Historic allegations on Caldey Island off Tenby are explored in a new BBC Sounds podcast.

‘Dark Island’ explores a series of disturbing events within the close-knit community of monks living on an island off the Pembrokeshire coast.

Caldey Island is home to a community of monks and is a popular destination for visitors and day-trippers.

The series is presented by investigative journalist India Pollock, nine years after she first reported on the story for the BBC.
The series is presented by investigative journalist India Pollock, nine years after she first reported on the story for the BBC. (BBC)

Dark Island, a new eight-part podcast reveals how the complex and disturbing secrets that lie beneath its tranquil image were uncovered.

The series is presented by investigative journalist India Pollock, nine years after she first reported on the story for the BBC.

Since then, she has continued searching for answers as to why a series of allegations of sexual abuse and assault involving monk Father Thaddeus Kotik went unreported to the police; how one of Crimestoppers' Most Wanted, Paul Ashton, was able to evade capture while living on the island for several years; and the other unsettling stories buried in the sand of the island's past.

Caldey Island is home to a community of monks and is a popular destination for visitors and day-trippers.
Caldey Island is home to a community of monks and is a popular destination for visitors and day-trippers. (BBC)

Following a trail of testimony, documents and unanswered questions, India uncovers a story that stretches across decades. Through interviews with victims, former residents, visitors and experts, Dark Island examines themes of trust, power, and accountability.

India said: "We wanted to create a series that could give a voice to victims, to piece all the parts of the island’s history together – and give people who’ve never heard about what happened on Caldey a chance to hear the entire story. And crucially, to ask who is responsible for what happened there.

"There are new allegations, exclusive interviews, and details that haven’t been heard before.

"Having worked on many stories and investigations over my 20 years as a journalist, the story of Caldey Island was one that still felt unresolved. The podcast was the perfect place to pull at the remaining threads and to find answers to those lingering questions."

Dark Island is a BBC Radio Wales commission, created, written and presented by India Pollock
Dark Island is a BBC Radio Wales commission, created, written and presented by India Pollock (BBC)

Dark Island is a BBC Radio Wales commission, created, written and presented by India Pollock, produced by Jenny Johnson and Siân Elin Dafydd, and executive produced by Gabriella O’Donnell. The commissioning editor for BBC Radio Wales is Bridget Curnow.

All eight episodes are available to listen to now on BBC Sounds.