:00:12. > :00:17.Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story.
:00:18. > :00:20.Nigel Verdon was left brain damaged - one of several workers exposed to
:00:21. > :00:47.a poisonous chemical at work. The company is fined ?120,000.
:00:48. > :00:53.United in grief. Pupils and staff pay tribute to 14-year-old Derek
:00:54. > :00:55.Brundrett, found hanged on school grounds.
:00:56. > :01:00.Also tonight. Some of North Wales' biggest leisure
:01:01. > :01:04.centres threatened with closure. Can we trust the police when it
:01:05. > :01:07.comes to recording crimes? The Gwent force says it's restoring faith in
:01:08. > :01:10.the system. And in tonight's sport.
:01:11. > :01:13.So-long Toulon - the French club says the Wales captain won't be
:01:14. > :01:21.joining them after salary talks broke down. Will he stay in Wales?
:01:22. > :01:28.Good evening. They will continue to carry the scars for the rest of
:01:29. > :01:30.their lives. The words of a judge today, who fined two chemical
:01:31. > :01:35.companies ?120,000 for exposing workers to a poisonous gas. One of
:01:36. > :01:39.the workers suffered brain damage at the company's site at SandyCroft in
:01:40. > :01:45.Flintshire. He's now planning to sue. Rob Thomas reports.
:01:46. > :01:49.Home and lucky to be alive. Nigel Verdon was in a coma for a month
:01:50. > :01:53.after being exposed to the highly dangerous chemical Methyl Iodide in
:01:54. > :01:56.July 2012. But after months in hospital, the 41-year-old father of
:01:57. > :01:58.two has been left to cope with the consequences of the brain damage he
:01:59. > :02:32.suffered. The factory made medications for
:02:33. > :02:36.angina. Nigel had only been working here at Eutical Pharmaceuticals for
:02:37. > :02:40.six weeks, when he collapsed. He was affected by the gas given off by MI
:02:41. > :02:43.after it had leaked into several parts of the factory. Today, after
:02:44. > :02:52.the company was fined ?120,000, Nigel's solicitor spoke on his
:02:53. > :02:57.behalf. The company failed to show any concern about my family's
:02:58. > :03:03.welfare or how I know nobody purposely went out to harm me but
:03:04. > :03:12.through gross if this happened to me so soon, what of my other work the
:03:13. > :03:16.company failed to show any concern about my family's welfare or how
:03:17. > :03:21.they were managing. I know nobody purposely went out to harm me but
:03:22. > :03:24.through gross negligence I suffered. Nigel's poisoning was just one of a
:03:25. > :03:30.catalogue of incidents at the factory. More than two years ago,
:03:31. > :03:34.500kg of MI was mistakenly released into the atmosphere. Between
:03:35. > :03:37.February and July of last year, workers at the factory were exposed
:03:38. > :03:40.to chemicals. In July, the company was fined for failing to comply with
:03:41. > :03:45.three improvement notices between 2008 and 2010. By November, an
:03:46. > :03:49.explosive chemical, IDSN, was found at the factory. Work stopped at the
:03:50. > :03:52.factory and leaflets were sent to more than 3,000 homes and businesses
:03:53. > :03:55.to say that it was being removed. The following summer, the company
:03:56. > :03:58.went into liquidation. And in August this year, the bomb squad were
:03:59. > :04:02.called to deal with another unstable chemical. The court heard that staff
:04:03. > :04:22.in the factory behind me didn't have the correct health and safety stuff.
:04:23. > :04:28.Today's sentence was welcomed by the agencies who and not the Natural
:04:29. > :04:56.Resources Wales. When these issues did come to light,
:04:57. > :05:04.investigations are continuing into events at But for Nigel, it's little
:05:05. > :05:06.consolation for a life he says he's lost forever.
:05:07. > :05:11.Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old schoolboy from Pembroke
:05:12. > :05:14.who was found hanged yesterday. Derek Brundrett was discovered by
:05:15. > :05:17.his friends in a wooded area just next to the school building. Abigail
:05:18. > :05:20.Neal reports. All day there has been a steady
:05:21. > :05:24.stream of pupils at Pembroke School coming to mourn their friend. These
:05:25. > :05:31.cut-out hands are their tributes filled with messages of love and
:05:32. > :05:36.loss. It is an this is the death of a 14-year-old pupil who was liked
:05:37. > :05:42.and respected by a close group of friends. He was loyal, likeable and
:05:43. > :05:46.Close friends of Derek Brundrett are reported to have said that he had
:05:47. > :05:49.been feeling down for some time. The head teacher told me he'd been
:05:50. > :05:54.receiving daily pastoral support at the school to help with him with
:05:55. > :05:57.some issues. Just after classes broke for lunch yesterday afternoon,
:05:58. > :06:02.the teenager's body was discovered in the woods where he and his
:06:03. > :06:12.friends would go to play. A group of friends came here the pupils were
:06:13. > :06:25.very they in legally phoned for an ambulances we did attempt
:06:26. > :06:29.resuscitation sadly, Although lessons were being held today, there
:06:30. > :06:32.was little appetite for learning. Special assemblies were held and
:06:33. > :06:36.student counsellors were on hand to help pupils work through their grief
:06:37. > :06:39.and shock at what has happened. The school are arranging for counselling
:06:40. > :06:42.services to continue here over the weekend for pupils who need it. As
:06:43. > :06:45.well as an investigation by the coroner, I also understand there's
:06:46. > :06:48.likely to be a social services inquiry into the circumstances which
:06:49. > :06:52.led up to Derek Brundrett's death. His mother told me today that she's
:06:53. > :06:57.determined to find out why her son took his own life.
:06:58. > :07:00.Some news breaking this evening. The company which runs the Sun Centre in
:07:01. > :07:03.Rhyl and other nearby leisure facilities has started consultations
:07:04. > :07:07.with its staff which could result in redundancies. The not for profit
:07:08. > :07:10.organisation claim the council has put them at risk of insolvency by
:07:11. > :07:14.cutting their funding. Over now to the newsroom and our reporter Nick
:07:15. > :07:17.Palit. Nick, what more can you tell us? Well, the Sun Centre is a
:07:18. > :07:20.leisure pool complex in the Denbighshire coastal town of Rhyl. A
:07:21. > :07:24.highly popular visitor attraction for tourists visiting the North
:07:25. > :07:27.Wales seaside resort. Back in 2001, a not for profit organisation, Clwyd
:07:28. > :07:33.Leisure Ltd, took over the running of it from Denbighshire Council.
:07:34. > :07:37.They also run the nearby Nova Centre in Prestatyn and the North Wales
:07:38. > :07:41.Indoor Bowls Centre at Ffrith Beach. However, today, the company said the
:07:42. > :07:44.Sun Centre may not reopen next year and the Nova Centre and bowls
:07:45. > :07:48.complex may have to close in March. They blame the council for putting
:07:49. > :07:53.the company at risk of insolvency by cutting its funding year on year. So
:07:54. > :07:56.how many jobs could be affected? Well, Clwyd Leisure has started
:07:57. > :07:59.consultation on redundancy with 70 staff, but they also employ 55
:08:00. > :08:04.seasonal workers at times of high demand. They say the council has
:08:05. > :08:09.been well aware of the financial problems since June. They say
:08:10. > :08:13.they've reached the point now where cash balances will be exhausted
:08:14. > :08:20.beyond what is needed for an orderly close of business. Have the council
:08:21. > :08:23.said anything? They say the news has come as quite a shock and they'll be
:08:24. > :08:27.considering their response over the weekend. They plan to hold a press
:08:28. > :08:33.conference at County Hall in Ruthin on Monday.
:08:34. > :08:35.In the last half hour, fire fighters across Wales have walked-out on
:08:36. > :08:40.strike in a long-running dispute over pensions. It's the fifth time
:08:41. > :08:43.this year they've joined colleagues in England protesting against plans
:08:44. > :08:48.to raise the retirement age from 55 to 60. They'll stage another
:08:49. > :08:51.four-hour strike tomorrow night. The UK Government says its proposals
:08:52. > :08:55.offer one of the most generous pension schemes in the public
:08:56. > :08:59.sector. A man has been found guilty of
:09:00. > :09:03.causing the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby in
:09:04. > :09:06.Wrexham. Calvin Connah, who's 22 and from Leeswood near Mold, was
:09:07. > :09:11.overtaking a car at 85mph when he lost control and crashed into
:09:12. > :09:15.Christina Barchetti's vehicle. She later died at Wrexham Maelor
:09:16. > :09:20.Hospital. Connah had denied causing death by dangerous driving.
:09:21. > :09:23.The Halo Foods factory at Tywyn in Gwynedd closed its doors today with
:09:24. > :09:28.the loss of more than a hundred jobs. It's moving production to
:09:29. > :09:31.South Wales and its plant at Newport. Only a tenth of the
:09:32. > :09:36.workforce has taken-up the company's offer to move there.
:09:37. > :09:40.Can we trust the way the police record crime? A review ordered by
:09:41. > :09:43.the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent suggested the area could
:09:44. > :09:46.have higher levels of crime than official figures show. Tonight, the
:09:47. > :09:49.force and the commissioner say officers are torn between doing the
:09:50. > :10:24.right thing for victims and following Home Office rules.
:10:25. > :10:29.The review looked at 50 incidents and found that half of them should
:10:30. > :10:34.have been recorded that meant crime could have been at 8% higher than
:10:35. > :10:38.first thought. But there was no evidence of this is change the way
:10:39. > :10:42.they recorded crimes to hit targets. The findings are of limited
:10:43. > :10:51.value because of the sample size and it suggests more, there was clear
:10:52. > :10:57.evidence that they did what they they did what they thought was right
:10:58. > :11:02.and comply with Home Office rules. That is a real dilemma not recording
:11:03. > :11:34.crime properly there was no minute oration of the
:11:35. > :11:39.figures and I believe that you consider we want to focus on the
:11:40. > :11:56.public as best we can and not focus I find what Paul Flynn has come up I
:11:57. > :12:16.wonder whether we should not set an do people in Blackwood
:12:17. > :12:30.here on the streets of Gwent, can be but be certain that
:12:31. > :12:35.You're watching Wales Today. Plenty still ahead.
:12:36. > :12:38.The painstaking work of uncovering rare medieval paintings seeing the
:12:39. > :12:43.light of day for the first time in 500 years.
:12:44. > :12:46.The parents of a seven-year-old boy from Cardiff who died after heart
:12:47. > :12:49.surgery at Bristol Children's Hospital have been leaked a hospital
:12:50. > :12:54.report which claims poor care may have contributed to his death. Last
:12:55. > :13:00.month, a coroner ruled Luke Jenkins' death was neither predictable nor
:13:01. > :13:05.preventable. But his solicitor says the latest report should have been
:13:06. > :13:24.disclosed to the inquest. Matthew Hill reports.
:13:25. > :13:41.It Had it is very concerning why they felt
:13:42. > :14:17.give it we are they have been for separate
:14:18. > :14:21.investigations by staffing levels next a review found that poor
:14:22. > :14:23.communication and team working may have communicated to his ill health
:14:24. > :14:51.or death. A. It levels but the coroner did not see this
:14:52. > :14:56.that was leaked the question is the thoroughness of the more it says its
:14:57. > :15:44.have it says already than documents were
:15:45. > :15:52.submitted Luca's parents still ombudsman is
:15:53. > :15:58.The owner of a number of Welsh radio stations says it won't appeal
:15:59. > :16:01.against a ruling that it must sell seven stations across the UK,
:16:02. > :16:04.including two here. The Competition Appeal Tribunal
:16:05. > :16:06.upheld a decision by the Competition Commission that Global Radio
:16:07. > :16:11.Holdings Limited must lose either Real Radio or Capital in South Wales
:16:12. > :16:13.and Real or Heart in North Wales. It says the sales will preserve
:16:14. > :16:15.competition and protect advertisers' interests.
:16:16. > :16:20.Prince Charles has spent the day visiting parts of South Wales. The
:16:21. > :16:23.Prince of Wales received a tour of Tredegar House, a 17th century
:16:24. > :16:27.mansion near Newport, where he met school children and charity workers.
:16:28. > :16:29.He then joined a reception celebrating his charity, Prime
:16:30. > :16:35.Cymru, which helps unemployed over 50s back into work. Later in the
:16:36. > :16:38.day, the Prince became the first member of the Royal Family in 600
:16:39. > :16:43.years to visit Ewenny Priory Norman Church in the Vale of Glamorgan.
:16:44. > :16:52.Tonight's sport now. Here's Claire. Good evening. Another turbulent week
:16:53. > :16:56.in Welsh rugby and still no sign of any breakthrough between the Welsh
:16:57. > :17:00.Rugby Union and the four regions. Today, news that Sam Warburton won't
:17:01. > :17:03.be joining French side Toulon. The Wales captain has had talks with the
:17:04. > :17:07.club but their President has revealed they couldn't agree a
:17:08. > :17:12.salary. Tonight, Warburton lines up for the Blues. His side can go top
:17:13. > :17:15.of their Heineken Pool with a win in Glasgow. Wales centre Jamie Roberts
:17:16. > :17:18.will make his comeback for Racing Metro this weekend after three
:17:19. > :17:21.months out with an ankle injury and newly recruited scrum-half Mike
:17:22. > :17:25.Phillips makes his debut for his new club. He admits the exodus of Welsh
:17:26. > :17:32.players to France and England is sad for the game here.
:17:33. > :17:37.It is sad. I played ten years in Wales and it was a chance to
:17:38. > :17:40.experience different options and it was another way of life. It is a
:17:41. > :17:47.little bit sad, young kids growing up these days and going down the
:17:48. > :17:51.local region and play -- watching their heroes. It is important those
:17:52. > :17:56.players Tuesday there. As players, it is our career and we have to do
:17:57. > :18:02.we to do. The ospreys are still waiting for their first win and they
:18:03. > :18:07.are in action tonight. Our reporter is at the Liberty Stadium tonight.
:18:08. > :18:11.Frustrating times for every Woody who is following well struck a right
:18:12. > :18:17.now. It seems the Welsh captain could be staying put. He certainly
:18:18. > :18:21.won't be joining Toulon. The announcements made today by the
:18:22. > :18:24.President noting that they have discussed with some warped and
:18:25. > :18:30.Alliance and Wales captain but he will not be signing. They could not
:18:31. > :18:36.agree on salary conditions, the second, perhaps more interestingly,
:18:37. > :18:41.they felt the club he would be away from the team for two long in the
:18:42. > :18:47.season itself. As a result they have decided not to sign him. But, the
:18:48. > :18:52.French vultures are bound to keep circling of the next few weeks. What
:18:53. > :19:00.about a move surrounding Leigh Halfpenny. Do we know more about
:19:01. > :19:05.that? No specific details on Leigh Halfpenny this evening. Again, very
:19:06. > :19:11.interestingly, the Toulon president noted they had in the markets for a
:19:12. > :19:17.goal kicker because Jonny Wilkinson will be retiring at the end of the
:19:18. > :19:20.season. This evening, his focus in Glasgow. The Blues can still qualify
:19:21. > :19:29.for the next round in the Heineken Cup. It is all over for the Ospreys
:19:30. > :19:34.who are at home in the rain. I must ask you about the Welsh regions
:19:35. > :19:37.supporters clubs who have been very critical of the union and the way
:19:38. > :19:44.they have been handling things. Some developments tonight. Make no
:19:45. > :19:48.mistake about it, we are in the middle of an enormous crisis for
:19:49. > :19:52.Welsh rugby. The regions and the union at loggerheads. They did meet
:19:53. > :19:56.here on Wednesday night, positive discussions according to the union,
:19:57. > :20:00.but the supporters noted that they were not being listened to. Today it
:20:01. > :20:05.has been announced that they will meet up with the union on Monday. It
:20:06. > :20:09.is that old cliche that the ones who suffer most are the supporters. At
:20:10. > :20:11.least they will get their bonuses heard on Monday.
:20:12. > :20:16.And there's plenty more on the current crisis facing Welsh rugby in
:20:17. > :20:19.Sport Wales tonight. It's on straight after Wales Today on BBC
:20:20. > :20:22.Two Wales from 7.00pm Football, and Swansea will find out who they'll
:20:23. > :20:25.face in the Europa League play-offs on Monday.
:20:26. > :20:28.Michael Laudrup's side lost 1-0 against St Gallen, but still go
:20:29. > :20:31.through to the knock-out stages. Meanwhile, the pressure's on Cardiff
:20:32. > :20:38.City, who take on West Brom tomorrow. Kate Morgan reports.
:20:39. > :20:41.After a bumpy ride to Switzerland that included fog, technical
:20:42. > :20:44.problems and a seven hour delay, the Swans must have been hoping for a
:20:45. > :20:49.smoother journey into the Europa League play-offs. And while the
:20:50. > :20:52.Swans seemed comfortable, it was St Gallen who had the most chances,
:20:53. > :20:57.with Marco Mathisse finally putting the home side ahead with ten minutes
:20:58. > :21:01.to go. But the Swans' luck took a turn. Group rivals Kuban Krasnodar
:21:02. > :21:05.could only manage a 1-1 draw in Valencia, sending the Swans to the
:21:06. > :21:10.play-offs after a 1-0 defeat. They find out who they'll play on Monday.
:21:11. > :21:16.But there's no rest over the weekend. Currently in 10th place in
:21:17. > :21:20.the Premier League table, they travel to Norwich on Sunday. Things
:21:21. > :21:23.are less rosy for Cardiff City. They're in 16th place, just above
:21:24. > :21:27.the relegation zone and without a win in five games. There could be
:21:28. > :21:30.some good news. Craig Bellamy will undergo a fitness test in the
:21:31. > :21:46.morning ahead of playing West Brom at home, which manager Malky Mackay
:21:47. > :21:49.hopes will change their fortunes. We have got three of the next four at
:21:50. > :21:53.home so we go into that with optimism. In League Two, eighth
:21:54. > :21:56.place Newport travel to Fratton Park looking for a win over Portsmouth.
:21:57. > :21:59.Wrexham, meanwhile, continue their defence of their FA Trophy title
:22:00. > :22:04.tomorrow away to Luton Town. Great news for Welsh driver Elfyn
:22:05. > :22:08.Evans. He's earned the rally equivalent of a Formula One spot.
:22:09. > :22:12.The 24-year-old from Dolgellau says it's a fantastic feeling. He'll race
:22:13. > :22:17.for the M-Sport team in the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship.
:22:18. > :22:20.In 2007, a huge medieval wall painting of St George and the Dragon
:22:21. > :22:24.was discovered by chance in small church in the Vale of Glamorgan.
:22:25. > :22:30.Since then, restoration work has revealed a host of treasures.
:22:31. > :22:34.They include a fesco of the seven deadly sins and an elaborate altar
:22:35. > :22:37.from the early 1500s. After years of conservation work, these rare finds
:22:38. > :22:43.have finally been unveiled to the public, as Carwyn Jones now reports.
:22:44. > :22:47.Hidden in a small valley near the banks of the River Severn stands the
:22:48. > :22:51.country church of St Cadoc's in Llancarfan. For centuries, this
:22:52. > :22:55.humble building has been hiding some of the most unique medieval
:22:56. > :22:59.treasures in Wales. Building work six years ago revealed part of a
:23:00. > :23:04.painting, concealed by 27 layers of limewash. That turned out to be a
:23:05. > :23:09.fresco of St George and the Dragon dating back to around 1485. Next to
:23:10. > :23:13.that, a medieval take on the seven deadly sins. They're among the best
:23:14. > :23:24.preserved wall paintings from this period anywhere in Wales. Over the
:23:25. > :23:30.last six years we have been rediscovering St George and the
:23:31. > :23:34.Dragon painted out in around 1548 and lost for all those centuries but
:23:35. > :23:38.now rediscovered. It's taken years of steady, delicate restoration work
:23:39. > :23:41.to expose these paintings. But they weren't the only medieval relics
:23:42. > :23:43.that were being uncovered. Conservators also brought to life
:23:44. > :23:48.this elaborate altar screen which was created in 1510. Despite its
:23:49. > :23:51.ruinous condition, it still had its original paintwork. That's now been
:23:52. > :24:02.revealed, but one mystery still remains. This ornate medieval
:24:03. > :24:07.treasure is somewhat out of place and the question is, how did it get
:24:08. > :24:10.here? One possible explanation is that it was moved from an abbey or
:24:11. > :24:14.cathedral during the reign of King Henry VIII when he dissolved the
:24:15. > :24:18.monasteries. To everyone's surprise, St Cadoc's has become an artistic
:24:19. > :24:21.treasure trove. Parishioners hope that could lead to more visitors
:24:22. > :24:26.coming through the doors and reaching into their pockets. A small
:24:27. > :24:31.village, a big church, it does get cold. Hopefully, with these visitors
:24:32. > :24:35.coming to see the paintings, will warm us up a bit. It's taken six
:24:36. > :24:39.years and ?500,000 of funding to reveal the church's medieval past.
:24:40. > :24:42.But that's not quite the end of the story. Conservators believe there
:24:43. > :24:46.are even more paintings hidden behind the limewash on this wall and
:24:47. > :24:51.next year they'll be back to uncover more of St Cadoc's hidden history.
:24:52. > :24:54.The weather now. Derek, a wet weekend ahead?
:24:55. > :25:00.Very changeable. I can promise some dry weather and sunshine this
:25:01. > :25:05.weekend but there is more rain on the way. Strong winds and gales as
:25:06. > :25:09.well. Saturday will be the windiest day and there is a Met Office yellow
:25:10. > :25:13.warning in force for Anglesey tomorrow, where gusts of 60mph to
:25:14. > :25:16.70mph are likely. It has been very mild recently. Yesterday,
:25:17. > :25:21.Llanfairfechan on the north coast hit 17 Celsius. Not quite a record
:25:22. > :25:26.for December but about ten degrees above average. Tonight, colder and
:25:27. > :25:31.clearer. Scattered showers this evening. The whole country dry after
:25:32. > :25:35.midnight. Temperatures inland falling as low as two Celsius with a
:25:36. > :25:40.ground frost. Milder on the coast with freshening winds in the west.
:25:41. > :25:44.Tomorrow's chart shows a deep low moving towards Scotland. These
:25:45. > :25:47.fronts are heading our way and notice the isobars - they're close
:25:48. > :25:51.together and that means stronger winds. Here's the picture for 8.00am
:25:52. > :25:55.in the morning. Nice and dry for a jog in the park or taking the dog
:25:56. > :25:59.for a walk. The wind light in the east but that will change. Gale
:26:00. > :26:02.force winds in the northwest and on Anglesey. Later in the morning, rain
:26:03. > :26:06.will reach the north and west. This will spread across the rest of the
:26:07. > :26:09.country during the afternoon. The rain heaviest in Snowdonia and on
:26:10. > :26:13.the Brecon Beacons where 40mm is likely. The rain accompanied by
:26:14. > :26:22.strong to gale force winds. Gusts of 60mph to 70mph on Anglesey.
:26:23. > :26:26.Elsewhere, 45mph to 60mph. Heavy rain on the Cambrian Mountains with
:26:27. > :26:29.gales. The high in Lampeter around ten Celsius. So, a wet start
:26:30. > :26:32.tomorrow evening but overnight the rain will clear. The wind easing as
:26:33. > :26:37.well with temperatures staying above freezing. Sunday morning will be dry
:26:38. > :26:41.and bright. Some sunshine but further rain or showers are expected
:26:42. > :26:45.in the afternoon. The wind increasing as well, becoming fresh
:26:46. > :26:50.to strong. Next week, very up and down. Wet and windy at times. Some
:26:51. > :27:02.clearer, colder weather as well with a few showers. Tuesday one of the
:27:03. > :27:03.better days with some sunshine. Tomorrow we'll start right but there
:27:04. > :27:10.is more rain on the way. The headlines again from the BBC.
:27:11. > :27:13.Concern is growing for hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees forced
:27:14. > :27:21.to endure freezing temperatures with no more than tents for shelter.
:27:22. > :27:25.Two former chemical firms in Flintshire have been fined ?120,000
:27:26. > :27:27.after a poisonous gas leak caused staff to fall ill. Archimica
:27:28. > :27:33.Chemicals and Euticals Limited admitted a total of eight health and
:27:34. > :27:38.safety charges. There's an update at 8.00pm and more
:27:39. > :27:41.from Wales Today at 10.25pm. From all of us here, have a good evening.