Welsh FM defends action in abuse case

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has said he acted “by the book” and had “no alternative” over allegations against former assembly member Carl Sargeant who was found dead on Tuesday.

Mr Jones faced calls to quit after Mr Sargeant’s family claimed the former Welsh government minister had been denied “natural justice” because he was unaware of the detailed nature of the allegations against him.

Mr Sargeant is understood to have taken his own life and an emotional Mr Jones said “these are the darkest days any of us can remember”.

But in a statement he said: “I quite properly did all that I could to make sure that everything was being done by the book. I had no alternative.”

Mr Sargeant, 49, was facing allegations of “unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping” and was sacked from his ministerial role by Mr Jones and suspended by the Labour Party on Friday.

Mr Sargeant’s family said his distress at being unable to defend himself properly meant he was not afforded “natural justice”.