Safeguarding failures and calls for accountability set to be discussed on Richie & Rogue at 8:00pm

A PEMBROKESHIRE campaigner will appear live on YouTube tonight (Sunday, January 25) to discuss the ongoing Caldey Abbey investigation and the findings of an independent review into historic abuse allegations linked to Caldey Island.

Andrew, from JAOC Investigations, is due to join the Richie & Rogue show at 8:00pm. He said the conversation will focus on safeguarding, accountability and transparency, and will also look ahead to what happens next.

The Caldey Abbey case has attracted widespread attention following the publication of an independent review in late 2024. The report examined non-recent allegations involving the island’s monastic community and the wider environment around Caldey, setting out concerns about how safeguarding issues were handled over a long period.

Campaigners have argued that independent scrutiny remains necessary to ensure safeguarding arrangements are robust, victims and survivors are heard, and lessons are acted on.

In an email circulated ahead of the broadcast, Andrew said tonight’s live discussion would cover what the independent review uncovered, what he described as outstanding “red-rated” safeguarding failures, and why he believes external oversight is essential. He said the programme would also look at what survivors still need and the next steps, including ongoing matters he says are under investigation.

The Richie & Rogue YouTube show goes live at 8:00pm tonight (Sunday, January 25). Viewers can find it by searching “Richie & Rogue” on YouTube and looking for the Caldey Abbey discussion on the channel’s live stream.

If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, support is available. You can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or Childline on 0800 1111.

PUBLIC WARNED TO KEEP AWAY AS BARRIERS ARE REMOVED AND COUNCIL STEPS UP SAFETY MEASURES

A FOOTPATH overlooking Pembroke Castle has been closed after a landslip above the Castle Pond left a streetlight damaged.

Pembrokeshire County Council said the slip has affected the path running around the pond, prompting safety measures and a temporary closure of part of the route.

However, the council warned that the original barriers and warning signs were removed by members of the public, leading to “stronger measures” being put in place to stop people accessing the area.

The authority said the damaged streetlight column has been made safe, with power isolated, while the landowner carries out investigations and considers repair options.

In the meantime, walkers are being diverted via Rocky Park and on to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

A spokesperson for the council said: “A recent landslip above the Pembroke Castle Pond footpath has resulted in a damaged streetlight which has required the closure of part of the affected footpath.

“Power to the damaged streetlight column has been isolated and the area made safe.

“Despite the closure of the path, some members of the public have removed barriers and signage.

“Therefore, stronger measures have now been put in place to prevent access to the north bank of the Castle Pond while investigations and remediation options are pursued to address the landslide by the landowner.

“Further updates will be provided as work progresses and timelines are known.”

A SENEDD debate on the financial crisis facing Wales’ hospice and palliative care sector ended with Labour voting against a Welsh Conservative proposal to create a new funding model and commit an additional £40 million over the next Senedd term.

The motion, tabled by the Welsh Conservatives, recognised the role hospices play in providing end-of-life care and support to families across Wales, while warning that providers are facing unprecedented pressure from rising costs, staffing shortages and growing demand.

Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Paul Davies MS said the sector needed certainty and long-term stability, arguing that tax rises had forced hospices to make difficult decisions at a time when more people required specialist care.

He said: “I am disappointed that Labour did not support our much-needed support package for the hospice and palliative care sector.

“Substantial tax rises have forced the sector to make difficult decisions. They are in need of certainty and a new, sustainable funding model.

“The Welsh Conservatives have a credible plan to support hospices and palliative care and we are the only party putting money on the table to secure the long-term future of this vital sector.”

Charities working in end-of-life care used the debate to highlight wider pressures in the health and social care system, warning that too many people are spending their final days isolated, in pain, and without the support they need.

Marie Curie Cymru said hospice services and community-based hospice care are essential to helping people receive the right care in the right place, and to reducing avoidable trips to A&E. The charity called for clear leadership and action to integrate palliative and end-of-life care more effectively across services, warning that demand is set to increase in the coming years.

Hospice UK also said the current funding model is unsustainable, with charitable donations meeting a large share of costs, and warned that without urgent action Wales could see more services closing, loss of specialist staff and fewer options for families coping with life-shortening conditions.

Children’s hospice charity Tŷ Hafan said the Conservatives had been the first party to respond to its call for a fair funding pledge for the 2026–2031 Senedd term. It said a long-term uplift would help it reach more children and families, and urged other parties to match the ambition, arguing that children’s hospices in Wales have been underfunded for too long.

The motion debated in the Senedd called for the development of a new sustainable funding model and cited concerns that some hospices are already cutting services and facing potential bed closures.