Inquests will be held into the deaths of a number of care home residents at the heart of Operation Jasmine, the First Minister has confirmed.
Carwyn Jones AM was responding to the Flynn Report, that investigated the collapse of Operation Jasmine, which was launched by Gwent Police in 2005.
Dr Margaret Flynn led an inquiry into the failure of Operation Jasmine in July and in her report said that New Tredegar care home boss, Dr Prana Das “should have and could have been prosecuted”.
Operation Jasmine was launched after the death of an 84-year-old woman and investigated the deaths of 63 people in care homes across South East Wales, including two in Caerphilly County Borough.
The operation saw a £15m case against Dr Das, who ran the Brithdir Care Home in New Tredegar, collapse after he suffered a brain injury following an attack by burglars.
The Flynn Report made a number of recommendations to the Welsh Government, including that inquests be held into the deaths of Stanley Bradford, Megan Downs, Edith Evans, Ronald Jones, and others known to the Coroner.
Mr Jones said he had been in touch with Gwent Coroner David Bowen, and confirmed that “where he does have jurisdiction, and where the law requires, inquests will be held”.
In a statement to the Assembly today, October 6, Mr Jones accepted all recommendations directed at the Welsh Government.
He said: “Because we recognise that care and support is part of our public services, it is important that we acknowledge when things will go wrong and do all we can to learn from that.
“Dr Flynn has set down a powerful marker for the future – where we see older people as vital and important contributors to society’s well-being.
“That is what we must take from this tragedy – a renewed dedication to the very best for our communities, for our older people and, ultimately for all of us here in Wales.”
The Flynn Report called for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to review the case of Dr Das.
The CPS, which is not devolved, refused to re-consider the case, a decision that “frustrated” families according to Mr Jones.
He said: “I think it is important for me to say that I am aware of the very real frustration amongst families in regard of the response from the CPS.
“I know that the families were both surprised by the speed of the response – on the same day as the report was published in the media – and the refusal to reconsider the case.”
Watch: First Minister Carwyn Jones responds to the Flynn Report