In late April of this year this website plus numerous others made a direct complaint to South Wales Police regards a tweet which was sent by a Cardiff City fan regards the death of Terry Coles. He died in May 2000 at Rotherham before a football match between Rotherham United and Swansea City.

The back story is Terry was trampled by a police horse and died as a result of his injuries outside the ground before the game. Without going into the investigation then and the subsequent inquiries which pretty much cleared South Yorkshire Police, one officer got words of advice. Terry died in a small alleyway where the police tactic of deploying horses in such a highly populated and small area led to him losing his life.

The tweet offence which shocked many was committed by Harri Ryan an ‘adult’ in his twenties, a person local to Church Village, we will withhold his personal details for now. Due to the law as it stands we will also not reproduce the tweet but offer explanations.

The original story reported on here is below.

That’s here —> ⚽️ Harri Ryan cowardly tweet

Ryan, contacted us when the initial tweet was reported on this website.

On the day in April when horses broke free and ran through the streets of London Ryan tweeted, ‘I hope Terry Cole’s isn’t in London today’ A check of his online presence revealed numerous tragic references to Terry Coles and the death of Swansea player Alan Davies.

We provided the police with sufficient evidence to arrest and interview and to gain access to his technical data. We even supplied them with his written admission. The initial response was ‘We will call round and give him a warning’ That officer was a Cardiff City supporter. It then travelled to another local officer, a PCSO ! then to South Wales Police complaints. From there it was bounced to another officer who said he would manage it in the proper way. He was never heard from again. Then to another officer and his sergeant after we contacted the police to request action. They did nothing. The final investigating officer offered a community resolution and victim impact course which we and the other complainants reluctantly agreed to. That was two months ago and he hasn’t been heard from again. The final officer, who immediately stated the police had totally mismanaged the investigation and due to statutory time limits meant they couldn’t arrest gave those informed a shoulder shrugging opinion.

In amongst all this the Cardiff City football liaison officer for South Wales Police was informed, and at no point did he contact any of the complainants. Cardiff City were prepared to ban Ryan, but wanted to see the eventual outcome. They still have that option.

This over six months. And there is very simple legislation to deal with people like Ryan.

Ryan attended a voluntary attendance interview and answered no comment to all questions asked, and refused to hand over his phone. Due to the way the investigation had been mishandled, the fact he wasn’t arrested when he should have been the police sergeant of the day decided to close the file as ‘no further action’

But of course those that know us will confirm we never take ‘no further action’

There, thats how South Wales Police manage people who directly target dead people, their families and their friends with tweets referring to a tragic death. He also did the same with a picture of a horse and a gas mask referencing the death of Swansea City player Alan Davies. All we have received from South Wales Police is an incompetent service, a lack of knowledge regards the law and generally officers looking to ‘cuff’ this investigation for a variety of reasons. It’s incompetence at the highest of levels. The officers involved should be ashamed of themselves. And we will name each and every one of them once the complaint is finalised.

As for Ryan, he is a product of a culture that thinks it is okay to do what he did, to cowardly not admit nor apologise when faced with the police. To hide behind his family like a small boy who is yet to learn that every action comes with a consequence. We will not let this go, and will most certainly be pursuing this individual in civil court to gain a conviction for his pathetic belief he can get away with this. He won’t. This is just the start.

* Other files for reference.

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Photographs: Open Source

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