I wonder how seriously the next, inevitable, case of a child's disappearance (lost, abducted or simply run away) will be taken by the police, or more importantly, the media. Will the police again waste millions of pounds of resources that, I'm sure, could be better spent?

Successive governments have seemed bent on creating and maintaining an underclass and a child of which, regrettably, can no longer be described as "innocent", having attained the ripe old age of nine.

Jeffrey , Seaton,

The reality has spoken volumes. How dare such a low-life family undermine the seriousness of the sorrow and pain that the real victims of child abduction are going through. May they lock that witch up and throw away the key.

Sarah, Stirling, Scotland

Some of these comments are quite sad. Yes Shannon has been found. Yes her family seem to be the cause of what happened but no this was not Shannon's fault. She is a child and of course she is 'innocent' no matter what has happened to her.

Amy, fife, scotland

I think the person who wrote this article will be feeling like a chump riight now. The whole thing has been a sham and I think most people watching it on TV knew this.

Mike Kelly, Carlisle, england

Shannon gets £400 a week even though she is unemployed, through benefit. Therefore, you can't really call her poor.

Anna, Cambridge,

In the light of Shannon having now been found, inside a mattress, one does wonder about the statements in this article, about her being 'an innoncent', as this families story appears to become more like a Dickensian tale, by the day!

In the current climate, perhaps the BBC and Andrew Lloyd Webber could cast Shannon and her family in the roles of the Fagin gang, for the new West End production of 'Oliver'?

Debra, Liverpool,

By the looks of things, her mother was not too concerned as she knew where she was all along.....

GARETH, EAST SUSSEX, ENGLAND

I find this article more than a little offensive, suggesting the British public seemed uninterested in Shannon's disappearance. I believe the vast majority of UK citizens were deeply upset and concerned for Shannon's safety, and doubtless they felt a huge sense of relief and happiness when she was found alive.

Shannon's Mother may very well have seven children by five different Fathers-does that mean she doesn't love her daughter? What happened to Shannon was unjust and it was certainly not the little girl's fault in any event. I'm sure people with an ounce of wisdom know not to judge others.

Maybe the media has retained interest in other cases longer, but the media's interest is often based on a commercial perspective. The majority of the public's interest and concern stems from integrity and the heart.

What's important is that the perpetrators are aware that neither the public nor the authorities will tolerate such crimes, and in most cases they will be caught and punished.

Andy Symonds, King's Lynn, UK

My Heart Goes Out To Shannons Parents As I Can not Immagine The Pain That They Where Going Through All Those Days That Their Daughter Went Missing. I Am So Glad That Shannon Was Found And I Do Hope That Her Kidnapper Gets All That He Deserves!

Lauren, Durham, Uk

I am so happy this little girl has been found alive and well. I must say though, that whether you agree with this article or not, everyone must remember the people who write these stories make their living off these unfortunate events. News these days is almost always bad but reporters wouldnt complain or care much since they earn money off it. Instead of agreeing with someones article that has earnt them a personal paycheque or buying papers which pay for more papers and rumours to be printed ,why not use the money to help find these missing children?
And about the class thing, i will agree that the papers and news will report on a more 'attractive' family it is sad but very true. This is most probably the case because that means more papers sell so more money for them.
Its all about money, did anyone notice how the photographers and reporters on the documenary were happy to just walk off laughing and joking, probably calculating how much they're picture would sell for.

Kate, northeast,

It does not make you a better mother if your children are all to the same man or vice versa or whether you are from a middle class family it is whether you can instill values and give love unconditionally if this had been the mcanns child found would she of been returned by now to her home, I wonder? Please dont make a mistake social services and judge on what papers are saying return her to her family now...

Dee blackburn, castleford,

After watching Karen Matthews etc on the documentary I have to say my heart goes out to her. I agree with what her friends said, just because she didnt come from some "well to do" background, she didnt get the same help as the Mc Canns. At the end of the day its Karens child and she obviously was just as worried as the McCanns were, but didnt go as public as they did. I am so pleased that Shannon is safe and well. Also as the above post i hope the Mc Canns do get good news of their child and they can share the peace that Karen will be feeling knowing her child is safe and well

Jules West Yorks

Julie, West Yorks,

why on earth is this child not being returned t her mother !!!

lorna , perth,

I to am so pleased to hear shannon was found safe! It was so a joy to hear especial as my nine yr old daughter told me so i can strongly say that my family and neighbours never forgot about the missing school girl. This article not oly highlights the media problem but also adds to the stero type. It does not matter where a child is from or what colour it is a child is a child richer or poorer we must protect them because if we don't who will? I am sure Shannon's parents are on cloud nine, but i do hope they spare a thought for the Mcanns who have received some bad press from this because they worked for there money and lets no forget their little girl is still missing!
My thoughts are with Shannon i hope this little girl gets to have a normal happy childhood what all child deserve and my thoughts are with the Mcanns i hope one day you get news of your child and some peace!
As a mother to 3 young children i hope i never have to read a story like this again.

Marie, Washington, Tyne & Wear

What i don't understand about this whole thing is that the Matthews family were complaining about not getting any mediea coverage, yet they were unwilling to talk to the media...a bit strange don't you think?
Glad she is safe though.

charl, stoke,

The article is shamefully correct. Shannon's disappearence was forced off the news agenda by items such as Prince Harry's active service in the Army. I can only assume the lack of media interest was due entirely to the fact that Shannon is from a council estate and has a diffcult home life.Thank heavens she was found alive and apparently safe.

Paul McNulty, Liverpool,

This article does nothing to help discrimination against the working class families that are from Dewsbury or elsewhere. I think the main point of this article was lost in the journalists predjudice! Was it not supposed to be about heightening awareness of a missing child and not slagging off the neighbourhood where she is from?

I am only glad that this child was found safe and well. I hope that she is returned to her mother soon and that the family can get back to something that resembles a normal life. I hope that the mystery surrounding Shannons disappearance is uncovered and that the people concerned are held to rights.

L Filson, Durham,

shannon, so glad you are safe. well done to the police and locals. you've done a great job!

shahnaz, dewsbury,

All I can say is I prayed for this child over and over. Our church prayed and prayed for her and now she is found., Rich or poor we are loved the same by our Father God and I just thank Him for such a positive outcome to the evil that so often seems to overcome this world. May she go on to be a beautiful young woman and have a wonderful life knowing how many across the nation care for her.

Y. Osborne, croydon,

I thought there was a fund to help in these cases which was donated to help all cases not just the little Macann girl

R.George, Swansea, UK

Glad to hear Shannon is back.
It may be a povery stricken area with all the inner social and economic problems that brings, but this littel town has shown that for all this these people banded together to try and do whatever they could to find her.
They didnt have the expertese of the McCann bandwagon, the knowledge or networks of this , but in their own way tried ,. I think the people who tried and all their efforts should be applauded

mrs boyle, livignston, scotland

the ills in our social structure are at the route of child neglect,
we encourage people who are invoved in non work paid by the state to have numerous children to access the sort of money they could only dream of in a job. With the hidden benefits the equivelent earnings for a family with five children is in excess of 30,000 (then less tax that the rest of us have to pay) and not a ounce of effort to get it, often then spent on beer ,fags and takaways supporting their selfish lazy lifestile payed for those who do work.
For these people life is free, there are no consequenses, cos who cares, someone else is paying!
camping out in drs surgerys to get on disability depressed cos life has delivered them a bum deal, free healthcare to counter the beer and fags that are a known depressant teaching their abundant children that theres no need to work, working the system is far more lucrative,
Leaving their children fending for themselves as they wollow in their selfish self pity .

claire, doncaster, uk

Please don't stereotype Dewsbury Moor.
Proud people live there with a well kept estate of which Kirklees have spent alot of time and money on.
Yes it has it's problems as many other areas do.
We need to leave them alone to recovery from this but offer help when and where it is needed.
We all had a drink last night(all over Yorkshire)and raised our glasses to Shannon and the WYP

adrian Marsden, Liversedge, West Yorkshire

this article is very poor....yes the importance of missing children is the same no matter what the background, but this entire artice makes the area that shannon is from sound appalling! im from around this area originally, it is not overly rich, but how is portraying 'under-age mothers, one of whom filled the gap between drags on her cigarette by aiming a hefty kick at the crying toddler in her care.' going to improve anyones attitude towards this area?!?

i am so glad shannon has been found safe, and i hope madeline will be as well, as well as all missing children....we seem to forget that there are people missing all the time, media coverage varies, that doesnt make them less important....but journalism like this does not help at all!!

Kerry, Chester,

When I found out today that Shannon had been found my heart out to her mother - I am a mother of two - I cannot imagine how her mother must be feeling - I can now - total relief and elation, I wish her and Shannon and her family the very best for the future - I only hope that there is a lot of support not only for Shannon but for the family that have gone through this hell. I feel i must mention little Madeleine - as we say in Scotland lets get you home, safe and sound - just like Shannon. I nearly cried today when I heard Shannon had been found ALIVE....All the best to her family.

Jacqui Shields, Falkirk, Scotland

Why is Shannon in care? And if there is a good reason is it in HER interest for the public to know this? Is this another case of one rule for one and another rule for another? If (and I truely hope she is) Madeleine McCann is returned will she be reported to be 'in care' the night she could be returned to her family-I doubt this very much.

M.S., London, London

Little Shannon as been found live and well. What brilliant news.

Richard, mirfield ,

Our prayers have been answered. What wonderful news. Our thoughts, prayers and wishes go to Shannon and her family. God Bless

Caroline, Bournemouth, England

its not only shannon care about that beutiful pretty madeline mcann and for her parents. because shes been missing for nine months

rebbeca, huddersfield, england

So glad to hear Shannon has been found alive and well. No one should ever give up on a missing child.

Annie Sharkey, Bushmills, N.Ireland

i dont think its fair to keep going on about the mc Cann there daughters still missing blame money or were we come from lets all think about shannon and pray she still with us and all pull together and help out best we can my thoughts are with her familly

joanne, barnsley,

I have been watching the news everyday , hoping that for once a little girl would be found safe and well. And have been very surprised and dissapointed at the lack of coverage and information available. Shanon should be getting the same attention as the girls who have recently gone missing or been murdered irrespective of where she is from.
But why are children still going missing, i have a seven year old son and i dont let him out of my sight, even if he is playing in the back garden.
What has happened to this country, everyweek there is a child missing, murdered, stabbed or raped. when is it going to stop??
As parents we should be realising that even when our kids are 13, 14 years old,we cannot let them go to and fro from friends houses, to school infact anywhere anymore!!!
we do not live in a safe world anymore, why are there people out there who hurt our children and wreck our lives.
there have been too many children and familys hurt now

liz, oxford, oxfordshire

This little girl deserves as much publicity as any other missing child.Class shouldnt come into it.It should not matter that Shannon lives on a council estate or what her parents do or dont do.This little girl deserves to be safe and well j

jean, pontefract, west yorkshire

Well Sarah Payne's family werent particularly well off, from what I recall they lived ona council estate and had normal type jobs. I dont really see that how much money somebody has can be blamed for lack of publicity. Perhaps it is just that the families of Sarah Payne and Maddie Mccann were more willing to get into the limelight to keep their case in the public eye, I am sure if Shannos Mum were to ring the paper and offer an exclusive she too would be splashed all over the front pages.

stefan David Kyleisku, barrow in furness, cumbria

Someone here commented that Shanon disappeared because of her mother's irresponsible choice to let her walk on her own from school to "be pinned down to poor education and up bringing" (sic).
I wonder what this same person thinks of the well educated professionals who left 3 very young kids alone in an unlocked apartment and unfamiliar surroundings to casually dine with friends.
Isn't it indicative of the kind of world we live in that the rich get millions to find their child, whilst the poor get the blame for losing them?
I think most would agree that findind a missing child should come before any finger-pointing exercise. Therefore, I join other readers in urging The Times to launch a campaign to help find Shannon and hope that those who really care about missing children (whatever their age, status, origins or creed) actively support initiatives like foreversearching.com

Patrizia, Heath Hayes, Staffordshire

It shouldnt matter what the family status .Missing shannon is just as important as any other missing or has been missing child, and deserves the same treatment and interest as all the others.Good Luck. In your search.

Gale, NELSON, LANCASHIRE

I suppose that reporters would rather go to Portugal than to Dewsbury. It also seems that parents should have some nice publicity shots made up in case they are needed.

Jamie, Edinburgh,

Whatever their background, financial status etc. Every child is someone's baby and these people deserve our sympathy and support.

Jane, Henlow, UK

Every child has a right to life regardless of their background and class, they are equally important and should be given the same support and care. Yet I'm ashamed at the lack of media attention for Shannon and hope this is not a true reflection of the society we live in.

My thoughts are with Shannon and her family and I hope she is found safe and well.

Natalie, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Not enough is being done to find this girl, i've never seen such prejudice in the media before, just because the family's not borderline middle-class with a big detached house, it disgusts me. Shannon isn't a runaway otherwise there would sightings of her somewhere & now some blogs are spreading vicious rumours that 1 of her relatives might be involved, it very sad & i pray that she's found alive

Susan, Leeds,

I am disgusted by the lack of media attention surrounding poor little Shannon. Regardless of background, parentage, wealth or means this child deserves the same input as any other child on the planet.
Shannon is just a child - a daughter, grandaughter, sister and friend - the same as Maddie, Jessica, Sara & Holly.
Why can't we put our opinions to one side and focus on finding this little girl???

Vicky, Cambridge,

I keep checking the news and there is no mention of Shannon hence me finding this site. I feel she has been forgotten and definitely hasn't had the same publicity as other missing children! She is a 9 year old young girl that needs returning safely to her family no matter what her financial background! Lets just find her!

Jane, Yelverton, Devon

As far as I'm concerned I wouldn't care whether my daughter lived 5 minutes or 45 minutes away from her school, I would not let her walk on her own. There are far too many (excuse my bluntness) weirdos in this day and age.

I think the mother is very irresponsible for letting her daughter do this and although many people will not agree with me i think this could be pinned down to poor education and up bringing. If Shannon had been with a group of people then i can understand but from what i have read in reports it seems this is not the case.

Dave, Bournemouth, UK

I just find it so sad that there is a little girl seperated from her home however poor that home maybe, and that there seems to be no-one expect we are told the police interested in finding her. Would the McCanns not release some of the money in the fund set up for their daughter to do something to help in this case, another mother is weeping, other brother and sisters are weeping, this country should weep, we are a disgrace

Liz, Glasgow,

it is a shame that the media is not giving more cover to shannon! she is a 9 year old little girl who cant protect herself and we should be doing more to protect our children and so should the goverment. i can only imagine the pain and suffering that her parents are going through and it must be heart breaking. but spare a thought for what shannon has gone through and maybe going through. we shouldnt forget the missing children we should keep there names alive and keep looking.
my thoughts are with her family and hope this comes to an end for them soon.

damion, wakefield, uk

Shannon is a little girl who we just find out was seen sobbing by two local youths. She also told her best friend she had a FOXHOLE firstly why have these two facts only just come to light. I have never heard a child mention A Fox Hole. My mother who is in her 80s says this was a military term used for a dug out that you use to hide from the enemy is this a possible clue that she has met some Friend who is ex army. Why did she want to run away. Why has her brother gor a history of running away? Why not use the clairvoiants who run all these programmes and have these supper powers when they did up cold cases. We have a very recent live case here and I am sure if they are that good they can find her. Where is the reconstruction? come on UK get your boots out and start looking she has to be somewhere this sad sobbing little girl can`t just vanish without any other sightings surely. Oh yes and she was bullied the day before, she needs a cuddle this little girl find her!

carol, scunthorpe, Lincs

Is it not so much to do with rich or poor but the facts of multiple fathers/ extended family so there is very much the possibility that someone related could be involved giving the police a solid starting point. Quite possibly the police have requested less media until all the searches have been carried out.
The police in Shannons case are being very pro active and are visibly going about the process of elimination in their search.
Madeleine on the other hand was definately abducted with no clues / evidence and no possible motive except child trafficking/abuse .The Mcanns did not have the resources of the UK police at the beginning of their case. The media was used to highlight these facts.

Tracy, Hong Kong,

MB, Edinburgh.

I am flabbergasted at your posting.

Do you honestly think that the police have not made the necessary checks with every family member, friend, neighbour etc. to make sure that they have not got Shannon?

Where have you been for the last two and a half weeks?

Up there in your ivory tower by the sounds of it.

Well jolly well climb down and come up with something more constructive. And incidentally, I would be interested to read some hard facts from you , on just who, and when exactly where these so called missing children found with friends family etc.....

Louise, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England

At 9 years old children are thought old enough to get home from school on their own in many schools. I'm lucky, I live right next door to my daughters school, so I can watch her from the front gate and know she is safe. However, if the school deemed it appropriate for her to walk back from the swimming centre on her own I would be livid. It has been said in the media that Shannons mother should have been there to collect her. Now is not the time to judge, and I'm posititve that her mum is torturing herself every second of every day. The media, instead of nit picking and throwing accusations, should be plastering Shannons picture everywhere. I have her picture on all my internet profiles, myspace, facebook, msn, and the phone numbers for people to call with information. I'd be praying for people to do the same if I was in the same position.

Loraine, Hull, UK

The issue here is more likely to be related to the dispersed nature of the family the missing girl comes from. She has a sibling already living with her natural father and has multiple half-siblings living with her as well as her mother's boyfriend. In that scenario, the police are less inclined to immediately assume that abduction has happened as it is often the case that a family relative, the girl's natural father or someone else is involved. It thus gets bracketed initially under a family dispute rather than an abduction crime.

That's not fair but it is simply reality. It's has happened before with children from broken homes that police have spent time investigating "abduction" cases only to find the child has turned up in relatives' or their natural parents' homes.

MB, Edinburgh,

An interesting article. I was wondering what had happened, if anything, in the hunt for poor Shannon, and because the story wasn't appearing on the television or in the newspapers looked on-line. It is true that because Shannon is from a poor home that nobody seems to care about her, especially when other children who have gone missing have attracted extensive if not suffocating media coverage.
There needs to be more attention than is being given to Shannon, because she needs to be found as soon as possible. You're in my thoughts and prayers Shannon, that you'll be found safe and well very soon.

Louise, Moreton, Wirral

There's no way that anyone could argue that this isn't about social status and looks. But think optimistically, if she'd been black it probably wouldn't have made the news at all.

Isabella, London,

Comes down to being photogenic maddy and the others had that apeal. It shouldnt be the case but id like no y didnt the school make sure the children was brought back safely after a school swimming trip? Either safely back to there homes or back to the school to be collected

jamie, nottingham,

this article suns up the apathy the media have for working class people who have know voice and no-one to represent them.
it is a lottery being born,i hope the police find her.
i am shocked that the coverage given to this case is NEGATIVE,it is the same when a street girl is killed,it seems to me that they get treated like they are less dead than attractive well to do folk.

phil, runcorn, cheshire

I have been looking for news of shannon.
I to felt that she had been found as there was no mention of her still being missing.
I hope she is still alive and is reunited with her family her mother must be going out of her mind with worry.
I am appalled there has been nothing about shannon still missing.
come on the media do something and get little shannon back in the newspapers.
shannon may come from a poor family but she is a human being and a vunerable 9 year old little girl.
hoping and praying that shannon will be found safe and well.

jennie , ipswich, suffolk

Like an earlier reader your article had me in tears all day. Just what can we ordinary members of the public do to help? I live nowhere near Dewsbury but , I am sure like many others, would dearly love to help with something constructive. Other than that I can only keep the poor wee thing and her family in my prayers every day.

It is so, so sad that yet another innocent little girl was not safe walking in her home district - what has our society come to?

Brenda Murray, Milton Keynes,

I am appalled by a few things. Firstly that the world has forgotten about a 9 year old girl who is missing and alone, my daughter is the same age as shannon so it makes it even more frightening. Secondly, that this article is reinforcing the stereotypes some people have about "council estates". I live in a council estate, but my house is privately rented. Does that mean I am a single mother who kicks her kids, that my garden is strewn with rubbish and there are smashed windows? Am i uneducated? Sorry, most council estates aren't like that, and I have a very good education. Also teenagers wear hoodies in all areas, not just council estates.
If people are blaming the financial situation on the lack of coverage then why doesn't someone put their hand in their pocket and help? Instead of standing around saying "oh dear, its such a shame". They don't need your pity, they need your help, and fast!!

Loraine, Hull, UK

I'm staggered that tv media coverage is virtually non-existent over the past few days. A 9 year old girl is missing still and that's not worthy of coverage??

I feel sadly, the lack of coverage and support for the family does seem to be down to their address and financial position. No disrespect to the McCann family but within 2 days of Madelaine McCann going missing rewards for information leading to her return totalled over £1 million. Celebrities lent their support and appealed on tv for her return. I understand The Sun newspaper have kindly offered £20,000 for information leading to her return but it doesn't come anywhere near the support offered for high profile cases from middle class families.

A child is missing and the class, financial position and address of the family should not dictate whether the girl is worthy of our concern.

Angela, Bristol, UK

I Live in the other Side of Dewsbury Moor from Shannon more nearer her school than her house there are very affluent areas of this town and some very close to shannons home. however, i do agree with the article that it is due to social status and classification that shannons story has gained fewer and fewer column inches as times goes on. (should these not be increasing like our concern for the poor child)

I don't feel that any other missing child case can be compared because they each have there own circumstances and outcomes. to blame the McCanns and others alike is wrong they are all in the same boat as parents and desperatley seeking their child!!

If you Criticise the police you are so wrong in doing you clearly haven't been to dewsbury!! they are everywhere. ploughing all the man hours into the search possible. it is not the attitudes of them that hinder the investigation it is the media and small mindedness of the few who put it down to the stupidity of people who are poor

Kate Briggs, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire

As this article points out, a child's abduction does not autmatically generate a campaign. Much of the size and resources of the Madeleine McCann search, and previous campaigns such as Milly Dowler's, have been down to the hard work of the families involved. In this case, it's not so much that Shannon is being ignored, but the family is not media savvy, educated, or resourceful enough to raise interest.

Helena, Plymouth,

There's a little 9 year old girl missing!!!!!!!!
Enough said.
Who cares who her family are, where they come from, what they look like, we are all human and need to do all that is possible for SHANNON. Some people just don't give a damn but if it happened to their own they would EXPECT the world to help. Karen Matthews didn't ask for this to happen so keep stupid remarks to yourself and help find a lil girl.
I'm a single mother of 2 with not much money, does that mean I would be left to handle something like this on my own.
Maybe I'd better start saving up.

Come home Shannon. Your family love you.
Karren and family, keep going and stick together.
In our thoughts
Louise J BATLEY WEST YORKSHIRE

Louise Jewell, Batley, West Yorkshire

This is the story of a vulnerable child who has been missing for 2 weeks.
The press, The Government and large businesses should be backing the appeal to find her, regardless of her social background.
What message does this lack of concern convey? One of class division and self importance implemented by the upper classes.
Parents shouldn't have to raise funds to produce posters and create a public awareness campaign. This should happen as a matter of course.
My thoughts and prayers are with Shannon and her family.

Tania Long, Shropshire,

i live a few doors up from Karen and Craig and yes I have been on the news and Yes like lots of other people on the estate we have spent hours searching for her and putting posters out for her. We kept the Community house and i do mean house coz we don't have a centre open for 2 nights just to see if Shannon came home. WE DO OUR BEST

JULIE B, DEWSBURY, WEST YORKSHIRE

I live in the next town to Shannon. We are anxious to hear of any new developments with Shannon, and keep our eyes peeled where ever we are.......

It is sickening to drive through her neighbourhood, and see that there are only a few police dotted about, and the home made posters are now just blowing around in the wind...

This article is dead right. Spot on, and sorry Karen in Hereford, drive up here and look around and you will see it is very much about class.

This poor family need a backbone to get things moving. To all you folk out there who have the image of a grotty council estate, let me tell you, within a stones throw of that estate there are some very affluent areas, with luxury homes and successful occupants.

They are in need of a spokes person, and one which springs to mind is our very own MP - Shahid Malik. I have e-mailed this article on to him, lets see if it gets his concience pricked.

Hopes and prayers are just not enough here.

Louise, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, UK

What an excellent article and it upset me to read it. It just goes to prove the class differences with the Madeleine case and young Shannon. Where are the milionaires offering to pay for private detectives or PR people to help with the campaign to keep her face in the news?
Where are the goverment employees as sent to the McCANNS from the start?
It has all been left to kind locals to get posters and t shirts done . It does not matter if Shannon's mother has 3 or 7 children , Shannon is a missing UK child like Madeleine.
You are right , there is no slick publicity in this case as Shannon's family will not know Millionaires or friends with media firms .
Where are the likes of Branson and Kennedy to help this child's parents.
Each time she is in the papers it is usually accompanied by a new sighting of Maddie from spin camp.
This article made me cry.

Gaynor, cardiff, UK

all sorts of scrubbers will come forward wanting there 5 minutes and couple of grand for dishing the dirt be it tru or not on this poor family. none of the circumstances she lives in or is exposed to should move away from the fact that she is 9 years old, and venerable and has been missing for nearly 2 weeks, wheres her website, where are her donations where are her support network brought in by affluent backers?
i we so judgemental that it is our own doing, because her mum doesnt look like delia smith and she doenst live in a privately owned house, what difference does it make? obviously loads and themedia know it. people are too easy to judge and draw conclusions, and in this case forget a little girl who has been lost.

jilly, yorkshire, uk

There has been more news about prince harry coming back from the "war" it is absolutely disgraceful that they dont have this little girl in the spotlight constantly. The press out to be ashamed!

Tricia Bramham, batlety,

like everyone else i have been shocked and suprised when looking in the parers evry day to see if there is any news on this little girl, to find there has been little if any mention of the story, why has her father or maybe a grandparent not done a press conferance? why have the police not instigated this?the newspapers need to bring this back into the forefront instead of printing 13 pages on prince harrys time fihgting the taliban!

anne davies , liverpool, england

I hope she is somewhere safe but after all this time is very doubtful, there is some sick and twisted people in this world and more so these days we dont know what kind of people now we have come into england etc the country as become a joke, if you commt a driving offence and don't have a license what you get a telling of and about £50 court costs think I wont bother passing no point I will pay the fine!! waste of time are the goverment and police in England, like the royal family get shut!! pay all that money for whatt?

Darren, Bradford, West Yorkshire

In this country at present, you cannot get anywhere unless you have money. I have been listening to the news this week for news on Shannon. The media has been more interested in what is going on in the wars around the world, than being concerned about a child from a poor community.

This is a child, whether rich or poor and the media need to give each child the same treatment.

Elaine, Northamptonshire, England

Middle class, rich, poor ... it makes no difference to the fact that a child is missing. I am interested, everyone i know is interested, the only uninterested parties are the newspaper and news editors. I scour the papers daily to look for news of her and time and time again there is none and that is shameful. On a seperate note entirely, I fail to see how the Mcanns have been dragged into this one, its hardly thier fault.

dee, west midlands,

All week, I have turned on the news to hear of any information relating to Shannon Matthews and not one bulletin on any channel has featured her disappearance. There are no particular updates on the events in Jersey yet this is kept in the top stories. I feel desperately sorry for this young girl and her family. The portrayal of her family, her environment and their lack of means reinforces the need to provide extra support, not forget about them and let them get on with it. A child is no less valuable and irreplaceable to her parents and family when they suffer from poverty. Your article says that the public have forgotten. That's not true; it is the media who deem this be un-newsworthy so stop reporting and the public don't know what is happening.

Fiona, Ayrshire, Scotland

It is so sad the complete lack of media interest in this case and the fact that it appears that it is so much more important when middle class children disappear. It seems to say so much about the warped world in which we live in.

GM, Binfield, Berkshire

I completely agree with this article. Where are the heart felt 'where is she?' headlines? Where are the maps of the route she took home? When Sarah Payne went missing she appeared on the front page of every newspaper of the country for days. Shannon, if she is reported on at all, merits a page 18 report. Is her life really worth so little? Obviously some media executives have made the decision that she won't sell newspapers.
Well many of us do care Shannon. I hope that one day you will be found alive and well.

Catherine, Manchester, uk

I feel strongly that the present approach to missing persons investigations is deeply flawed.Unless there is evidence that a crime has taken place-the police pursue the missing person route.
The riveting Ch 4 documentary "the girls that came back" which revealed the timeline of events- The abduction of the two little girls, and the route they were forced to undertake in the boot of their abductor's car-the police investigation gets underway7 hours down-and the direction the police investigation took-investigating whether or not the missing pair had run away. The fact, that the police unearthed the girls by pure chance- and after the point-when they would have met their certain deaths is testament to the fact, that police forces require very specialist training in this regard.

I welcome your article-as it highlights the facts/reality for so very many families whom has a child snatched. I would ask people to be ever mindful of all missing people-children in care without a praye

ann, mayo, Ireland

Reading this article propelled me back to the world I left eight years ago. I lived over the road from and had friends on Dewsbury Moor. My brother's advice these days is to not even drive there with car doors locked. My family have lived there and still live close by. They have taken part in and helped to organise the recent march. My step-nephew is in the same class as Shannon. Everyday I follow the national news, look online and switch to Look North instead of Midlands Today. I have watched media coverage of Shannon's case reduce and all but disappear. I find I am not surprised. For some inexplicable reason it is no longer 'news worthy'. I make the connection with a friend who was murdered there in 1996. She had next to no media coverage. I still have the carefully folded remains of the 50 or so words reporting the coroner's verdict. In reality, no amount of coverage is ever going to be enough for anyone who goes missing. It's down to each of us to do anything we feel can.

Jax Lovelock, Birmingham, Uk

Of course the reason why there is not enough media attention on this case is because Shannon and her family are not 'attractive' enough to warrant it. They have nothing going for them, nothing that the media can latch onto.

However, she is lucky in that she is white. If she were black there would be no chance of her even getting front page.

You think i'm joking?

Look at all the media coverage Sally Anne Bowman got and i'm not saying she didn't deserve it. But what I am saying is that a few days later a 15 year old mixed race girl was snatched from a phonebox, taken to a flat and hacked to death by a stranger on a London council estate in London. How much media coverage did that receive?

Being 'attractive' counts for a lot in this country.

kim, london,

To be blunt Karen Turner:

The media coverage disparity has NOTHING to do with which police forces are handling the case!
Your statemente that the lack of confidence in the PJ was the reason why the Madeleine case got more coverage is naieve in the extreme!
The Madeleine case got premium coverage as soon as the Mccanns told the media about the case, how the the PJ were handling the case was not known at the time by the media.
How can you be that confident in the "superior" British police when they haven't been able to solve the mystery of missing Genette Tate, Suzy Lamplugh or even Lord Lucan?
The PJ investigation has been one of the most scrutinised in living memory, had some British cases been equally as scrutinised then I sure many more hitherto unreported mistakes would have been exposed in the media highlighting the failings of the British police force.

KL, Oxford, UK

A very interesting article, perhps the mcCans could make an appeal for her safe return would be interesting to see if their involvement would increase media coverge, would kind of confirm the article. That said I have to admit I know Dewsbury well and having see the area of Dewsbury she was from I did find myself thinking, oh what a horribe estate, look at the rubbish and yes look at some of the people. It is not nice but it is human instinct. There are some very caring hard working families on that estate who no doubt care and are worried deeply about the little girl, but there are many more who don't. I hope the girl is found. We all need to look at ourselves and ask whether our own prejudicies hindered the search, where are the posters, the rewards. All that said it works both ways, I recal many working class families attacking the mcCans for "leaving" maddy, and the questions over money, funds, all these were rooted in a kind of class envy

David, Halifx,

Listen all you people out there, instead of sittng on the fence , wasting pecious time bickering on these forums, do something a little more pro-active, put your spare time to good use, take a look at his group of people, who all give up their spare time to voluntary help families of missing people,
take a look
www.foreversearching.com
and if you have any spare time please join them, Afterall sending one mail takes time less than writing a comment on here, It may possibly help Find a child
To join just send an email to
register@foreversearcghing.com
Lets make this world a safer and happier place to be
Thank you for your time

FOREVERCARING, UK, UK

I think that the two issues regarding the Maddie case which captured the media and Public attention were that she was only three when taken and that she was snatched from her bed in a "safe" holiday resort. Also the fact that she was abroad meant that the British public needed to scrutise the unknown Portugese methods.
I have daughters aged 4 and 8 and therefore not emotionally bias to one age group both precious and both vunerable. I check for info on Shannon just as much as Maddie.
I do not think this is a class issue. Both cases are sad and terrible and I agree, much more newsworhty than Harry's contrived "doing his bit for the country now let's get back to partying" story

Sally, Southampton, Hants

An extremely clever and emotive piece you have written here. Unfortunately it is apparent, that all too often the fractures of our society yield the worst in us in every way. Ignorance is an intolerable state, tolerated because we allow uneducated people to remain uneducated. Some people have different states of mind and each one of them reflects a life and its interaction. Shannon for some reason appears to have initially made a decision not to make her usual way from school to the simple safety of her front door. The same for many, whether it is a child coming home from school or a man trying to stop yobs in defense of his property; we still see societies failing to grow. Do we really care so little? We pray for you Shannon and all those souls who are lost.

Mick, Bristol, UK

In other cases national newspapers have offered rewards for information, as reported in your article. Can the Times, having highlighted this terrible case start an appeal for donations for a reward fund? I was shocked that such an article didn't end in such an appeal and feel that this should be immediately organised. At least it would be one way to demonstrate that we do care.

Ruth Coulthard, Newcastle Upon Tyne,

Perhaps some of the millionaires who were so generous to the middle-class McCanns could spare something for a family with far fewer resources and less media interest in them.
Your article is sad but true. The last acceptable prejudice is this country is class.

Sarah N., London, UK

Those bleating on about inequality need to take a reality check. There will always be people more beautiful, more intelligent, more lucky, richer.. You can't make everything and everyone the same. Yes it sucks but the world is not equal and that's life. So go on let's compare it to the McCann case. It got the publicity partly because of the circumstances, partly because of the family contacts, money and 'know how' and partly because the media felt that the story would sell their papers etc. Are people saying that there should be a fixed and legislated amount and type of publicity for every missing child? And that if it was their child who was missing and they had the resources to kick up a big fuss, they would be happy to be curtailed in that way? I don't think so!

Chrissy, Halifax, England

I feel really touched by this story and im glad the writer has raised the question of why there is no media attention. She may have come from a rough family, but Jesus came to save sinners, God loves us all, so keep praying I pray!

Toby, Sussex,

....I thought Shannon had been found, there was nothing about it on the news today, so I assumed that she'd returned home....and when searching missing girl on the internet, the search results turned up Madeline Mcann. I think it's disgusting that this poor little girls dissapearance has been made so trivial when afterall, she is only 9 years old and it should be the top priority of the news to publicise the story until she is found!

Jane Wall, London,

My thoughts are with Shannons family. Shannon's name is mentioned daily in my home and at my place of work. Everyone that has spoken of her is following her story and praying for her safe return.
I am surprised how quickly the media attention slowed but then the media is fickle. They do not care about this child, they care about selling papers, pulling in viewers and beating the competion.

Shannons family should know they are supported, as should the McCann's and every other family going through such awful pain.

kelly, london, uk

I only noticed this week that the coverage was pretty poor for Shannon, apposed to media on the other missing children.

Where we come front should not matter, this is a child who has gone somewhere and the more media there is on the case the better - you never know who may have been passing through Yorkshire the day she vanished - oh dear it could even been someone from the South who has snatched her, therefore we need publicity on this case. It is hardly mentioned on the radio, nor the mainstream news (which many people watch).

It would be interesting to hear from someone from the media, on why this case is ignored. More news seems to be on the Jersey case, where they have found bones, and although this is a dreadful affair too, Shannon is missing in 2008 not the past.

arabella, london,

My family and I live in the next town to Shannon...

We have also noticed the same with the media.

Does not having money and living on a council estate mean that the media do not care...the public round here Thankfully do.

Shannon is still a child who is missing no matter where she comes from.
We hope and pray she is found safe and sound soon.

Concerned Family, Mirfield West Yorkshire, UK

i and friends who post on these board for the safe return of Madeleine have also mentioned Mari,Joanna, Amy Yermi Mary Ben Shannon and pray for there safe return daily

friend , glasgow , scotland

i can not beleive that poor shannon has just vanished and people out there seem more bothered about jersy and prince bloody harry i makes my blood boil after all how would youfeel if it was your daughter/ niece/sister /grandaughter/ god daugter that is missing and the press were more intrested in stupid news as i see it like prince harry and yes look at all the coverage maddie has had why is that is it because her parents are working parents middle class worthy of all the help
load of crap PLEASE COME HOME SHANNON OR WHO EVA HAS TAKEN HER LET HER COME HOME PLEASE

CHERYL CULL, LEEDS,

I couldnt agree more with this article, I have thought the very same thing before reading this. Yes, Shannon's family look far worse off than say The McCanns, but a child is a a child no matter who and where they come from. I'm sure the Police are doing as much as they can, but there is nowhere near the publicity/rewards etc that other missing children have received...and this has happened in the UK ,NOT abroad, or do the Police feel there is something dodgy going on and have asked that there shouldnt be huge rewards for information...who knows...I have my own theories on this one,but whatever is going on, we all wish this vunerable little girl would be found safe and well VERY soon!

SUE, BIRMINGHAM,

I would say this article is exactly right. It is difficult to kepe this sort of case in the public eye if relatives and friends are not able to mastermind the publicity. The McCanns are an exception - I don't ever remember a case where the parents have mounted such a campaign. They were fortunate they were in a position to do so. The trouble is now any missing child case including Shannon is going to be compared with the McCanns

Jill, Boston, UK

Where is the government sponsored spokesperson? Where is the millionaire's parade (JK Rowling, Richard Branson, etc)? Where are the private jets and audiences with the Pope, not to mention new careers in child welfare? Why does the Sun value Shannon's life at £20,000 and Madeleine McCann's at £1,500,000? Why hasn't the BBC anchored their news from Dewsbury?

What a sad charade.

TH, England,

You have completely misjudged the public on this, Mr Norfolk. The fact is we can only read what the papers print. Try looking on the internet, on all the boards and forums, and you will find we care as much about Shannon as we do Madeleine, Mari Luz, (Yes, I DO remember her name,) Yerimi, Joanna and all the other lost kids. ALL missing children are a tragedy, and we do not judge them by their parents bankroll.

Nigel Nessling, Ipswich, Suffolk

I doubt that the difference in media attention between the Mccann case and that of poor Shannon Mathews is representative of the attitudes of the general public. It isn't they that write for newspapers and the broadcast media, but journalists and editors. If there is a disparity of coverage and there certainly is, that is where the responsibility lies.

Tony Volpe, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

It could be that the exposure given to the McCann saga have swamped our capacity for child abductions?

The human psyche can quickly numb to the repetitive disclosure of horror. It is perhaps sad, but it's a survival skill that is hard to throw off. Which is why the constant exposure to ever more gruesome pictures on television news is actually counter productive as it loses its ability to shock.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

I had hoped that the reason we had heard so little of Shannon on the news was because the police were quietly following some lead that they didn't want publicly known too soon. It's depressing to think that the media might have just lost interest because Yorkshire isn't as sunny this time of year as Portugal or because of her social background.
My thoughts are with her family and for her safe return.

A Bermingham, Chester, England

I agree with the above comments, I could not believe whole news programmes were devoted to Prine Harry on the 28/2/08 and not one word was mentioned about Shannon or any other more worthy news like the hunt in Jersey. Why should one child be forgotten, which is why I was searching the web for news.

Kerry, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire

I cant express in words how much emotion I am feeling about this case I would just like to remind people to try and not give up hope hopefully she is still alive out there and just waiting for some one to find her. It would make me so happy to have her found safe and well so anyone whos reads this keep hoping for little shannon matthews cos I am and I would love to see her smiling face on the news saying so what im from a council estate but so what im still here. Cmon shannon please come home.

emma richards, bramley/leeds, west yorkshire

The media may have lost interest, but I don't think the public have.

Please don't do the class thing here. This is a little girl. A beautiful and vulnerable child who has gone missing. Look on My Space and Facebook, people are supporting her. People just see that this is a lovely young girl who has gone missing, and we want her found.

Our police force involved in this really care, they will call on groups, like the one I am involved in, to get involved if the need arises. As Karen Turner says above, our police force know who they are looking for.

You try and pull the class thing, well at least our police force know who they are looking for unlike in the case of very middle class Madeleine McCann. Did being middle class help her? I think not.

I think it comes down to the police force involved.

Kay, London,

It's no good those people commenting pretending that the pitiful chasm between children like Shannon, and children like Madeleine, doesn't exist .... it does

... and it shames us all

Thank you for this important piece of journalism

Jack, Cardiff, S. Glam.

I also do not think this about class or about the public judging Shannon less "worthy" than Madeleine or having less concern. Shannon is equally vulnerable. I sincerely hope she will be found soon.
Our police forces use the most up to date procedures and techniques but still sometimes missing children are never found.
The media does have a role in keeping the search for Shannon a live news item. The media also ought to have the integrity not to create division where none exists by suggesting Shannon is a some kind of second class citizen receiving inferior services and interest.
The McCann Family have endeavoured to keep missing Madeleine in the public domain and they have also opened up their "publicity machine" to benefit other missing children like Shannon by contacting the families and clearly expressing empathy and solidarity on the Finding Madeleine website.
If the McCann's had not made their publicity efforts, Madeleine news would also have long disappeared from the media.

morag sievwright, Glasgow, Scotland

Looks as though its up to the goodwill of the newspapers then, to keep reminding the public of Shannon's plight. This article is good. Let there be more like it. Highlighting Shannons 'down and out' neighbourhood appeals to human interest. Don't mind people's sensibilities; all's fair when it comes down to trying to find a missing child. People all over the world read online news every day and hopefully that knowledge will prick the government to do more to help highlight this case. It might even apply its pledge to 'lift more children out of poverty' directly to Shannon's community - and prevent more children from going missing. Shannon was obviously miserable and wretched enough to wish she lived somewhere else. She told friends she wanted to run away. Why? What was happening in her young life to make her so desperate? Let the newspapers keep asking questions. Someone, somewhere has answers. So please Times (and others) keep Shannon's name in the forefront of public consiousness!

Jean, Hague, NL

Shannon has NOT been forgotten. On the other side of the world, I run the Australian Missing Persons Register and Shannon is on my front page. She will be there until she is found. Every child is precious, no matter who they are or where they are from and every missing child deserves the same media and police attention. From where I sit over here, it seems the Yorkshire Police are doing a wonderful job and putting in a massive effort to find Shannon.

Best wishes to her family.

Nicole Morris , Queensland, Australia

Before this gets out of hand with comparisons over the rich and the not rich like Susan above says...its about the kids. Not one is different than the other as they are just children. Before the Madeleine got this Shannon isn't getting that...lets set up a fund for Shannon as well...just someone cuz I don't know how and I'm not in England do it...and I am sure people will help as much as they can. We don't need to keep going on like the article above. Its not a competition. Its a missing child...any child and her family needs the help to find her too.

D & D, USA,

To be blunt

This is no more about class than my big toe. The simple fact is, we have confidence in the police in our country and that they are pouring every resource they can into the search for Shannon. The police at the very lease know what she looks like which is in direct contrast to the PJ who asked someone, the night Madeleine disappeared, if the picture they had was of their own daughter when in fact it was Madeleine. And, took notes on scraps of paper and allowed the crime scene to be contaminated by fag ash.

Don't turn this into a class war. It has nothing to do with it. It is about confidence that all that could possibly be done, is being done. And the by the way, where is our amber alert system. Where are the mechanisms to alert the country to the disappearance of child. Parents shouldn't have to raise funds, scrape together money to produce posters and create a public awareness campaign. This should happen as a matter of course in tragedies such as these.

Karen Turner, Hereford,

Pleased to read your sensitive but so truthful article on poor Shannon Matthews.
Upsetting to read the child's background but that is not her fault, and her mother is still her mother, despite her lifestyle. We are too quick to critiscise. 'There but for the grace of
G-d....' springs to mind.
Thankfully the police continue their search. I pray they are successful.

H Melrose, Blackpool, Lancashire

You know the scary thing?

I didn't even recall the "story" of Shannon Matthews until I read the part that her mother had many children by different fathers. That was the first point which rang a bell.

We should all be ashamed.

Brijit, Paris, France

The fact that this article has brought forward no comment until mine would strengthen the argument and message that it contains.

The broadcast last evening on Channel 4, featuring the 2 little girls who were abducted but came back, illustrated all the suffering and heartache that cases of missing children bring to those closest to those children and to the children themselves, where they survive.

It is to be hoped that the police, in all their efforts, will be successful in finding Sarah and that, if she has been abducted, her abductor will be caught and punished.

Meanwhile WE must ask ourselves why one child wins our sympathy yet another we can forget so soon!

Greg Hopkins, Beaconsfield, Bucks

sad but very possibly true

liz, birmingham, uk

It's funny you should print this today as I was just thinking the same thing. I'm all the way over here on the other side of the continent and yet this story resonates with me unlike any other like it. Mainly because Shannon is such a reminder of my own daughter, down to those precious dimples. Like her family, we don't have a whole lot . We don't live in the best neighborhood in town. The kids go to public schools and we scrape by as best we can. But I too love my children desperately. Yet I wonder if anyone would offer a million dollar reward if one of my kids went missing? I wonder if I would get as much publicity as Kate McCann has since I'm really not that photogenic and honestly, I'm somewhat plain looking and have no desire be a doctor. Why isn't a child who is very much like my own child not worth that attention?

I can't express how deeply sad I am for Shannon's family and that I too hold out hope for her safe return.

Susan Cuturilo, Seattle, Washington, USA