THE Labour Party has closed an inquiry into alleged inappropriate behaviour towards women by former Welsh minister Carl Sargeant.

In a letter to the Sargeant family’s solicitor, party general secretary Iain McNicol said it is “no longer possible to take forward any investigation under our procedures”.

Yesterday’s announcement came a little over four weeks since Alyn and Deesside AM Mr Sargeant was found dead at his home in north Wales.

He had been sacked from his post as cabinet secretary for communities and children on November 3 by first minister Carwyn Jones, after Mr Jones was told about the allegations against his colleague.

Mr Sargeant is believed to have taken his own life.

In the letter, Mr McNicol said the Labour Party received an initial complaint on the same day Mr Sargeant was sacked.

It was waiting for the completion of a formal statement to send to Mr Sargeant, when he was found dead, on November 7.

“It is no longer possible to take forward any investigation under our procedures and therefore the Labour Party deems its investigation closed,” wrote Mr McNicol.

He stressed that the party is confident it followed its procedures at all times, and will co-operate fully with the coroner’s inquest.

The Sargeant family has previously claimed he had been left in limbo, not having been made aware of the details of the allegations he faced.

First minister Carwyn Jones has said he had no choice but to sack Mr Sargeant, and took to the BBC earlier this week to reiterate that belief, before news emerged that the inquiry has been closed.

In that interview, Mr Jones said he could not have done anything differently, and felt “loss” over Mr Sargeant’s death, but not guilt.

And he decried the social media comments by former colleague Leighton Andrews relating to allegations of bullying in the Welsh Government, made since Mr Sargeant’s death, saying “trial by Twitter” is not the way such matters should be aired or discussed.

Mr Andrews has recently called for an inquiry to be launched into the alleged leaking of Mr Sargeant’s sacking before the latter knew himself.

He has tweeted further on the issue, to the effect that he and others will be ready to provide evidence on the matter, and has also tweeted on the issue of historical bullying allegations in Cardiff Bay.

Mr Andrews has also described as “pathetic” a reference in Mr Jones’ BBC interview to his nickname being ‘grumpy’.