FLINTSHIRE Council's deputy leader Bernie Attridge may not have told the truth in a statement about his friend and colleague Carl Sargeant's state of mind before his death, an inquest heard.

Yesterday, it was decided that witness statements by Flintshire Council's leader and his deputy will not be heard at the inquest into the death of Carl Sargeant.

At the end of the third day John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, told the hearing at Ruthin that he had in recent weeks received four additional witness statements.

These were from Aaron Shotton and Bernie Attridge - leader and deputy leader of Flintshire Council respectively - as well as Welsh Labour General Secretary Louise Maghee and Michelle Perfect, office manager for Delyn AM Hannah Blythyn.

Cathryn McGahey, representing the First Minister, requested the evidence be submitted and said it might shed light on what was preying on Mr Sargeant's mind prior to his death.

She also told the hearing the evidence of Cllr Shotton, Ms Maghee and Cllr Perfect suggested Mr Attridge might not have told the truth in his statement - which, she said, was a serious matter.

Leslie Thomas QC, representing the Sargeant family, told the coroner that if he believed he had a witness who might have lied in their statement, he had more than one way of dealing with it including referring the matter to the police.

After considering the matter the coroner concluded it would not be necessary for him to hear the additional contributions from the four witnesses as he already had sufficient evidence.

During the third day of the inquest into the death of Mr Sargeant, yesterday, John Gittins, coroner for North Wales (East and Central), heard from Jane Runeckles, a member of the First Minister's special advisor team, and First Minister Carwyn Jones.