Family of ex-Welsh minister Carl Sargeant found dead claim he was denied 'natural justice'

The family of former Welsh Assembly member Carl Sargeant have claimed he was robbed of “natural justice” as he was not told the details of sexual harassment allegations against him before his death.

The Labour politician is believed to have taken his own life days after he was sacked from his role as communities secretary, and suspended from the party over allegations about his personal conduct.

Mr Sargeant’s family said he had “categorically denied any wrongdoing” as it emerged that he had faced accusations of “unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping” at the time of his death.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn paid tribute to the Alyn and Deeside AM, describing his death as a “terrible”, while deputy leader Tom Watson said it was a “tragedy beyond words”.

Correspondence sent to the Labour Party on Monday from Mr Sargeant‘s solicitor Huw Bowden appealed for details of the accusations against him, and warned that the lack of information was causing him anxiety and distress.

Writing the day before the 49-year-old’s death, Mr Bowden warned that delays in the investigation would be “prejudicial ... to his physical and mental wellbeing”.

The solicitor also complained that claims by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones that he had been informed of “a number of incidents” about Mr Sargeant’s behaviour were prejudicing the inquiry.

A 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 distress of not being able to defend himself properly against these unspecified allegations meant he was not afforded common courtesy, decency or natural justice.”

Mr Sargeant was facing “serious and career-threatening allegations” and was “anxious to ensure his name and the reputation of the Labour Party is preserved”, according to his solicitor.

In his letter, he said: “We would make it clear at the outset that our client categorically denies any allegation that he has acted in a manner that is either prejudicial or grossly detrimental to the party.

“We are led to believe that the allegations concern conduct that you described as our client having acted towards others in such a way as alleged to be ‘unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping’. We make it clear that any such allegations are categorically denied.”

Labour’s Women and Equalities spokesperson Dawn Butler dropped calls for an investigation into the way Welsh Labour handled the case, saying she was satisfied the “appropriate process was followed”.

It comes after Westminster was engulfed in allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, which prompted the resignation of Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, as well as investigations into several Tory and Labour MPs.