‘There was no internet pact – that’s all rubbish’

Jan 28 2008 by Rhodri Evans, South Wales Echo

YOUNGSTERS who live in the town branded as the suicide capital of the country have dismissed claims the deaths were linked to each other or to the internet.

Friends of the victims in the Bridgend area are adamant that there were no suicide pacts between the victims and the internet played no part in any of their deaths.

Rhiannon Shortman, 16, of Porthcawl, was best friend to Natasha Randall, 17, the 13th young person to have been found hanged in the last 12 months.

She said: “For the past couple of weeks we had faded away a little bit but we were still in touch, I’d just spoken to her and saw her after Clarky (Liam Clarke) killed himself too.

“Everyone’s really shocked and upset about it. Bridgend is a small town. Everybody knows everyone, they weren’t all best friends. And it’s nothing to do with the internet, there was no cult or pact.”

Jamie Henderson, 18, of Cefn Glas, added: “It’s all rubbish. It’s just people speculating and it’s dragging it back up for the families and making it worse.”

The pair have spent the last week in drama and dance workshops at the Sherman Theatre, in Cardiff, with Yellow Wales – who support homeless youngsters and also offer young people training and work opportunities.

After a week of dance, rap and beat-boxing workshops, the youngsters performed in front of 200 people and want to encourage other young people to get involved.

Rhiannon said: “This is something positive they can do to keep their mind off what’s worrying them.”

Jamie, who was also friends with Liam and Natasha, said: “It’s something to do. I came along because I was fed-up of being stuck in the house and I feel better for it.”

Becci Ringwood, 18, of Porthcawl, who was friends with hanging victim Thomas (Tom) Davies, 20, of North Cornelly, added: “There’s not a lot to do on the streets in Bridgend. There’s nothing to do, that’s why people get into trouble, they’re bored. Things like this show you there’s more to life.”

Tracey Miles, training officer for Yellow Wales, had worked very closely with Thomas Davies and David “Dai” Dilling, 19, of Pyle, who both hanged themselves last February.

She said: “Dai was living in our supported accommodation in Maesteg and we were supporting Tom who was living with his parents.

“We helped Tom start a catering course at Bridgend College and through us, Dai started his training and got a job. I was close to them, what’s happened is terrible. I think about them every day.

“We were listening to the radio in the car and the young people told me they didn’t want this negative press coverage.

“All of them say they are sure those who have taken their lives would be back here now if they could. What they did happened in a mad moment in their lives and if they could have got through that day they would have been OK.

“They want to encourage other young people to go out and do other things and for them to know where to come when they’re feeling down.”

If you want to get involved in any arts-based activity, contact arts project officer Guy O’Donnell at guy.odonnell@bridgend. gov.uk

For more information on Yellow Wales, e-mail Tracey at: traceym10 @hotmail.co.uk

laura.wright@mediawales.co.uk