Work will start on Foxdale’s Main Road on October 3 without the proposed temporary relief road on the old railway line.

Planning approval has been received for the first part of the scheme but a decision on the relief road will not be made before the main work starts after 16 objections were lodged.

To help with traffic flow to the village the Lhoobs Road be one-way in a southerly direction.

The Mines Road junction will be closed in all three directions. The work is scheduled to last eight months and be finished by TT2017.

A DoI statement said: ‘The initial phase will focus on improving the layout and geometry at Mines Road junction, which will be closed for approximately six weeks from October 3.

‘A full road closure will be required as it is necessary to excavate to a depth of two metres in order to install a large diameter storm water pipe down the centre of the road. A new water main will also be installed, while the overhead electricity cables will be laid underground.

‘Once the work at the junction is complete, it will be partially re-opened to provide vehicular access to some properties, to the filling station and to the Baltic Inn.

‘The next phase of the scheme on the main road will then proceed on two fronts simultaneously - from the Mines Road junction heading south to Costain’s Yard, and from Dove Cottage working back up the road towards the Mines Road junction.

‘Access to the filling station and the pub will be maintained from Mines Road until the work reaches the forecourt entrance, at which time access will then switch to the northern end of the village from Lower Foxdale.

‘Bus Vannin has confirmed that a limited service will be available to and from Foxdale and Douglas, and Peel and Castletown. Details of the timetables will be published once they have been finalised.’

The statement went on to say that the Department was continuing to work with politicians, the local authority and a range of local stakeholders.

It continued saying: ‘The Department recognises that the scheme will result in disruption and longer journey times for motorists and inconvenience to Foxdale residents and wishes to thank people in advance for their understanding and co-operation.’

A reduced timetable has been introduced on the Steam Railway after a spate of technical problems left the line with only one serviceable loco.

There would normally be four return services a day, Thursday through to Monday, on the Port Erin line at this time of year.

But with only one engine in use, no.8 Fenella, there has been just one service to and from Port Erin, with other trains terminating at Castletown.

The one Port Erin departure leaves 30 minutes before the previous published timetable, which has caused some confusion among passengers. But last Saturday, there were no trains at all to and from Port Erin and passengers were asked to use the normal service bus instead.

The £400,000 diesel loco is still awaiting repair, having been out of service since June 2015.

A revised timetable is being implemented from this Thursday (September 22) and will continue for the remainder of the 2016 season.

On most days, the steam train will depart Douglas at 9.50am for Port Erin and returning from Port Erin at 11.30am.

The train will then operate from Douglas to Castletown departing Douglas at 13.50, returning from Castletown at 14.27. The final daily departure on timetable is 15.50 out of Douglas to Castletown, returning at 16.27.

Passengers are advised to check the revised timetable before planning their journey as departure times will vary on a number of days.

All Dining Car services will be operated as advertised including the Commuter Club, Pie and Mash train and themed nights.

The revised timetable can be found on www.rail.im.

Director of transport services Ian Longworth said: ‘Isle of Man Railways appreciates that many passengers will be disappointed with the reduced level of steam services and we apologise for any inconvenience. We operate Victorian locomotives and we have experienced a high level of failures that require substantial repairs.’

There is no immediate threat to the island from the latest moves by the European Commission against low tax economies.

That the view of Chief Minister Allan Bell after the EU Commission published a ‘Scoreboard’, which looks at the tax systems of 81 non-EU countries.

It is part of a move by Brussels to draw up a new blacklist of tax havens.

Jurisdictions have been examined against ‘objective economic, financial, stability and tax good governance indicators’, says the Commission, to allow member states in the Code of Conduct Group to decide which may need to be ‘screened’ in more detail.

Those that ‘refuse to co-operate or engage with the EU regarding tax good governance concerns’ should be put on the EU list, it says.

But the Manx government said in a statement: ‘It is clear that this is not a blacklist. The Commission has instead chosen to create a long list of countries – which includes many members of the G20, including the US, China, Canada and Japan – for further examination.

‘The Isle of Man Government welcomes the Commission’s decision that their eventual list will be a ‘last resort’ option that will be a tool to deal with third countries that refuse to respect tax good governance principles, when all other attempts to engage with these countries have failed.’

The Commission has used three selection indicators for its scoreboard - strength of ties with the EU, financial activity and stability. There are also three risk indicators - transparency, preferential tax regimes and no or zero corporate rate tax.

The Chief Minister said he was concerned that the later was being used as assessment criterion.

He said: ‘Tax rates are matters for national governments and any move to list purely on the basis of tax rates runs counter to the international consensus. We look forward to engaging further with the Commission as the process evolves.’

Mr Bell said: ‘We are still trying to identify what they are trying to achieve. The issues at play have less to do with greater transparency and more to do with the internal politics of Brussels.

‘On this list is not one name in the EU which is quite astonishing. I believe the work the Isle of Man has put in to lead the way in international agreements had left us in a strong position to fend off any criticism. I don’t believe there is any immediate threat to the Isle of Man at all. We need to be calm and see how the debate moves on.’

But Mr Bell said it showed how important it is for the island to keep its eye on the ball internationally - and for election candidates to be fully up to speed on global developments concerning tax transparency and beneficial ownership.

He said: ‘The international agenda is not an optional extra, it’s absolutely central.’

Mr Bell said looking at the scoreboard tables it was difficult to come to a conclusion where the Isle of Man was ranked. But the only area where we fall foul is our zero corporation tax regime.

But he said the island had the ‘absolute right’ to set our own tax rates. Our tax structure was entirely transparent, he pointed out, and in terms of transparency, we comply with all international standards.

‘In that sense, to say I’m relaxed about this is too strong a word. But on first reading, we are not in the Commission’s cross-hairs.’

He added: ‘The Isle of Man has been at the forefront of work to promote global tax cooperation and transparency, as well as to support efforts to combat money laundering, fraud and corruption. We are fully compliant with the OECD Global Forum criteria and are committed to continuing fully to meet our international obligations.’

‘It was recognised by the UK Government at the Anti-Corruption Summit in May that the Isle of Man is ‘far in advance of most other countries’ on the international tax transparency agenda.’

TinyCOW director Lee O’Hanlon says he holds a government department and its Minister responsible for his company’s financial position.

Lee O’Hanlon insisted his company has not gone into liquidation, despite the posting on social media of ‘minutes’ of a meeting last week of tinyCOW’s directors purporting to show that that the company could cease trading and enter into liquidation.

TinyCOW company is embroiled in a dispute over who is liable for certain costs of organising July’s Tom Jones show, with Mr O’Hanlon claiming the Department of Economic Development is attempting to ‘cheat’ him out of his return on investment.

The department strenuously denies this and has offered to settle the matter through mediation.

Villa-Gaiety general manager Dawn Maddrell has been put on precautionary suspension while a series of allegations made by Mr O’Hanlon about the staging of the Tom Jones show and The Jacksons concert in 2014 are investigated.

TinyCOW was the booking agent for both acts.

Mr O’Hanlon said he and his wife Samantha were looking to restructure the business.

He said: ‘TinyCOW (IOM) Ltd has not entered into liquidation. For a company to have entered into administration I understand it needs to have appointed a liquidator. That is not the case for tinyCOW (IOM) Limited. TinyCOW (IOM) Limited has definitely not appointed a liquidator.

‘Samantha and I are looking at how we structure the different things we do and better protect ourselves for the future from untrustworthy organisations that we provide services to or suppliers to us that may not achieve the high standards we insist upon.’

There are no UK companies linked to tinyCOW (IOM) Ltd and no umbrella tinyCOW organisation that other companies form part of, he said.

Mr O’Hanlon added: ‘I hold Laurence Skelly and the Department of Economic Development responsible for the financial impact on the companies I am CEO of and the impact on my co-investors.’

The tinyCow boss alleges that a confidentiality agreement for The Jacksons show was not created until weeks after the event. He also claims financial regulations were deliberately avoided for the Tom Jones show. DED deny both claims.

Mr O’Hanlon said: ‘The deplorable behaviour and purposefully misreading of agreements by DED is an attempt to do nothing more than deceive the Manx taxpayers once again of the true state of how they run their affairs and the losses they seem to be incapable of avoiding yet seek to hide.

‘Their actions are directly affecting companies I am CEO of and I call on Laurence Skelly to provide the public, pre-election with the signed and fully executed confidentiality agreements with my company he has sought to rely on for two years. I have never signed one and so can confidently say they don’t exist.’

The row over the staging of loss-making music events has rapidly turned into trial by social media.

Mr O’Hanlon’s allegations first appeared on a Facebook site entitled Isle of Man News, which, despite appearances, has no connection whatsoever with Isle of Man Newspapers.

But last week a new Facebook page entered the fray. The Villa Marina vs tinyCOW community page claims to provide an ‘open, honest and transparent’ look at the Villa Marina ‘scandal’. It was on this site that the tinyCOW company minutes appeared.

Authors of the new Villa Marina vs tinyCOW community page state they are not associated with either party. They say: ‘We have nothing to hide. Except who we are. We’re keeping that under wraps.’

The DED has raised concerns about the growing trend for serious allegations to be made anonymously, often via social media, against named individuals including members of staff. It said it was looking at what steps it could take.

One allegation concerns signed posters of The Jacksons requested by David Cretney MLC, political member with responsibility for the Villa-Gaiety. Mr O’Hanlon claims they were worth ‘hundreds of pounds’.

Mr Cretney denies wrong-doing: ‘The signed poster and flyers were not as alleged for friends but for local fans who had contacted me. I met The Jacksons and took them around Tynwald, Keys and Council and gave them a small Manx flag as they were interested in the history.

‘I am interested in music and have collected set lists and autographs for a long time at concerts I have attended and have never paid for them as artistes are generally happy to oblige as were The Jacksons to others who obtained autographs and photographs as well as myself. Tynwald advice is that I have gained no pecuniary advantage nor acted inappropriately.’

The Claremont Hotel has been recognised as the ‘Isle of Man’s Leading Hotel 2016’ at the annual World Travel Awards for the third year in a row.

This award follows several recent accolades for the hotel including the 4-Star Gold Award from Visit Isle of Man, the 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and listings in the 2014 and 2015 editions of the UK and Ireland Michelin guide.

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the WTA brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. The annual programme is renowned as the most prestigious and comprehensive in the travel and tourism industry. Winners are voted for by travel professionals and high-end tourism consumers worldwide.

Earlier this year, the Claremont announced plans for a further £1 million investment into a series of new executive suites and an upgrade to its conference and banqueting facilities demonstrating its continued commitment to creating the best standard of business hotel facilities on the Isle of Man.

General Manager Ricardo Campos said: ‘We are honoured to have once again been recognised in what is widely considered one of the hospitality industry’s most prestigious awards.

‘To be acknowledged as the leading hotel on the Isle of Man truly supports what we set out to achieve and sustain going forward. Our next stage of financial investment will continue to develop our standard of excellence as we constantly strive to improve the environment, service, and hospitality we offer to our customers.

‘Being recognised once again by the industry’s top professionals, but most importantly the general public, confirms that we continue to progress.

‘It is a testament to the standard of service that our staff offer and I would like to congratulate the Claremont team for an outstanding achievement.

‘Thank you to everyone who took the time to cast a vote’.

Students have received awards for their project work as part of the island’s STEP programme.

Twenty -nine island companies took part this year. They hosted students throughout the summer.

STEP is a way for the youngsters to apply their skills to a work environment.

The Department of Economic Development, in partnership with Standard Bank, hosted the 2016 STEP Final Awards.

The award for most enterprising student went to Niamh Matthews who worked with the Department of Food and Agriculture (DEFA) on a project that looked at the branding and marketing of Isle of Man produce.

Runner up for the most enterprising student was awarded to Leo Morris who worked with DLP Limited in developing a remote control for a shower to help the assisted living sector.

The best presentation award went to Joe Callaghan for his work on developing an app for the forestry division of DEFA. Runner up for the best presentation award was Joe Burrows for his work at the Welcome Centre.

The judges also awarded a commendation to Todd Pilling for his work at Manx Utilities and Leanne Cubbon for her work at COLAS.

Chris Till, CEO of Standard Bank Isle of Man, said: ‘We are once again proud to support the STEP project and I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who took part.

‘We also took part in the programme by providing placements for two students to undertake specific projects in the bank. The work they undertook will prove invaluable in the specific areas they worked with and their contribution is hugely appreciated.

‘It is by developing and strengthening links between young people and business that we will attract the next generation of leaders and secure the future of this business on the island.’

Department of Economic Development Minister and Rushen Keys candidate Laurence Skelly said: ‘I was very impressed with the standard of work presented by the students. The STEP Programme is a great way for local students to apply their skills to a work environment as well as showcase the diversity of opportunities available for returning graduates on the Isle of Man.’

The other candidates standing in Rushen are Leo Cussons, James Hampton, Mark Kemp and Juan Watterson.

For more details on how to register as a host company or student for STEP 2017, contact Stephen Hawke on 682383 or by email at Stephen.hawke3@gov.im

Further details about STEP can be found at https://www.gov.im/categories/working-in-the-isle-of-man/step-scheme/

Isle of Man Creamery Whey Butter is once again celebrating award wins, this time at the Global Cheese Awards held at the Frome Cheese Show.

The Global Cheese Awards are hugely popular and as the name suggests, attracts entries of cheese and other dairy products from all over the world.

A panel of industry specialists is tasked with judging the 1,000 plus entries and awarding the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.

This year Isle of Man Creamery was honoured to be awarded Best butter in show for its Whey Butter as well as a Gold Award in the category of Salted Butter in Branded Packaging.

Managing director Findlay Macleod said: ‘It is a real honour for our Whey Butter to be recognised at the Global Cheese Awards. It really does speak volumes about our dedication to producing high quality, Manx produce that can compete with, and win against butters from all over the world.’

Whey Butter is made from whey cream separated from the whey during the cheese making process.

The award-winning butter, along with the range of Isle of Man Creamery cheese was available to buy at the Isle of Man Creamery stand at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival last weekend at the Villa Marina.

A fishing boat skipper who punched another man after a disagreement outside a Peel pub, smashing his jaw on both sides, has been sent to prison.

Mark Benjamin Cain, aged 24, of Kerroo Coar, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Aaron Stevens as they left the Creek Inn in Peel during the early hours of June 10.

For the prosecution, Michael Jelski said a disagreement had arisen involving a mobile telephone and this culminated in Cain punching the victim with his left hand in which he was also holding a beer bottle.

The force of the blow caused the victim to fall to the ground.

Speaking on behalf of Cain, Andrew Marshall said his client had reacted instinctively, mistakenly believing he was about to be assaulted. However he accepted the mistaken belief was as a result of Cain’s intoxication at the time.

In a letter to the court, the victim described the months since the attack as ‘hell on earth’. He said he had lost his job, had been unable to eat solids for months and still faced further surgery as a result of the injuries.

Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said the defendant had 12 excellent character references but nonetheless the custody threshold was passed and there were no grounds to suspend sentence. He was sentenced to 10 months’ custody and an 18-month ban from licensed premises. He is to pay £2,000 compensation to the victim.

A drugs courier who brought just over 15 kilos of cannabis into the island has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Alex Charles Conner, of Wimborne Road, Huyton in Liverpool brought cannabis bush and cannabis resin worth more than £157,000 to the island hidden in a secret panel under the floor of a Vauxhall Combi van on June 17.

But the 51-year-old was intercepted at the ferry terminal and arrested. He admitted two offences of bringing a class B drug to the Isle of Man and two of possessing the drugs with intent to supply.

The court heard he was under pressure to do it because his son was in trouble over a drugs debt and had been threatened with death.

Sentencing Conner, Deemster Alastair Montgomerie noted the defendant’s lack of previous convictions and the fact that he was a carer for his wife.

In addition to the prison sentence, Conner was banned from coming to the Isle of Man for five years, a forfeiture and destruction order was made for the drugs and the Vauxhall van it to be sold with the proceeds going to the Isle of Man government.

A computer system error is being blamed for a polling card mix-up in Ramsey.

Cards sent out to the 5,693 voters in the constituency on Thursday named the wrong polling station for each of the two polling districts - with Waterloo Road Methodist church hall switched for St Paul’s church hall and vice versa.

Replacement cards, posted through letterboxes on Saturday, were issued with red text giving the correct venue for electors to cast their votes.

In a statement, the Cabinet Office said: ‘Unfortunately due to a computer system error, the poll cards issued last week in Ramsey listed the incorrect polling station for Ramsey voters.

‘The two polling stations had been switched between the polling districts. New replacement poll cards have been produced with red text advising voters of the issue and asking them to please destroy their previous poll cards. The replacement poll cards started to be delivered on Saturday. The issue was discussed and resolved in consultation with the returning officer, Mr Robert Jelski.’

Michael Christian, of Bowring Road, alerted the Examiner.

He said: ‘I live in Ramsey north and moved here seven years ago.

‘On Thursday I got the official poll card through the post. But it said the polling station was at Ramsey Methodist church hall.

‘Then on Saturday I got a replacement poll card with red writing giving the correct polling station which is St Paul’s church hall on Market Square. It said there had been a system error and please destroy the previous card.’

Poll cards confirm a voter’s name, address and unique electoral number, as well as important information about how, when and where to vote. Anyone who is on the electoral register but does not receive a poll card is still entitled to vote. For further advice, contact the voter enquiry helpline 685754 or elections@gov.im

There are five candidates standing in Ramsey - Alex Allinson, Nick Crowe, Lawrie Hooper, John McDonough and Leonard Singer.

Campaigners sporting lifejackets and buoyancy aids gathered on Douglas promenade to highlight the plight of refugees.

The group called for the island to do its bit to help Syrian refugees – including welcoming a number in proportion to the size of our population.

‘Refugees Welcome to the Isle of Man’ is organised by three bodies: Amnesty International IoM the One World Centre and the Refugees in the Isle of Man group.

It was timed to coincide with marches and rallies in London, Belfast and Edinburgh asking the UK Government to do more to help with the humanitarian crisis of refugees in Europe ahead of a United Nations summit yesterday (Monday).

The campaigners say that the Manx government has not offered to take our fair share of the 20,000 refugees that the UK is committed to resettling by 2020. Proportional to our population this would mean we could offer to welcome some 25 refugees by 2020.

Phil Matthews, chairman of Amnesty International IoM, said: ‘A big thank you to all those that came to the Refugees Welcome Event – the volunteers that collected signatures, everyone that was there for the photo, those that brought lifejackets along and the public that took time out to look at the displays.

‘There was an incredible amount of support and positive comments - many saying they thought 25 was a rather low number! We collected 162 signatures in just three hours to add to the online petition.

‘The information on the displays and on the flyers gave the public a much clearer understanding of what this is really about - we are talking about just five families that would come through the UK Resettlement scheme from a refugee camp on the Syrian border.

‘There are lots of individuals and groups that have offered to provide most of the needs for these people including accommodation, and the importance of the Isle of Man playing a more responsible and mature role in international affairs (not just when there might be something in it for us).

Phil said the campaign will continue over the next month and he urged anyone who would like to give their support to sign the online petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/refugees-IOM

Paper copies of the petition will be distributed to organisations, community groups and businesses that have requested them.

The Refugees Welcome group is also in the process of arranging for an exhibition of Syrian refugee children’s artwork to come to the island at the end of October when it hopes to present the petition to the new Manx government.

For further information, or for copies of the petition and flyer, contact Phil Matthews on 801866 or by email at pm@wm.im

A fresh breeze in Carrick Bay for the third Bart’s Bash on Sunday, hosted by the Isle of Man Yacht Club, filled the sails of the 38 boats taking part - from the 33-foot Sigma to little RS Tera dinghies.

‘The building wind created some sharp waves in the bay but there were no real casualties,’ said organiser Mick Kneale. ‘Some of the lighter kids had the sense not to chance their luck in the conditions and took to crewing the keelboats instead.’

The Manx Sailing and Cruising Club race management team oversaw the event.

Mike Pridham won the short dinghy race, but there was less than a minute separating the top seven. Andy Dunn’s Bolero ‘Tango’ won the keelboat race just 40 seconds ahead of Mick Kneale’s gaffer.

With a generous donation from Paul Hotchkiss of Hotchkiss Associates, Kirk Michael, the club raised more than £1,000 for Bart’s Bash, a worldwide sailing event to raise funds for disabled sailing.

The club thanked all who helped to make it a success.

Onion bhaji mix, produced by one-man business Leela’s Kitchen, based in Douglas, has been shortlisted in the 37th U.K Quality Food Awards.

Kumar Menon said: ‘I’m delighted to have been shortlisted in the Quality Food Awards. I’m sure my grandma Leela would be proud of this achievement.’

Kumar added: ‘I strive to ensure my products use the best ingredients, and feedback from my customers is extremely positive, I’m glad the judges thought so too.’

Leela’s Kitchen onion bhaji mix was among thousands of products, from across the British Isles to have been called in for a rigorous judging process.

After four weeks of judging, the onion bhaji mix has been shortlisted in the home baking category.

Offering the chance to be crowned the best product on grocery shelves, the Quality Food Awards are considered the ultimate endorsement of food products on offer to consumers.

And, because each product is put through a rigorously fair judging process by a prestigious team of more than 200 food experts, consumers and entrants can buy products safe in the knowledge that each shortlisted and winning accreditation is credible and deserved.

Kumar’s onion bhaji mix is available to buy online from leelaskitchen.co.uk

It is also available at a number of outlets including The Food Assembly, Robinson’s, Tynwald Mills, The Good Health Store, Port Erin, Vivaldi catering, Bride, The Welcome Centre at the sea terminal and Mostly Manx.

Kumar said: ‘I’m always looking to expand, so if any companies out there would like to be part of my distribution family, give me a shout.’

Kumar was busy last weekend exhibiting his work at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival.

As reported in Business News the man behind Leela’s kitchen in the island has been making a name for himself spicing up people’s lives with his cookery products.

He gives people across the island an opportunity to experience the exotic tastes of Indian cuisine in their own home, and he is involved in cooking workshops and other projects. Kumar who lives in Douglas, named Leela’s Kitchen after his late grandmother and his 11-year-old daughter, both called Leela.

The awards are organised by Metropolis Business Media. Group publisher Helen Lyons said: ‘Now in its 37th year, these prestigious awards are perfect for small and large producers alike.’ The winners will be announced at London’s Grosvenor House on November 10,

A woman from Lonan, thought to be the oldest person in the island, has celebrated her 105th birthday.

Elvira Clarke, who is currently living at Ellan Vannin Home at Kingswood Grove in Douglas, was born on September 18, 1911.

She marked her big day on Sunday with a party at the home where she received a visit from Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney.

She also received a birthday card from the Queen.

Asked to reveal what the secret of a long life is, Elvira said: ‘Plenty of fresh air and an occasional whiskey.’

A government spokesman said: ‘According to our records the lady celebrating her 105th birthday on Sunday will be the oldest person in the Isle of Man.

‘This is based on government information but there may well be people out there we are not aware of.’

Elvira, who is known as Elvie, was born in Lonan and went to school in Onchan. She has always lived in the island.

She is the eldest of five children, having two brothers and two sisters, born to William and Isabella Cowin.

Her father was a farmworker and, soon after she was born, he obtained a position at Bibaloe Farm on the outskirts of Onchan.

The family remained there for eight years before moving to Ronaldsway Farm and then, three years later, to Ellerslie Farm in Crosby.

Elvira has been married twice but has no children.

She worked as a housemaid at A B Crookalls in Douglas until she married Harry Corrin in 1947 and set up home at Rose Cottage in Greeba where she lived for 62 years.

She said: ‘My main hobbies were cycling and gardening. I used to ride my bike everywhere.’

Harry died in 1960 and 10 years later Elvira married Harold Clarke. Harold died in 1984.

Her younger sister Marion lived with her at Rose Cottage for 23 years until her death in 2008.

In 2009 Elvira moved to Fuchsia Court in Governor’s Hill in Douglas.

She has been living at Ellan Vannin Home for just over a year.

Government records say that there are currently 11 people known in the island to be aged 100-years-old or more.

Do you know anyone on the island older than Elvira? If so, get in touch with our newsdesk by calling 695697 or by emailing newsdesk@newsiom.co.im

A shop manager who embezzled more than £4,000 from Heron and Brearley will spend her 56th birthday later this week in prison.

Michelle Atherton managed the Spar shop on Parliament Street in Ramsey, but unknown to her employer, she took sums of money from the takings between November 2014 and May 2015 totalling £4,251.

For the prosecution, Barry Swain said as manager, Atherton was responsible for banking the shop’s takings, and this was supposed to be done on a daily basis six days a week.

However, he said in May this year, one of the company accountants flagged up a discrepancy of £2,625 between the takings and the amount banked in the previous month.

The matter was raised with Atherton who provided banking slips for £2,625, but these related to a different period from the one under scrutiny. An audit of the shop’s safe revealed a further £1,626 was also missing.

The court heard Atherton had admitted theft, saying it started off with low amounts because she was experiencing financial difficulties and matters had escalated from there.

Mr Swain requested compensation equivalent to the sum taken.

Defending her, advocate Peter Russell said the thefts had gone on over an 18-month period.

‘There was a lack of due diligence by her employer, otherwise this would have come to light earlier,’ he said, citing the defendant’s financial difficulties as lying at the root of the problem.

‘She and her husband keep their finances separate and each has responsibility for certain household expenses. She did not want to trouble her husband about it so she started borrowing from the till and repaying it. Then it got out of hand and the amount built up and she stopped repaying it. So we ended up with more than £4,000 taken. When you are only taking around £50, it doesn’t seem like so much.

‘She is deeply upset and ashamed about it and has genuine remorse,’ he said.

Mr Russell said work was still available to Atherton and she hoped to be able to repay the debt.

‘There has been a degree of sticking her head in the sand on this matter but she has been hard-working over the years, has good references and is assessed as being of low risk in terms of reoffending.’

Mr Russell said if a custodial sentence were to be imposed it should be suspended given the defendant’s more mature age, her slightly fragile mental state and the fact that she had no prior experience of custody.

Sentencing her to 10 weeks’ immediate custody, Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said the offence involved a breach of trust. She must pay £4,251 compensation but no costs order was made.

A 22-year-old has been jailed after punching a man unconscious during a drunken night out.

Roman Pszczolkowski, of Allan Street in Douglas, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH).

He has already served six and a half months on remand so he should be released in weeks.

The ugly incident was sparked by Pszczolkowski, who is originally from Poland, grabbing a woman’s bottom which he said had then prompted a man who was with her to ‘ram’ a bag of chips into his face. He then responded by punching the man who fell, unconscious before he hit the ground.

Pszczolkowski initially pleaded not guilty and had been set to face a trial before changing his plea to guilty.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on May 2, 2015, a group of men and women encountered Pszczolkowski, who was with two other men on Tynwald Street.

As the group passed the men, Pszczolkowski grabbed the bottom of one of the women and then her arm.

The woman shouted: ‘What are you doing?’

The men with her confronted Pszczolkowski who then punched one of them.

The victim hit his head on the road and started to choke with blood gurgling in his mouth.

His friends put him in the recovery position until an ambulance arrived.

Pszczolkowski told police he had grabbed the woman’s bottom ‘just for fun’ but conceded it might have been the starting point of the incident.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, he was asked how drunk he had been and replied ‘8’.

The victim suffered fractures of the nasal bone and mastoid bone but had now recovered.

The court heard that Pszczolkowski had a previous conviction in Poland in 2011 for robbery.

During his period on remand here he had also served time for breaching his bail and resisting arrest.

In court, defence advocate Steve Wood handed in a basis of plea for his client in which he admitted throwing the punch but said that it had been act of self-defence after being hit with the chips. Pszczolkowski accepted that the force he used was excessive. The plea also said that, after the punch, the victim’s friend had picked him up but dropped him which could have resulted in the mastoid bone injury.

Mr Wood said that his client was remorseful for the damage his punch had caused.

Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said: ‘Regarding remorse, the jury is still out. Time will tell. If you are truly remorseful this is the last we’ll see of you in court. If not, then we’ll be seeing you again.’

A former fisherman has been jailed after admitting removing criminal property from the island.

Jamie Roy Griffin, along with his sister Meghan Tammy Griffin and mother Beverley Winifred Taylor all admitted paying money into the bank in the Isle of Man and transferring it to bank accounts in the UK.

Jamie Griffin, aged 25, of Fenella Terrace in Peel paid £12,565 into accounts in the UK betweem March 2014 and October 2015. The fisherman, who lost an arm in an accident in 2013, also admitted having just over one gramme of cannabis bush worth £22 and 23 grammes of cannabis resin worth £115.

Sister Meghan Griffin, aged 21, of the same address, transferred the largest amount of money, £19,664, over 19 transactions between April 2014 and December 2015. Their mother, Beverley Taylor, aged 51, of West View, Peel, made eight transfers between April and November 2015, totalling £6,825. She said she was promised £50 per transaction but in fact had only received £200 in total.

The court heard none of the parties actually knew the origin of the money, but they had suspicions it may be proceeds from illicit drugs. In the case of Jamie Griffin, the suspicion was ‘as good as’ knowledge.

Jamie Griffin was the only member of the family to receive immediate custody. He was sentenced to nine months in prison, plus a further 10 days for the cannabis offences.

Meghan Griffin, who is due to give birth in November, received a 15-month sentence suspended for two years, coupled with a suspended sentence supervision order. She must also pay £300 towards prosecution costs.

Beverley Taylor, the only defendant who co-operated by giving police the access code to her telephone, received 200 hours’ community service as a direct alternative to six months in prison. Sentencing her, Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said it was the shortest term he felt able to impose. She must also pay a £500 contribution towards prosecution costs.

Peel’s lifeboat was involved in a dramatic rescue involving two warships and three helicopters in the early hours of this morning.

The Ruby Clery, under the command of coxswain Paul Cain, rescued a 20-metre converted trawler 11 miles West of Peel.

The vessel made a Mayday call at 1.30am, triggering a response from helicopter crews who searched for it and even two Royal Naval warships that were in the region and were on standby to go to the vessel. The lifeboat was launched shortly after and reached the vessel in about 45 minutes.

The converted fishing boat was on passage from Glasgow to Conwy in north Wales when it started taking in water through the stern tube (propellor shaft) and was in danger of sinking.

The Northern Irish fishing vessel Stephanie M gave shelter from the weather to the boat until Peel lifeboat and its volunteer crew were able to put a pump on board to evacuate the water.

The vessel, which had three adults and one child on board, was stabilised and helicopters and other vessels stood down.

The trawler was then escorted by Peel lifeboat bound for Peel, during this time the young woman and child were taken ill so about 15 minutes from Peel they were taken by the lifeboat into Peel to a waiting ambulance where they were treated and then removed to Noble’s Hospital.

The lifeboat returned to the stricken vessel which had continued on its own and escorted it into Peel harbour at about 5am.

Mr Cain said: ‘People must take responsibility for the condition of their vessels before leaving port.’

The scale of debts owed by two sister companies involved in luxury homes development has doubled to more than £2m, creditors heard.

Meetings of creditors of island-registered Richmond Square Design Ltd and Richmond Square Construction Ltd were held yesterday at the Claremont Hotel in Douglas when Mike Fayle and Howard Smith of KPMG were appointed joint liquidators.

The level of debt disclosed in the statement of affairs produced by the directors is more than £2m.

There are about 200 trade creditors but a significant number have yet to file proofs of debt so there can be no definitive statements about final amounts due for some time, said Mr Fayle. The largest trade creditor exceeds £100,000, he revealed.

He added: ‘The level of creditors is rarely a fixed sum as there are inevitably claims that are made in relation to contracts that have to be assessed and ultimately agreed or amended.’

Mr Fayle confirmed that the Manx government was owed ‘mid-range five figure sums’ in respect of unpaid tax and National Insurance.

He explained that the liquidators will now take control of the companies and start reviewing their records with a focus on more recent trading.

‘This is not indicative of any concern but is a routine task applicable to all insolvent liquidations,’ he said.

Richmond Square has been involved in a number of top end developments including Ballacomish House, Ronague, and a design brief for Ballamona, a £30m mansion planned in Port Soderick with its own lake and private beach.

The two sister companies went into voluntary liquidation after directors called the creditors’ meetings.

A third company which is part of the Richmond Square group, Richmond Square Estates Ltd, is still trading.

Derivco Isle of Man is sponsoring the award for Innovation and Independent Thinking at this year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence. Julie Blackburn takes a look at what it’s like to work in ‘techie heaven’

You can’t help but be inspired by a visit to Derivco.

There is a real buzz about the place, from the vibrant game graphics on the wall to the relaxed dress code (flip flops aplenty) and the chill area where colleagues gather for a coffee and chat.

The work is done in a large open plan office with multiple screens on each desk and laptops standing by as well. The very best technology for the very best IT technicians, people who are at the top of their game.

This, quite simply, is techie heaven.

But make no mistake there’s complete commitment too – everyone is keeping an eye on the big screens on the wall that indicate a potential system interruption, allowing the team to pre-empt system failure.

Because the team of technical specialists on the island, working closely with Derivco offices around the globe, is there to ensure that Microgaming’s software and systems are delivered to gaming operators flawlessly, 24 hours a day, every day.

The two companies are closely associated; Microgaming, in effect, is Derivco’s customer.

In turn, Microgaming’s customers are a range of betting and online gaming sites, offering everything from sportsbetting and roulette, to bingo and slot games.

With over 500 gaming brands on Microgaming’s books, Derivco has plenty of work to keep them busy.

There are a number of different teams in the office, ranging from Tech Ops and Casino, to HR and Admin Support. And as the industry continues to grow, as is the company itself.

This means that they are recruiting furiously: there are currently 15 vacancies at Derivco covering a variety of IT roles.

‘We brought around 50 staff and their families over here from South Africa in December 2012 to set up the company – now we have over 90 people working here – we’ve almost doubled in four years,’ explains Sean.

Derivco will be celebrating its fourth anniversary this December.

They have largely grown by employing local talent; 42 per cent of the current workforce are IOM workers.

If you have the skills, they have the benefits: not just competitive salaries but huge training opportunities, free lunches and gym as well. Plus the chance to work somewhere that’s genuinely cutting edge:

‘Our technical people deal with the most complex issues. Their job is to solve problems, find answers and implement solutions.

‘What you learn working here in a year you wouldn’t be able to learn anywhere else in two years – it’s an incredibly fast-paced atmosphere,’ says Sean.

Personal development is a real focus for the company, and their values of ownership, passion and care underpin every instance of success.

What’s more, they are always looking at ways to develop the skills they can use on the island, working with local organisations such as MICTA, to inspire individuals to start a career in IT here.

They are not only investing in their own people, but the island too.

As a company that is continually innovating Sean says that it was ‘completely apt’ that Derivco should be sponsoring the award for Innovation and Independent Thinking at this year’s Awards.

Derivco was itself a proud finalist in this category last year:

‘You need the freedom we have found on the island to be able to flourish and to innovate and achieve excellence.’

Are you entering this year’s Awards? Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence offers 16 awards categories, including Innovation and Independent Thinking. There are categories for companies of all sizes, individuals, public sector teams and charitable and community organisations. Entries close on Monday, September 26. You will find full details of all the categories and entry forms to download at www.iomtoday.co.im