Sargeant inquest to resume in July
THE inquest into the death of former Welsh Government Minister Carl Sargeant will resume in July, it has been confirmed.
Mr Sargeant is understood to have taken his own life in November 2017, four days after being removed from his post as Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children by the then First Minister Carwyn Jones following unspecified allegations of sexual harassment which Mr Sargeant denied.
The inquest was adjourned in November 2018 when Mr Jones’ barrister Cathryn McGahey QC indicated an intention to challenge senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central) John Gittins’ decision not to call as witnesses the leader and deputy leader of Flintshire County Council, Councillors Aaron Shotton and Bernie Attridge.
Coun Attridge is alleged to have sent a text message to Coun Shotton relating to Mr Sargeant’s alleged behaviour. Mr Gittins decided the evidence was not relevant to the issue of Mr Sargeant’s cause of death.
A High Court judge later turned down Ms McGahey’s application for a judicial review of the coroner’s decision.
A verbal application for the evidence of the two local politicians to be heard will be considered by the High Court on March 5.
The resumed inquest has been listed for five days from July 8 in Ruthin, Debighshire. Mr Sargeant’s widow Bernie Sargeant and his son Jack Sargeant are expected to be called as witnesses.
Mr Jones and his former special adviser Matt Greenough are expected to be recalled to the witness stand.
Solicitor Neil Hudgell, who represents the Sargeant family, said: “We’re grateful to the coroner for his careful consideration of all matters to date.
“Even though the inquest is some time away, it is very important for the Sargeant family to have a date set. They continue to hope that the inquest will allow them some muchneeded answers.”