Main Sargeant inquiry is ‘unlikely to report within year of death’
THE main inquiry into the treatment of Carl Sargeant by Carwyn Jones is highly unlikely to be complete before the first anniversary of the former Cabinet Minister’s death.
A draft timetable sent to potential witnesses by a lawyer working for the inquiry reveals that evidence will be taken up until the end of September.
Paul Bowen QC has been appointed to conduct an independent inquiry into the First Minister’s treatment of the former AM for Alyn and Deeside who died in November.
A letter sent by Charlotte Haworth Hird, the solicitor to the investigation, to potential witnesses states: “We are in the final stages of establishing the investigation and we have begun identifying individuals and organisations that may be able to provide relevant evidence to the investigation.
“Mr Bowen QC understands that you may have relevant information and I am writing to you as a matter of courtesy to request that you preserve any relevant documents that you have in your possession and to notify you that we will be putting out a public call for evidence shortly on a dedicated website. In addition, Mr Bowen QC will be writing to you at that time to ask you for any relevant evidence that you may be able to give.”
The letter goes on to state that Mr Bowen is considering possible dates for the hearing and has identified the weeks beginning June 18 and June 25 and the period between September 3 and September 28. Ms Haworth Hird asks potential witnesses to identify dates to avoid during the timescales mentioned.
A Welsh Labour source said: “The independent inquiry was announced on November 10.
“This letter makes it clear that it is likely that Paul Bowen QC will be taking evidence up to the end of September this year.
“That means it is probable that Carl will have been dead for a year before the QC’s report is published. This is not what people expected when the inquiry was announced last year.”
The Welsh Government declined to comment.