News

Call for re-opening of Llangolman farmhouse inquest

Published

9 months ago

October 15, 2025

Campaigners urge justice for Gruff Thomas on anniversary of Operation Hallam

ON the third anniversary of Dyfed-Powys Police establishing Operation Hallam — the reinvestigation into the 1976 deaths of elderly siblings Gruff and Patti Thomas at their Llangolman farmhouse — the Preseli papur bro CLEBRAN has renewed its call for a re-opening of the inquest to clear Gruff Thomas’s name.

The deaths of Gruff, 73, and Patti, 70, at Ffynnon Samson in December 1976 were among the most shocking in rural Pembrokeshire’s history. The original coroner’s findings concluded that Gruff had murdered his sister before dying in the subsequent fire.

CLEBRAN, which pressed for the 2022 re-investigation, says it had expected Operation Hallam to have concluded by now with an acknowledgment that the original verdict was unsafe. The publication says that much of the physical evidence from the farmhouse was not preserved, making modern forensic testing impossible.

In its statement, CLEBRAN argues that the investigation was “seriously flawed,” citing the absence of motive, Gruff’s limited physical strength, and the siblings’ lifelong harmonious relationship. Forensic experts who have examined historic reports and photographs, including Professor Niamh Nic Daeid of Dundee University and Stephanie C. Davies of Chester, have suggested that it was “highly unlikely” Gruff would have set himself on fire without the use of accelerants.

The coroner at the time recorded an open verdict on Gruff’s death, noting that suicide could not be proven beyond doubt — a finding that left open the possibility of third-party involvement.

CLEBRAN said: “It remains that it was probably the case another person was involved. CLEBRAN therefore calls upon Operation Hallam to order a re-opening of the inquest in order to establish Gruff Thomas’s innocence.”

The case has featured in S4C’s Y Byd ar Bedwar and the BBC Sounds podcast series Death on the Farm. A detailed examination of the police report was carried out by Pembroke paralegal Hayley Woods, with forensic input from Prof. Nic Daeid and Ms Davies.

Community

Milford Haven Carnival organisers appeal for help from residents

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN ROUND TABLE is asking residents in Hakin and Hubberston to help keep roads clear ahead of this Saturday’s Carnival Procession.

Organisers say the event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with a large number of floats, lorries and support vehicles expected to make their way through Hakin before the procession begins at Waterloo Square.

Residents living along Gelliswick Road, Rectory Avenue, Glebelands and Picton Road, particularly near the junction with Observatory Avenue, are being asked to avoid double parking or parking on pavements where possible between around 11.45am and 1.00pm.

The route being used by the floats and support vehicles is shown on the map.

Some of the vehicles involved are large, and organisers say keeping the roads as clear as possible for the short period will help ensure the procession reaches Waterloo Square safely and on time.

Milford Haven Round Table said the carnival “belongs to the whole community” and thanked residents for their continued support.

They added: “Your understanding and cooperation, even for this short time, will make a huge difference and help make this year’s Carnival another fantastic day for our town.”

Residents are also being encouraged to share the message with friends, family and neighbours who live along the affected roads.

Crime

New Year’s Day drug-driver banned after police stop in Milford Haven

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A NEW YEAR’S EVE drive has resulted in a 12-month road ban after a motorist was found to be more than twice the legal cannabis limit.

Ridwan Rahman, 20, was stopped by police as he drove his Vauxhall Astra along Steynton Road, Milford Haven, on January 1.

“Police noted the car accelerating away from traffic lights in an erratic manner,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“When officers asked the vehicle to stop, they smelt cannabis coming from inside.”

A blood test later showed Rahman had 5.2mcg of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in cannabis, in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Rahman, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to drug-driving. He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who disputed the prosecution’s claim that he had been driving erratically.

“He does not accept that he was driving in an erratic manner, nor that he accelerated away from the traffic lights,” she said.

“The officers told him he had been stopped because the vehicle’s registration plate light was not working.”

Rahman, of Carbon Close, Newport, was fined £323 and ordered to pay a £129 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Crime

Fishguard man jailed after breaching order banning contact with mother

Published

6 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A FISHGUARD man has been jailed after breaching a restraining order which banned him from contacting his mother.

Steven O’Sullivan attended his mother’s home on June 22, despite the order having been imposed in November 2012. It prohibited him from having any direct or indirect contact with her.

“She felt she needed to phone the police because she was frightened of her son,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He had been dropped off at his mother’s property by a female, and his mother went upstairs to ring the police because he makes her feel vulnerable.”

When officers arrived, they found O’Sullivan inside an outbuilding, crouching beside an outside toilet.

“There have been a number of previous breaches, the most recent being on June 5,” continued Ms Vaughan. “Now we have yet another one on June 22.”

O’Sullivan, of Gwelfor, Fishguard, is currently on remand at Swansea Prison. He is also accused of stealing beer and food worth £45 from the Nisa store in Haverfordwest on June 21.

Representing him in court, solicitor Tom Lloyd said there had been no threats of violence when O’Sullivan went to his mother’s home.

“But the aggravating factor is his previous convictions,” he told the bench.

“He was particularly upset and had nowhere else to go. This was why he went to see his mother.”

Magistrates jailed O’Sullivan for eight weeks. He was also ordered to pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

He is due to return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on July 7 to enter a plea in relation to the alleged theft offence.