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Carl Sargeant's family concern at QC inquiry delay | Carl Sargeant's family concern at QC inquiry delay |
(35 minutes later) | |
Lawyers working for the family of the late Carl Sargeant have claimed the Welsh Government is dragging its feet over an inquiry into his death. | Lawyers working for the family of the late Carl Sargeant have claimed the Welsh Government is dragging its feet over an inquiry into his death. |
Mr Sargeant was found dead in November, four days after he was sacked from the cabinet and suspended by Labour. | Mr Sargeant was found dead in November, four days after he was sacked from the cabinet and suspended by Labour. |
First Minister Carwyn Jones said it followed a number of allegations about his conduct towards women. | First Minister Carwyn Jones said it followed a number of allegations about his conduct towards women. |
The Welsh Government said it was finalising arrangements with QC Paul Bowen, who will lead the inquiry. | The Welsh Government said it was finalising arrangements with QC Paul Bowen, who will lead the inquiry. |
However, a statement from the Sargeant family's lawyers said the Welsh Government was "already late" in meeting deadlines to get the work underway. | However, a statement from the Sargeant family's lawyers said the Welsh Government was "already late" in meeting deadlines to get the work underway. |
Neil Hudgell of Hudgell Solicitors said: "Easter is almost upon us and despite promises from the Welsh Government to respond to the inquiry team's draft protocol - essentially outlining the rules of engagement for the inquiry - they are already two weeks late. | Neil Hudgell of Hudgell Solicitors said: "Easter is almost upon us and despite promises from the Welsh Government to respond to the inquiry team's draft protocol - essentially outlining the rules of engagement for the inquiry - they are already two weeks late. |
"The family are looking for answers about the circumstances that led to Carl's tragic death, and I would hope the Welsh Government would be sensitive to the fact that this is a family still very much in the throes of grief. | "The family are looking for answers about the circumstances that led to Carl's tragic death, and I would hope the Welsh Government would be sensitive to the fact that this is a family still very much in the throes of grief. |
"It just needs to get on with the job." | "It just needs to get on with the job." |
A spokesman for the Welsh Government's Permanent Secretary Dame Shan Morgan said: "We are finalising the operational protocol with Paul Bowen QC. | A spokesman for the Welsh Government's Permanent Secretary Dame Shan Morgan said: "We are finalising the operational protocol with Paul Bowen QC. |
"This is due to be completed very shortly. The protocol sets out the detailed arrangements for the conduct of the independent investigation." | "This is due to be completed very shortly. The protocol sets out the detailed arrangements for the conduct of the independent investigation." |
An earlier inquiry by Dame Shan into how news of Mr Sargeant's sacking became public found that there had been "no evidence of prior unauthorised sharing of information". | An earlier inquiry by Dame Shan into how news of Mr Sargeant's sacking became public found that there had been "no evidence of prior unauthorised sharing of information". |
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies gave his reaction, saying: "Given what the family has been through over the past few months, responding promptly is the very least the Welsh Government can do. | |
"Carl Sargeant served as a minister for 10 years and it is vitally important that the inquiry puts the wishes of the family first and proceeds as soon as possible." |