News
Islander says police are investigating new Caldey Island child sex assault claim
DYFED-POWYS POLICE has been asked by The Pembrokeshire Herald if it is investigating an allegation of child sexual assault linked to Caldey Island.
The Pembrokeshire Heald understands that the allegation, confirmed to this newspaper by someone close to the island, involves a worker on Caldey, and that the nature of the complaint has caused concern amongst the island community.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police told The Pembrokeshire Herald on Wednesday (Jul 18): “We have received a report concerning Caldey Island, and officers are conducting initial enquiries.”
There have been multiple cases of sex crimes linked to Caldey Island. Here is a summary of the incidents:
- Father John Shannon: He lived on Caldey Island in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, he was found to have downloaded 740 indecent images of children on a computer while working as a lecturer at a Catholic seminary in County Durham. He was convicted and sentenced to eight months in jail, placed on the sex offender register for 10 years, and banned from working with children for life.
- Tahddsus Kotik: He was a Benedictine monk who lived in the monastery on Caldey Island from 1947 until his death in 1992. In November, it was revealed that he was accused of sexual abuse against children dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. The Abbey settled civil claims by six women in March, and an additional six women and a man have approached the Guardian newspaper alleging abuse by Kotik.
- Paul Ashton: He hid on Caldey Island and lived there under an assumed identity for seven years. After being caught and taken back to the mainland, he was later sentenced and jailed for possessing 5,000 images of child abuse on his computer.
- John Cronin: He is suspected to have lived on Caldey Island in 2009 under an assumed name in a cottage owned by the Monastery.
In response to these cases, Darren Millar, the Conservatives’ children’s spokesman in the Welsh assembly in 2017, has called on the Welsh government to launch an investigation into Caldey Island.
READ THIS WEEK’S PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD HERE:News
Open day at new St Davids housing development
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is celebrating the completion of Phase 1 Llys Glasfryn, St Davids.
The development was built by GRD Homes, and Phase 1 consists of 4 x 2 bed bungalows, and 3 x 1 bed bungalows.
Phase 2 consists of 11 x 2 bed bungalows, which it is hoped will be completed early 2026.
All properties within Phase 1 have been allocated, and Phase 2 properties will be available for bidding a few months before completion.
A Local Lettings Policy is used to allocate these properties, which was created in conjunction with local members, St Davids City Council, and the local community.
To celebrate the completion of Phase 1, Pembrokeshire County Council is holding an open day in one of the newly completed properties.
This will be held on Tuesday 28th January 2025, from 2pm – 6pm. This is for members of the public to view the site and one of the properties, ask questions, and provide feedback.
Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Housing Operations, said: “These high quality homes will provide much needed housing in St Davids and form part of our wider development programme.
“Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a key priority for Cabinet and I look forward to meeting new tenants and the wider community at the open day event.”
For more information on Pembrokeshire County Council’s housing developments, or this event, please call 01437 764551, or email [email protected]
News
Agricultural shed fire on Narberth Road in Saundersfoot
CREWS from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service stations in Tenby and Milford Haven were called to a fire on Narberth Road, Saundersfoot, at 1:05pm on Monday (Jan 27).
The blaze involved a caravan and an agricultural shed measuring approximately 15 metres by 15 metres. The shed, which contained vehicles and machinery, was completely destroyed along with the caravan.
Firefighters used two hose reel jets, two main jets, an otter pump, and a water shuttle system drawing from an open water source to bring the fire under control.
Crews left the scene at 3:20pm.
Crime
Prison bosses dismiss assault rumours against Southport killer
PRISON authorities have denied claims circulating on social media that Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer convicted of murdering three young girls, has been attacked while in custody. The rumours, which gained traction after the circulation of a voice note on Sunday (Jan 26), alleged that the 18-year-old was assaulted by two inmates at HMP Manchester, where he is serving his sentence.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice firmly dismissed the allegations, stating: “Reports of Axel Rudakubana being attacked in prison are inaccurate. He has not been attacked.”
Rudakubana, originally from Cardiff but residing in the Lancashire village of Banks for the past decade, was sentenced on Thursday to a minimum of 52 years behind bars. His crimes, described as among the most extreme and shocking in recent history, included the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, as well as the attempted murder of ten others. The brutal attack took place on July 29 last year at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.
During sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, Mr Justice Goose outlined the horrifying details of Rudakubana’s calculated and violent actions. “He walked straight into the building, up the stairs to where he could hear the sound of happy children. His intention was clear: to murder as many of them as he physically could.”
Over a harrowing 15 minutes, Rudakubana fatally attacked three children, severely injured eight others, and wounded two adults who attempted to intervene. The judge highlighted the unrelenting nature of his violence: “After the other children escaped, he remained in the upstairs room, where he returned to attack two of the youngest victims, stabbing them multiple times. His actions demonstrated a determined intention to cause maximum suffering.”
Mr Justice Goose condemned Rudakubana’s actions as “the most extreme, shocking and exceptionally serious crime.” The judge noted that the carnage could have been even worse if not for the bravery of those who escaped and intervened.
Rudakubana’s case has left a community in mourning and sparked national outrage. As he begins his decades-long sentence, the Ministry of Justice has assured the public that he is being closely monitored and that claims of an attack on him in prison are baseless.
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