By Shannon Matthews given lifelong anonymity
Kidnapped Shannon Matthews has been granted lifelong anonymity by a court – preventing her new identity from ever being revealed.
Shannon, now 21, was just nine when her mother Karen faked her kidnapping in a bid to cash in on reward money.
She was missing for 24 days in 2008 before being found at the home of Michael Donovan – uncle of Matthews’ then-partner Craig Meehan.
Shannon and her siblings were protected by a reporting restriction order due to expire next year and a High Court ruling has said that they are now protected for life.
Nothing about them, including names, addresses and jobs, can ever be published unless a court agrees.
Shannon was the victim in a fake kidnap plot that gripped the nation for weeks.
The missing schoolgirl had been drugged, tied up and hidden in the base of a divan bed by her mum, who hoped to pocket a £50,000 reward.
It is understood that all of the siblings have legally changed their names after they were taken into care.
Sources have said that all of the siblings, including Shannon, have been left deeply affected by what happened.
It is thought that the lifelong order will only be changed in the future if any of the family decided to revoke it.
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