Extra time to quiz Shannon mother

Shannon Matthews was missing for 24 days before being found

Karen Matthews is spending a second day being questioned about her daughter Shannon's disappearance after police were granted a 24-hour extension.

The 32-year-old, arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, can be held until midday on Wednesday.

It is understood she is being quizzed about alleged inconsistencies in her version of events.

Police want to know if she had any contact with Michael Donovan, the man charged with abducting Shannon.

Detectives are comparing comments she made when her daughter was missing with remarks she is alleged to have made to friends just before her arrest on Sunday night, which were heard by a police family liaison officer.

'Serious self-harm'

There were suggestions that when Shannon disappeared, Ms Matthews may have known more than she told police.

Detectives, however, are not confirming if this is the case.

They have stressed perverting the course of justice could cover a wide range of actions.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said magistrates had granted officers a further 24 hours to continue questioning Ms Matthews.

Karen Matthews was arrested by detectives on Sunday night

"Detectives investigating the disappearance of a nine-year-old girl in Dewsbury in February are continuing to question a 32-year-old woman this morning [Tuesday]," the spokesman said.

"She remains in police custody after being arrested on Sunday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice."

The three-week search for Shannon ended when she was found hidden in the base of a bed in a flat less than a mile from her home, 24 days after she went missing.

Michael Donovan, 39, has been charged with abducting Shannon, who was found safe on 14 March.

Mr Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Dewsbury, was treated in hospital after committing what was described as "serious self-harm" while in jail awaiting trial for kidnap and false imprisonment.

Following treatment for what were believed to be cuts to his wrists, he was returned to Leeds prison where he is on remand.

A provisional trial date has been set for 11 November.

Other arrests

A Prison Service spokesperson would not confirm the details of the incident but said "a prisoner from Leeds was taken to outside hospital overnight following a case of serious self-harm".

"Staff responded to the incident promptly and with great professionalism and the prisoner has now been returned to HMP Leeds."

Mr Donovan, who was formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan.

Two other women, 49-year-old Alice Meehan, the mother of Shannon's stepfather, and his sister, 25-year-old Amanda Hyett, were held on Friday.

Ms Hyett, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender while Ms Meehan was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Both were released on police bail.

In a separate inquiry, Craig Meehan was remanded in custody by Dewsbury magistrates last Thursday after being arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.