A year to remember 2006.

Byline: By Dan O'Neill South Wales Echo 

Welcome to a New Year packed with political scandal, problems on and off the rugby field, and a knighthood for a boy from Pontypridd.

But celebrations were overshadowed by the anguish of three Welsh families who all suffered unimaginable loss.

Her dream for the New Year was 'to dance on a beach'. Instead, 21-year-old Cardiff student Katherine Horton died on that dream beach in Thailand, attacked by two fishermen as she phoned New Year's greetings to her Thornhill home. It is impossible to imagine the feelings of her horrified, helpless mother Elizabeth and it was little consolation when the killers were sentenced to death.

Nightmare, too, for a mother whose three-year-old daughter was snatched from her Llanrumney home, in Cardiff, rescued only when the kidnapper's car crashed in Swindon after a police chase ending in the arrest of a 26-year-old man.

A car crash on an icy North Wales road ended in tragedy when the driver killed four members of the Rhyl Cycling Club. Among them, 14-year-old Thomas Harland, who died in front of his helpless father Jon.

But a bright new year for the Boy from Ponty, knighted for 'services to music'.

No Happy New Year for the Lib Dems. 'I resign,' said bibulous boss Charles Kennedy after confessing to 'a drink problem'. 'I quit,' said leadership contender Mark Oaten, after admitting an affair with a rent boy. 'And I too have had gay affairs,' said another leadership challenger Simon Hughes, finally coming out of a long-suspected closet.

The Labour sniggers stopped, however, when Two Jags Prescott was caught out over non-payment of pounds 7,000 community charge on his posh grace and favour apartment in Admiralty House.

But for real shock, what about the 11-year-old girl who collapsed in her Glasgow classroom after smoking heroin bought at a shopping centre? Meanwhile the country was divided over Anne Turner, a 67-year-old retired doctor from Bath who died in a Swiss 'assisted suicide clinic' in protest at Britain's 'outdated euthanasia laws'.

But millions more wondered just how the holder of a winning lottery ticket worth pounds 9.4m apparently forgot all about it - and let it go to the Good Causes Fund.

For Wales there was a ominous feeling of deja vu when the families of 13 West Virginia miners became trapped underground. And we all shared the relief when church bells ring, and politicians proclaimed a miracle when news filtered through that the men had survived. However, the relief soon turned to disbelief when it was eventually revealed that only one had survived.

The mine owners had kept people's hopes alive. But what hope in Iraq where the year began with 230 deaths in a single day, among them the 100th British soldier killed. We expected it in that sad country, but not the 100 killed when the snow-covered roof of an exhibition centre collapses in Poland, killing 100. Nor the 350 Muslim pilgrims stampeded to death during a ceremony in Mecca. While Japan's heaviest snowfalls in memory killed hundreds.

But a single death shocks most. He was 76, blind and deaf, and he suffered a heart attack. But Ray Clarence Allen was resuscitated - so that he could be executed after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger refused clemency.

Yet, to no-one's surprise, a soap death is a bigger tabloid tale.Out of EastEnders goes pin-up Dennis, stabbed in the Square on New Year's Eve. A happier new year for the Arctic Monkeys, whose debut album sells more than 100,000 in a day. And for Sharon Osborne, her book Extreme broke records with 621,000 sold. And Canada recognised Posh Spice - by printing her face on its toilet paper.

No, history doesn't repeat itself. So disappointment for the 7,000 Bluebird fans at Highbury, remembering that day in 1927 when we beat the mighty Gunners for the Cup. This time, a 2-1 defeat.

No win for Sven, either, stitched up by an 'Arab Sheikh' who wanted to buy Aston Villa and install him as boss. This News of the World sting ended with the FA announcing that Sven leaves after the World Cup.

Sport said farewell to England rugby great Maurice Colclough, 52, and former sports minister Tony Banks, 62. Showbiz lost actress Shelley Winters, 85, soul singer Wilson Pickett, 65, and comic Henry McGee, 76. Also, Lord Merlyn-Rees, 85, and Coretta, widow of Martin Luther King, 78. Plans to close 22 Cardiff schools faced with too few pupils were binned after massive protests. But another local story made world headlines: American singer Gene Pitney is found dead in his Cardiff hotel the morning after a sell-out concert at St David's Hall. 'The 65-year-old superstar passed peacefully away in his sleep,' said his manager.

At 17, Ben Bellamy had everything to live for. But after being brutally beaten and robbed, the Swansea sixth-former was dumped into the sea to die. Joel Taylor and Andrew Rafferty, both 18, were convicted of murder and sentenced to get life. Josh Thomas, 16, was convicted of manslaughter.

She was just a schoolgirl. But for two years she was sexually abused by 10 paedophiles on local beaches around Abergele. They were jailed for a total of 40 years, while 52-year-old Frederick Lawlor who 'pimped out' the girl got 15 years for his 'unspeakable evil'.

Peter Law, the Labour rebel who recovered from a brain tumour to run as an Independent in the 2005 election and overturn a 20,000 majority, in Ebbw Vale, died of cancer. He was 58. And medical history was made when 12-year-old Hannah Clarke, of Mountain Ash, underwent a landmark operation to remove her donor heart as her own heart is brought back to life. Hannah was two when she was given a new heart to work alongside her own and when it was finally rejected, her own heart was reconnected by the great surgeon Magdi Yacoub, out of retirement for the operation.

Sir Tasker Watkins VC became the 61st Freeman of Cardiff at the age of 87. A long overdue honour, many felt.

For Tony Blair April really was the cruellest month. John Prescott was caught dallying with his secretary while Home Secretary Charles Clarke was not, um, sure how many of the 1,023 foreign offenders, including murderers and rapists, released into the community without deportation orders have been tracked down. And Blair's Iraq policy was highlighted when RAF doctor Malcolm Kendall-Smith was jailed for eight months for refusing to serve in a 'morally wrong war'.

What terrible despair made Alison Davies, 40, lead her 12-year-old autistic son Ryan to his death? The couple jumped 100ft from Hull's Humber Bridge. A note left by Alison said she felt she was 'a bad mum and a burden'.

'We killed him because he cried,' said an Italian newspaper headline that made thousands more cry. For after a month-long search the tiny body of Tommaso Onofri was found in a field near Rome. The Pope and Italy's Prime Minister had appealed for his release before two kidnappers confessed they panicked when 18-month-old Tommaso wouldn't stop crying. 'We strangled him and beat him with a shovel,' they said. The response: 'Bring back the death penalty.'

And in Sicily, Mafia Godfather Bernardo Provenzano was captured after an incredible 47 years on the run. The 73-year-old was found in Corleone, the town which gave its name to Brando's Godfather.

Hundreds died when mosques in Baghdad and Pakistan were blown up by rival sects, bombers kill 30 in Egypt and British workers were among those killed by Israeli soldiers after a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

A collective lump in the throats of 12 million viewers when Corrie's Mike Baldwin died in the arms of old enemy Ken Barlow, exit for actor Johnny Briggs after 30 years. And farewell to ex-Echo journalist Sue Lawley after 19 years hosting Desert Island Discs. But hello to Suri, child of Tom Cruise and partner Katie Holmes, who denied she was gagged to keep Scientology rule of silence during childbirth.

Llanelli's Gareth Jenkins was appointed Wales rugby coach after 2004's snub. Egg on some WRU faces.

And on Lee Trundle's face. The Scouse striker celebrated Swansea's League Cup 2-1 win over Carlisle by prancing round the pitch in a shirt showing a Swansea player piddling over a Bluebird. Trundle and Alan Tate were cautioned by police.

Wayne Rooney won pounds 100,000 damages from the Sun over claims he slapped Colleen then broke a metatarsal, putting World Cup hopes in doubt.

Glamorgan's Simon Jones made cricket's Top Five of the year, Flintoff was International Cricketer of the Year. We said farewell to Grandstand after 48 years. And to the Wales National Ice Rink.

Wales rugby great Ken Jones, 85, soccer's John Lyall, 66, and Brian Labone, 60, Dame Muriel Spark, 88, and IRA double agent Denis Donaldson, 56. Did he jump? Or was he pushed? Whatever, Wales rugby coach Mike Ruddock went and captain Gareth Thomas, accused of leading a players' plot to oust the Grand Slam-winning guru, suffered a ruptured artery during an overwrought appearance on TV to defend himself. Predictable howls for the heads of incompetent WRU bosses could be heard.

Ah well, it's only a game. More significant was cancer victim Jayne Sullivan's vigil at the National Assembly, ending when members agreed to funds for the drug Herceptin for early stage breast cancer sufferers. No joy, though, for Cardiff brothers Gareth and Duncan Pearson. Their bid to row the Atlantic ended when their tiny boat Serenity Now was swamped. A tanker rescues them.

So murder and mayhem aren't confined to our screens. And the most brutal reminder came in Nottingham when the shooting of a 23-year-old policewoman brought calls for the return of the death penalty.

But there were plenty of hefty jail terms. Gangster Gary Nelson, 36, was given 35 years for the murder 12 years earlier of Pc Patrick Dunne. Damien Johnson, 25, was given 36 years for the killing of stockbroker John Monckton the previous November. And twins Robert and Jonathan Maskell were given nine years after celebrating their 18th birthday by killing their grandmother for her savings.

Sion Jenkins' prison ordeal came to an end, however, when he was released after being acquitted of the 1996 murder of his 13-year-old stepdaughter Billy-Jo. But there was Muslim outrage when preacher Abu Hamzam was jailed for seven years on race hate and terror charges, while BNP boss Nick Griffin is cleared of similar charges.

More religious protest when London Mayor Ken Livingstone is suspended from office for comparing a Jewish reporter to a concentration camp guard.

An awful month for Tony Blair as the Lib Dems - astonishingly in view of the scandals surrounding them - overturned an 11,000 Labour majority in the Dunfermline by-election.

Religious hatred? We couldn't get away from it as Muslims around the world rioted over Danish newspaper cartoons of their prophet. The usual suspects flourished BEHEAD THE INFIDELS banners at laughably- labelled 'peace marches' and at least 12 people died. Staff at Cardiff University Student paper Gair Rhydd were suspended for publishing the drawings.

Meanwhile, Muslims turned on each other in Iraq, hundreds dying as rival sects burned mosques, inflamed even more at films showing British squaddies beating up Iraqi teenagers.

It seemed impossible to escape death and desolation. There was heartbreak in the Philippines when mud-slides killed 1,800 villagers, 200 of them children, a reminder of our own Aberfan horror. It followed the deaths of 80 elderly women in the same country killed in a stampede while they waited to see a TV show.

After this, and the sinking of a Red Sea ferry which killed 1,000 people, it seemed light relief when US vice president Dick Cheney accidentally shot his 78-year-old quail-hunting mate. Who survived.

When Prince Charles told Dear Diary that Chinese leaders were 'appalling old waxworks' he never expected to find his thoughts splashed over a newspaper. He sued the Mail on Sunday but there was more embarrassment when Eton art teacher Sarah Forsyth picked up pounds 45,000 for unfair dismissal over claims she wrote Prince Harry's A-level course work. Oh yes, and Wills is filmed with a spliff.

While Kate Moss doubled her income despite claims she takes cocaine, her on-off squeeze Pete Docherty was sentenced to two weeks in jail for, yes, drug offences. It was reduced to a 12-month community order but then, hard to believe, he was found in a stolen car - with yet more drugs.

Meanwhile, the Stones played to 1.2 million in Brazil - their Copacabana Beach gig was the biggest ever rock concert. And music magazine Smash Hits folded after 28 years.

No chance of a Grand Slam repeat as Wales lose to England and Ireland. But Celts cheer as England are downed at Murrayfield in the '18-12 Overture'. Wayne Rooney's a big winner - on pounds 5m for a five book autobiography. Will Wayne write it himself? Could Wayne read it himself? And Andy Murray replaced Tiger Tim as British tennis' Number One.

From rugby, great Welsh wing Les Williams, 85, and Penarth RFC's lifelong servant, Kevin Bush, 77. Gone, too, former England soccer boss Ron Greenwood, 84, and wrestling legend Jackie Pallo, 80. From showbiz it was Grandpa Munster, Al Lewis, 82, and ballet queen Moira Shearer, 80. Also, airline magnate Freddie Laker, 82. Did the Queen gently take the Michael when she turned up with Phillip, Charles and Camilla to open the National Assembly debating chamber? 'It is for you,' she told togged-up AMs, 'to ensure that in time this building is worthy of similar respect and affection as Westminster'. Respect? Affection? For Westminster?

And there was another little Welsh job for her when she made Tom Jones Sir Tom. And who can forget the look of terror on our troubadour's face when the Beverly Sisters, frightening visions in pink, moistly engulfed him as they waved their OBEs?

What an 83rd birthday present for Llanelli great-grampy Bob Bradley - a pounds 3.5m lottery win, 'enough to make my family's dreams come true'. And a million for six men who, when Cardiff prison warders, discovered 'cannibal killer' Jason Rickets with the dismembered body of his cellmate in April, 2000. 'Severe psychological injuries' and trauma earned the compensation.

Congrats to Cardiff's gay council leader Rodney Berman, who announced that he and journalist Nick Speed were to tie the knot in a civil partnership ceremony.

Plenty of nudge-nudge, wink-wink as Jack and Condy strolled the streets of Blackburn. And yes, our Foreign Secretary did look somewhat enamoured of his American opposite number Condoleezza Rice while showing her round his constituency. But just good friends. Like Tony and Gordon.

Tony's mind was on other things as revelations of the loans for peerages scandal surfaced and wouldn't go away. The PM, meanwhile, admitted he shouldn't have told us he was going away. But he still wouldn't tell Gordon when. No waiting, though, for Menzies Campbell, elected Lib Dems' new leader.

How many peerages for pounds 53m? That's how much disappeared with a security van in Warrington, which made it Britain's biggest ever robbery.

Because they believed she had betrayed their drug dealing, Mary-Ann Leneghan was kidnapped, raped, tortured and killed. A court in Reading gave her killers life - then learned that four of the five killers were already on probation. And it was 14 years for Chinese gang-master Lin Liangram for the manslaughter of 23 Chinese cockle-pickers drowned in Morecambe Bay last year.

It was straight out of the Sopranos, bizarre enough to make even the most cynical New Yorkers wonder what the hell was going on. Corruption's nothing new but long-serving detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappo were not simply taking money from the Mob. They actually carried out killings and kidnappings for the Mafia.

Killings and kidnappings as usual in Iraq where hundreds were killed, 85 were executed in a single day and many more were found beheaded. All this as US soldiers are accused of random shootings of civilians including children.

Despite the carnage, 74-year-old anti-war protester Norman Kember was freed after months in captivity. But fellow prisoner Tom Fox was executed. Because he was an American?

A lucky escape for an Afghan facing execution because he converted to Christianity. After world-wide protest he was released. 'Because he's obviously mad,' say the mullahs.

It was billed as a paedophile's paradise where anything goes. But not for Gary Glitter, who was given three years for the abuse of young girls.

Meanwhile, foghorn-voiced Davina McCall's dire chat show was officially deemed the BBC's worst ever peak-time programme according to the ratings. And squeaky-voiced ex-cavalry officer James Blunt hit number one in the US.

First, the good news. Joe Calzaghe earned rave reviews from hard-boiled US boxing scribes when he demolished America's 'invincible' Jeff Lacey to add the IBF super middleweight title to his WBO crown.

And Barry swimmer David Davies won the 1,500 metres at the Commonwealth Games, in Melbourne, Australia, to end a 32-year medal wait for Wales and our first gold since 1954.

The bad news? West Midlands Police told Bluebirds fans not to return to Wolverhampton after 17 were arrested when violence broke out after the stadium bar closed at half time.

More bad news?

Calzaghe led the Wales team out but his winning ways didn't rub off on Our Boys.

Instead they were booed off the pitch after managing only an 18-18 draw with Italy.

In passing, Ireland beat England in a thrilling Triple Crown decider.

And after weeks of dithering, temporary gaffer Scott Johnson ruled himself out of the Wales coaching job, opting for life in Oz.

Josie Avoth, matriarch of Cardiff's famous fighting family, died at 83. Soccer lost Peter Osgood, 59, Charlie Wayman, 84, and Wee Jinkie Jimmy Johnstone, 61, while from showbiz it was Jack (Dodger) Wilde, John Junkin, 76, and Corrie's Lynne Perrie, 74.