Doctor dies in honeymoon shooting

A newly married Welsh doctor has been killed and her husband critically injured after a shooting during their Caribbean honeymoon.

The Foreign Office confirmed that Catherine Mullany nee Bowen from the Pontardawe area died from her wounds after an incident on Antigua on Sunday.

Her husband Benjamin Mullany is said to be fighting for his life in hospital.

The Foreign Office said Antiguan police have begun an investigation and consular assistance is being provided.

Have just read the BBC news also, I'm sure everyones thoughts are with the families, also hope the husband survives.

We are going to Varadeo next year! I have not seen any other stories of late regarding this kind of thing over there so hopefully this is an islotaed instance, I like yourself will be watching this thread (and the news regarding the circumstances about this) to see what other fellow TA members have to say that have been there in the past.

Badger.

According to Antigua press the incident happened in their hotel room at Cocos Hotel - police treating it as 'robbery gone bad'. This is really sad. I have never felt unsafe in Antigua.

I've just read this on the BBC as well. This is awful. We are booked to go to this hotel in November. I'm slightly worried now :-(

Those poor people.

Antiguans are worried about increase in crime and the effect on tourism. I would not particularily worry about going to Antigua, but I don't think I would want to visit this particular hotel which is now just tainted.

I have to say I'm concerned that the cottages don't appear to be very secure. Might have to look elsewhere.

What a terrible thing to happen. I stayed in the area (Cocobay) earlier this year and didn't feel threatened at all, including hiring a car and touring the island.

Before I went I read reports of an increase in gun crime but it has been largely been amoungst the Antiguan population not directed against tourists.

Apparently Antigua, along with other Caribbean countries, faces more crime due to two factors. Firstly, shipment of Cocaine through the islands and Guyana to the markets in the rich west. This brings criminals and guns onto the island.

Secondly, the deportation of criminals from the US to their place of origin.

I have never heard or read of anything as shocking as this before. Those poor people.

Yes, I was under the impression that the increase in crime is linked directly to the drug trade, but obviously not in this case. Once the gun culture sets in it spreads to all directions. I just wish the UK did the same as the US do with deporting criminals.

I find it hard to express my sadness at reading this report. My heart goes out, not only to the family and friends of the victims, but to the staff and management of the hotel. This must be like a living nightmare.

I've stayed at Cocos several times. It was the informal layout of the individual cottages on the hillside which attracted me to the place (and Antigua). That now seems to have become the Achilles heel of the hotel, this being the second recent violent attack on guests in their room.

Having said that, I suppose that many villas and resorts, particularly those with individual cottages, must be vulnerable in the same way. I'm not sure why Cocos in particular has been singled out.

Must we really resort to barbed wire and armed guards in Antigua, as in other islands? What has the world come to?

Steve, that is what attracted us too - the individual cottages. Do you think it will be even safer now? I really want to go there still, but i am slightly concerned.

You mentioned another incident - was this at Cocos? What happened?

There was a disturbingly similar incident last year. Someone broke into one of the rooms during the night. The couple were beaten, but thankfully (if that's the right word) no guns were involved on that occasion.

I heard that after that, security was increased, but apparently not enough.

I don't know what can be done, other than turn hotels into fortresses. Then again, is there anywhere you can truly call safe?