 Karen and Meehan, in an interview on BBC Radio 4's "Today" programme on 12 March, were questioned about suggestions by her parents that Meehan had been violent towards Shannon, and on Karen having seven children by at least five fathers (two of the children were registered as having unknown fathers).Commenting on the interview, "The Independent" said that the case had developed a cruel overtone and that such questions went far beyond necessity and lifted the lid on an uncomfortable hypocrisy in British society.West Yorkshire Police found Shannon alive at 12