

Mrs Matthews is the fourth family member to be arrested in connection with the nine-year-old's disappearance on February 19.

A fifth person, Mrs Matthews' boyfriend Craig Meehan, has been charged with possessing child pornorgraphy and has been remanded in custody.

'Shock' reaction

Friends and relatives in the Moorside Road area of Dewsbury spoke yesterday of their shock at the latest arrest.

Mrs Matthews' cousin, Vicky Saunders, said: "I was just shocked. I can't believe it myself.

"I was with Karen when Shannon first went missing, I went and helped, she was in a state." Petra Jamieson, 30, a friend and neighbour, said Mrs Matthews' arrest had left the community feeling confused.

"Everyone's feeling probably exactly the same, crushed, all the news that's come out since Wednesday, everyone's had mixed emotions," she said.

Shannon was discovered in the base of a bed at an address just one mile from her home after a 24-day police search.

Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on March 14 after Shannon was found in the bed at his flat.

The 39-year-old is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather, Craig Meehan, 22.

Meehan appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court charged with 11 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He was remanded in custody to appear again before the same court on Friday.

Meehan's sister, Amanda Hyett, 25, who lives next door to Shannon's mother in Moorside Road, and his mother, Alice Meehan, 49, were both arrested in connection with the alleged abduction.

The women were arrested on Thursday, the 25-year-old on suspicion of assisting an offender, and the 49-year-old on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The pair were granted bail the following day pending further inquiries.

It was revealed on Sunday that Donovan slit his wrists while on remand at Leeds Prison. The incident happened on Saturday night and he was taken to hospital before being returned to prison.

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