The Children's Commissioner for Wales has hit back at criticisms of his inquiry into child abuse.

Peter Clarke launched the Clywch Inquiry following the death of former drama teacher John Owen, who killed himself while awaiting trial for offences against pupils.

Fellow teachers at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen were quizzed

But the investigation had to be put on hold while police carried out further inquiries into fresh claims made against four more people.

The police have now completed their probe and said on Monday that a file had been sent to the Crown Prosecutor for consideration.

Pressure group Voices From Care criticised Mr Clarke, for beginning the Clywch hearing too soon.

But on Tuesday, Mr Clarke denied he had done anything wrong.

He said he had received a written assurance from South Wales Police that they had completed their inquiries before he began his the inquiry - the first to be held since taking up his post in March 2001.

File sent

Mr Clarke explained that during the course of his inquiry, which began in March, his team discovered fresh evidence and the police were called in.

Files on allegations concerning four more adults have now been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether more prosecutions are to be made.

Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen teacher Mr Owen took a fatal morphine overdose in October before facing trial over five charges of indecency with boys between 1974 and 1991.

He had earlier quit his job amid complaints surrounding his teaching methods, but went on to write acclaimed S4C youth drama Pam Fi Duw?

John Owen wrote the children's TV drama, Pam Fi Duw?

Last year, four former pupils from the 1970s made allegations of abuse against the teacher from Tylorstown, Rhondda.

Mr Clarke opened an informal inquiry into the handling of claims against him.

Hearings began taking evidence from seven alleged abuse victims in March at University of Glamorgan in Treforest, near Pontypridd.

Sessions heard that Mr Owen's lessons were sometimes "virtually pornographic" and had sexual overtones, requiring boys to undress for drama.

Innocence

But Clarke was forced to pause the Clywch Inquiry on 3 May when an eighth person made formal abuse claims during a hearing.

A teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen was then suspended for a fortnight by governors. The woman - who maintained she was innocent - was one of four involved in the new allegations.

On Monday, South Wales Police said it had completed its probe into those claims and their files had been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will determine if charges can be brought.

It has not been made clear when Mr Clarke is due to restart the Clywch hearings.