McCanns: "New Private Investigation" Will You Ever Stop?

Interesting update at the bottom of the page.

Taking the piss that is.

Tucked on to the end of this article, and seemingly unnoticed, this below.

Meanwhile a new private investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance has begun in Portugal.

It is being run by three British former police officers: Nigel Brown, who was named Investigator of the Year after securing the rescue of a kidnapped oil company executive, Dave Carter, who worked in Northern Ireland, and Ray Cooper, who investigated war crimes in Bosnia and gang murders in Trinidad and Tobago.

This revelation I didn't see anywhere else on the net, just the one unsurprising source though; go on, have a guess.
Just something I suppose, that Paul Dacre must have picked up from his weekly audience with Saint Gerald of Rothley. Not unsurprisingly though, this little snippet did not carry an "exclusive" tag, I know such a tag is normally reserved for the World's Greatest Newspaper, but it's so unlike Dacre and the Mail not to crow a little given the chance. Maybe a bit of cop on doing the rounds.

So what are we to make then of this latest bunch? I'm not going to go there today, but the first thing that jumped out at me was, another bugger with a Northern Ireland connection.

Thinking about it a little more, the NI connection wasn't the first thing off the page. The moment I read the thing it was "Big Boys" big boys, big boys. This latest bunch, are they big boys, or are they big big boys? The only reason I ask, is that we have already had the big boys, so is it natural progression and a fair assumption that this latest lot of super crime fighters must be worthy of the latter tag?

You remember the Big Boys don't you; no? Let me refresh your memory a tad with just part of a previous post.


"These are the big boys" - Clarence Mitchell

A private detective whose company was paid up to £500,000 from publicly donated funds to find Madeleine McCann has been charged with fraud.
The McCanns had previously hired Barcelona-based detective agency Metodo 3 on a reported £50,000 a month. But the company lost credibility with the couple when its head of operations claimed he knew who had kidnapped Madeleine and hoped to have her home by Christmas.

After Halligen, the McCanns hired two former British detectives, David Edgar and Arthur Cowley. In August, Mr Edgar appealed for sightings of an Australian 'Victoria Beckham lookalike'. But a Mail on Sunday investigation revealed the detectives had failed to make the most basic of inquiries in Barcelona where the woman was seen.

The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, insisted the fund had not been duped. More The Mail November 2009

Here's a direct link (same as above) to the rest of the article, but if you went via this route you could treat yourself to a comment from the article that is no longer available. Written in a style I might add, that seems a tad familiar.


Now let us step back to a time fifteen months earlier and have a look at who said what.

Again from the same pretentious arsewipe, Paul Dacre's Daily McMail with quotes from that ubiquitous "McCann friend" and of course Clarence Mitchell. (Shurely shome mishtake?)


Reading what is writ, you could be forgiven if you came to the conclusion that these were an entirely different bunch of super crime fighters to those that we have just read about.

But as you read, never forget the source, with his manifestly odious personality, Clarence the Coffin Mitchell, nor the outlet for all this merde, the effect clearly reflected here, Paul Dacre's Daily Mail.

And for a change I think I shall indulge myself and offer a few highlights.

McCanns hire crack team of ex-FBI agents to find Madeleine

Kate and Gerry McCann have hired a team of crack U.S detectives to lead the hunt for their missing daughter Madeleine, it has emerged.

The unnamed US firm is said to have been offered a £500,000 six-month contract by the Find Madeleine Fun (sic) to help spearhead the search.

A friend of the McCanns said: 'The hunt for Madeleine is becoming more and more international and it was felt that a truly international firm was now needed to lead the inquiry.

"These really are the big boys. They are absolutely the best, but they are extremely secretive and cloak-and-dagger about what they do.

'Since their appointment, Metodo has very much taken a back seat and they are now concentrating primarily in Portugal and Spain and across the Straits of Gibraltar into north Africa, where they have their main contacts.

'The American agency is pretty much handling everything else.'

The secretive firm is said to employ ex-FBI, CIA and U.S special forces, according to the Daily Mirror.

The McCanns' spokesman Clarence Mitchell, said: 'Kate and Gerry made it clear from the outset they would leave no stone unturned in finding Madeleine and that means employing the very best people in any given field.

'It is correct that an international firm of investigators have been appointed.

'But I am unable to say anything at all about them because of the covert nature of their work and the need for secrecy, not only in looking for Madeleine, but also in relation to previous operations.' blah

You just couldn't make it up could you, English Journalism, as the man said: Once a whore, always a whore. (Bottom of the page.)


Are we now to assume Mister Dave, imprisoned in a hellish lair, Edgar, he of, snatched by someone who wanted a child to love, fame, is now a recipient of the long overdue order of the boot?

So what might we expect from this select set of super sleuths? I really don't know. But one thing I do know, they are going to have to keep her lit if they want to upstage all the previous clowns that have been in the McCann's employ. I have put together a small collection at the post below this.









Update. h/t Anonymous

Nigel Brown: New McCann PI Has Links To Israel, Russian Exiles and the Death of Stephen Curtis

The McCanns clearly haven't learned much when it comes to recruitment. The last man they hired that was involved in securing the safe return of an oil tycoon was Kevin Halligen, now wanted by the FBI in realtion to money laundering charges. Now they have employed former Met Officer, Nigel Brown, former owner of GSS Global who had been advising on security in Israel. More The Sargeants Inn

And when you have read it, you might join me in thinking, what an earth is going on, because somehow I just can't see this geezer looking for Madeleine. Not that he was ever going to.




"his manifestly odious personality" Borrowed from this recently featured article.


Mitchell inflames people, we think, both because of what he is - his manifestly odious personality - and, more important, the related matter of what he does. Of all the actors in this drama Mitchell is the one with the fewest excuses, the one who, above all others, chose to involve himself in the affair – and people sense it.

Clarence Mitchell is different: he sought out the opportunities offered by the shit-filled tank and chose to enter it up to his neck, finding, perhaps for the first time in his life, a place where he was comfortable and fitted in. h/t Blacksmith Bureau

Clarence Mitchell "Operational Reasons" and Other Buffoonery

I have on a couple of previous occasions blogged about Mitchell and his "Operational Reasons," the new euphemism for bullshit, lies and deceit. But the subject has recently come up again elsewhere on the net, so I have gathered a few together. I don't doubt there many more examples to be found, but there are sufficient here for purpose.

Why Mitchell, you may ask, the answer is simple enough I suppose?
Having watched and listened to this reptile spew his lies and spin the most ridiculous nonsense thought possible for the last three years, lies and nonsense so inane, so absurd that they would embarrass a stone plinth, nobody has said a word.

Not one word uttered by anybody, not one. Every organisation charged with upholding the law, with decency and morality, and believe me the morality does matter; those organisations, along with every news agency, the BBC included, has never said a word as this abomination played out before our eyes.

Well I am, and I shall continue to do so, you will not walk away from this untarnished. It's now just two years gone since I put you on notice, and it is as applicable today as it was then.

When the day comes that the McCanns are stood in the dock, and they will be, if only for fraud; when that day comes you will be stood with them, if I have to find you personally and drag you there by the ear; you will be stood with them.

~ ~ ~

Operational Reasons

Mitchell's version of Judicial Secrecy, something to hide behind, just like you know who.


November 25 2007
Murat urges Madeleine McCann's family to stop smears
A source close to the McCanns said the couple have not and never would speak publicly about Mr Murat or anyone else being investigated.

Clarence Mitchell, the McCann's official spokesman said: “We continue to work closely with Metodo 3 and collectively are always careful about what detail enters the public domain for operational reasons.” Telegraph

Kate McCann: My suspicions over Murat's alibi on the night Madeleine vanished The setting up of Robert Murat.




Dec 14 2007
Madeleine McCann "could be home by Christmas"
The private detective being paid by Kate and Gerry McCann to find their daughter has claimed he knows who took Madeleine and that he could have her back with her family before Christmas.




Francisco Marco, the director general of Metodo 3, indicated that they were closing in on the four-year-old’s abductor and preparing to hand over their “evidence” to police.

Mr Marco also told the Spanish newspaper Metro that the girl, who was snatched from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve in May, might never have left Portugal.

He said: “We have proof of her movements after her kidnap and we know she was alive the day after her disappearance. We are not certain she left Portugal.

“I talk of certainties because we know which group may have her or could have kidnapped her to then sell her on to others.”

The detective added: “We know who kidnapped her.




“We believe she is in an area not very far from the Iberian peninsula and north Africa. And we have a fairly certain idea who she is with.

“I cannot say who she is with because we are putting together conclusive proof we can present to the authorities so they can proceed with their arrests.”

He also said: “God willing, I hope that she will be back with her parents before Christmas.”

Mr Marco admitted he had no proof Madeleine was not dead but said he had to believe “100%” that she was because he only knew how to look for people who were still alive.

He told Metro: “One of the things that makes us believe Madeleine is alive is that every day, she’s worth more to them. It’s obviously not a kidnap carried out by professionals for economic reasons.




“A professional kidnapper would have done something by now. He would have given her back or left her.”

He also dismissed allegations that the McCanns could have been involved in Madeleine’s disappearance, saying you only had to spend five minutes with them to know they were innocent.

The McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchellsaid last night that the family was “pleased” the agency was so confident about ultimately finding Madeleine.

He said: “Metodo Three, the private detective agency we are employing to help find Madeleine, retains our full confidence.

“They are continuing to work very hard on all the information that continues to come up. New leads are being pursued all the time.

“Clearly we will not discuss the details of those leads for sensitive operational reasons but we are pleased the agency is confident is that they will find Madeleine in due course.”

The Spanish-based detective agency was hired by Madeleine’s parents to carry out a parallel investigation to the police probe into her apparent abduction.

Mr Marco, who heads up a 40-strong team, vowed to find the missing girl within five months.

The McCanns were dining with friends when Madeleine went missing from their holiday apartment shortly before her fourth birthday in Praia da Luz on May 3.

They were named formal suspects in the case in September but have repeatedly denied any involvement in her disappearance and rejected suggestions they could have killed her accidentally.





Spotty Man enters stage left, looking for someone to love according to Dave Edgar, well he would wouldn't he? Spotty man, not Edgar
May 21 2009
Last night the McCann family’s spokesman Clarence Mitchell said Mr Edgar was following a “potentially vital” new lead.

He said: “For operational purposes I cannot say where Mr Edgar and his team are exactly, but they are following up a very encouraging lead.” Star




Raymond Hewlett's turn.
May 22 2009
" The investigators searching for Madeleine are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Hewlett and these claims. Hewlett is an individual of interest to the investigation.

" Beyond that I cannot go into any further operational detail." The alarm was raised about Hewlett by Alan and Cindy Thompson (We found Bin Laden's cave) who met him while on an extended holiday in Portugal. Mirror




May 28 2009
The McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “Investigators continue to follow up four to five credible leads but for operational reasons I cannot divulge any details.” Star



Aug 6 2009
Mr Mitchell would not reveal what she said for operational reasons, but said it was "potentially significant" to the little girl's disappearance. Sky




7 August 2009
Mr Mitchell said the source of the information had been "checked out" and stressed there were "good operational reasons" for not disclosing exact details of the evidence.
"We specifically have not revealed the contents of the conversation this woman had with the new witness for good operational reasons," he said. independent





Edgar seems to have caught it now, mind you there's a lot of it going round.
7 August 2009
The private detective leading the search for Maddie, ex-cop Dave Edgar, refused to reveal the contents of the pair's two-minute conversation "for operational reasons". Sun




If you have never read this account of the Barcelona debacle in full, treat yourself. I can't decide which is the funnier of the two, Edgar's antics or Mitchell's pathetic attempts to spin them.
16 August 2009
So why did Madeleine McCann detectives ask so few questions after major breakthrough?

Last night the McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: ‘The private investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance is being conducted entirely professionally and thoroughly under the direction of Dave Edgar.




‘Upon receipt of the new witness information, two members of the investigative team travelled to Barcelona to conduct preliminary inquiries during a brief initial visit.

‘This included identifying the exact marina where the witness had been and all relevant locations within it. At that stage, the precise bar involved had not been identified by the witness. Nevertheless, inquiries were conducted at a number of bars, with staff members being interviewed.

‘However, not all of the bars were open during the investigators’ visit. Because of the transient nature of bar work, it was also found that many of the workers who were spoken to were not present at the marina in May 2007.

'Other relevant personnel in the area were also interviewed, although we will not
discuss the detail of who was spoken to for operational reasons.

‘The information, once gathered, including photographs, was brought back to the UK for witness confirmation. Both British and Portuguese police were kept fully informed of the investigators’ visit to Spain.

‘The news conference was then held for the simple reason that public assistance was needed once the e-fit had been drawn up from the witness account. The public appeal does not preclude further enquiries being conducted in Barcelona as appropriate.’




He declined to say how much the private detectives were being paid, adding: ‘We will not discuss contractual matters concerning the investigation costs nor the investigator remuneration.’ the wail





And of course the latest nonsense three years on.
May 26 2010
Clarence Mitchell, a spokesperson for Gerry and Kate McCann, tells PEOPLE, "Yes, we are aware of Mr. Moreira's account. People from the private investigation have spoken with him and are continuing to liaise with him. We will not go into further detail for operational reasons. But he has done the right thing in coming forward." the people




May 26 2010
"I cannot go into any further detail for operational reasons. He has done absolutely the right thing in coming forward with his information despite it being so long after the event." Guardian



And the result of all these operations?

~ ~ ~

These below were considered for, but didn't make the post, so having gathered them, I'll post them. I suppose I should one day, gather up all those of Mitchell and post a dedicated gallery. Dedicated to what I wouldn't know.

In no particular order, perhaps save the last one.