Carl Sargeant
A top politician is believed to have killed himself days after he was laid off by the Welsh government and suspended by his party over ‘shocking’ claims of sexual misconduct.
Former minister Carl Sargeant, 48, was found dead at his home in Connah’s Quay, North Wales, at 11.30am today and police say they are not treating it as suspicious.
His wife Bernie, 48, and children Jack, 23, and Lucy, 25, said today they are ‘devastated beyond words’ and they have lost ‘the glue that bound us together’.
Mr Sargeant was sacked and suspended by Labour on Friday after at least three women are believed to have made allegations of s3xual misconduct against him.
The father-of-two said at the time he wanted an independent investigation ‘to allow me to clear my name’ but appears to have killed himself four days later.
Labour has not said what the women accused him of but before his death the under fire politician described the allegations as ‘shocking and distressing’.
Police and paramedics were called to his home this morning after he was discovered but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was removed by private ambulance this afternoon.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his death was ‘terrible and deeply shocking news’, adding: ‘All allegations (of s3xual misconduct) must be examined and but there also has to be great care for everybody involved in these accusations’.
Mr Sargeant was a ‘much loved husband, father and friend’, a statement released by his family said after his death was announced.
“Carl was a much loved husband, father and friend. He wasn’t simply a part of our family. He was the glue that bound us together. He was the heart of our family. We loved him so very much,” it said.
“He was the most kind and caring husband, father, son and friend.
“We are devastated beyond words, and we know our grief will be shared by all those who knew and loved him. We are in shock and grief.”
Family members hugged each other on the drive of the mid-terrace former council house where Mr Sargeant lived, round the corner from the school where his wife works as a teaching assistant, as a black private ambulance left the property, guarded by police.
A neighbour across the road from his home, who did not want to be named, said: ‘He’s got a wife and children over there, my heart goes out to them, it’s shocking.
CREDIT TRIBUNE
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