27/04/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines: Experts give conflicting

evidence into the death of spy, Gareth Williams. One claims a third

party must have been involved in putting him inside a sports bag. On

300 attempts they could not lock It has been a day that stirred up

strong memories. The tragedy of Aberfan stunned the world almost 50

years ago. Today, the Queen returned to meet mothers who lost

their children. She has been down here three times.

It was nice to think she has not forgotten us.

She ended the day he at this estate after an earlier stopper in Ebbw

Vale. There she said the people of Wales had a remarkable spirit.

Prince Philip and I have shared many of the joys and sadnesses of

the Welsh people in that time. We have always been struck by a sense

of pride and undimmed optimism. Also tonight - Taken apart piece by

piece. The cargo ship that ran aground off Colwyn Bay, hardly

recognisable three weeks on. He was responsible for developing

future Welsh football stars. Brian Flynn is axed from coaching the

His body was found padlock inside a sports bag. Today, the inquest into

the death of Welsh MI6 officer, Gareth Williams, has heard from two

expert witnesses who tried hundreds of times to lock themselves into a

similar bag and failed. One of those witnesses said he believed a

third party could have been involved and that Mr Williams might

have been dead or unconscious when he was placed in the bag. A little

earlier, I spoke to our reporter Aled Huw who has been following

today's proceedings. I began by asking him about the video footage

that was shown in court. They day's proceedings have been

dominated by the evidence of two expert bag witnesses and the videos

they produced of men of Gareth Williams's stature climbing inside

an identical bag and trying to lock it from the inside. Recreating, if

you like, the scenario in which his body was found in his flat in

The experts accepted Gareth Williams was a very fit young man

but they trirs to put the padlock in place more than 100 times and

did not manage to do so without somebody else's assistance.

Early in the week the court had heard another person's DNA had been

found present in the back. Fractions of DNA from another

person on the zip and on the lock itself. The second video, the

experts had been tasked to get into the bag inside the bath. His

opinion, expert opinion, was the fact that this would not have been

able to be achieved without Gareth Williams leaving a trail on the

walls and on the side of the bath itself. In his opinion, Gareth

Williams's body had been placed in the bag and that bag lifted inside

the bath. He was of the view that if Gareth was conscious and wanted

to get out of the bag then he could have ripped the zip open at any

time. How have Gareth Williams's family

reacted to what they heard in court today?

This has been a very distressing week for the family. His parents

and his sister have been here for most of the week listening to some

very difficult, personal evidence. Quite understandably, at times,

they have been very distressed. Today has been a very difficult day

for them. They have had to cope with this experience in the glare

of the world's media as well. One can only guess that it has added

again to their sense of loss and grief. Many thanks.

The Queen visited Aberfan today. In a year packed with celebrations

in her honour a poignant moment as the Queen arrived in Aberfan.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh she came to open a new

school. It is the Queen's fourth visit here. Clearly moved by what

she witnessed when she came a week after the disaster she pledged then

to come back. During an hour long visit today she met with survivors

and bereaved families. 44 years ago she promised were --

she promised me that if there was a new school built she would open it.

It is nice to think she has not forgotten it. It is a good many

years as the disaster happened. She has been down here three times. It

was nice to think share -- and she has not forgotten us. When the tip

slid down the hill covering Pant Glas school it claimed the lives of

116 children and 28 adults. The news shook the world. With the

shovels and when necessary, bare hands, they pitted themselves

against the slime and filth. And it changed for ever the lives of those

left behind. Among them the boy whose white hair helped rescuers

spot him in the darkness one of the last two children pulled out alive.

Jeff Edwards told me after that for him today was about showing the

world that despite trauma there is a future and there is hope, but a

difficult day nonetheless. It was very emotional. It is very

difficult to get through the line of people that I had to introduce

to the Queen. It was only when the helicopter was taking up that the

emotion really hit home. But it really seeing young children of my

age who would have died in the disaster. It was a very emotional

thing for me. It was of course children who were the focus of her

visit here today. The current generation played and sang for her

and she spoke to them. You don't have to do anything about

it. That is marvellous. She asked me about the rain water that is

collected on the roof. It was very nervous but we were very excited.

And happy. I was astonished that she wanted to come and they think

she looked very, very nice. makes children think more about how

lucky we are because we are in a privileged position. She does not

go to all schools on the fact she chosen to come to us, it makes us

feel very special indeed. It has been a time for reflection

certainly but also an opportunity to have played the way for future

of Aberfan. For the families, they told me she will visit.

The European Commission has issued a formal notice, over what it says,

is a failure to comply with safety rules concerning Liquified Natural

Gas tankers at Milford Haven. The Commission is concerned about the

assessment of potential risks from tankers approaching and berthing at

the port. Our business correspondent Nick Servini is here.

Teller's a bit more about this. How significant is it? This is a

preliminary step that could end up in European Court of Justice if the

member state has not complied with what has been sacked. A spokesman

says the failure as the assessment of potential risks of these tankers

approaching and berthing at Milford Haven and under EU rules those have

to be assessed and the findings have to be made public. A quick

reminder of what is at stake. A huge tankers from the Midland --

from the Middle East have come into Milford Haven. In a two terminals

and then they go into the UK gas network. Campaigners have been

Against this process ever since it was proposed. They say there is a

risk of a collision or image incident from humming such such a

flammable substance coming in. Those risks have not been

investigated extensively enough, according to them. Today's note is

is a result of campaigners fining a petition with the European

Parliament. The main group is called the Sea Haven group. This is

a fantastic say -- step for us because we're in campaigning for 10

years for the risk assessment to be done and made public. This is a

very positive step because it is something the UK Government can not

ignore. Has there been at the reaction? We have had a statement

from the Milford Haven Port Authority and it says over a number

of years it had commissioned and produced excessive risk assessment

in full compliance with all UK safety standards, LNG vessels are

regularly and safely handle at the port.

Police say no crime has been committed after they investigated a

complaint that a Labour candidate standing for the Splott ward in the

Cardiff council elections gave a false address on his registration

form. Luke Holland lives in a neighbouring ward but says he's in

the process of buying a house in Splott.

A new Chief Medical Officer has been appointed for Wales to replace

Dr Tony Jewell when he retires in September. Dr Ruth Hussey, who is

originally from north Wales, is currently working with the

Department of Health in England. Six members of a drugs gang who

tried to flood the valleys, with �1.7 million worth of cannabis,

have been jailed for a total of 23 years. Police say 32-year-old Ryan

Davies from Ystrad was the controller at the South Wales end

of the distribution chain. This drugs conspiracy begins far

from the south Wales valleys here in Barcelona back in March last

year. Spanish customs officials discovered more than 400 kilos of

cannabis hidden in sandstone pillars destined for the UK. They

took the drugs out and working with the British authorities sent the

consignment on its way to try and follow the chain. It went to a fake

building company in London and then the lorry was driven along the M4

to south Wales. Its final destination Mountain Ash to be sold

on the streets of the Rhondda and the Cynon Valleys. They set about

smashing the stone pillars with sledgehammers to get at the 413

kilos of cannabis resin. They were horrified to find it was not there.

The court heard there was a flurry of telephone activity and then they

fled. They were apprehended by the police in their lorry as they

travelled to was Pontypridd. 32- year-old Ryan Davies from Ystrad in

the Rhondda, known locally as Mamsy, was jailed today for six years. He

was said to be the co-ordinator at the South Wales end. Keith Dobson

from London has also been sentenced to six years for arranging the

importation of the drugs. And Barry Butler from Kent was sentenced to

five years for collecting the lorry and driving it to South Wales.

that is a major haul cannabis. As I said, it is not just the drug

itself that is a devastating effect at as on a community with a crime.

As stopping that has stopped crying -- and no end of crime. In total

eight others from Mountain Ash, Porth and Ystrad were jailed or

received suspended sentences for their part in this conspiracy to

supply drugs. The judge said they were playing for high stakes. It

was obviously well planned, and sophisticated operation. He said

all those who willingly play a part in the distribution of illicit

drugs must expect to lose their liberty. The MV Carrier was so

badly damaged she had become impossible to sell but intact.

We can return now to the Queen's Alarm the have been taking the ship

apart piece by piece. At has not been altogether easy. Around two-

thirds of the MV Carrier has gone and the contract to say they are

ahead of schedule. We have removed the wheel house, the canteen, the

crew's accommodation. We're working on the engine rooms. That will be

next week. We can't get any position of the beach at all due to

the tidal conditions. Next week we are hoping to remove the engineer

Rea, the generators etc and then we can proceed to cut it up and remove

it. It is three weeks since the MV Carrier ran aground. An

investigation into what happened is being carried out. Buffeted by high

winds and massive waves, search and rescue helicopters winched the crew

to safety. It has not until the next day the amount of damage to

the ship became apparent. She has had to be broken up when she made.

The rudder was damaged and or the man to India for the rudder. The

main prop shaft was bent. The tank's underneath had been seized

the hold. It had been bashed and bends. We could not salvage it.

work is expected to last another four weeks but that is weather

permitting. It is a complex job, the experts say.

We can return it to the Queen's visit to Wales. She ended her trip

with an event especially organised to celebrate her diamond jubilee.

Lucy is there for us tonight and can tell us more. They have been

holding diamonds in the park on this estate. Builders and clearing

away now. You can see tents are still up. There were stalls and

lots of activity going on. Something for all the family. Take

a look at that field, look how much the it is. The rain came down this

afternoon. It was not at all the when the Queen and the Duke of

Edinburgh were here. They had a look around. However, before they

came the Duke of Edinburgh visited Ebbw Vale. Rebecca John has been

following their visit. This was the Queen's first visit to

Ebbw Vale. It was here, after a service at Christ Church, that she

made her only speech of this Diamond Jubilee visit. After the

close of the steelworks a decade ago, we have admired the fortitude

and resilience of Ebbw Vale as you have tackle the social and economic

struggle that followed. Prince Philip and I were reminded this

morning of those extraordinary challenges and were deeply

impressed and heartened by the sure signs of better times to come.

of the many people who met the Queen here today was Maud

Baskerville. She's attended Christ Church since she was christened

there 101 years ago.. Five generations of her family The Queen

then went on a walkabout outside the church, much to the delight of

those who'd been waiting. Very, very good. An end to a near efforts

to I can't think it anything better now. The Queen went on walkabout

outside the judge. Prince Philip asked doesn't which

school we were from and he shook our hands and everything was up I

was up in London for the coronation. It is lovely to see her again!

Earlier today, the Queen officially opened the General Offices of the

former steelworks. It's now a genealogy and family history centre

which houses the Gwent Archives and the Steelworks Archive Trust. The

Queen talked to a group of former steelworkers who spent their whole

careers working on this site in Ebbw Vale, before it closed 10

years ago. They showed the Queen how the Coronation was celebrated

here 60 years ago. From the 1970s onwards, it was a

difficult period of Ebbw Vale. I don't think we have recovered since

then. It is important to know the royal family appreciates

difficulties that people have Indesit here. The Queen and the

Duke of Edinburgh ended their two day visit at a country fair at the

Glanusk Estate near Crickhowell. It was the most informal part of the

tour and the Queen seemed to enjoy viewing some traditional rural

pursuits. The event aimed to reflect the best of Powys. Some of

the Welsh rugby squad and coaching staff were also there, more used to

mud than the Queen. But it didn't put her off. The royal couple have

left Wales but they have many more mines to travel as they Jubilee

tour continues. Joining me today is the organiser of the event. If they

can turn to you, did the weather put a dampener on things? It did

not put a dampener on things other than physically. We were delighted

we the ground. We had planned for 10-15,000. We know very fact that

5,000 school children booked in and day of the school had booked in

turned up. In his period, we are used to inclement weather. It is a

golden opportunity for them to come here. He visited the Queen. She

likes to come here. You hosted the event at your estate. What was the

idea behind it? Buckingham Palace asked us to represent our county in

some form or other. Having then a similar event 10 years ago for the

Golden Jubilee, we sat around the kitchen table with several people

and said let's do diamonds in the park. It was a very relaxed sense

here. It seemed buried and formal. You know why? Because we don't have

barriers. If you have an event enrol a area that is not a full

public in delight in a town or city, we did not have any barriers. That

creates a warmer, friendlier atmosphere. Very briefly, you know

the family well. What has the Queen is said to you about the visit?

thing she was very touched by the enormous amount of affection and

welcome she received and enjoyed it quite enormously. Thank you both

very much. Despite the weather at the stalls were busy this afternoon

and businesses across wears a try to take advantage of the diamond

and -- diamond jubilee celebrations. But some are warning that a cluster

of bank holidays could damage the economy.

At her kitchen in Cardiff, this woman is creating new recipes for

some very special treats. These are her prototype Jubilee cupcakes.

Come that you buy a holiday they will be sold.

Having this extra bank holiday makes any local business thrive. It

is an opportunity to celebrate this rare occasion and for myself, I am

hosting a tea party on night duty the weekend. It is something which

people are looking to do something. It is a great opportunity to

celebrate. Men need businesses are producing the no memorabilia to

mark the Diamond Jubilee producing everything from cooking stew plates

and mugs. Businesses expect their profits to increase but it %, there

are warnings that not every business will be able to have its

cake and eat it. Last year, Britain had an extra day have to celebrate

the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The Federation of

Small Businesses estimates that it is not an collared a amongst a

cluster of other bank holidays cost the UK economy around �6 billion.

Recent figures from the centre of Economics and business Research

estimates that each and, big cost the UK to �0.3 billion. One expert

says the problem does not come from the bank holiday but where it is

being placed in the current -- calendar. It comes then he quickly

after the bank holidays. They tend to cluster the bank holidays around

Easter, May and June. Clustering them in this way does tend to

enhance the costs of the shutdowns. But for business is like this when

that private as well occasions the proof of whether the Diamond

Jubilee is a good many spin on it will be in the tasting. -- money

spinner. The day's sport now and in football

Wales are looking for a new coach for the Under-21s. It follows the

news that Brian Flynn will not be offered a new contract once his

deal expires next month. No reason has been given by the Football

Association of Wales for the decision. With more on that and a

look ahead to an important weekend for Cardiff City, here's Sachin

Krishnan. Cardiff City have experienced their

fair share of play-off heartache in recent seasons. Tomorrow, they know

a draw will almost certainly be enough against Crystal Palace to

guarantee their spot in the Championship play-offs. Defeat and

a win for Middlesbrough at Watford will consign the Bluebirds to

another season in the second tier. What we like to focus on is their

game against Crystal Palace. That is what our players can be involved

in. Anything other than that is a distraction.

By contrast, Swansea City's recent experience of the play-offs cannot

be more different to their near neighbours. An impressive first

season in the Premier League is coming to an end. Already relegated

Wolves are the visitors to the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

The players are working hard. We push them every day to be better.

They are thirsty to improve and learn. We're going to this game

this weekend pushing on with reform. Meanwhile, the Football Association

of Wales have thanked Brian Flynn for his work with Wales' Youth

Teams for over seven years. His time at the helm has generally been

considered a success, with the under-21s almost qualifying for the

2009 European Championships. So his imminent departure has come as a

shock to many. You look up the likes of Aaron

Ramsey and Gareth Bale, he was dealing talent and getting to know

the young talent coming through and making contacts and a game at the

lower level. He was learning about that as well. When you have young

players and parents of those young players scenes and the late Brian

Flynn in charge, my goodness, what better character could you have?

Elsewhere on the final day of the regular season, Brian Flynn's

former side Wrexham who are already assured of a play-off spot in the

Conference, are at home to Braintree while Newport County are

at Barrow. Sport Wales will have more on the

weekend's football at the earlier time of 7pm over on BBC Two Wales.

Yes, a storm from Spain is heading our way bringing another spell of

wet and windy weather on Sunday. Heavy rain and strong to gale force

winds could bring down a few trees. A few places have had more rain

than this. Tonight, further outbreaks of rain in most areas.

Turning lighter and more patchy. Tomorrow not brilliant but better

than today. Plenty of cloud. Damp in Powys and the Marches. Dry in

parts of the south and west. Feeling cool with a north-easterly

breeze. During the day, most of the country will become dry. Fairly

cloudy but bright in parts of the west and southwest. A little

sunshine on the Cardigan Bay coast. Top temperatures 9 to 11 Celsius.

12C on the south Pembrokeshire coast with a cool north-easterly

breeze. So Sunday cold, wet and windy. Strong to gale force winds.

Gusts over 50mph in exposed places. The best place