MID WALES AMs have spoken of their shock following the death of Welsh Minister Carl Sargeant.

Mr Sargeant faced a party investigation into allegations about his personal conduct and the Labour Alun and Deeside AM lost his ministerial job as cabinet secretary for communities and children last week.

The body of the 48-year-old, who was married with two children and had visited Aberystwyth a number of times, was found at an address in Connah’s Quay today.

UKIP’s Neil Hamilton said: “Carl was a gentle giant who will be missed across the party divide. He and I were diametrically opposed politically but we had very cordial personal relations. I am shocked and horrified by this terrible news. Despite the legal presumption of innocence, he was suspended as a Minister without being told the details of accusations made against him anonymously."

He said Mr Sargeant’s death should cause everyone to “reflect on the human cost of public hysteria and media witch-hunts”.

And Elin Jones added: “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.”