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The Moorside

531 replies

NancyDonahue · 06/02/2017 09:23

BBC dramatisation based on the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews. Starts Tuesday 7th February 9pm, starring Sheridan Smith.

Obviously a horrendous crime against a young child so I wasn't sure I'd want to watch, but it looks like it focuses on friends of the mother who headed up the search and barely features the child herself.

I love Sheridan Smith too so will give it a go.

OP posts:
OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 09:54

Yes I think it was concluded that the stepdad knew nothing of the plot. The plan was for uncle to find Shannon and collect reward then split it with Karen. Also in that link upthread I think it said Karen and uncle were planning to take off with Shannon. It didn't mention what she was going to do with her other children.

I'm still in shock that the police didn't actually work it out. I mean if they were suspicious of karen from the start, had people assessing her behaviours etc and even her friends and neighbour's were discussing their suspicions. Why on earth did it take two neighbour's to confront her 3 weeks after the child was found? The police also searched 3000 homes whilst looking for her and the uncle only lived a mile away. The uncles name change must have just completely removed him from the picture during investigation. Stepdad's mum (uncles sister) and two sisters were also arrested at the time, i think suspected of withholding information but released without charge.

cushioncovers · 08/02/2017 09:57

No I won't be watching it. Just doesn't sit well with me. Too soon and too much drama and attention given to the mother.

HalfShellHero · 08/02/2017 09:58

I dont know if I fully believe the step dad didn't know ....who figured out the right cocktail of drugs etc ? Confused

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 10:08

I don't know if I believe it either but I guess the police didn't have enough to proceed with a prosecution. If he did know I'm not sure he knew the whole plan. Why would he assist his partner to run off with another man? His suicide attempt is interesting. Initially I thought it was guilt/stress from having to keep quiet but having read a bit more i think it was as presented in last night's show- he felt Karen was pushing him away and had been since before Shanon went missing. Which makes sense now knowing that she was having an affair.

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 10:09

Also perhaps he was panicking about being discovered as a Paedophile.

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 10:11

Wrt the drugs cocktail- internet is a wealth of knowledge and Who knows what drug experience either or both of them had. It wouldn't be hard to find out what to use to sedate a child.

Maudlinmaud · 08/02/2017 10:21

God the suicide attempt with the calpol followed by the eastenders style slap across the face made me ConfusedHmm

I watched a very short clip on yt, psychoanalyse Karens shoulder shrug, apparently if she had shrugged both shoulders it would have indicated her telling the truth, but as she only raised one she was a big liar.

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 10:25

Btw in the bit of reading i did it said that analysis on Shannon's hair showed she had been given temazepan for up to 20 months prior to her kidnapping. That wouldn't have been prescribed by a GP surely? Shannon was removed from the child protection register at the end of 2005 and was kidnapped in Feb 2008 so just over 2 years. Sounds like shortly after she was removed from the register she started being given temazepam.

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 10:27

I saw that too maudlin! It's amazing what these analysts can spot. I would never have noticed that shoulder drop.

I have decided to take every scene with Julie bushby in with a pinch of salt. That scene would have been described only by her. Wink

HalfShellHero · 08/02/2017 10:28

I remember seeing Karens appeal live and thinking how wierd it was, her manner and the kids arsing around in the background. And the comment about her real dad "hes even out looking for her" why wouldn't he be? Confused he didn't appeal for her either hes a bit of a dark horse hes done well to evade the media wonder how he's managed that.

Maudlinmaud · 08/02/2017 10:31

It's shocking really when you think of that OneWithTheFace. Abhorrent mother, if you could even call her a mother.
That child was let down by ss.
I didn't like the Madeline references either but I remember at the time the press making a big thing of the class distinction.

HalfShellHero · 08/02/2017 10:40

There's a class distinction often made with Ben Needham and Maddie Mcann but obviously that's not the issue here although I think its relevant regardless of KM true intentions I didn't realise her parents had ran a story during the search kind of removes the moral high ground slightly...

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 10:45

Just found This in relation to Shannon's father.

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 10:48

That child was let down by ss.

Definitely. The mother had a well recorded history of placing all her children at risk. Several of the children were on the CP register because of this. Shannon was removed from the register whilst living in the same home as a man who was downloading class 1,2,3 and 4 child sexual abuse imagery.

MrsJayy · 08/02/2017 10:57

What was that weird relationship with the policeman and Julie all about ? Sharing fags and making her sons tea was very odd. I know they had a disclaimer about dramatic scenes but that was taking it to far.

MipMipMip · 08/02/2017 10:58

The police were sure Karen was involved from very early on - they just couldn't get the proof. The three weeks between Shannon being found and Karen being charged was spent looking for it. Karen just played dumb. The surprise when Karen admitted it was because they didn't expect her to actually say it, not because they didn't all know she was involved.

While Shannon was missing the focus was quite rightly on getting her back while there was still a faint chance rather than getting a conviction. But you can bet the police were taking note of all Karen's weird behaviour.

likeacrow · 08/02/2017 10:58

HalfShellHero who figured out the right cocktail of drugs? Well definitely not the stepdad. Considering he thought he could OD on Calpol! Grin I shouldn't laughter, but God I did.

likeacrow · 08/02/2017 10:59

shouldn't "laugh"

MrsJayy · 08/02/2017 11:01

lots of Children in the same family are on/off the Child Protection Register and live with parents so maybe 2 kids are on it 3 kids are off it but they live in the same bloody house Angry

MrsJayy · 08/02/2017 11:05

Meant to say can be not are

OneWithTheForce · 08/02/2017 11:24

It sounds silly doesn't it mrsjayy but I suppose one or two children in a family could be at risk because they alone have been targeted by an abuser and the others aren't. In shannons family there were a few different fathers which would mean different sets of grandparents and relatives. So two children could be exposed to a risk that that the others weren't exposed to if that makes sense? Say if a grandma was babysitting regularly at her house and she was abusing the children and Karen refused to stop leaving them with her. Those children would be at risk due to Karen's failure to act protectively but the other children wouldn't be because they didn't go to that grandma for care.

Maudlinmaud · 08/02/2017 11:28

And why did she say she had 6 kids when she had 7? What was that all about?
Honestly it's unbelievable, if that whole sorry affair was a thread on MN, I'd call troll. I cannot believe people like this exist. Obviously I've had a sheltered life.

CoolCarrie · 08/02/2017 11:30

I had a giggle at the calpol. The whole thing really didn't hold my attention tbh, but the neighbour Natalie was good, but what a clunky script! Too much imput from the Julie character to put her centre stage.
We can only hope that Shannon and her six siblings are happy and secure now.

HalfShellHero · 08/02/2017 11:43

Good god I'm glad he won that case he wanted to live with him didn't she although tbh he could have done a lot more...

HalfShellHero · 08/02/2017 11:46

Haha LikeaCrow!