THE FORMER Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Carl Sargeant, the AM for Alyn and Deeside, has died at the age of 49.
Mr Sargeant’s death was announced this lunchtime (Nov 7).
The BBC has reported that Mr Sargeant took his own life.
On Friday (Nov 3), Mr Sargeant was dismissed from Carwyn Jones’ Cabinet following a number of allegations made about his personal conduct.
On his departure for the Cabinet, Mr Sargeant had expressed confidence that he would be reinstated following a full enquiry into the allegations made. He also disclosed that he had not been given details of the allegations prior to his dismissal or the opportunity to respond to them before he left the Cabinet.
He called the allegations ‘shocking and distressing’.
A statement from North Wales Police said: “At approximately 11.30am today, North Wales Police were called to a report that the body of a man had been found at an address in Connah’s Quay.
“The man has been formally identified as local AM Carl Sargeant.
“His next of kin have been informed and police are supporting the family.
“North Wales Police are not treating his death as suspicious and the matter has been referred to HM Coroner.
“The family request that their privacy is respected at this sad time.”
Llywydd Elin Jones announced that Assembly business would be suspended as a mark of respect: “I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Carl Sargeant AM. He served the people of Alyn and Deeside with pride and determination and he made an enormous contribution to the development of this democratic institution.
“As a mark of respect to Carl, there will be no Assembly business today
“We will all want to gather our thoughts before paying proper tribute to him over the coming days.
“On behalf of all the Members and those who work at the National Assembly for Wales, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to his family and colleagues.”
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Carl was a friend as well as a colleague and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death.
“He made a big contribution to Welsh public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and as a local assembly member.
“He will be a great loss both to our party and to the Senedd.”
Mr Sargeant was married with two children.
In a statement his family said: “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.
“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. We ask that our privacy is respected at this time.”
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