News

Pembroke: Tragic death for ‘happy and joyful’ young carer

Published

8 years ago

September 29, 2016

luke-dower A FINAL hearing into the death of local teenager, Luke Barzewicz-Dower was held at Milford Haven Town Hall yesterday (Sept 28). A pupil at Bush Hill Comprehensive School, Pembroke, Luke, 15, was confirmed to have tragically taken his own life on May 16, earlier this year.

Described by friends as ‘happy and joyful,’ it was found that Luke, a young carer for his mother, had been suffering from mental health issues following the death of his grandmother in October 2015.

Found to have been self–harming during this period, Luke had attended several appointments with the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

Speaking at the hearing was one of Luke’s closest friends, who had ‘known him since Year Seven’ of secondary school.

“He was my best friend,” the Pembroke School pupil said.

Earlier on in the hearing, it was confirmed that Luke, on the morning leading up to his death, had asked his friend: “When I die will you update my status [on Facebook] to ‘chilling with the Devil’?”

Although Luke then gave his friend the login details to his Facebook, he didn’t take him seriously as Luke later said he was just ‘messing around.’ His friend instead chose to delete the account.

Learning Coach, Helen Griffiths had been among the first to find Luke’s body. She had been teaching in a classroom when she heard ‘screaming in the corridors’, after which she was led to Luke’s body by one of the pupils who had found him.

Having been told to get him down by ambulance services on the phone, she said: “I tried to lift him but realised it wasn’t going to happen.

“We kept trying and trying and trying,” she said.

Despite Luke’s body having been found in a wooded area behind the school premises, knowledge of his death spread quickly amongst staff.

Next to arrive at the scene, Assistant Head Teacher, Mr David Ellis said: “Mr John [another teacher] ran over to Luke and lifted him while I climbed the tree to undo the knot.”

Mr Ellis had been actively involved in the efforts to try and save Luke, participating in CPR until paramedics arrived.

A suicide note was also found, which was confirmed by DC Jason Thomas to be have been written by Luke.

Speaking at the hearing, he later added that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

A statement by one of the pupil’s who found Luke said: “I ran off and collapsed, crying profusely. I couldn’t breath.”

She added: “He used to carry around a thin rope and a knife; the rope was tied in a noose.”

Conducting the hearing, Assistant Coroner, Paul Bennett said in his concluding statements: “It seemed clear that Luke had set out on a course of action that ended in his life being taken.”

Mr Bennett gave reference to the note that Luke had left, along with his request to a friend that his Facebook status be updated in the event of his death. He also added that Luke had expressed ‘suicidal intent’ in the past, and that the death of his grandmother had clearly had ‘a significant effect on his mental wellbeing’.

Crime

Dyfed-Powys Police pays out hundreds of thousands in compensation claims

Published

6 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

NEW figures reveal Dyfed-Powys Police has paid out £324,000 in compensation over the past five years, following nearly 200 claims made by members of the public.

A Freedom of Information requests show a whopping 186 claims were lodged against the force between 2019 and 2024, with compensation payments peaking in 2021/2022 at £138,111. Claims included allegations of unlawful arrest, financial losses, personal injury, and failure in duty of care.

In 2019/2020, 36 claims were made, with nine settled. The following year, 22 claims were lodged, with nine again resulting in payouts. Numbers rose to 38 claims in 2021/2022, with 11 settlements, before dropping slightly in 2022/2023 to 36 claims and eight payouts. However, the most recent figures for 2023/2024 show a significant rise, with 54 claims and seven settlements.

Lucy Parker, a solicitor from JF Law, said: “Claims against police forces highlight the importance of accountability. Issues such as wrongful arrest, assault, and negligence must be addressed seriously.”

Nationally, UK police forces have paid out millions in compensation, with property damage from botched raids cited as a frequent reason.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been approached for comment.

News

Rail passengers in west Wales ‘let down’ by hundreds of train cancellations

Published

6 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

RAIL passengers in west Wales are being “let down” following the cancellation of more than 650 Transport for Wales (TfW) trains on routes to Swansea and beyond in just 12 months.

Between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, a total of 654 services were cancelled, impacting key routes to Llanelli, Carmarthen, Pembroke Dock, Fishguard, and Milford Haven. The cancellations have sparked frustration among passengers and raised concerns over the reliability of rail services in the region.

Transport for Wales, which took over day-to-day rail operations from Arriva nearly seven years ago, has faced ongoing criticism for service quality. A Rail User Survey in 2023 revealed that only 72% of passengers were satisfied with TfW services, making it the worst-rated operator in the UK at the time. By comparison, Southern Railway scored 80%.

Recent surveys show some improvements. Between February and September 2024, overall satisfaction rose to 85%, with punctuality increasing to 73% and frequency to 66%. However, these numbers remain below national averages, and the situation in west Wales continues to lag behind other regions.

Passengers in west Wales have long expressed frustration over frequent delays and cancellations. One traveller recounted a 60-mile journey from Cardiff Central to Carmarthen that resulted in an overnight stay in Cardiff due to multiple delays and cancellations. Replacement buses offered little reprieve, with onward journeys stretching well into the early hours.

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Transport, criticised the situation, saying: “These statistics show that Welsh passengers are being let down. Historical underinvestment in our rail network and infrastructure has led us to this position. In order to create a Welsh rail network that works for the people of Wales, it’s vital that decisions regarding Welsh rail are made in Wales.”

Mr Griffiths added: “Only Plaid Cymru fights for the devolution of rail infrastructure to ensure we can secure consistent investment in our network and deliver reliable services.”

Despite some recent improvements in customer satisfaction, the sheer scale of cancellations highlights ongoing issues with rail services in Wales, particularly in west Wales where consistent, reliable transport remains a challenge for many commuters and travellers.

Charity

Tributes paid to former Tenby RNLI crew member Stuart Fecci

Published

7 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TENBY RNLI is mourning the loss of former Shore Crew member Stuart Fecci, who passed away recently. Stuart served aboard the Henry Comber Brown lifeboat until a tragic accident in 1988 resulted in the loss of his hand.

Despite the injury, Stuart remained a dedicated supporter of Tenby RNLI. The Fecci family has deep roots with the station, including Stuart’s son Samuel, who raised over £300 by completing the RNLI’s Mayday Mile walk in 2021.

Deputy Coxswain Jon Lewis, Stuart’s cousin who carries the Fecci name through his mother, paid tribute: “The last time I spoke to him, he greeted me in a packed Tudor Square as the larger-than-life character he was and shouted, ‘Coxswain Lewis!’ before continuing to congratulate me.”

Stuart will be deeply missed by the entire community. The thoughts of everyone at the station are with his wife Sally and his family during this difficult time.