First Minister Carwyn Jones gives evidence at Carl Sargeant inquest

First Minister Carwyn Jones is giving evidence at the inquest into the death of Assembly Member Carl Sargeant on Wednesday.

Mr Sargeant, 49, was found dead at the family home in Connah's Quay, North Wales, by his wife Bernadette on November 7 last year. It was four days after he was sacked from his role as cabinet secretary for communities and children by the First Minister.

The father-of-two was also suspended from the Labour Party over allegations of "unwanted attention, inappropriate touching or groping". Carl Sargeant denied the allegations.

The inquest at Ruthin County Hall has previously heard the politician had been told not to speak about the reasons for his sacking in the Welsh Government cabinet reshuffle.

But after being relieved of his government job, Mr Sargeant had tweeted about the allegations against him and vowed to clear his name.

Speaking at the inquest, Carwyn Jones said he became aware of allegations circulating about the behaviour of Mr Sargeant around women on October 18th. Mr Jones then asked his special advisor Matt Greenough to investigate the matter.

Asked why the First Minister didn't share the details on the allegations with Mr Sargeant he said, 'had I given Carl Sargeant more details about allegations I suspect he would have known who made them. That was a risk I couldn't take"

When asked about the cabinet reshuffle of November 2017 when Carl Sargeant left the cabinet, Mr Jones said no one would have been aware of the allegations until Mr Sargeant made a statement on Twitter.

"What then happened was the focus [from the media] was Carl, about his personal conduct,'' Carwyn told the inquest.

"By volunteering the information like he did he spiked media interest"

Carwyn Jones said when Mr Sargeant was told about the allegations, his response was ''he didn't recognise them''

The First Minister added, ''in politics that is not a denial.''

Speaking about Car Sargeant's mental health, the First Minister said he had, '' no knowledge that Carl had any mental health issues, that he was taking medication.''

When asked by the coroner about his duty of care, Mr Jones said ''there is no employment relationship between the Welsh Gov and Ministers. There is no contract, no job security. Probably the only job in the world where you can be appointed and lose it the next day to a cheering crowd."

Earlier, Jane Runeckles, a member of the First Minister's special advisor team, told the inquest hearing she had known Carl Sargeant since 2003 when she worked in the Labour group office and Mr Sargeant was a prospective candidate. Mrs Runeckles said she liked Mr Sargeant a lot and he was 'extremely good value,' but she had no knowledge of any mental health problems until after his death.

Mrs Runeckles was involved in conversations with her colleague Matt Greenough and the First Minister in the run-up to the reshuffle on November 3, 2017. She told the court that there were various scenarios produced in relation to how the reshuffled government might look and Mr Sargeant's name featured on all of them. Mrs Runeckles said she had heard rumours about Mr Sargeant's behaviour at the time of the meetings and those rumours were discussed for 'a couple of minutes' between herself, Mr Greenough and the First Minister on October 18. She told the hearing that Carwyn Jones was certain the rumours were 'tittle tattle' and he would not act upon them.

By November 1, Mr Greenough had a written allegation against Mr Sargeant and Mrs Runeckles said that was the point when Mr Jone decided that Mr Sargeant would no longer be part of the government. On the day of the reshuffle (November 3, 2017), Mrs Runeckles met Mr Sargeant and another cabinet minister who had travelled down from north Wales on the train together at the Welsh Government offices and escorted them to two separate meeting rooms. That was the last time she saw Mr Sargeant.Being questioned by Mr Sargeant's brother Andy, who represents Mr Sargeant's parents in the hearing, Mrs Runeckles admitted that there is was no procedure in place to support ministers after they have been sacked from government.

The inquest is due to last until Friday.