Some Bridgend deaths linked to drink and drugs

ONE of 17 young people thought to have killed themselves in the same community in south Wales was plagued by the death of his best friend, an inquest heard yesterday.

Leigh Jenkins was found hanging four weeks after Allyn Price, who lived in the same street, died the same way.

Inquests were held yesterday into the deaths of five of the 17 young people thought to have taken their own lives in Bridgend since January last year.

Bridgend Coroner Philip Walters conducted hearings into the deaths of Mr Price and Mr Jenkins, as well as Jason Williams, Andrew O’Neil and Gareth Morgan.

Police have ruled out suicide pacts, and suggestions internet sites played a part have also been dismissed.

Mr Walters has said there is no evidence of a direct link between all the deaths.

At the outset of yesterday’s hearings in Brackla, he said:

“The only thing that I am happy to be placed on record as saying is that I hope these events in Bridgend, if they have done anything, they have been the catalyst to give us a national strategy covering the whole of Wales for young deaths.”

The Welsh assembly administration has said it is preparing a suicide prevention plan.

Mr Walters decided against a verdict of suicide in the death of Mr Price, 24, who was described as a “happy-go-lucky” son who was found hanging in the garage at his family home.

Pathologist Alan Rees said the amphetamine MDMA, cocaine and morphine were found during postmortem tests, which may have affected his mood or judgment.

Mr Jenkins’s inquest heard how he was extremely upset at the death of his friend, who lived just a few doors away in Salisbury Road, Maesteg.

The A narrative verdict was recorded after the coroner heared that Mr Jenkins was three times over the drink-drive limit and had illegal amphetamines in his system when he died.

Gareth Morgan, 27, of Heronstone Lane, Bridgend, sent his ex-girlfriend a text message the night before he was found hanged.

He and Leanne Stone had recently split up, and in a statement read on her behalf she told the court how he texted her about midnight on January 5. She did not see the message until 9.30am.

It read: “I wish it never came to this but I will see you in the next life.”

A pathologist found that his blood-alcohol level was two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.

Recording his verdict, Mr Walters said: “Gareth has hanged himself under the influence of alcohol.”

Formal verdicts of suicide were recorded in just two cases — those of 20-year-old Andrew O’Neil and Jason Williams, 21.

The inquest into the death of Mr O’Neil, from Nantymoel, heard he had been frightened by threats he received over money, including one that he would be shot.

He was found hanging in an empty house in Nantymoel by his mother and sister last September.

At end of the final hearing, Mr Walters extended his sympathy to Mr Morgan’s family, saying: “I really hope that you will find a way to get over it.”