Family of Labour politician Carl Sargeant release letters showing he was accused of groping but not given the ‘common courtesy’ of being told details before suicide
The 49-year-old was found dead at his home in North Wales yesterday
THE FAMILY of Labour politician Carl Sargeant today panned the party for denying him the “common courtesy” of explaining the sex abuse allegations against him.
In a statement 24 hours after he was found dead in his home, the distraught family said Carl had maintained his innocence and “categorically denied any wrongdoing”.
And as reported by the Sun yesterday, they released letters his solicitor wrote to Labour HQ warning the allegations against the Welsh Assembly Member were affecting his “mental wellbeing”.
The letter from Huw Bowden - dated November 6 – also claimed evidence against Mr Sergeant was at risk of being “manipulated”.
It noted there was no police investigation into Mr Sergeant.
And it claimed bombshell comments by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones on Monday could “prejudice” any investigation.
The First Minister – who suspended Carl Sergeant on Friday – told the BBC he felt he had no choice given the detail from women making the allegations.
Mr Sergeant was only told the claims related to groping, inappropriate touching and unwanted attention.
The Sergeant family spokesman said: “Up to the point of his tragic death on Tuesday morning Carl was not informed of any of the detail of the allegations against him, despite requests and warnings regarding his mental welfare.
“The correspondence also discloses the solicitor’s concern that media appearances by the First Minister on Monday were prejudicing the inquiry.
“The family wish to disclose the fact that Carl maintained his innocence and he categorically denied any wrongdoing.”
The spokesman added: “The distress of not being able to defend himself properly against these unspecified allegations meant he was not afforded common courtesy, decency or natural justice.”
He was found dead at his home in North Wales yesterday – four days after being suspended.
Today Labour faced calls to hold an investigation into how they handled the allegations against Mr Sargeant as his friends slammed the party for keeping the claims secret.
He was sacked as communities minister last Friday and suspended from Labour, despite not being told the details of the accusations made against him.
His wife Bernie and children Lucy and Jack paid emotional tribute to him after he died yesterday, calling him "the glue that bound us together".
Just hours earlier Labour’s Shadow Equalities Minister Dawn Butler was forced into a humiliating u-turn over the case.
She had called for an investigation into the handling of the allegations by Welsh Labour yesterday morning. She said: “It doesn’t sound as though everything that should have happened, happened.
“It needs to be fully investigated and independently investigated.”
But within minutes she later contacted the BBC to “update” her statement – saying she was “satisfied the appropriate process was followed”.
UKIP’s Neil Hamilton yesterday demanded Carwyn Jones resign.
A spokesman for the First Minister said today: "This is a difficult time for everybody, particularly Carl's family, who are still coming to terms with this horrific news.
"Like everyone in the Welsh Labour family Carwyn is deeply upset by the death of his friend.
"Tomorrow Welsh Labour AMs will meet in the Assembly to remember Carl and discuss the tragic events of the past week. Carwyn will make a further statement following the meeting."
