Inquest opens into politician’s death

A coroner investigating the death of politician Carl Sargeant said he will examine how the Welsh Assembly acted in relation to his mental welfare before his apparent suicide.

Mr Sargeant, 49, was found hanged at his home last week by his wife Bernadette, four days after being removed from his role as cabinet secre- tary for communities and children, his inquest.

The father-of-two, from Connah’s Quay, North Wales, was suspended from the Labour Party over allegations of “unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping”.

But he was not told the details of what he was accused of and unable to properly defend himself, his family said.

It is understood that details were withheld to protect the identity of the complainants but Mr Sargeant’s family and solicitors say being kept in the dark caused him mental anguish.

Yesterday, John Gittins, Senior Coroner for North Wales (East and Central), at a brief hearing to open and adjourn the inquest into Mr Sargeant’s death at the County Hall in Ruthin, said he will be seeking statements from witnesses at the Wales Assembly, including First Minister Carwyn Jones.