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Cwmbran fire deaths: Great-grandmother talks of 'nightmare' a year on | Cwmbran fire deaths: Great-grandmother talks of 'nightmare' a year on |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman whose daughter, granddaughter and baby great-granddaughter were murdered in a house fire a year ago has spoken of the "nightmare that keeps rehashing itself." | A woman whose daughter, granddaughter and baby great-granddaughter were murdered in a house fire a year ago has spoken of the "nightmare that keeps rehashing itself." |
Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and six-month-old granddaughter Kimberley died on the Coed Eva estate in Cwmbran, Torfaen, last September. | Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and six-month-old granddaughter Kimberley died on the Coed Eva estate in Cwmbran, Torfaen, last September. |
Gwyneth Swain said she could not get over the tragedy. | Gwyneth Swain said she could not get over the tragedy. |
Trees were planted at a memorial service held near the scene. | |
The house was demolished following the fire in September 2012, which was started by Kayleigh's jealous boyfriend Carl Mills. | The house was demolished following the fire in September 2012, which was started by Kayleigh's jealous boyfriend Carl Mills. |
Mrs Swain, Mrs Buckley's son and her partner each planted a tree at the site. | |
There are also plans to have a permanent memorial garden there. | There are also plans to have a permanent memorial garden there. |
The proposals have been drawn up after consultations with the family and local community, and will go ahead at a later date subject to planning permission. | The proposals have been drawn up after consultations with the family and local community, and will go ahead at a later date subject to planning permission. |
Mills, 28, Kimberley's father, was jailed for a minimum of 30 years in July after being convicted of their murders. | Mills, 28, Kimberley's father, was jailed for a minimum of 30 years in July after being convicted of their murders. |
The court heard he started the fire in a recycling bin in the porch at the house the night after baby Kimberley came home from hospital for the first time after being born prematurely. | The court heard he started the fire in a recycling bin in the porch at the house the night after baby Kimberley came home from hospital for the first time after being born prematurely. |
The judge told Mills, described as "incredibly controlling and jealous", that he had condemned the family to an "agonising death" and had shown no remorse. | The judge told Mills, described as "incredibly controlling and jealous", that he had condemned the family to an "agonising death" and had shown no remorse. |
Kim Buckley's mother, Gwyneth Swain, said the police warned the family Mills was "grooming" Kayleigh and Kim Buckley tried "everything" to keep the pair apart. | Kim Buckley's mother, Gwyneth Swain, said the police warned the family Mills was "grooming" Kayleigh and Kim Buckley tried "everything" to keep the pair apart. |
Mrs Swain said the court case was "traumatic" and revealed details she was not aware of. | Mrs Swain said the court case was "traumatic" and revealed details she was not aware of. |
"My daughter was screaming. I didn't know that; I thought she had just gone to sleep," she told BBC Wales. | "My daughter was screaming. I didn't know that; I thought she had just gone to sleep," she told BBC Wales. |
"It was very traumatic." | "It was very traumatic." |
Mrs Swain referred to Mills as "that thing" who took pleasure in seeing the grief-stricken family upset during the trial. | Mrs Swain referred to Mills as "that thing" who took pleasure in seeing the grief-stricken family upset during the trial. |
She said the garden of remembrance would give a degree of comfort but added: "It's something we're not going to get over. | She said the garden of remembrance would give a degree of comfort but added: "It's something we're not going to get over. |
"Up until the court case we had something to focus on all the time, like the funeral, putting the ashes in, then we had a party for Kim - what would've been Kim's birthday - we always had something, then there was the trial. | "Up until the court case we had something to focus on all the time, like the funeral, putting the ashes in, then we had a party for Kim - what would've been Kim's birthday - we always had something, then there was the trial. |
"Now we've got nothing - that's it, there's nothing. | "Now we've got nothing - that's it, there's nothing. |
"It's devastating now reality is kicking in. It's definite. It's like a nightmare at the moment that keeps rehashing itself." | "It's devastating now reality is kicking in. It's definite. It's like a nightmare at the moment that keeps rehashing itself." |
She has also spoken of the tragedy which had touched her daughter's life previously, losing one twin son Leigh Harris to illness shortly after birth, and then a younger son David in a carbon monoxide poisoning incident which left her remaining twin son Shaun with brain damage. | She has also spoken of the tragedy which had touched her daughter's life previously, losing one twin son Leigh Harris to illness shortly after birth, and then a younger son David in a carbon monoxide poisoning incident which left her remaining twin son Shaun with brain damage. |
Mrs Swain now cares for Shaun, who she said was struggling to understand the loss of his mother, sister and niece. | |
'Darkest hour' | |
The memorial service was organised by the housing association which managed the house the Buckley family lived in. | |
Mrs Swain, Shaun Harris, and Mrs Buckley's partner Dai Parker each planted a tree in memory of the three victims. | |
Father Robert Langton from the Cwmbran benefice blessed the trees and offered prayers for the family. | |
He said: "As the family come to terms with this terrible loss we hope the memorial garden will be a place of peace and healing in the future. | |
"What a lovely idea this is, to have a memorial garden somewhere where the family and the community can remember. | |
"We pray that these trees will be a beautiful reminder of Kim, Kayleigh and Kimberley. | |
"We hope today can provide strength for the family in future." | |
Coed Eva councillor Fiona Cross described the events as a "truly harrowing experience". | |
"In their darkest hour the community has pulled together when they need it most," she told the assembled crowd. | |
"They've raised a huge amount of money for the critical care unit at the Royal Gwent. This has touched Mrs Swain deeply." |