News

Chairman of Fishguard Sports AFC made fraudulent claim to council for Covid funds

Published

3 years ago

February 4, 2023

THE CHAIRMAN of a Pembrokeshire of a football club tried to con the council out of a Covid grant by claiming a derelict and tumbledown shed was actually a gym.

Owen Duggan, 41, falsely made a bid for £4,000 in pandemic support by claiming the shed was a facility used by players of the club but a visit to the site by a suspicious inspector revealed the truth – Swansea Crown Court heard.

After a council investigation the police were called in and the defendant found himself charged with fraud.

The court was informed that Duggan was perceived as a pillar of the community, who was deeply ashamed of his false claim for his club.

During the trial, prosecutor Jim Davis informed the court that Duggan was the chairman of Fishguard Sports AFC in Pembrokeshire at the time.

The club, which had played its home games at St Mary’s Field owned by the Diocese of St. David’s for 80 years until 2017, was established for 80 years.

He said under the terms of an oral agreement struck in 1947 the club would pay a “small amount for rent” annually for use of the field. The court heard that in 2017 the club moved to a new home at Tregroes Park and at that point it emerged it had not paid any rent on St Mary’s for the last decade.

The court heard that after the changing rooms at St Mary’s were demolished, a shed was left in place and access to the field was closed due to insurance liability issues. In June and October of 2020, Duggan, who was the chairman of Fishguard Sports AFC, applied for Covid funds from Pembrokeshire Council on behalf of the club to support its operations during the pandemic restrictions.

He received grants of £10,000 and £1,000, respectively. However, in January of the following year, he made a third application for £4,000, claiming that the shed was a gym used by the club.

Mr Davis said an inspection of the site was carried out and it was found the shed was “very dilapidated and had not been used for some considerable time” and no evidence could be found it had been used as gym.

An internal investigation was carried out and then the police were alerted to what appeared to be a fraudulent application.

The prosecution’s case was that Duggan’s claim about the shed being used as a gym was false, and he was arrested and questioned but denied any wrongdoing. Duggan, of Heol Dewi in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and was appearing in court for sentencing, with no prior convictions.

Duggan’s barrister portrayed him as a respected community member who greatly contributed to the local area, and pointed out that the case was unusual as the defendant would not have personally benefited from the money even if the application was successful.

He also noted that the club’s financial records showed they were not in difficulty at the time of the fraudulent claim.

The defence stated that Duggan, a loving father of two, was filled with regret and shame for his actions and the negative impact it had on his family and the club.

He had voluntarily resigned from his job at Pembrokeshire County Council as a result of the charge.

Judge Paul Hobson told the defendant: “You are not being sentenced for getting into a muddle or for making an honest mistake. You are being sentenced for fraud. Your actions were thoroughly dishonest”.

The judge said in his view the fact the fraud involved Covid funds was an aggravating factor and he said people who abused those funds could ordinarily expect a prison sentence. Judge Hobson said he accepted Duggan was remorseful for his actions and that the loss of his good character would be a punishment in itself for him.

He also noted the motivation had not been personal gain but he told the defendant he had been “risking the club’s good name” by what he did. Duggan was sentenced to a 12-month community order and must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs.

The court heard the football club tried to return the money from the fist two grants even though they had been properly obtained but that proved impossible and the money ended up in some sort of leisure fund at the local authority.

Crime

Portfield Gate man faces careless driving allegation after Tufton crash

Published

13 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A PORTFIELD GATE man has appeared before magistrates accused of failing to stop after a road accident on the B4329.

Tony Mallon, 32, of Chestnut Tree Cottage, Portfield Gate, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 17).

He is charged with driving a Peugeot Partner without due care and attention on the B4329 Preselly Mountain Road at Tufton on November 12, 2025.

Mallon is also accused of failing to stop after an accident in which damage was allegedly caused to a Toyota Auris, and failing to report the accident to police within 24 hours.

The case was adjourned at the request of the defence for an intermediary report to be prepared.

Mallon is due to appear again at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 8 for a further pre-trial review.

News

New left-wing political party forms first Welsh branch in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire

Published

17 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Founding conference to be held at Aberystwyth University with Jeremy Corbyn expected to speak

A NEW political party has formed its first Welsh branch covering Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The Ceredigion Penfro branch of Your Party Cymru held its inaugural meeting on Sunday, June 7, with members attending in person in Aberystwyth and online from across both counties.

The group says it is the first Your Party Cymru branch to be formally constituted in Wales and will now receive party funding to develop locally and begin campaigning.

Your Party Cymru says it aims to address inequality and injustice, with the new branch planning to stand candidates in elections, launch local campaigns, and support existing causes.

The branch said its priorities would include industrial action, housing campaigns, protecting local health services, environmental issues, Palestine solidarity, and opposing the far right.

Organisers say the party will operate as a member-led movement, giving local members a say in how branches are run and offering opportunities to become active in campaigns.

Dinah Mulholland, Your Party Ceredigion Penfro organiser, said: “We are offering a significant alternative to political parties in the Senedd and in Westminster, who have disregarded the needs of ordinary people for far too long.

“Your Party Cymru will be a new kind of political party. We are rooted in communities, trade unions and social movements, and we are building positive and sustainable change from the ground up.”

Maria Donnellan, Your Party Cymru representative for Your Party UK’s collective leadership, said the formation of the branch was a “historic day” for the party and for Welsh politics.

She said: “Ceredigion Penfro communities have always found ways to look after each other when the state has failed to. It is exactly the right place for Your Party Cymru to take its first steps as a member-led party built from communities, not from the top down.”

The Ceredigion Penfro branch will host the Your Party Cymru founding conference at Aberystwyth University on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19.

Jeremy Corbyn and other socialist figures are expected to speak at the event.

Business

Wales unemployment close to UK rate as ministers promise productivity push

Published

37 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES’ unemployment rate is broadly in line with the UK average, according to the latest labour market figures.

The Welsh Government said figures from the Annual Population Survey showed unemployment among people aged 16 and over in Wales at 4.5%, compared with 4.4% across the UK.

Ministers said Wales’ employment rate was also “relatively close” to its all-time high, but acknowledged that official labour market data should be treated with caution because of continuing concerns over reliability.

The figures come as the newly elected Welsh Government seeks to put productivity at the centre of its economic agenda.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As a newly elected Government we are committed to driving investment, innovation and higher productivity across Wales.

“We have announced a National Productivity Goal to close the gap with the rest of the UK and help unlock the full potential of the Welsh economy.

“By focusing on productivity, we will deliver more jobs, higher pay, stronger businesses and thriving communities.”

The Government says the new goal will help shape the work of its planned Welsh innovation and development agency, including how it supports businesses, develops skills and invests in the wider economy.

However, ministers also said Wales’ labour market appears to be following similar trends to the UK as a whole.

They pointed to ongoing work by the Office for National Statistics to improve the quality of Labour Force Survey data, saying the figures should be read alongside other labour market indicators to get a clearer picture.

The Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, is seeking a meeting with the ONS to discuss the reliability of labour market data for Wales.