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| Closure difficult over Carl Sargeant death, says Labour MP | Closure difficult over Carl Sargeant death, says Labour MP |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Closure a year on from the death of Carl Sargeant is "very difficult" when a probe into the former minister's sacking by Carwyn Jones has not begun, close former colleague and Labour MP Mark Tami has said. | Closure a year on from the death of Carl Sargeant is "very difficult" when a probe into the former minister's sacking by Carwyn Jones has not begun, close former colleague and Labour MP Mark Tami has said. |
| AMs met privately on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of Mr Sargeant's death. | |
| The AM was found dead at home days after he was sacked by the first minister, with hanging given as his provisional cause of death. | The AM was found dead at home days after he was sacked by the first minister, with hanging given as his provisional cause of death. |
| He faced sexual harassment allegations. | He faced sexual harassment allegations. |
| Labour group chairwoman Vikki Howells said: "We all miss Carl tremendously, he was a friend to us all and a fantastic colleague." | Labour group chairwoman Vikki Howells said: "We all miss Carl tremendously, he was a friend to us all and a fantastic colleague." |
| An independent investigation, to be led by QC Paul Bowen, was called by the first minister following pressure from Labour politicians including Mr Tami. | An independent investigation, to be led by QC Paul Bowen, was called by the first minister following pressure from Labour politicians including Mr Tami. |
| But it is yet to get underway after legal action by Mr Sargeant's family, who wanted their lawyers to be able to cross-examine witnesses. | But it is yet to get underway after legal action by Mr Sargeant's family, who wanted their lawyers to be able to cross-examine witnesses. |
| Mark Tami said the death of Mr Sargeant has cast a shadow over the Welsh Government and "made it very difficult" for Carwyn Jones. | Mark Tami said the death of Mr Sargeant has cast a shadow over the Welsh Government and "made it very difficult" for Carwyn Jones. |
| "The inquiry still hasn't really got off the ground, and that really makes closure very very difficult," Mr Tami said. | "The inquiry still hasn't really got off the ground, and that really makes closure very very difficult," Mr Tami said. |
| He said the legal action had come about because the family did not feel the terms "were fair and were right". | He said the legal action had come about because the family did not feel the terms "were fair and were right". |
| "I would have hoped everything would be done to make sure the family do have what they think is a fair and appropriate type of inquiry," he said. | "I would have hoped everything would be done to make sure the family do have what they think is a fair and appropriate type of inquiry," he said. |
| Mr Tami serves the same constituency that Mr Sargeant represented - Alyn and Deeside - and shared an office with him. | Mr Tami serves the same constituency that Mr Sargeant represented - Alyn and Deeside - and shared an office with him. |
| He now works alongside Mr Sargeant's son Jack, who succeeded his father as an AM after winning the Alyn and Deeside by-election that followed his death. | He now works alongside Mr Sargeant's son Jack, who succeeded his father as an AM after winning the Alyn and Deeside by-election that followed his death. |
| Asked if he felt Mr Sargeant's death had cast a shadow over the Welsh Government, Mr Tami said: "I think it did, and it has, and obviously I think Carwyn has been an incredible successful leader of Welsh Labour and leader as first minister but clearly we're still now thinking about those terrible events. | Asked if he felt Mr Sargeant's death had cast a shadow over the Welsh Government, Mr Tami said: "I think it did, and it has, and obviously I think Carwyn has been an incredible successful leader of Welsh Labour and leader as first minister but clearly we're still now thinking about those terrible events. |
| "I think it made it very difficult for [Carwyn Jones]... it isn't for me to say what people think, but those tragic events have influenced and hurt everybody I think." | "I think it made it very difficult for [Carwyn Jones]... it isn't for me to say what people think, but those tragic events have influenced and hurt everybody I think." |
| The family had sought a judicial review, but this has been refused. Their lawyers are set to appeal at a hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice next Tuesday. | The family had sought a judicial review, but this has been refused. Their lawyers are set to appeal at a hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice next Tuesday. |
| A tragedy that shocked Wales' political class | A tragedy that shocked Wales' political class |
| By Felicity Evans, BBC Wales political editor | By Felicity Evans, BBC Wales political editor |
| The death of Carl Sargeant left his family grief-stricken and the Welsh Government and Labour party in crisis. | The death of Carl Sargeant left his family grief-stricken and the Welsh Government and Labour party in crisis. |
| Within six months Carwyn Jones had announced plans to stand down as first minister; his authority sapped away by a cycle of claim and counter-claim about his handling of Mr Sargeant's sacking. | Within six months Carwyn Jones had announced plans to stand down as first minister; his authority sapped away by a cycle of claim and counter-claim about his handling of Mr Sargeant's sacking. |
| Those competing to replace him have all spoken of the need to heal the wounds within the Labour group of AMs and draw a line under a tragedy that shocked Wales' political class to the core. | Those competing to replace him have all spoken of the need to heal the wounds within the Labour group of AMs and draw a line under a tragedy that shocked Wales' political class to the core. |
| But that will be difficult, with the independent inquiry pending and with Mr Jones due to give evidence at the inquest into Mr Sargeant's death. | But that will be difficult, with the independent inquiry pending and with Mr Jones due to give evidence at the inquest into Mr Sargeant's death. |
| And what of the wider questions that go beyond this tragedy? How do you treat allegations in a way that is fair to both the accused and accuser? | And what of the wider questions that go beyond this tragedy? How do you treat allegations in a way that is fair to both the accused and accuser? |
| And how can institutions create a culture and a complaints system that has the confidence of those they are supposed to protect? | And how can institutions create a culture and a complaints system that has the confidence of those they are supposed to protect? |
| Welsh Conservative assembly group leader Paul Davies said: "The Sargeant family, the assembly, and the people of Wales are still waiting for answers surrounding his death and I hope that they come to light in a fair, legal, and transparent manner." | Welsh Conservative assembly group leader Paul Davies said: "The Sargeant family, the assembly, and the people of Wales are still waiting for answers surrounding his death and I hope that they come to light in a fair, legal, and transparent manner." |
| Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said the anniversary will be "focusing a lot of our minds on the terrible loss and trauma that his family would have gone through". | Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said the anniversary will be "focusing a lot of our minds on the terrible loss and trauma that his family would have gone through". |