News

Murco: Workers told to down tools following Herald probe

Published

8 years ago

November 11, 2017

THE MANAGEMENT of the firms contracted to decommission the former Murco Oil Refinery site in Milford Haven are remaining tight lipped about work stopping on the site on Tuesday (Nov 7).

Several workers and contractors at the refinery, which is being dismantled and shipped to Pakistan, have contacted this newspaper to say that they were told to down tools and were sent home. Workers told The Herald that they were not sure if or when they would be going back to work.

SOLICITORS TRY TO SILENCE HERALD

In a separate development, following the exposé in The Herald on 22nd October, WRD Ltd have instructed Manchester based solicitors Farleys LLP to try and gag The Pembrokeshire Herald from printing any further articles, and have threatened us with legal action for publishing what workers said, claiming they are libellous defamatory statements.

They also want the article Murco: Someone is going to die taken of the Pembrokeshire Herald website, presumably because it is not good for business.

The Health and Safety Executive is currently investigating a serious accident which took place in May, the worker involved is still at home recovering/ having received what a family member has described, as life changing injuries.

But the solicitor’s letter went on to seemingly pass the buck from WRD Ltd to the other contractor REM Engineering Ltd. It said: “The stark reality is that the statements [in the article], regardless of their veracity in all likelihood relate to REM Engineering Ltd and not WRD.”

But WRD and REM have denied that work had come to a stop for health and safety reasons, and that the present time they were in compliance with health and safety rules. Through their solicitor they said: “Our clients confirm that work at the site has not been stopped due to any health and safety breaches. Our clients confirm that neither company are currently in breach of any health and safety regulations.

INSPECTION FOLLOWING HERALD ARTICLE

One worker on site who telephoned The Pembrokeshire Herald on Tuesday said: “Top engineers and bosses walked around site last week after your story was printed, and were happy with everything – but three days later everyone sent off site.

Attributing what had happened to “client and health and safety issues”, he told this newspaper that sixty three people were sent home from the former refinery.

Our source added: “My boss said to me to blame the whistle-blowers… ‘Blame your friends who talked to The Herald’ he said.
“They said they would be in touch [about getting back to work], but it is not great this side of Christmas.
“Another employee asked how long [the shutdown was] for, but he was told it was a zero hour contract. It wasn’t true.”

This was also confirmed by a secondary source

PROBE CONTINUES

Jack Rimmer from the Health and Safety Executive told The Herald on Tuesday: “We have spoken with our inspectors regarding your enquiry.

“HSE’s investigation into the incident in May is ongoing, and HSE is not aware of the reasons why work has stopped.

“HSE does not have any involvement in commercial or contractual decisions are a matter for the company.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.