Shannon Matthews and the Care system?

Question

I was one of the ones that was over the moon when that nine year old was found alive -we are in the midlands and it was actually annouced out loud to everyone at work and everyone downed told and took some time to mingle and say "wow, is she ok? thank god she's alive!" It was a weird feeling, it was a feeling of relief, even though we didnt know her.

Since then we have been hearing the horror of the family situation on the news. Im sickened by the idea that the family was involved, especially the step dad and the child p**n - but can anyone tell me how shannon herself is going to be ok? At nine, from such a high profile case is she going to be ok?

Answer 1

i'm sure it will stay with her for the rest of her life as surely she won't go back to them, what a sick twisted family, how sick and disgusting to use your child like that, she should be locked up and key thrown away,

Answer 2

Latest news is that Shannon's mum knew where she was all the time and apparently they faked the kidnap for money - Shannon has said she wants to stay with her foster family, she doesn't want to go back to live with her mum!

I hope Shannon will be OK, it's very sad and sickening that her family could be so selfish and do this to their own child!

I hope she finds a very stable and loving family who loves and cares for her.

Children can heal much easier than adults but no doubt she will be scarred from this ordeal.

The only good that can come out of this is for Shannon to find a loving home to go to - perhaps she would be left with her heartless mother and paedophile step-father had this not happened so i think it's best we look on the bright side.

Such a shame she had to go through all this before anyone noticed she was living with such a vile family.

Answer 3

i think for poor Shannon the damage has already been done

i have heard she is now in foster care - i think with the right support she can probably have a more peaceful existence than she experienced previously at the hands of her 'ever loving' mum who seemed to know how to breed and nothing else

Answer 4

i dont think anyone can say whether she will be ok as we are all unsure exactly what she has been subjected to, it makes me sick to hear all this about the mother and step father and all they did with the media. I didnt think much of them when the press told them to act normally and they went off to the local shop and brought back a crate of larger.

She will be very much supported yet the damage has been done i just hope she will get through this with support but when you cant rely on your own family what hope is there.

I also wonder what will happen to the little girl that they have, i am guessing she will also end up in care, its such a sad world that we live in when children are put through this kind of thing. it breaks my heart and having 2 young children i cant even comprehend this situation.

Answer 5

Seeing the step-father on the news - I was definitely suspicious of him but never in a million years did I imagine the mother being involved!

I cannot understand how or why a mother could in anyway exploit their child.  It just isn't natural.  As for Shannon - prime Jeremy Kyle material in a few years time I expect.  Lets just hope she gets the love and protection to keep her from all that.  The real father seemed okay from the brief glimpse I saw of him on the news but who knows?

Answer 6

This will undoubtedly have an affect on her for the rest of her life.  She must feel so alone and scared - what nine year old wouldn't being separated from all her friends and family.  Her mother is a sorry story indeed but to Shannon, she is her mummy and that it that.  It is sad statistic that children who have entered the care system will have problems of some sort.  Ironically, probably the same problems she would have if she had stayed with her parents - they are clearly unfit to look after her.

Answer 7

I don't think she will go back to her family - after all both parents have been arrested and other family members its just too risky.

There was always something fishy about it but she is OK

we can be thankful it hasn't turned out like another Madeline McCan

shell be OK though - hopefully

Answer 8

I think it is highly unlikely that Shannon will be returned to her parents.

What is likely is she will remain in care until her case with the social services gets a court date (which normally takes about 6 months), where it will be decided if she can be fostered out to a family member or if she will need to be placed for adoption or in long term foster care.

I really hope that a responsible family member is found who can care for her, as at the age of 9/10 it will be extremely difficult to find her an adoptive family, and she may find herself having to live in a care home if she cannot get a place in a foster home.

I think emotionally, Shannon will undoubtedly be affected. She may be feeling guilt at the thought of all of her family members being arrested and she will probably be feeling a great deal of isolation being separated from her siblings as well as feeling a great deal of anxiety not knowing what will happen in her future.

Hopefully, social workers would have arranged for Shannon to get counselling so that this difficult time does not affect the rest of her life.

All i can say is that i really hope that Shannon goes on to have a contented life.

Answer 9

From the start i knew that something was not quite right with the whole story. What a sad family. I am sure that Shannon will be taken care off. Some mothers  does not deserve to be called mother.