I've been a very occasional lurker for a long time. This case finally prompted me to make an account. I lived in Logan's home town for several years and though I moved away, I didn't go very far.
I want to make it clear that I don't know anyone involved in this case at all. I also don't know anything about the case that isn't reported in MSM. Not for sure, and I wouldn't repeat anything anyway. Court orders are serious.
Anyway, I just wanted to share some thoughts I've had.
People have talked about lack of provision for disturbed/criminal children. There is a secure unit (Hillside, Neath) about twenty miles away which houses children convicted of serious crimes, and IIRC, children with extremely challenging behaviour who have no convictions. Local rumour had it that a high profile child offender was kept there. There are also children's homes specifically for foster kids with challenging behaviour (and those who frequently run away, exposing them to significant risk). I know this because teen me was constantly threatened with them by my social worker/foster carers. When I was a teen it was a locked unit.
Speaking as someone who was in the care system, from my own experiences and that of my fostered peers, I feel like when one parent is exceptionally abusive or neglectful, there's a tendency to put the good or less overtly bad parent on a pedestal. When a parent doesn't love you, you grow up feeling inherently unlovable so perhaps it's about the need to be loved. By someone, anyone. It is quite often almost desperate. When I was in care, I used to spend my pocket money on buying things for my parents. I guess I was trying to buy their love. I have no idea whether this is a recognised phenomenon or just anecdotal, but I've seen it happen far more than coincidence could explain. I wonder whether this is relevant within this family dynamic at all.
I get the impression Angharad's seizures were not epilepsy, having read between the lines when professionals referred to it. Would a trained nurse (the health visitor) really refer to seizures as 'convulsions'? Furthermore, according to history given, A started having 'convulsions' prior to the arrival of the new baby. I'm not saying that women with epilepsy can't be pregnant or have healthy pregnancies, but even mild occasional seizures can pose a risk to the unborn child, and the majority of anticonvulsant carry significant risk of birth defects to the unborn child. In addition, according to A&J, A's epilepsy is extremely severe and uncontrolled, to the extent that she had several 'convulsions' in a very short space of time. And yet, no professional was concerned about how this would impact upon her ability to parent two small children alone (according to neighbour, J was rarely present)? Hmm.
Anyone who's ever been around someone who has large seizures will be familiar with the post ictal state. For some time after the seizure is over, people tend to behave in ways that are not usual for them Disorientated, confused, exhausted, not very lucid, even combative. Yet in transcripts it seems like she's completely normal- even after several seizures within a short time space
If you look into it, I think it's very telling that these seizures happen when she's told Logan has died, when she's arrested etc. Heaven forfend that the news of Logan's death be about Logan. It's all about her and how things affect her. The fact she lobbed it into conversation apropos of nothing. Is it relevant? Is it necessary? Is it normal? No.
TL
R, it very much seems to be the Angharad show. I will be interested to read the results of her mental health evaluation if she has one. It is my layperson suspicion that these 'convulsions' are psychogenic at best, fake and attention seeking at worst. To reiterate, I am not a trained medic and therefore not trying to diagnose her with anything. Nevertheless the testimonies of professionals working with the family seem to show a consistent pattern of red flags in terms of potential mental illness or personality disorder.
I'm sorry, I waffled. This case is really disturbing on so many levels and I've been desperate to talk to someone. If anyone has any questions about the local area or foster care system I would be happy to answer.
If I were someone given to praying, I would constantly pray that this beautiful little boy gets justice. Over and above that, I think the boy in particular poses a risk to others and his behaviour is escalating. He needs to go to prison. If not forever, then for as long as it takes for him to no longer provide a risk. I hope he gets therapy- for however long it takes
