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| Party investigates AM's night out | Party investigates AM's night out |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Liberal Democrats are investigating allegations about the behaviour of a senior member of the Welsh assembly in hospital after a night out in Cardiff. | Liberal Democrats are investigating allegations about the behaviour of a senior member of the Welsh assembly in hospital after a night out in Cardiff. |
| Welsh party leader Kirsty Williams is trying to establish the facts on claims about Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates. | Welsh party leader Kirsty Williams is trying to establish the facts on claims about Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates. |
| She said she understood he was knocked unconscious and had a serious head injury which still caused him problems. | She said she understood he was knocked unconscious and had a serious head injury which still caused him problems. |
| She also understood he apologised "if his behaviour caused any offence". He said he could not recall what happened. | She also understood he apologised "if his behaviour caused any offence". He said he could not recall what happened. |
| The party said it took the allegations in Wales on Sunday about his behaviour last month "very seriously". | The party said it took the allegations in Wales on Sunday about his behaviour last month "very seriously". |
| The claims emerged as the party held its Welsh spring conference in Swansea. | The claims emerged as the party held its Welsh spring conference in Swansea. |
| Mr Bates was due to speak at a fringe meeting, but he was replaced by Lembit Opik, the MP for his constituency. | Mr Bates was due to speak at a fringe meeting, but he was replaced by Lembit Opik, the MP for his constituency. |
| We don't know the facts - we need to get to the bottom of this Kirsty Williams, leader, Welsh Liberal Democrats | |
| Ms Williams told the BBC Wales Politics Show she took the allegations "very seriously," and she would contact the NHS trust involved. | Ms Williams told the BBC Wales Politics Show she took the allegations "very seriously," and she would contact the NHS trust involved. |
| "We need to establish the facts," she said. | "We need to establish the facts," she said. |
| "I've spoken to Mick Bates - he's apologised if his behaviour following the incident has caused any concerns." | "I've spoken to Mick Bates - he's apologised if his behaviour following the incident has caused any concerns." |
| When asked about whether he still had her confidence, she replied: "Yes he does. | When asked about whether he still had her confidence, she replied: "Yes he does. |
| "We don't know the facts - we need to get to the bottom of this. My understanding is that Mick was knocked unconscious and suffered a severe head injury - which he's continuing to have problems with." | "We don't know the facts - we need to get to the bottom of this. My understanding is that Mick was knocked unconscious and suffered a severe head injury - which he's continuing to have problems with." |
| She added: "Abuse towards NHS staff is not acceptable so we need to talk to the trust to establish the facts". | She added: "Abuse towards NHS staff is not acceptable so we need to talk to the trust to establish the facts". |
| Former teacher | Former teacher |
| Mr Bates, 62, told BBC Wales that he could not remember what had happened on the night. | Mr Bates, 62, told BBC Wales that he could not remember what had happened on the night. |
| Earlier, a spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "We take these allegations very seriously and we would not condone this sort of alleged behaviour. | Earlier, a spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "We take these allegations very seriously and we would not condone this sort of alleged behaviour. |
| "We have already begun an investigation to establish the facts and we will return with a further statement once our investigations are concluded." | "We have already begun an investigation to establish the facts and we will return with a further statement once our investigations are concluded." |
| Mr Bates, who has represented Montgomeryshire since the assembly was founded in 1999, has been chairman of its sustainability committee since 2007. | Mr Bates, who has represented Montgomeryshire since the assembly was founded in 1999, has been chairman of its sustainability committee since 2007. |
| A former teacher who became a farmer, he said last year that his wife, a headmistress, was retiring in 2011, and that it was an "ideal time" for him to stand down. | A former teacher who became a farmer, he said last year that his wife, a headmistress, was retiring in 2011, and that it was an "ideal time" for him to stand down. |
| Mr Bates is also a former county chairman of the National Farmers' Union, and became a local councillor in 1994. | Mr Bates is also a former county chairman of the National Farmers' Union, and became a local councillor in 1994. |
| He held his assembly seat at the 2007 election with a majority of just over 2,000 ahead of the Conservatives. | He held his assembly seat at the 2007 election with a majority of just over 2,000 ahead of the Conservatives. |