Madeleine McCann: Duarte Levy, Clarence Mitchell And The Daily Mirror
DUARTE Levy writes on the case of Madeleine McCann. He alleges that that Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ PR adviser, is “using the Government’s services to keep watch on journalists and forum participants.” Says Mr Levy:
Clarence Mitchell, the McCann’s PR adviser and spokesman, continues to make use of the British government’s services despite having officially resigned from his position as director of the Media Monitoring Unit*. The accusation comes from a Home Office source who has stated that the outgoing director had called upon his former service to keep a watch not only on several journalists but also on the behaviour of participants in a list of forums and blogs considered to be “highly detrimental to the image of the McCanns and that of the British government”.
Can what Mr Levy alleges be true? And if it is, why would it be a big deal for the McCanns’ spokesman to keep an eye on the web, and get what help he can? Mr Levy continues:
Clarence Mitchell, a former journalist for the Daily Express and the BBC, was seconded by the Foreign Office to act as a liaison officer between the media and Madeleine’s parents. Through the intermediary of the respective British embassies, it was he who organised the McCann’s visits to the Vatican, Madrid, Berlin, Amsterdam and Rabat.
Since the very early days, media monitoring has been an important part of Clarence Mitchell’s work. While the McCann’s were in Praia da Luz, it was he who decided to separate journalists according to nationality: the British first, and the Portuguese last.
Today, the McCann’s PR campaign relies more than ever on monitoring public opinion: over the past few days several UK forums and blogs have been shut down due to “anti-McCann” comments. Amongst them is the Mirror newspaper’s forum, which erased all comments about the case without warning when the participants started to debate Home Office interference.
No response from Mr Mitchell is quoted in Mr Levy’s email to us. But why did the Daily Mirror close its forum? Anyone from those forums care to tell us what they know?
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Posted: 27th, January 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (741) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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January 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
321
chenier Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
————–
it is sledge you’re talking too…he is a bit errrr slow
January 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
i’m really hoping the McConns will do a spot on usa tv.
every time they have appeared on video so far they have shot themselves in the foot
and that’s with the pathetic, fawning uk media
oprah will rip them to shreds
such fun
January 27th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
314
Sledgehammer Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
—————————————————
If you bother to look back at your own post you will find that the Mods and Admin have replied on it.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
317 dcb
“Madeleine is not the main story on their website either.”
who is this “Madeleine”?
January 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
271 Val
The version I like is
“All power corrupts, and absolute power is absolutely delightful”
January 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
i wonder if anyone has considered bringing a case against leicestershire social services for failing to protect the McConn twins
January 27th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
315
Peter O Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++
Madeleine is not the main story on their website either.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
303 Grande Finale.
You sure make things sound good. I’m smiling again.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Oh how the mighty have fallen…
Though I don’t buy any of our esteemed tabloid newspapers I have to confess that I can never resists a quick scan of the newsstand whenever I pass..
I think it says a lot for the achievements of the McCann’s and the Comical One that they have been unable to keep the story of Madeleine’s disappearance, a worthy story in my opinion, on the front pages of the News of the World this week.
This week, this organ of journalistic virtue has deemed that the great British Public are far more interested in a World Exclusive discussing the marital difficulties of one Cherryl, a pop singer in girl band, and Ashley, a highly paid prima donna footballer.
Such are the circles that the Madeleine story mixes with these days.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Mods and Admin/278, the question was about the ongoing circus and if the PJ had either the ability or the wherewithal to put a stop to it, also you avoided the fact that the PJ seem to have been prevented from making at least one arrest by the prosecutor, allegedly. If you feel the need to take me to task on my observations, at least have the courtesy to answer my points. As for the time scale, how long is a piece of string or a rogatory letter. As I stated previously if you feel I am breaching AGW’s guidelines, be good enough to inform me.
_______________
Mods and Admin
I was answering your post. But you clearly feel the PJ have concluded their investigation, if youfeel that is so why isn’t the case in court yet? The PJ advised thwe McCann NOT to go down the media circus route , they ignored their advice. The PJ cannot order them to stop.
Perhaps the Prosecutor felt more evidence should be gleaned, why don’t you ask him?
Or do you think it should have all been wrapped up in a jiffy?
Metodo3 seem to be also drawing out their investigations, after all they claimed Madeliene would be home by Xmas.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
303 Grand Finale
I don”t post very often but being a poor sleeper, I woke about 3.30am and was surprised to
see a few still posting.
Am I glad you are here now to put me out of my misery!!!!!!!
When I joined you were telling Ferdinand about some important news “Madeleine ” which would be made public early this week. He replied that you had missed out a word you replied
with apologies that it should have read “Madeleine Found” and blamed it on the whiskey you
had been downing.
I waited a few minutes then posted to Ferdinand, “I presume you meant the missing word should have been ALIVE….. to which he replied Yes. Nothing more from you so I left.
How much more Forensic evidence can they find? Hope it”s not another three month wait.
Thanks for the info.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
290 chenier Says: January 27th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
279 val Says: January 27th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
252 Chenier
———————————
Edit….
Admittedly, since all of M3’s people are supposed to be squeezing their cuddlecats, this may have been simple concern for the journos health when confronted by that spectacle…
++++++++++++
Ah yes, but now of course there is probably a frantic world wide paparazzi search for macho looking M3 operatives sporting the tell tale cuddlecats?
I’m reminded by a gay friend that the wearing of particular coloured handkerchiefs and/or keys sported in certain locations about ones person is indicative of ones sexual “interests”. I’m sure there must be some fun to be had by someone of the ilk of say the Sunday Sport with these poor unsuspecting M3 operatives.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
303 Grande Finale
“I can’t say any more but you can expect all will become clear within the next few days!”
—-
I am going to hold your to your word . . . weekends on Anorak are tough.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
279
val Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
252 Chenier
Didn”t Stevo (that reminds me, he has”nt been around very often lately) find out the
wrist bands etc were being sold from a garage in the wilds of Scotland by a Policeman and
his son?
Another sleuth, can”t remember his name suggested the money from the Fund was being
syphoned off and since the Company set up was Private, unless a lot of the donors got together
and asked to see the Accounts nothing could be proved, IMO of course.
*************************************************
“Apparently they are not selling the wristbands, they are awareness raising items”
I thought they were actually sold to raise a profit :question: so are they just an expense then :question:
14.
What is the money being spent on?
The Fund is supporting the McCann family during their search for Madeleine and in ensuring a high profile of Madeleine’s abduction is maintained. As at the end of July 2007, only a small proportion of the money raised has been spent. This has been on awareness raising items e.g. wristbands, website, family expenses and professional fees, including concerning international law on child abduction and the costs of setting up the Fund. The directors are considering the future strategy of the Fund to ensure effective use of funds.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
305
jo Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
=========
i understand your anger,i feel much the same myself but for now at least this needs to be dealt with by the relevant authorities. It cant go on indefinately, sooner or later things are going to come to a head. We have to be patient
January 27th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
298…chenier
Just sent a politely inquisitive mail to LSS regarding that story.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
304
Grande Finale Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Yes I read about it in the spanish media but oh cant find the link anymore
The PJ has some cards up its sleeves and soon they are going to strike.
Also the link in the SUN (I dont really believe them at all but….here you are.the mccBloodies reacted very badly “incandescent with rage”.Cant find the link now but it was posted on the 08/01/08….Pj waiting for new results from DNA tests.
Im looking for the link
January 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
297
val Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
289 Chenier
—————————–
I know of no published figures showing the income of the Fund and how it is made up.
Nor, for that matter, of any published figures for the Fund’s expenditure.
The closest has been various attempts at estimates from newspapers, but nothing solid.
There are, of course, authorities with access to financial information, but those authorities will not make the information public.
The Fund chooses not to make that information public, notwithstanding the fact that the public provided the money.
It’s reasonable to draw the inference that the Fund is concerned as to how the public might view its actions…
January 27th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
301
RedRooster Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
299
jo Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
=============
well it might have to come to that the way things are going
******************
MY PLEASURE.
After Afghanistan nothing scares me…and surely NOT the mccAssholes nor the uk cops….I swear
January 27th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
303
val Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
******************
I totally agree.This has lasted long enough but the PJ is not working on its own…as you know.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
The PJ have announced that they have “enough evidence” to indicate that madeleine has died and therefore to raise charges, they have apparently requested new Technological forensic tests to firm up existing evidence.
Clear indications now that CM is on the ropes, sketch stories that were supposed to do the rounds for weeks have been absolutely stifled within hours. Leaving National Sunday Newspapers to recycle August 2007 stories.
Further indications from the new timeline that Team Mccan are to jettison some of the T9 and leave them high and dry. At least one member of T9 has also apparently been “singing” back in Portimao, Portugal.
Plus I have information to hand that a new innitiative is to proceed in the UKthis coming week that makes me feel extremely “bouyant”.
I can’t say any more but you can expect all will become clear within the next few days!
January 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
296 Swannie
It”s not just the Americans who feel so strongly about the child neglect, most people here do as well.
Also, talking to friends etc, everyone is decidedly fed up with the continuous reporting by
the Tabloids on the “McCann case.
I think the PJ should go for broke, charge Kate with Accidental” death and even if they lose
the case at least people will know what evidence they had. All this procrastination is not
doing them any favours IMO.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
289
Porfiry Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I thought there would be an interesting discussion about the implication of the Clarence Mitchell story and his links still to the Government and why this is the case. But it would appear that exactly as Ian, etc have described the aim of the irrational Sledgehammer, etc has been to divert attentio, then this thread has gone into the non-story from Lori Campbell. In the light of the current swathe of sleaze and interference from Gordon Brown in almost every single matter of our lives I would have people would be coming to the conclusion that nothing is beyond them.
—————————————————–
All together now, Clarence Mitchell is a manipulative genius who has every politician in Britain on a string. And that includes the Conservatives, the Lib Dems, the Scottish Nationalists, the members of the Welsh assembly, the members of the Scottish Parliament; every single one of them dances to Clarence’s tune.
Or not.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
299
jo Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
=============
well it might have to come to that the way things are going
January 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
RR
I am dead serious…I have done a lot in my life…. 
Ok but then have I to go to the Uk myself and start a riot????
Who would join and support me?
January 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Interesting that Ray Wyre, currently adorning the pages of the People with his stirring assertion that the McCanns are completely innocent in every respect, was proclaiming with equal fervour back in September that it was impossible to judge whether the McCanns were innocent or guilty without access to the full police files.
And since he has had no access to the police files in the meantime it does rather suggest that his current protestations are less than wholly plausible…
January 27th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
289 Chenier
I remember now, the sale of wrist bands from the garage was operated by the son, money
was paid through “paypal” and guess what………….Philomena knows the Family!!!!!!!!
Since there were many thousands of wrist bands sold, not just in the U.K. but worldwide,
at £2.00 a time, that”s a lot of money, and with the T-shirts costing £6.50 the income from
these two items would have probably not been too much different to the donations.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Hope they weren’t thinking of going to live in America!
Posted from ‘Likeastudentloanoverdraft’ on 3arguidos:
“Just got back from visiting friends in Boston. One of them brought up the subject of the “missing little English girl” and I told her the latests and she was amazed that “THE MCCANNS HAVE NOT BEEN ARRESTED YET AND CHARGED WITH CHILD NEGLECT AND ENDANGERING A MINOR.” To use US speak.
This is the response I met with when I mentioned the McCanns over there to all and sundry. The same thing comes up over and over again. “They left that child alone - they should be in jail and their other kids in foster care!!”…
Believe me there is no other reaction you get from metioning the McCanns. One woman I spoke to said she got a chain-email in the early days about Maddy and she passed it on to her friends and she got loads of replies saying “these people left that child alone, they are responsible for protecting their children, NOT THE REST OF THE WORLD” and I heard this kind of thing all the way down to New York and back to Boston.
Gerry and Kate McCann are less than muck in the USA and if they really think that Oprah or anyone else there is going to welcome them with open arms and treat them the way the UK media has, well there are in for a surprise. Americans taken child neglect (coupled with their anti-drinking culture) very seriously over there. There is “no relaxed parenting” there. It’s either proper parental supervision or you are in deep legal trouble.
They will be absolutely creamed over there. They have no friends in the USA. They do not know what “hurtful and unhelpful” means until the arrive on US soil (that’s if they can get a visa considering they are suspect in a felony).
Oh and most Americans think that Gerry and Kate “did it” and are “the English O J Simpsons”.
So there.”
January 27th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I’ve just checked on Newsnow and all the latest news is about the selling of the story.
Just to get things into perspective is this:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2247534,00.html
We have to ask ourselves - why has the Madeleine McCann circus happened? Seems to me that CM and the intervention of the Government is crucial.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
290
jo Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Its also bloody amazing that the nhs have’nt suspended gerry being as he is a suspect in the possible death and disposal of his daughter. This just proves its who you know not what you know 
——————–
i agree 103% and sure many others do too… but remember we’re talking about the bloody untouchables here.