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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Shannon mother 'awaiting return' | Shannon mother 'awaiting return' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The mother of rescued schoolgirl Shannon Matthews says she understands why her daughter has not returned home. | |
| The nine-year-old was found in a divan bed in a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, more than three weeks after she disappeared from nearby Dewsbury. | The nine-year-old was found in a divan bed in a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, more than three weeks after she disappeared from nearby Dewsbury. |
| Officers arrested her stepfather's uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, formerly known as Paul Drake, on Friday. | Officers arrested her stepfather's uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, formerly known as Paul Drake, on Friday. |
| Shannon is in social services care and Karen Matthews said she accepted police needed time to speak to her daughter. | |
| In a statement issued through West Yorkshire Police Karen Matthews said: "I fully understand that the police need to keep speaking to Shannon to establish exactly what has happened during the time that she has been missing. | |
| "I appreciate that could take some time and is not something that is going to happen overnight. | "I appreciate that could take some time and is not something that is going to happen overnight. |
| Shannon Matthews was found in a flat on Friday afternoon | Shannon Matthews was found in a flat on Friday afternoon |
| "The most important thing is that Shannon is safe. | |
| "I have seen Shannon and I am completely happy that she is being very well looked after and is being given all the care she needs. | |
| "The police have been brilliant and I'm really grateful for all they have done for us." | "The police have been brilliant and I'm really grateful for all they have done for us." |
| She added: "Of course I want her back with us as soon as that's possible but I understand that could take some time. | She added: "Of course I want her back with us as soon as that's possible but I understand that could take some time. |
| "When she does come home I want it to be for good. Our main priority is Shannon's welfare." | |
| She said a big party was planned for her return, to thank the community for all their support. | She said a big party was planned for her return, to thank the community for all their support. |
| Mr Donovan and Shannon were found by police in two concealed compartments under a divan bed at the flat in Lidgate Gardens, just one mile from Shannon's parents' home in Dewsbury, on Friday afternoon. | Mr Donovan and Shannon were found by police in two concealed compartments under a divan bed at the flat in Lidgate Gardens, just one mile from Shannon's parents' home in Dewsbury, on Friday afternoon. |
| 'Amber alert' | 'Amber alert' |
| Family friend Charlotte Thornton said Karen Matthews had seen Shannon and had said her daughter looked fine and well. | Family friend Charlotte Thornton said Karen Matthews had seen Shannon and had said her daughter looked fine and well. |
| A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said that specially-trained officers had interviewed Shannon on Saturday, and would continue to speak to her on Sunday. | A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said that specially-trained officers had interviewed Shannon on Saturday, and would continue to speak to her on Sunday. |
| Police said she was "on the road to recovery following her ordeal". | Police said she was "on the road to recovery following her ordeal". |
| Meanwhile, police have rejected claims by an MEP that she could have been found faster. | Meanwhile, police have rejected claims by an MEP that she could have been found faster. |
| Yorkshire MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has said police should have carried out more checks on Shannon's family. | Yorkshire MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has said police should have carried out more checks on Shannon's family. |
| He also said if police had used a missing child alert like those used in other countries, known as an amber alert, Shannon would have been found sooner. | He also said if police had used a missing child alert like those used in other countries, known as an amber alert, Shannon would have been found sooner. |
| West Yorkshire Police said it was "inaccurate" to suggest using the amber alert scheme would have resulted in Shannon being found any quicker. | West Yorkshire Police said it was "inaccurate" to suggest using the amber alert scheme would have resulted in Shannon being found any quicker. |