Youngsters' suicides 'not linked'

Philip Walters, coroner for Bridgend and the Glamorgan valleys, said he is concerned about young suicides, and wants an all-Wales strategy created to deal with the problem, but does not believe the recent deaths in the Bridgend area are connected.

Madeleine Moon, Labour MP for Bridgend, held a Commons debate on suicide prevention on Thursday.

Speaking after opening an inquest into the death of 18-year-old Angeline Rani Fuller, the latest young person to die in the county of Bridgend, Mr Walters said: "I'm of the mind that there is no commonality between these deaths, and preliminary investigations say the same.

"I'm glad Madeleine Moon has done what she has, and taken this issue on board. I feel it should be an all-Wales thing. The most important thing is that they get it right, and if that takes a bit longer than some people might like, then so be it."

The inquest heard that Miss Fuller, known as Angie, was from Much Wenlock, Shropshire, but had been living with fiance Joel Williams in Commercial Street, Nantymoel, South Wales, for the past three or four months.

Detective Inspector Jason Redrup, of Bridgend CID, told the inquest at All Hallows Church hall in Miskin, South Wales, that Miss Fuller, Mr Williams and two friends had been drinking on Sunday afternoon and evening. He said "quite a lot" of alcohol was drunk by them all.

The inquest heard Mr Williams went to sleep in his bedroom, and the two friends went home, leaving shop assistant Miss Fuller alone. When he awoke at 1am on Monday, he was unable to get out of his room.

DI Redrup said Mr Williams "became concerned" and smashed the bedroom door, only to find his girlfriend's body hanging on the landing. He called paramedics but they could not revive her.

Mr Walters said a post-mortem examination had been carried out, and that the pathologist's findings are in keeping with hanging. He added: "There is no physical evidence of third party involvement."