News

School could be examined as part of the inquest

Published

6 years ago

October 7, 2019

MILFORD Haven School could be examined as part of the inquest into the death of Megan Evans.

It is alleged that the 14-year-old was being bullied before she was found dead at her home in Milford in February 2017.

The Coroner for Pembrokeshire, Paul Bennett, held a pre-inquest review on 1 October and said he will consider whether the school missed signs that a teenager was going to take their own life.

An inquest normally looks into the cause of death but can look into the conduct of outside bodies using Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life.

Mr Bennett said he will think about expanding the inquest but a decision on that is not expected until 2020.

Police are currently looking into allegations of bullying that led to Megan’s death and the coroner’s decision will follow the force’s enquiry.

Megan’s family would like her Facebook page to be looked at and have also said that she received threats on multi-media messaging app Snapchat.

The hearing heard that one message said ‘why don’t you hang yourself’ and that Megan replied with ‘ok’.

It also heard from the family’s solicitor, Christian Howells, who said that the school missed ‘tell-tale’ signs that something wasn’t right with Megan.

Parents Nicola Harteveld and Shaun Evans had tried on numerous occasions to contact the school to speak about their concerns.

The school did not respond to those concerns and the parents said they would get the police involved.

A solicitor for Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr Malcolm Duthie, said that there was no evidence of risk to life which would justify widening the inquest.

He said that the school had in place a bullying response system which offered advice and support to parents.

At a previous inquest, it was revealed that the school had offered Megan counselling and that she was provided with a ‘time out’ pass which she could use when she was finding it hard to cope. Her parents had been made aware of this.

Megan’s mum Nicola had also appeared on ‘This Morning’ in 2017 in which she described her daughter as ‘bright, vivacious, hugely popular, sporty, confident, outgoing, fiery, and independent’. She also stated that Megan was ‘just a normal happy-go-lucky teenager’.

Since her death, Nicola has continually raised awareness of cyberbullying and where children can go if they need any help.

Community

Bishop returns to Llanelli for Palm Sunday celebrations

Published

10 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Visit described as ‘coming home’ as Bishop Dorrien joins worshippers in Bro Lliedi

BISHOP DORRIEN marked Palm Sunday (Mar 29) with a series of visits and services across Llanelli, describing his return to the area as “coming home.”

The Bishop of St Davids spent the day in the Bro Lliedi Local Ministry Area, beginning with the main parish Eucharist at St Elli Church, where he both preached and presided.

Following the service, he joined members of the local ministry area for lunch, before spending time visiting parishioners in the community.

The day concluded with a Songs of Praise service in Felinfoel, bringing together worshippers for an evening of reflection and celebration.

As a token of appreciation for his visit, Bishop Dorrien was presented with a print of St Davids Cathedral.

The Bishop has strong personal ties to the Llanelli area, having served his title there earlier in his ministry. Speaking during the visit, he said returning to the town always feels like “coming home.”

Church leaders said the visit was a valuable opportunity for the Bishop to connect with congregations across the area during one of the most significant periods in the Christian calendar.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, a central time of reflection for Christians leading up to Easter.

Local Government

Oil spill update issued for Pembroke stream and Castle Pond

Published

25 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

COUNCILLOR Jonathan Grimes, representing Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, has issued an update following concerns over an oil spill affecting a stream on The Commons and Castle Pond in Pembroke.

Speaking after discussions with Natural Resources Wales, Cllr Grimes confirmed that response teams have been on site throughout the day working to contain the pollution and identify its source.

According to the latest update:

• The pollution has begun to subside, with the oil slick now breaking up
• Monitoring will continue over the weekend and into next week
• Forecast rain is expected to help disperse the remaining contamination
• The substance is believed to be domestic heating oil (kerosene), pending confirmation
• Investigators believe they have identified the source area and are taking steps to prevent further incidents

Cllr Grimes said he would continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

The incident has sparked concern among residents, particularly over the potential impact on wildlife and the environment. Some have called for further action, including opening the sea gate to help flush the affected water.

Local Government

Work begins on major housing and care scheme in Haverfordwest

Published

32 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MULTI-MILLION pound housing and care development in Haverfordwest has officially moved into the construction phase, with groundworks now underway at the Tŷ Haverfordia site.

Contractor Wynne Construction has begun work on the scheme at the former Haverfordia House site, marking the milestone with a turf-cutting ceremony attended by project partners and local representatives.

The development will provide 26 sheltered apartments for people aged over fifty-five, alongside a purpose-built twelve-bed reablement centre aimed at supporting residents returning home from hospital and regaining independence.

The project is being delivered in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council and is expected to play an important role in easing pressure on local health and social care services.

Developers say they will work closely with local suppliers and businesses during the build to maximise benefits to the regional economy.

Measures have also been put in place to minimise disruption during construction, including maintaining pedestrian access and ensuring parking arrangements remain in place for nearby facilities.

Once complete, the scheme is expected to provide modern, high-quality accommodation tailored to the needs of older residents, while helping to free up hospital capacity across west Wales.