New inquiry into 2002 sea death

Rory Ryan visited several pubs along the sea front at Mumbles

Police are reviewing the drowning of a man off the Welsh coast two years ago after his family raised questions about events surrounding his death.

Rory Ryan, aged 30, from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley, died off Mumbles, Swansea, on Sunday, 11 August, 2002.

A rescue operation was launched after he was seen to disappear in the sea.

Mr Ryan had earlier visited several pubs in Mumbles and police are keen to trace a group of young people who were in the Famous Bear pub.

Police officers would like to appeal to these five people who were at the Famous Bear at the relevant time to come forward and speak about what they had seen or heard South Wales Police

The review of the case has been ordered by the chief constable of South Wales, Barbara Wilding, following representations by the solicitor acting for Mr Ryan's family.

An inquest into his death has yet to be held.

Officers have now made a fresh appeal for information and are particularly keen to speak to the group of young people who were in the Famous Bear at the same time as Mr Ryan.

Dancing

They are believed to be two women and three men, all in their 20s, and entered the pub around 1730 BST.

It is thought Mr Ryan, and another man, Gareth Isherwood, joined them, having visited other pubs along the sea front, including the Nags Head, the White Rose, Village Inn and Antelope.

A police spokesman said: "During the next hour or so one of the two men took off his top and was dancing around the bar and on a table.

Following representations made by the family through their solicitor, where they raised certain queries, the chief constable has decided to take a review into the case Superintendent Paul Edmunds

"At about 1900 BST the initial group of five people left the Famous Bear and were seen getting into a small car."

They drove off in the direction of Swansea.

"It was shortly after they left that Rory Ryan left the public house, entered the sea and drowned," added the spokesman.

"Police officers would like to appeal to these five people who were at the Famous Bear at the relevant time to come forward and speak about what they had seen or heard immediately prior to this tragic death.

Community Shield

"In addition, officers would like to speak to any people who can remember seeing Rory and Gareth in any of the pubs."

The Sunday when Mr Ryan died was the day Arsenal and Liverpool played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the Community Shield.

Superintendent Paul Edmunds, of the South Wales Police professional standards department, said in a statement Mr Ryan's family still had questions about his death.

He said: "Following representations made by the family through their solicitor, where they raised certain queries, the chief constable has decided to take a review into the case prior to the inquest."

Anyone with information is asked to phone [phone] between 0800BST and 1700BST Monday to Friday or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.