AN EBBW Vale man continues to have vivid nightmares more than four years after a crash that killed his daughter, a court heard yesterday.
Cardiff Civil Justice Court heard from psychiatrist Doctor David Thomas, who said Terry Jones, 61, of Queensway, Garnlydan, will “never get over”
the crash in which his daughter Louise, 16, and three other girls died in November 2006.
Mr Jones is suing Craig Ramshaw, who was driving the car in which Louise, Katie Roberts and Danielle Caswell, both 15, and 16-year-old Kayleigh Parry all died.
Mr Jones is suing for personal injury and loss as a secondary victim in the incident. If his case is successful, the driver’s insurance company would pay any compensation.
Dr Thomas said Mr Jones has vivid nightmares about the crash scene and the identification of Louise’s body at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil.
He added that the events surrounding his daughter’s death have led to Mr Jones suffering post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Nigel Lewis, representing Mr Ramshaw, argued that Mr Jones’ symptoms resulted from the “grief and sorrow” of losing his daughter.
Mr Lewis said a trait of PTSD is avoiding issues that trigger painful memories, adding: “Mr Jones is writing a book and is involved in a campaign to create one police force for the whole of Wales and has made complaints against Gwent Police.
“Don’t these pursuits demonstrate the opposite of avoidance?”
He also said keeping Louise’s ashes, her room as it was and speaking to photos of her suggest a deep sense of loss, not PTSD.
Psychiatrist Doctor Ahmed Elassra, who assessed Mr Jones for the defence, said Mr Jones’ wife identified their daughter’s body and Mr Jones didn’t see the actual crash scene himself, so he wasn’t exposed to the “horrific images” that cause PTSD.
But, Mr Jones’ barrister Bernard Powell said his experiences of the crash were enough to trigger PTSD.
Judge Anthony Seys Llewellyn said a written judgement on the case will be given in around five weeks’ time.
source: southwalesargus.co.uk
Wales Personal Injury
