Social services cleared over Shannon abduction

A serious case review has concluded that the abduction of Shannon Matthews could not have been foreseen by social services and other agencies involved with her family.

The report found there was "little leeway" for authorities to intervene before Shannon, then aged nine, was abducted from her home in Dewsbury Moor in February 2008.

In a statement, Alison O'Sullivan, chair of the board and director for children and young people at Kirkless Council, said: "The trigger for the serious case review - the abduction of the mother's third child, Shannon - was, to quote directly, an 'unusual, unexpected and challenging event'.

"This is made crystal clear and the Board is in full agreement â€" this was an unprecedented case and it was not possible to foresee that Shannon would fall prey to abduction by people closest to her.

"We are very firm in that belief, though we accept there are areas of criticism in the report and we agree with them.

"As a safeguarding body, the Board acknowledges the significant omission in relation to the eldest child, who could, or possibly should, have been offered a voluntary period in care when behavioural issues became a problem."

Shannon, now 11, was discovered 24 days after she disappeared at her stepfather's uncle's home, less than a mile away.

Her mother Karen Matthews, then 33, and Michael Donovan, then 40, were both jailed for eight years for their parts in the kidnap plot.

Shannon was found in Donovan's flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, in the base of a bed.

The youngster had been drugged and forced to adhere to a strict list of rules while held captive.

Prosecutors said Donovan kept Shannon imprisoned as part of a plan he and Matthews hatched to claim a £50,000 reward offered by a national newspaper.

The court was told the ordeal left Shannon "disturbed and traumatised" and suffering from nightmares.

Kirklees Council announced a serious case review after Matthews and Donovan were convicted in December 2008.

Last week ministers confirmed that full reports of serious case reviews into the most notorious cases of child abuse are to be published, including the one relating to Shannon.