Villager ‘irate and furious’ over Tory election signs [VIDEO]

Published

7 years ago

May 16, 2017

THIS VIDEO shows the moment a Tory MP’s campaigner appears to attack a furious local with his van door before driving at him – in a furious row over election posters.

John Kilcoyne, 59, infuriated villager Adam Morres, 36, after he put up signs promoting MP Simon Hart in a field near the local’s home in Manorbier.

He tore them down and billed the local Tory party for rent and damages – but then caught Mr Kilcoyne putting them back up a day later.

But police were called after tempers boiled over when guest house owner Mr Kilcoyne insisted he had permission to put them up.

A video appears to show Mr Kilcoyne – one of Mr Hart’s closest allies – pulling his car door into Adam and repeatedly driving his van at him.

Police arrived moments later and are now investigating the stand off over the signs which have allegedly been torn down and reinstalled three times.

Meanwhile, Simon Hart’s persistent campaigners have put the signs back up.

But Adam claims police warned him not to touch them in case the MP accuses him of criminal damage.

John Kilcoyne, 59: Caught up in the sign row

Adam, whose ex-partner, 37, rents the field from a private landlord, said: “I’m absolutely disgusted. I was angry and irate and furious, but now I am just sickened.

“It was just his attitude towards me. The smug way he talked to my friend telling her ‘no I can’t take them down’ – it was horrible.

“And the fact he is working on behalf of an MP, I don’t think that says very much about the calibre of them.

“It’s an appalling reflection on the Tory party. To be honest I would have voted Tory simply as I don’t like the Labour Party.

“But after this I would now campaign quite happily for anyone standing against the Tory Party.

“Normally, I would choose who to vote for based on their policies, but in this instance I will be choosing based on the party I think has employees who aren’t going to attack me.”

The furore began on Sunday, May 7, when Adam was out for a walk with his ex-partner in fields she rents for her horses.

They spotted two blue signs supporting incumbent MP Simon Hart nailed to a fence post inside the field.

Adam claims he phoned the Electoral Commission who he said told him they could be removed, so he took them down the next day.

He sarcastically invoiced Camarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Conservatives £50 for rent and damages.

“The damages are in case out neighbours thought the signs meant we were Conservative voters,” he added.

Signs: Erected in a field in Manorbier

He claims John Kilcoyne – named as the seconder on Mr Hart’s 2015 election nomination document came to both his home and his partner’s house, on the Tuesday (9).

He said he claimed he had permission of the land owner to put the signs up, and left.

Moments later Adam spotted him back next to his ex’s field getting new ‘Simon Hart’ signs out his van and the pair clashed.

Video appears to show the pair arguing before the volunteer sharply pulls his van door into Adam’s arm before seemingly mockingly saying: “Watch out, watch out.”

Adam phoned the police and when he stood in front of the van to record the licence plate, claims Mr Kilcoyne repeatedly drove at him,

Another video – taken moments before police arrived – appears to show the car inching towards him as he moves away across the road before driving off.

Astonishingly Adam woke up the next day to find the signs had been reinstated.

“The police have told us not to touch them in case they get damaged and Simon Hart claims criminal damage,” said Adam.

“Now we’re stuck with them up there. It’s like rubbing lemon juice into a paper cut.”

Dyfed-Powys Police said: “The force received a report of an assault without injury at approximately 9.40am on Tuesday, May 9.

“The incident took place at Wheelers Way, Manorbier. The investigation is on-going.”

The Welsh Conservative Party and Simon Hart refused to comment.

Mr Kilcoyne, from Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, said: “Have you spoken to Mr Hart?

“I’m in the same position as Mr Hart. There is a police officer dealing with it. I have nothing at all to add.”

Chris Ellery found safe in Ireland, says daughter Kenzie

Published

2 hours ago

November 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AFTER AN exhaustive multi-agency search, missing man Chris Ellery has been found safe in Ireland. His daughter, Kenzie Ellery, shared the good news in a social media post on Saturday (Nov 2).

Chris’ brother Jason said he drifted all the way to Ireland and is ‘cold and dehydrated’.

There are unconfirmed reports that Chris notified Irish police he was safe and well when he made land at Wicklow, which is 130 miles from Fishguard.

Kenzie posted: “MY DAD IS ALIVE HE HAS BEEN FOUND IN IRELAND,” ending several days of intense concern following his disappearance last Wednesday (Oct 30) after setting out from Fishguard Harbour in a small boat.

Authorities had deployed police, Coastguard, and RNLI teams, who scoured the Fishguard area by land, sea, and air, following reports of Chris’s belongings being discovered in a secluded cove. The unexpected news that he had reached Ireland has brought relief to his family and friends who were actively searching and hoping for his safe return.

MORE TO FOLLOW

News

Plane, helicopter and lifeboats in search for missing man Chris Ellery

Published

4 hours ago

November 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A MULTI-AGENCY search continues in the Fishguard area for 54-year-old Chris Ellery, missing since Wednesday (Oct 30) after setting off alone from Fishguard Harbour in a black RHIB.

Concerns for Chris’s safety were raised after he failed to return home as expected on Thursday (Oct 31). The last sighting of the experienced sailor was captured on CCTV at 2:00pm on Wednesday, just as he left the harbour.

Since then, Dyfed Powys Police, HM Coastguard, and RNLI have been conducting extensive land and sea searches. Helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and search vessels are combing the sea off Fishguard.

Rescue efforts were paused Friday evening due to fading daylight but resumed early Saturday morning.

***Five lifeboats were involved in the search on Saturday (Nov 2)***

***HM Coastguard aircraft involved in search operation***

Personal items found amid search

During Friday’s search, personal belongings linked to Chris were discovered on a secluded cove, accessible only by boat. While this discovery intensified efforts in the remote area, there has yet to be any sign of his boat or other trace of Chris.

In a Facebook appeal, his daughter, Kenzie Ellery, described her father as “always very prepared” and pleaded for help from the public. She shared a photo of the boat he was last seen on and encouraged local residents to stay vigilant along the coast. Kenzie also mentioned an AirTag device her father carried, which last pinged in the sea near Fishguard.

Public plea for assistance

Kenzie’s heartfelt plea has been shared widely, with family and friends in Bristol circulating the information in hopes of reaching those closer to the search zone. “We all need him to be home, and we pray that he is safe,” she wrote. “Please share this post—we need him to be safe and home as soon as possible.”

Police appeal for information

Dyfed Powys Police have asked anyone with information on Chris’s whereabouts to get in touch. Residents along the Fishguard coastline are urged to report any unusual sightings immediately.

Anyone with information can contact police through:

Direct message on social media
The police website: Dyfed Powys Police
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 101

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, text 07811 311 908. Quote reference: 102 of the 1st Nov.

News

Massive search and rescue off Pembrokeshire coast for Chris Ellery

Published

19 hours ago

November 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A LARGE-SCALE air and sea search operation is took place off the Fishguard coast following the mysterious disappearance of a man on a solo boating trip.

The search, which began at 3:00pm on Friday (Nov 1), has seen Coastguard helicopters and search vessels combing the area for signs of Chris Ellery, who was last in contact on Wednesday, October 30.

Family members have taken to social media in a desperate plea for assistance in locating Chris, who is known to be an experienced and well-prepared sailor. His daughter, Kenzie Ellery, shared a heartfelt post on Facebook, describing her father as “always very prepared” for potential challenges at sea, and expressed deep concern that no communication has been possible since Wednesday.

Dyfed Powys Police said: “We have been involved in a multi-agency search throughout the day for a man reported missing and believed to be in the Fishguard area.”

The police told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “A call was received from colleagues at Avon and Somerset Police at just before 10.20am today (Friday, November 1) requesting assistance in locating the man who was known to be visiting the area on Wednesday, October 30.

“Concerns were raised when he failed to return home yesterday.”

Personal belongings discovered

According to reports, police and Coastguard teams discovered some of Ellery’s belongings on a secluded cove accessible only by boat, intensifying efforts in this remote area. Despite locating personal items, there has been no sign of his boat or any further trace of the missing man himself. Kenzie revealed that her father was due to return home by midday on Thursday, October 31, but contact ceased shortly after he set off on his journey.

Public plea for assistance

Kenzie’s Facebook post included a photo of the small boat her father was last seen on, and she urged local residents along the coastline to stay vigilant and report any unusual sightings immediately. She mentioned that her father had an AirTag device with him, which last signalled in the sea near Fishguard. She noted that friends and family in Bristol have limited ability to assist physically but are sharing the information widely in the hope it reaches those closer to the search area.

In her appeal, Kenzie wrote: “We all need him to be home, and we pray that he is safe. Please share this post—we need him to be safe and home as soon as possible.”

***Chris’ daughter Kenzie has shared photos of the missing boat***

Ongoing rescue efforts

The coastguard operation is expected to continue on Saturday, with helicopters again making repeated passes over the Fishguard coastline and nearby sea. Aviation enthusiasts reported sightings of search aircraft involved in the operation on Friday.

Dyfed Powys Police said that its officers were deployed in the operation, “with land and sea-based searches carried out throughout the day”.

At one point early on Friday evening there were reportedly five RNLI lifeboats involved in the operation, including both in-shore and all-weather vessels.

The FPV (Fisheries Patrol Vessel) Rhodri Morgan and FPV Gwenllian are also in the area but it is unclear if they were also involved in the search, which was postponed due to it getting dark at 7.20pm.

Police and Coastguard authorities are urging residents along the Fishguard coastline to remain alert and report any potential sightings or evidence of the missing boater.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police.