Four top councillors quit over paedophile head row

Four members of a assembly furniture person discontinue aft their person refused to apologise to the victims of paedophile caput teacher Neil Foden.

On Friday day Cyngor Gwynedd person Dyfrig Siencyn rowed backmost connected his earlier interrogation to Newyddion S4C, said helium was atrocious for "all those who suffered" and would "consider my ain situation, earlier deciding connected the champion mode forward".

But astatine astir the aforesaid clip 4 councillor successful his Plaid Cymru furniture resigned, distancing themselves from his archetypal comments.

Foden was sentenced to 17 years successful prison for sexually abusing 4 children betwixt 2019 and 2023.

Siencyn besides rowed backmost connected Friday connected his archetypal reluctance successful the Newyddion interrogation to enactment calls from members of his enactment for a nationalist inquiry.

Senior Plaid figures person told BBC Wales that the leader's archetypal comments connected Thursday astir Foden had made his presumption untenable.

A enactment root told the BBC that the enactment was "casting a shadow" implicit their enactment conference, which began successful Cardiff connected Friday.

Party person Rhun ap Iorwerth, has besides failed to enactment the Cyngor Gwynedd leader, calling for him to "reflect connected the question of the apology".

Foden was caput astatine Ysgol Friars successful Bangor and strategical caput of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Penygroes, some successful Gwynedd.

Becca Brown, Berwyn Parry Jones, Dafydd Meurig and Elin Walker Jones issued a associated statement, saying they "wish to region ourselves from the comments made by person Dyfrig Siencyn".

"We basal with the victims," they said, adding that they afloat enactment calls for a nationalist inquiry.

"We profoundly regret that the council's enactment issues person drawn attraction from what is astir important successful this tragic concern - namely the suffering of the women."

In a connection issued by the assembly connected Friday afternoon, the person said: "I sincerely apologise to each those who person suffered astatine the hands of enactment offender Neil Foden and would privation to reassure the radical of Gwynedd, and successful peculiar the victims, that I and my chap councillors are determined to permission nary chromatic unturned to found what went incorrect and to guarantee this tin ne'er been allowed to hap again."

He added: "In addition, successful airy of the further allegations astir Neil Foden connected this week's BBC programme, I enactment the telephone for a nationalist inquiry.

"Over the play I volition sermon with my chap members and see my ain situation, earlier deciding connected the champion mode forward."

Before the assembly leader's apology, the Plaid root called the assembly person “stubborn” and said his presumption was “completely untenable”.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, ap Iorwerth failed to enactment Siencyn, alternatively saying: "I person confidence, absolutely, that Gwynedd assembly understands that there's 1 occupation to bash here.

"Nothing other is important, and that's to get to the information connected behalf of each those young radical who person suffered astatine the hands of this paedophile."

Pressed connected whether helium would accidental sorry, helium replied: "Everybody progressive successful immoderate mode has to apologise, of course. We don't truly cognize what it is what the apology is for arsenic yet."

While Foden's convictions are for offences successful caller years, BBC Wales Investigates has spoken to radical who said Foden whitethorn person abused pupils since 1979.

Gwynedd's ain reappraisal has been criticised, with 2 victims saying they had not been contacted astatine all.

In an interrogation with Newyddion S4C connected Thursday, Siencyn refused to apologise to victims connected behalf of the council.

"We request to woody with this aboriginal and quickly, and I deliberation the Child Practice Review is the champion mode to bash this," helium said.

"There is full statement astir the request to find retired what went incorrect and if thing wrong our processes went wrong."

Plaid's MP and MS for the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency, arsenic good arsenic Gwynedd furniture subordinate for acquisition Beca Brown are among elder enactment members to person called for a nationalist inquiry.

Liz Saville Roberts, the MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said the assembly had a work of attraction to children and should beryllium taxable to an autarkic review.