18/02/2014 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story. Flowers for the family - the

six-day-old baby who died at a house in Carmarthenshire where a dog was

later seized has been named as Eliza-Mae Mullane. It is a really

tragic incident that we are the early stages of investigating. Our

hearts go out to the family and the wider community. The Alaskan

Malamute - not a banned breed - originally bred as sled dogs for

work in the Arctic but now popular as family pets.

Our other headlines. Two bosses at Caerphilly Council are charged

following a police investigation into pay rises given to senior

officers. A growing number of ambulance staff off sick due to

stress. Faulty private breast implants - why

the Welsh Government will not reclaim the ?1 million bill. And

teaching children the PISA method. Will it improve our performance in

the international school rankings? Good evening.

A six-day-old baby has died suddenly at a house in Carmarthenshire.

Police have seized the family's pet dog. Eliza-Mae Mullane was flown by

air ambulance from her home in Pontyberem, near Cross Hands, to the

University of Hospital in Cardiff this morning. The dog, an Alaskan

Malamute, is not a banned breed. Our reporter Cemlyn Davies is in

Pontyberem. As you can see, the police are still

here this evening. They have been here since the alarm was raised by

the mother early this morning. We understand Eliza-Mae 's brother and

sister were also in the house when the emergency service arrived. And

this evening, they are being cared for and supported by family liaison

officers. Police investigations have been

continuing all day following the tragic death of a baby girl who was

less than a week old. Her name was Eliza-Mae. She was the daughter of

Sharon John and Patrick Mullane. The emergency services were called

shortly before 8:30am and Eliza-Mae was taken by helicopter to the

University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but sadly doctors there were

not able to save her. We are the early stages of investigating. Our

hearts as individuals and as a police service go out to the parents

and the wider community. As you can imagine, they are hugely distressed.

We have specially trained liaison officers helping the family through

this time. The first response car was going down the street. A whole

pile of police and other vans and vehicles. And then there was the dog

vehicle. It was just crawling with police and then they cordoned it

off. There was some so much going on. When there is a baby involved

with that, it is terrible. It isn't the newcomer greedy take in. This

lady came to leave flowers. Gemma Prosser knew the family and the

dog. It was a normal dog, very friendly.

I do not think they will get over it. I don't think anyone could get

over anything like this. The family dog has been seized by police as

part of their enquiries. It is an Alaskan Malamute, a popular breed of

domestic dog which is not on the banned list. But it can be

dangerous. It is a sled dog, one of the old Arctic sled dogs and it is a

fairly powerful dog. It is heavy boned, heavy body. It can grow to a

weight of between 85 and ?125. Renowned to be an affectionate dog,

very loyal. This child was attacked in 2011. He suffered severe bite

marks to his face and will bear the psychological scars for the rest of

his life. Since then, his parents have been campaigning for new laws

to control Dangerous Dogs Act he also believes dog owners need better

education and training. It was a horrifying attack to my son. It is

coming back to the memory always. This can be prevented. We should

take responsibility. Changing the law will help prevent dog attacks.

Back in the village of Pontyberem, the community are still coming to

terms with what has happened. And everyone's thoughts are with the

family of six-day-old Eliza-Mae. This has obviously been an awful

shock for the whole community. Absolutely. This is an awfully close

knit community where everybody knows everybody and I have spent the day

here speaking to everybody and everyone has said they cannot

believe what has happened to such a young baby girl. She was just six

days old, of course. The night, the community is pledging its support to

the family and we have had a fresh statement from the police as saying

the parents are obviously distraught. The police say they are

not in a business in yet to confirm the exact cause of death -- a

position. Thank you very much.

Avon and Somerset Police have charged the chief executive and

deputy chief executive of Caerphilly Council with misconduct in a public

office. It follows payments and pay rises made back in 2012. The head of

legal services at the authority, Daniel Perkins, has also been

summoned to appear in court. Our Gwent Valleys reporter Paul Heaney

joins me now. These charges relate to events from

some time ago. Yes, they relate to what is alleged to have happened

between July and October in 2012, more than a year ago now. During

that time, the chief executive Anthony O'Sullivan and other chief

executives were awarded pay increases of up to ?27,000. A

stunning report, -- based on a report, it was given the go-ahead.

When that decision became public knowledge, some months later, staff

protested and that led to the council reversing the original

decision and awarding lower pay rises. But that was not the end of

the matter. The Wales Audit Office looked into the matter and published

a report of their own. At that one, the police were brought in to

investigate and Anthony O'Sullivan and his deputy were arrested. They

have been suspended from their jobs since March of last year on full

pay. And now they will end up in court facing charges. There is a

vision David Dunn sounded is in the public interest to charge the two

men with misconduct -- there is sufficient evidence.

Another man has been summoned to appear in court for the same

offences. The council in the meantime is said to be making

improvements anyway it is run, that is according to the Wales Audit

Office. But they point out there is some way to go before they can

restore the councils reputation. Thank you very much.

A coroner has ruled that a nine-year-old girl who drowned while

white-water rafting on holiday in Turkey was unlawfully killed. Cerys

Potter, from Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan was flung from an

inflatable raft in 2010. Last year, four men involved in running the

white water rafting trip were jailed in Turkey for reckless killing.

We have had three and a half years fighting this in Turkey and now

here. We will never stop campaigning to try and make it safer for kids

going on holiday in Turkey. But now, it is time for us to grieve. We have

not had time to do that. Wales Today has learnt that growing

numbers of ambulance staff are being signed off on long-term sick leave

because of stress. Unions say the problem is so bad, they're now

seeing cases of personal injury claims for compensation. Abigail

Neal has this special report. Ambulances delayed outside accident

and emergency, unable to deliver patients, unable to respond to other

calls coming in. It is stressful all round. A Freedom of information

request reveals the amount of time and then screws are waiting outside

hospitals is on the rise. So to the number of staff of sick because of

stress. Tina is one of them. A paramedic from the Central and West

region who wanted to remain anonymous. I think it was constant

pressure of trying to hit targets and trying to be somewhere else when

you are already dealing with one patient. You are not getting time to

clear your head between one patient and another. You have not got the

time to think. And it was getting home and just being useless to man

nor beast. You just could not function as a human being. Just a

shell. The service has the highest sickness level within the NHS in

Wales. A rate of 7.53%. Compare that to another front-line service, the

police force, and their average works out at almost half that. The

figures are cultivated as the number of hours lost and when you look

closely, stress is a second most common reason given for absence. In

2011-12, there were 9667 hours lost because of stress. In 2013, that

figure had risen. Workers claim managers are not

recruiting enough staff to plug the gaps and are relying on people to

work overtime. Unions say the problem is so bad, some are now

putting in personal injury claims for combination -- compensation.

Certainly there is an increase in the number of paramedics and

technicians coming to us and asking what medical recourse they can have

for how they feel. Plans to reduce in a broth hospitals means that

ambulances will have to travel further.

The calls come in and you just hope it is not your own family. I know

that sounds callous but you know what is happening behind the scenes.

500 909 calls coming to this control room every day. With changes ahead,

managers accept they do need more resources. We will need to provide

more training and improve skills of staff so they can provide the care

to patients that they are moving over a long period of time. I am not

saying there will not be more cruise or paramedics. We have identified

that if those services are moving, we will need more staff. Coping

under pressure has always been part of the job. But the growing cost of

a stressed and sick workforces growing harder to manage.

Much more to come before 7pm. He was sacked by e-mail. Former Swansea

manager Michael Laudrup speaks to us for the first time since his

departure. While I am talking on the phone, I

receive an e-mail, it says that due to breach of contract it is

immediately with immediate effect, terminated. South Wales Police say

they've strengthened the way they handle complaints of child abuse,

following the conviction of paedophile Ian Watkins. Following an

investigation by BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme, there are now

calls for an inquiry into claims the rock star could have been stopped

earlier. Watkins, from Pontypridd, was jailed for 29 years in December,

after admitting a catalogue of serious sex offences involving

children. Tim Rogers reports. Ian Watkins and two women were

jailed for the most horrific crimes against children last December. We

have new evidence that as well as the police, social services were

also told of serious allegations about Ian Watkins as long ago as

2008. This woman says she repeatedly told social services about her fears

concerning his behaviour. It was repeated calls about the same

little girl overtime. Every time I knew that my complaints were not

going anywhere with the police, I would back it up by calling social

services and saying, can't you do anything to do -- about this? She

also says she sent a copy of this photograph, it shows a young girl of

about four years of age who is holding a photo frame with the

picture of a scantily clad woman. On top of the frame is a razor blade

and a thin line of white powder. In her other hand, the girl is holding

a rolled up ?20 note. She says Watkins told her the white powder

was cocaine. We have spoken to the girl 's father who says he also went

to social services and the police and says when he reported his

concerns to police he was told not to pursue it any more because it

could ruin Ian Watkins' career. Rhondda: South -- Rhondda Cynon Taff

social services says they did act within procedures following a report

in 2008 but they refuse to comment on claims he did not act and refused

to say if a review is being undertaken. Because of the number of

professional people involved in the whole decision-making and

information sharing network, if you like, some kind of large enquiry

really needs to happen. South Wales Police say they have improved and

strengthen their responses in their public protection unit which

includes child protection following their own internal review. The IPCC

is investigating South Wales Police and Ian Watkins is seeking leave to

appeal against the length of his sentence.

And today the leader of the Welsh Conservatives added his voice to

calls for an inquiry. And you can see more on that story on Week In

Week Out, here on BBC One Wales at 10:35pm.

The cost of NHS treatment for Welsh women who received faulty PIP

implants from private cosmetic surgery companies will not be

reclaimed by the Welsh Government, BBC Wales has learnt. It says it is

not viable to recover the estimated ?1.2 million that has been spent

removing the faulty implants and replacing them. India Pollock

reports. A luxury villa Rhumney green

coastline of the French Riviera. Former home to VIP founder and paid

for why the victims of the faulty breast implants he made in his

factory. I noticed in both breasts I had lumps, also it had gone through

my lymph node and any time I exercise, it would swell right up

like a ball. The Welsh Government has picked up the bill for the

removal and replacement of the implants. 600 women have been

referred for removal and replacement, half of those have been

treated at a cost of ?1.2 million to the Welsh NHS. The former health

minister announced in 3012 that the government would pay for the

operations -- in 2012. It now says that is not possible. A number of

those businesses folded. They have now started up new firms under new

names doing very similar things. Some say more needs to be done. At

the moment, nothing has changed so this could all happen again

tomorrow. Surgeons and clinics can still practice without insurance.

They can still fold themselves at the moment they see a plane coming

their way. -- a claim coming their way. But is why the need to block

these loopholes as soon as. Yuki Gutmann says it is now bringing in

new laws and new safeguards to protect people like Rebecca -- the

UK Government. A review will see if Welsh ministers

can afford to keep helping the poorest households pay their council

tax. The Welsh Government has met the ?22 million annual shortfall so

far, and will do so again in the next financial year. But a team of

experts will advise on whether or not the policy is affordable in

future. Charges against six people accused of a multi million pound

conspiracy to defraud three councils in Wales and the Coal Authority has

been dismissed at Cardiff Crown Court.

The six, which included former Cardiff City chief executive Alan

Whiteley, were charged in connection with Celtic Energy transferring

their leases for four opencast mine sites to a company in the British

Virgin Islands. The judge said that nothing unlawful had taken place. I

think if you do a commercial reorganisation or a commercial

scheme or a scheme which is inevitably quite difficult and

quite, gated, inevitably the first thing you do is check its

lawfulness. Last year we reported how Wales had

slipped further down the international education league

tables, known as PISA. Today, the Education Minister says improving

our performance in those tests is "integral to driving the Welsh

economy". PISA isn't just a league table, it's also a way of teaching

which concentrates on applying what children are taught to everyday

situations. So how could that work in Wales? Our Education

correspondent, Arwyn Jones reports. In December when the latest sets of

PISA results came out, it was disappointing news for Wales. Each

area is given a score, Wales stayed pretty much the same but other parts

of the world race to health. -- raced ahead. We were the three

subjects covered by the tests. But one is about a lot more than league

tables. One of the things the PISA results revealed is there is a

worldwide shift away from just knowledge-based education to how

children can use that knowledge and apply it to real-world scenarios and

in Wales, the results revealed we do not do that so well.

High-end microchipped IE produced here in Cardiff. They imply maths

and physics graduates but need staff to apply their knowledge to suit

their unique work. And that is what PISA tests demonstrate. The

Education Minister now wants that to be weaved into the curriculum in

Wales. The ambition is that we will tie

ourselves much more cleanly with what companies like this one are

really looking for. So that I young people can compete.

That kind of teaching would be a step away from how pupils learn at

the moment. Most concentrate on Di jesting information. We do have PISA

style methods because we have literacy and numeracy lessons. But

should not be the only method in which we teach the children. And it

is important they have the extensive curriculum given to them. As more

and more companies rely on technical skills rather than just knowledge,

making sure our schools can react to that could be key to our future

economic success. The former Swansea manager Michael

Laudrup has described the club's reasons for sacking him as silly.

The Dane spoke out at a press conference in London today, exactly

two weeks after being dismissed for breach of contract. He said chairman

Huw Jenkins sacked him by email, two hours after they had shaken hands

after agreeing to keep working together. From London, here's

Ashleigh Crowter. His style was diplomatic but

underneath it all, it was clear that Michael Laudrup was angry about how

he had been treated. He said he was limited because of an ongoing legal

process. I do not know what word to use that I do not know if I have to

use silly or other words because... Incredible... Again, I cannot go

into details. Michael Laudrup says Huw Jenkins asked him to change his

backroom staff that he had refused. Despite that, they had decided to

continue working together. I was talking on the phone, I received an

e-mail, it says that into breach of contract, with immediate effect,

terminated. Just a few hours after we just shake hands. This was a

stout defence of Michael Laudrup 's work but poignant too. He said he

had sent messages to all of his players and he had not been able to

say goodbye in person. He also said he had received messages of support

from Sir Alex Ferguson and Gary Lineker. He will now be taking the

legal process forward through the league managers Association.

Rugby and Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland has extended his contract

with the Llanelli Scarlets. The 26-year-old had been offered a

central contract by the Welsh Rugby Union.

The Welsh Rugby Union has agreed to loan the four regional sides

?660,000 to cover cash flow problems, after their money for

playing in the European Cup was withheld earlier this month.

Tournament organisers took the decision on legal advice because of

uncertainty over the competition's future.

Another European Cup board meeting takes place tomorrow in Dublin where

a decision will be made on whether or not to release the European cash.

Spring was in the air today. Derek, how long will it last?

Not for long. Better weather today and it felt like spring. Ten Celsius

in Wrexham. 11 in Milford Haven. A few degrees above average. Mind you,

it was a different story on this day 36 years ago. Wales beat Scotland at

the Arms Park followed by a blizzard with huge drifts. This picture from

Michael Stokes was taken in Bridgend. Looking ahead, there's no

sign of any heavy snow heading our way but more rain and showers.

Having said that, I can promise plenty of dry weather tomorrow. This

evening, dry for most for most but some showery rain will spread across

the country after midnight. The rain mostly light. Temperature wise,

turning a bit chilly inland down to three or four Celsius. Milder on the

coast. Here's the picture for 8am. A grey, cloudy start. Some mist and

hill fog. The odd shower here and there otherwise dry and not cold.

During the day more dry weather and brightening up. Some sunshine in

Powys, the north and east. I wouldn't rule out a light shower in

the south and increasing cloud will bring rain to Pembrokeshire by

evening. Temperatures above average again, eight to 11 Celsius, with a

light to moderate breeze backing southerly during the afternoon. In

Conwy tomorrow some pleasant weather. Most of the day dry. The

temperature in Betws y Coed rising to ten Celsius with a light breeze.

Tomorrow evening, a warm front will cross Wales bringing outbreaks of

rain and drizzle. Mist and fog patches. The wind picking up as

well. Thursday a wet and windy start. The rain clearing to brighter

weather and scattered showers. It will turn colder once the rain

clears. Friday chilly and blustery with a mixture of sunshine and

squally showers. The showers heavy in places. Hail and thunder and

wintry on high ground with snow. Into the weekend, hail and thunder

and wintry on high ground with snow. Into the weekend, Saturday breezy

with sunshine and scattered showers. Sunday more unsettled and windier.

Strong to gale force winds. Damp at times too with a wet evening.

You can keep up with the forecast on the website. Enjoy the dry and mild

weather tomorrow, if you can. Tonight headlines from the BBC.

Police are investigating the sudden death of a six-day-old baby girl in

Pontyberem in Carmarthenshire. Eliza-Mae Mullane died this morning.

The family dog has been taken away by police. We can return to our

reporter who is there. Cemlyn, what more can you tell us this evening?

Yes, the police are still here this evening as the investigation

continues into that tragic incident this morning. Let's recap. The

emergency services were called shortly before 8:30am. Eliza-Mae,

six days old, was then transported to the University Hospital of Wales

in Cardiff where doctors could not do anything to save her. As you say,

the police have seized the family dog, and Alaskan Malamute, that is

not a banned breed in the UK but throughout the day, people have been

expressing their shock and this evening, the family have said -- the

police have said the family are obviously distraught that they are

not in a position yet to confirm the exact cause of death or to give is

the nature of the injuries that the baby suffered. But the family are

being suffered by -- supported by family liaison officers tonight.

I'll have an update for you here at 8pm and after the BBC News at Ten.

That's Wales Today. Thank you for watching. From all of us on the

programme, good evening.