'I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD GO AHEAD'
Karen Matthews’ cousin appears on Good Morning Britain to slam new BBC drama The Moorside starring Sheridan Smith
TWISTED Karen Matthews' cousin has slammed a new BBC drama based on the fake kidnapping saying she doesn't think it should go ahead.
Susan Howgate said two-part The Moorside starring Sheridan Smith would bring back memories of the horrific ordeal for the family.
7
7
7
Her cousin Karen was caged for eight years for her part in faking nine-year-old Shannon's kidnapping in 2008.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today ahead of the show airing, Susan said: "It’s going to bring everything back up again for family members who are going to get grief like they have in the past. I don’t think it should go ahead.
“I found out about it on Facebook. I only knew when they were making it and then I saw it was coming out tonight.”
7
7
Susan also revealed disturbing details about her cousin's behaviour during the phoney kidnapping, claiming she would "laugh and joke" while pretending Shannon was missing.
Karen was seen crying crocodile tears on TV pleading for her daughter's safe return after claiming she had vanished following a swimming trip.
But she was discovered a few weeks later drugged inside the base of a divan bed in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
related stories
It later emerged that mum Karen had orchestrated the whole plot so she could bag the £50,000 reward money and split it with her accomplice Michael Donovan.
The house where Shannon was found less than a mile away at was that of Donovan, the uncle of Craig Meehan – who was Karen’s boyfriend at the time.
They had planned to release the schoolgirl, "discover her" then take her to a police station and claim the reward before splitting.
7
Reliving the horror, Susan said: "When [Shannon] went missing,[Karen] was always laughing and joking. I used to lie there in bed and think, ‘How’s it happened?’
"I’d go around the next day and she’d be laughing and joking, so I was like, ‘Why is she laughing and joking?’
“One time she put kettle on and she said to me, ‘No you make the tea for everybody’.”
7
Susan explained the family are still living through hell and received death threats almost a decade on from the nightmare.
She said: "We’ve had a lot of trouble with people putting my windows through.
“I’m still having bother even though it happened eight years ago.”
Sheridan Smith, 35, stars as Karen’s friend and neighbour Julie Bushby, who led the search for Shannon in tonight’s controversial drama.
Shannon's family have previously called the actress and other cast members a "disgrace".
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
Topics