Shannon Matthews' mother remanded in custody

BRITAIN:  The mother of Shannon Matthews was remanded in custody yesterday when she appeared before magistrates accused of repeatedly concealing information about the whereabouts of her daughter.

Karen Matthews (32), appeared in court at Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, flanked by security guards for the 13-minute hearing. Ms Matthews was charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect following her arrest on Sunday evening. She was remanded in custody until April 16th when she will appear via a videolink at Leeds Crown Court.

Nine-year-old Shannon went missing from Dewsbury Moor on February 19th following a school swimming trip. She was found in the base of a bed at an address just a mile from her home after a 24-day police search.

Ms Matthews was led handcuffed into the dock at the magistrates' court and spoke only to confirm her personal details. Throughout the proceedings she looked at the district judge, Jonathan Bennett, and only glanced at the public gallery near the end of the hearing. The courtroom was packed with media, Dewsbury Moor residents and Ms Matthews' friends.

There were shouts of "yes" when Mr Bennett refused bail and remanded Matthews in custody.

The perverting the course of justice charge alleges she "repeatedly concealed information in relation to the whereabouts of Shannon Matthews in interviews and other contacts with officers with the West Yorkshire Police and claimed to have no knowledge of her whereabouts."

Police yesterday distributed leaflets to local residents insisting they will "find out the truth" and urged them not to take the law into their own hands and not to "jump to conclusions about people who may be involved in the inquiry".

© 2008 PA

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times