Mr Clarence Mitchell - a mystery, wrapped inside an enigma

One can only assume that the collective settlement of Mr Murat's claims against the UK Press will not help the future (but let us hope succccessful) career of Mr Clarence Mitchell the Cabinet Press guru ,who turned up so rapidly at the scene of Miss McCann's disappearance in Pria da Luz last year.

His ever helpful, entertaining and detailed briefings to the Press must have helped them greatly in pursuing aspects of the case which may perhaps led the Press into by-ways and blind alleys that they might perhaps not have imagined.

Saturday, May 26, 2007 Clarence Mitchell - busy spokesman ... but who for .. and why ? is a good place to start and Monday, June 11, 2007 Madeleine's parents face tough questions from Hessischen Rundfunk's Sabina Muller a more interesting tale of PR wizardry.

This was a fascinating (hagi)biography produced at the BBC Online last September by Laurie Margolis, which makes interesting reading to anyone unfamiliar with Clarence's stellar career.