A JURY at Swansea Crown Court has been shown graphic images of injuries sustained by a man whose lip was bitten off during an altercation at a Saundersfoot pub.

The incident occurred on October 28, 2022, when Stephen Kanauros visited The Boathouse to celebrate his daughter’s birthday with his wife, Kate, their daughter, and her boyfriend.

The Crown alleges that shortly before 10:30 pm, James O’Neill, 53, from Merthyr Tydfil, struck Mr. Kanauros to the ground. CCTV footage played in court on Monday showed Mr. Kanauros surrounded by O’Neill, his son, Aron O’Neill, 25, and his nephew, Shaun Nicholas, 24. Moments later, Mr. Kanauros stood up with blood pouring from his mouth.

“James O’Neill had bitten a part of his lip off,” Dyfed Thomas KC, prosecuting, told the jury. “The section that had been bitten off was later found on the floor.”

The court also heard that James O’Neill bit Mr. Kanauros’ finger during the altercation. “He intended to cause harm—really serious harm—and he certainly achieved it,” added Mr. Thomas.

Charges and allegations

James O’Neill denies charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and a lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm. Aron O’Neill, of Dane Street, Merthyr Tydfil, and Shaun Nicholas, of Japonica Drive, Dowlais, both deny causing actual bodily harm to Mr. Kanauros.

The prosecution claims the violence stemmed from James O’Neill’s anger after bar staff questioned his daughter, Lowri O’Neill, about her ID while she was buying alcohol. Following the exchange, staff asked the group to leave.

“James O’Neill responded angrily, blowing vape smoke towards the staff and calling them the ‘c’ word,” said Mr. Thomas. “He was then seen confronting another man near the door, beckoning him outside for a fight.”

Events leading to violence

The jury was shown CCTV footage of Kate Kanauros dancing near her husband, who stood by the bar, before the altercation escalated. James O’Neill was seen walking through the bar as others, including Mrs. Kanauros, tried to usher him outside to defuse the situation.

The footage showed James O’Neill pushing Mrs. Kanauros, causing her to fall backwards. “The complainant then stepped in,” said Mr. Thomas. “You may think it was to protect his wife or because he was angry that she had been assaulted.”

The prosecution argued that James O’Neill’s claim of self-defence was unfounded. “He had already displayed aggression towards staff and another individual at the door,” said Mr. Thomas. “To claim he was acting in self-defence is simply untrue.”

The trial continues and is expected to conclude early next week.

A REPORT from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and Stantec reveals that Openreach’s ongoing rollout of Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband could inject £1 billion into the Welsh economy by 2029.

This prediction coincides with a major milestone: over one million homes and businesses in Wales now have access to ultrafast Full Fibre broadband via Openreach’s network.

The research, commissioned by Openreach, highlights the transformative potential of Full Fibre broadband, including economic growth, job creation, and enhanced social connectivity.

Lion Hotel: A digital transformation success story

Treorchy’s award-winning Lion Hotel is among the properties celebrating the broadband milestone. Known as a community hub and a venue for study groups, meetings, and co-working, the Lion Hotel has embraced digital transformation with the installation of ultrafast broadband.

Adrian Emmett, the hotel’s owner, explained: “Since coming out of lockdown, we’ve digitised our business systems, including music, tills, CCTV, and bookings. But our Wi-Fi often struggled, letting down customers who use the Lion Hotel as a shared working space. With ultrafast broadband, we can now provide a seamless experience. It’s a game changer for our business and the community.”

The Lion Hotel has also installed interactive dart systems and plans to expand its TikTok presence, which already boasts 127,000 followers and 260 million views. Emmett added:
“With ultrafast broadband, the sky’s the limit. We can now explore live streaming and other opportunities that weren’t possible before.”

Economic and social benefits

The Cebr report outlines the extensive benefits of Full Fibre broadband:

• Economic Growth: Contributing £66 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy by 2029.
• Job Creation: Enabling 620,000 people, including parents and older workers, to re-enter the workforce through flexible opportunities.
• Healthcare Advancements: Supporting five million online appointments annually by 2029—double the current figure.
• Educational Gains: Improving pass rates for 21,700 students in key subjects.
• Property Value Increases: Boosting the average home value by £1,900.
• Environmental Impact: Reducing car journeys and carbon emissions by allowing 1.4 million more people to work from home.

Government support and future plans

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens praised the milestone, stating:
“Reaching one million properties in Wales with ultrafast broadband is a significant achievement. Full Fibre broadband is essential for boosting growth and productivity in communities across Wales.”

Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, added: “The Welsh Government is committed to delivering the connectivity services that businesses, the public sector, and homes in Wales need to thrive. This milestone is a testament to that commitment.”

Openreach aims to expand its Fibre network to 25 million UK premises by 2026, with plans to reach 30 million by the decade’s end. Suzanne Rutherford, from Openreach’s Complex Engineering Wales, said:
“With Full Fibre now available to one million Welsh homes and businesses, we’re laying the groundwork for economic growth, job creation, and increased opportunities for remote work and digital innovation.”

To check Full Fibre availability, residents can use the Openreach postcode checker and contact their broadband provider to upgrade. More details can be found in the Cebr report at openreach.com/about/policy-hub.

A SPECIAL event highlighting the voices of young people across Pembrokeshire was held at County Hall on Tuesday (Dec 5). The event featured the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, alongside key figures in education and youth advocacy.

The Voice of Learners event, organised by Councillor Pat Davies and the Children and Young People’s Rights Office, brought together representatives from secondary schools and Pembrokeshire College.

Joining the panel were Director of Education Steven Richards-Downes and Principal Educational Psychologist Lorraine Silver. Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman, Councillor Steve Alderman, chaired the session, during which attendees posed a series of challenging and thought-provoking questions to the panel.

The event was driven by the findings of an extensive survey conducted with Pembrokeshire’s young people. Mental and emotional health emerged as a top concern, alongside issues such as access to sports, diagnosis and support for additional needs, exam stress, healthy eating, and the influence of technology on daily life.

Cllr Pat Davies said: “I started this focus on young people and democracy during my time as Council Chairman, and it has not only been popular but incredibly informative for both our school-goers and us as councillors.
“We are determined to engage with young people and ensure their concerns and views are heard. Events like this, as well as a previous session with the Electoral Commission, provide us with valuable opportunities to connect.

“Continuing this important work with the Children and Young People’s Rights Office is a real positive, and we look forward to welcoming more young people to County Hall for future events.”

The Voice of Learners event underscores Pembrokeshire County Council’s commitment to empowering young people and addressing the issues that matter most to them.