Police are treating the death of a man in Castletown as suspicous.

At about 1am this morning (Sunday) emergency services attended an address in Queen Street, where the body of a man was discovered.

Two people were arrested at the address and are currently in custody.

Police reassured the community that the incident had been contained and at present there were no known outstanding people sought in relation to the matter.

Police want to hear from any members of the public who may have seen or heard anything in the area of Queen Street, Castletown, last night or in the early hours today.

Contact the Criminal Investigation Department at police headquarters Douglas on 631212.

Douglas B closed the gap at the top of the Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield with an emphatic 95-3 win away at Western Vikings on Saturday.

Callum Carine was the danger man for Douglas with four tries.

There were two apiece for Shaun Grobelaar, Glenn Smith and Scott Goodall and single tries from Carl Conroy, Sam Dignan and Jack Fallon. Scott Goodall converted 10. Tony Grundy kicked a penalty for Vikings.

At King William’s College there was a mighty close game between Emerging Nomads and Ramsey B with Nomads just edging it 28-22.

Joe Callaghan crossed for two Nomads tries with Aaron Ledingham, Chris Beaumont and Richard Seed adding one each.

For Ramsey, Craig Long bagged two with Matty Kelly and Garry Vernon getting one each and Kelly kicking a conversion.

Results

Saturday, November 30

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division One

Northwich 54-31 Douglas

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two

Ramsey 12-5 Port Sunlight

Vagabonds 77-10 Dukinfield

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Emerging Nomads 28-22 Ramsey B

Western Vikings 3-95 Douglas B

Advocates at Douglas-based Smith Taubitz Unsworth Ltd are making simple wills for people in return for a minimum donation to the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity of £100 instead of charging their usual fee.

The offer runs for this month and next.

Advocate Vicki Unsworth stressed the importance of making a will for those with children or who are in relationships but who are not married.

Wills bought on the internet and in newsagents are based upon English law and therefore do not cover the Manx position.

If you would like to support the work at the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, contact Vicki Unsworth at Advocates Smith Taubitz Unsworth Ltd, on 677888 or by email to vicki@advocates.co.im.

Maintenance work is to be carried out to the entrance flap gate to Douglas’s inner harbour this week.

In order to undertake the works, the Douglas inner harbour area will have to be closed to vessels seeking to enter or leave.

The work has been scheduled from 1am on Tuesday to 1am on Friday (December 3-6).

The Department of Infrastructure has apologised for any inconvenience that may be caused by these ‘essential’ works.

Education bosses want to spend £4.9 million on training facilities for the engineering and construction craft industries.

Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children, will seek Tynwald’s approval this month for phase one of a scheme to improve training facilities for the two industries at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education.

He said: ‘We have strong, home-grown construction and engineering sectors and it’s essential that suitable training facilities are provided to support these industries and bring through the next generation of engineers and tradesmen.

‘The widening of vocational choices to complement or offer an alternative to the more conventional academic examination routes at 14-16 and beyond is also a key department priority.’

Training in engineering and construction crafts takes place across three sites – at the college in Homefield Road and at Hill’s Meadow and in Union Mills.

The availability of the former Water Authority treatment works in Greenfield Road, next to the main college, allows for improved facilities for both to be created within easy proximity.

Phase one of the scheme would provide improved facilities for engineering at the old treatment works. The original filter hall on the upper ground floor would become the main engineering hall, housing machinery and workshops, with classrooms and a computer aided design/ machinery area off this. A materials laboratory, electronics classroom and office space would be included in an extension.

At first floor level there would be further classrooms, including for materials science and electrical engineering.

At lower ground floor level, within the existing building there would be an electrical engineering workshop, and stores, staff room and meeting room. The extension at this level would include a reception, recreational space for students, a further electrical engineering workshop and a plant room.

A separate motor vehicle workshop will be created alongside the main hall, allowing for growth in the spheres of green motor vehicle technology and engine testing.

Subject to Tynwald’s approval, work on the facility would start in January 2014 and be completed by mid-August. The planned improvements would allow the College to offer new courses in mechanical engineering and electronics, such as mechatronics, supporting new industry on the Island.

The facility would be named the William Kennish Building, after the Manx inventor and marine engineer who set out early plans for the Panama Canal.

Improved facilities for engineering training would allow the college to:

· Develop the 14-16 link, providing secondary school students with enhanced engineering and motor vehicle facilities

· Train more HGV specialists on-island

· Develop ‘green’ engineering and motor vehicle curriculum initiatives

· Provide laboratories for the testing of engineering materials and the building of electronic devices

· Replicate realistic workshop environments where individuals can work on industry-standard equipment such as CNC (computer numerical control) machines, engine analysers and electrical switchboards

· Provide space for maritime engineering, to be developed in conjunction with Liverpool John Moores University’s Maritime Academy, to support the island’s shipping industry.

In June 2014, the department would seek Tynwald’s approval for phase two of the scheme, to create suitable-sized facilities for the four construction crafts – brickwork, joinery, painting and decorating and plumbing – in the space at the College vacated by engineering. Work would start in September 2014 and be completed by June 2015.

‘This scheme underlines the Isle of Man Government’s support of the construction and engineering sectors, bringing together training in purpose-built facilities that reflect the two industries’ modern-day training needs and freeing up facilities elsewhere,’ Mr Crookall said.

Douglas Council’s proposals to transform Cambrian Place into a multi-storey car park and library ‘were lacking in a number of areas’.

That’s according to Treasury and Infrastructure chiefs, who issued a joint statement explaining their decision not to approve the borrowing to fund purchasing the land and going ahead with the scheme.

Douglas Council leader David Christian announced last week it could not fund the project and the land owner, Rural Views Limited, had now pulled out.

Developer Time and Tide was given approval in principle for the scheme by the Council of Ministers in January, and submitted a reserved matters application in July.

Infrastructure Minister David Cretney said: ‘I have been disappointed that, despite a significant amount of work from all parties, the scheme has not been able to be progressed.

‘However, as the department with responsibility for approving local authority borrowing, we are responsible for ensuring that value for money is clearly demonstrated.

‘With regard to Cambrian Place, this has not been the case and it is the responsibility of the Department of Infrastructure and Treasury to safeguard the interests of the ratepayer/taxpayer in the longer term.

‘We are obviously disappointed that the development opportunity has been frustrated but clear accountability, transparency and competition for any substantial investment of this kind must be paramount.’

In the statement, it says Douglas Council was told by Treasury at a meeting in December 2012 that there were ‘a number of issues with the proposals’.

They included lack of consultation, no transparency or competition in the procurement process, and the high costs of construction and the land.

In addition, they said the contract arrangements needed amending, and the developer was unable to provide a bond.

The statement continues: ‘Both Treasury and the department have been in extended correspondence with the Council to address these issues over the past 10 months.

‘However, they have not been successfully addressed or resolved and therefore the department has been unable to approve the petitions and Treasury has been unable to provide concurrence for the borrowing from the Local Authority Borrowing Scheme.

‘The department has sought the advice of independent valuers/surveyors who confirmed that the proposals were lacking in a number of areas and did not meet the value for money criterion which open, transparent and competitive tender arrangements would provide.’

Douglas Council submitted two petitions to the DoI in October, one for £2.5m to purchase the land, and the second for £12.072m for the Cambrian Place Development Scheme.

Chief Minister Allan Bell underlined the Isle of Man’s position as a leader in the field of economic innovation at an Overseas Territories meeting.

He was a panel member for a discussion on economic opportunities at the Overseas Territorial Joint Ministerial Council, hosted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

Mr Bell said it was the first time a chief minister from a Crown Dependency had been invited.

‘I was able to share the story of the island’s journey from relative poverty 30 years ago to the position today where it is recognised as a leader in the fields of economic innovation and international engagement,’ he said.

‘But it was also an opportunity to learn from the Overseas Territories, who share many common challenges with the Crown Dependencies, and to hear their views on issues such as tax transparency.’

The Chief Minister, the only politician from the Crown Dependencies to attend the event, was the guest of Mark Simmonds, FCO Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories.

Mr Bell said the invitation came following a meeting with the MP in October, during which Mr Simmonds said he supported the work of the Small Countries Financial Management Programme and the support the Isle of Man is giving to Sierra Leone’s fishing sector.

He said the island’s experience of developing from a near bankrupt state to a fast growing economy, and developing new skills to deal with the evolving international agenda, was well received.

‘Many small jurisdictions are having to adjust to those same pressures and therefore listening to our experience was well received by those facing similar problems.’

He added: ‘Overall it helps to reinforce the message the Isle of Man has been promoting that we are a responsible international business centre.

‘We work actively as part of the international community to help developing countries and it recognises the work we have done to shake off the tax haven label.’

Two Douglas-based firms have merged.

Software developer Webtech and Intelligence Ltd, a company specialising in project management, software design and the use of IT in business, will in future trade as Webtech.

Chris Davies, chief executive officer of the company, said: ‘The merger has led to some changes in terms of the people we employ and while we have increased the resources in some areas we have had to make some unfortunate choices where there was duplication or changes of role, but overall the combined companies will be employing the same number of people as when they were separate entities.

‘Both companies currently have offices in Douglas, Intelligence on the South Quay, and Webtech on Athol Street. The combined company will operate out of the offices on the South Quay.’

New legislation to strengthen the Isle of Man’s ability to combat bribery will come into effect later in the month.

The Bribery Act 2013, which is being introduced by appointed day order on December 16, aims to keep the island at the forefront of international standards, according to the Manx government.

At the same time, official guidance will be published to help Isle of Man businesses to comply with the new legislation.

The Department of Home Affairs sought the views of the business community and wider Manx public about the guidance information as part of a consultation process earlier this year.

Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘The introduction of the Bribery Act 2013 is a further demonstration of the Isle of Man’s commitment to stamping out corruption and supporting fair trade and international development. This legislation is intended to enhance the island’s reputation as a responsible nation, while supporting economic growth by not being overly bureaucratic for business.’

The main difference between the Bribery Act 2013 and the legislation it is set to replace, the Corruption Act 2008, is the introduction of a new offence.

This will make a commercial organisation liable to be prosecuted for failing to prevent bribery if a person associated with it commits a bribery offence anywhere in the world for the benefit of that organisation. However, as in the UK, the organisation will have a defence if it can prove that it had in place adequate procedures designed to prevent such criminal conduct occurring.

Mr Watterson added: ‘The guidance document is aimed at giving local businesses of all sizes and from all sectors a helping hand. It sets out their responsibilities under the Act and the measures they can put in place to prevent bribery.’

New legislation is set to make changes to the island’s work permit system.

The Department of Economic Development’s Control of Employment Bill is set to enter the House of Keys for its first reading tomorrow (Tuesday).

The Bill will replace the Control of Employment Act 1975 and make a number of changes to the existing system of work permit controls. The changes are being proposed in order to introduce a modernised system of controls which will help drive economic growth in an increasingly diverse economy and which carefully balances the interests of both employers and Isle of Man workers.

Minister for Economic Development John Shimmin MHK said: ‘Work permits are one of the most contentious areas of policy and the legislation has long had both its vehement supporters and critics.

‘The current Act, which was designed to safeguard employment opportunities for unskilled manual workers at a time when many had to leave the island to seek work outside the visitor season, was unquestionably in need of modernisation and the department has thought long and hard as to how we could best reform the legislation.

‘Having looked at all the options we decided to retain but modernise the existing system of controls. The new Bill liberalises the system in some respects and tightens it up in others; what I will be presenting is a balanced package of carefully thought out reforms which will encourage job creation while continuing to protect the interests of Isle of Man workers.’

The main changes proposed are:

Definition of Isle of Man worker

The new Bill proposes that a person is an Isle of Man worker if he or she has at any time been ordinarily resident in the island for an unbroken period of at least 5 years. This new definition will not be applied retrospectively.

Exemptions

The department will have more flexibility to grant exemptions or to remove existing exemptions from the requirement for work permits. For example, the department has a new power to exempt, subject to any conditions, a person working in a specified capacity if it considers the employment of that person to be in the national interest.

Permits for spouses and civil partners

Currently the department must grant a one-year permit on application to anyone who is married to, or the civil partner of, a work permit holder or an exempt person. The permit is renewable annually provided that the spouse or civil partner still holds a permit or is an exempt person and the couple are still married or civil partners.

Under the new Bill the spouse or civil partner of a permit holder or exempt person will be able to apply for a one-year permit himself or herself with the permit not being limited to any particular employment.

Applicants with a criminal conviction

A person with a relevant criminal conviction will no longer be entitled to use any exemption. Similarly the spouse of a permit holder or of an exempt person will no longer have an automatic entitlement to a permit if he or she has such a conviction. In this case, a relevant criminal conviction is a custodial sentence imposed anywhere in the world which is not ‘spent’, or is excluded from rehabilitation under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 2001, or is relevant to the particular employment under that Act.

Criteria for the granting of a permit

Under the existing regulations the department must take five matters into consideration in determining whether or not to grant an application for a permit and may take any of 11 further matters into consideration.

Under the proposed tegulations nine matters must be taken into consideration and 17 matters may be taken into consideration.

The list of matters includes some criteria of a social nature; such matters are intended to ensure that any wider consequences of granting a permit, particularly the costs to the Government, may be taken into consideration. Further, the Bill contains explicit powers for the department to have regard in regulations to the potential impact of any relevant person when deciding whether or not to grant a permit.

A relevant person is any person living with, or likely to live with the person concerned as a member of his or her family or household.

Under new powers in the Bill, the department also gains discretionary powers to take into account the ability of the person in respect of whom a permit is sought and any relevant person to speak English.

Enforcement, revocation

Maximum financial penalties for offences are increased from £2,500 to £5,000 and for aggravated offences from £5,000 to £7,500.

The department may impose a fixed penalty for an offence of working, or employing a person, without a work permit, or failing to comply with a condition of a work permit or exemption, as an alternative to prosecution subject to maximum of £1,000. A fixed penalty may also be imposed for a contravention of the regulations.

Under the draft 2014 Regulations there are a wider range of grounds for revoking a permit.

New grounds include failure to comply with a condition attached to the granting of a permit, failure to pay income tax and a significant number of consumer complaints.

Express powers are given for various authorities such as the police to share information with the Department for specified purposes.

The first reading of a Bill in the House of Keys goes ahead without debate.

The Bill will be debated by the House of Keys at its sitting on January 28.

The Isle of Man Football Association has announced that Mark Watterson is to take over as manager of the newly-created IoMFA Masters representative team sponsored by Paddy Power.

Frank Stennett, chief executive of the IoMFA, commented: ‘Masters football in the Isle of Man has been one of the real success stories in our sport in recent times. ‘Every season we have more teams entering the Masters League for over-35s and the participation levels have been really encouraging for this format of football.

‘It seemed the correct route to take this to the next step and put in place a formal Masters team for our veterans as we have many really skilled players through the o35s teams.

‘We are delighted that Mark has agreed to take on the role of team manager as he brings many fresh and exciting ideas to the IoMFA and Masters football in general.’

Watterson was actively involved in the Masters League during his time in Perth, Western Australia and he has been involved in the island with Braddan Vets.

Stennett continued: ‘We will start off with some friendly fixtures on and off-island and then determine which will be the most appropriate tournament for the team to compete at. I would like to once again thank Steve Hadfield the MD at Paddy Power for his continual and invaluable support to grassroots football in the island and the sponsorship of the IOM FA Masters representative team.’

Hadfield also expressed his delight: ‘The creation of a representative team is another excellent step forward by the IoMFA who are constantly looking to increase and develop the quantity and quality of football at all levels on the Isle of Man.

‘Paddy Power are once again proud to be partners with the IoMFA and are excited to be given the opportunity to sponsor the new team. We would like to congratulate Mark on his appointment as team manager and wish him, and the team, the best of luck in all future tournaments.’

The new manager commented on his appointment: ‘I’m really delighted to have been given the opportunity to manage the national Masters team. I consider it an absolute honour and privilege to be handed the role and want to publically thank the IoMFA for putting their faith in me.

‘My intention is to develop the Masters game in the island as a whole, building on the excellent foundations the FA has already put in place. I will be looking to arrange a number of highly competitive fixtures in the new year for the national side both on and off-island. There is also an opportunity to play tournament football at this level and this is something also currently being explored.

‘The news that Paddy Power have got behind the representative side, by offering such high profile sponsorship, can only mean that the future looks extremely bright for all those wanting to be involved in such an exciting period for Manx football.’

The ninth annual Polish Junior Squash Tournament was held at the National Sports Centre recently.

For the last nine years this tournament has been fully sponsored by Kuba Szymanski and the Isle of Man Squash Rackets Association is very grateful to him for his continued commitment to junior squash even though his son has long since left the younger ranks in the island.

There was an entry of 27 players so the format of the competition was to put these players in three mixed gender groups of under-12s, u15s and u18s. The players in each group then played against each other and trophies were awarded for the first, second and third placed boys and girls in each.

In the u12s some of the games where very close with more than a dozen of them being decided by fewer than three points.

The main contenders for trophies amongst the boys were Oliver Wait, Rhys Keown and Elliott Le Moal, however eight-year-old Christian Webster and Alex Le Moal showed tremendous promise in this groups and are definitely players who will soon be among the trophy winners.

The only unbeaten player in the group was 10-year-old Oliver who came first, while Rhys secured second and Elliott came third.

In the girls u12s Amaline Batty continued to display tremendous confidence and ability to secure first place, losing only one game in the group. Second went to the impressive Isabel Joubert with the energetic Emma Leith taking third.

In the u15s group the girls contest was between Clare Townsend and Rebecca Keeley. Clare beat Rebecca to first place by just eight points.

In the boys u15s the top three were Sidney Batty, Harry Douthwaite and Calum Baker. Sidney remained unbeaten in the group to take first place while there were just four points between the next three places with Harry taking second on 94 points and Calum third on 93. Mention must be made too of Mark Arrowsmith who came fourth with 90.

In the u18s group two players dropped out on the day because of football injuries sustained before the tournament which reduced the group. Most of these competitors play in the C League of the IoMSRA so the group was quite competitive. Mann Made Ladies’ players Courtney Gilardoni and Chloe Corrigan took the top two slots for the girls.

The boys u18s three players topped 100 points with first place going to the consistent Scott Jones, with Sam Wilson in second and the third slot going to the much improved Mathew Naylor.

A special thank you must go to all the parents of the squash players for their tremendous support on the day.

Particular thanks to those who volunteered to mark the games for the u12s section which was run by Sue Keown, the treasurer of the junior squash section of the IoMSRA.

The trophies were awarded by junior squash development officer Carl Albrigt.

The next IoMSRA junior tournaments will be the Under-13s and Under-17s which will be held this Sunday, December 1 and the Under-11s and Under-15s which will be held on December 15.

Entry forms are available at the NSC squash courts.

Four new island champions were crowned during the Isle of Man Boys and Junior Men’s Island Gymnastics Championships held at the Manx Gymnastics Centre of Excellence.

The under-nine boys competition was a tight contest with Ewan McIlraith just pipping Oshin Kaighin to the overall title by 0.4 points.

With an individual gold on vault Max Yates was third overall, but it showed how close the competition was as Callum Kelly won individual gold on rings, Hugo Hughes was gold medallist on pommel and Jackson Katz came home with a handful of bronze medals.

It was an even tighter competition in the U10 boys. Simon Tibitanzl’s outstanding consistency, which earned him three individual gold medals and two silvers, resulted in him being crowned champion.

Jack Collister pushed him all the way, taking silver by just 0.1 from Adam Palmer who also picked up three individual gold medals.

However, the top three didn’t have it all their own way, with Jamie Meggitt and Andrew Ivshin putting in some fine performances.

Callum Kewley was on great form to win the U12 competition, taking five golds and a silver medal on the individual apparatus.

Connor Esp claimed the overall silver with a gold on vault. Joshua Morrison, who won silver on parallel bars, completed the top three, but Aaron Dougherty put in some fine performances including a silver medal on pommel.

Nailing his high bar routine, including a full-twisting double back dismount to bring his gold medal total to six, Nicholas Harvey is the island u14 champion.

His training partner Robert Jones, who attempted more difficult routines, claimed the silver medal.

Unfortunately due to injury the other two u14 competitors had to withdraw.

Many thanks to the organising committee, all the judges, coaches, helpers and especially Manx Gymnastics Centre of Excellence for hosting this year’s champs.

Police have confirmed they are conducting a murder inquiry after a man’s body was found in Castletown yesterday.

Today’s Isle of Man Examiner has the story on the front page.

Also on page 1, the paper includes the latest from the trial of the Attorney General.

The coverage continues on pages 2 and 3.

On page 4 we report on the employment tribunals involving the island’s bus drivers.

Also in the paper we report on changes to the work permit system, have photos of the lights switch-ons in Castletown and Peel, and reveal a plan to spend millions at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education.

The paper also talks to a former page 3 model who’s now running a restaurant in Douglas and there’s a chance to win a television set.

The island’s favourite newspaper is in the shops now.

Corinthians and Peel have qualified for the semi-finals of the Warehouse Fitness Floodlit Cup following wins over Castletown and DHSOB respectively on Sunday.

The Ballafletcher outfit finished as Group A winners after defeating the southerners 8-0. Leading 3-0 at the break, Lisa Costain (3), Jade Burden (2), Jenna McStay, Casey Halsall and an own goal made up Michael Quilliam’s side’s tally.

The westerners completed the Group A qualifying stage as runners-up with a 6-0 victory over DHSOB. Leading 4-0 at half-time, Vanessa Christian (3), Ellan Cleator, Michelle Poyzer and Kayleigh Greggor netted for the Douglas Road outfit.

A full round-up of all the women’s football will appear in this week’s Manx Independent.

Drivers using Peel Road, Douglas, are having to endure an increase in their waiting time at traffic lights.

Manually-operated traffic lights have been in use between 7.30am and 6pm at the Peel Road/Pulrose Bridge junction while work is carried out near to the junction.

iomtoday queried the length of the waiting times with the Department of Infrastructure (DoI).

Jeffrey Robinson, operations director at the DoI, said the manual operation of the lights was ‘successfully reducing the impact to the public through this short phase of the work’.

Mr Robinson said: ‘Whilst we work near to the Peel Road/Pulrose Bridge junction we need three way lights in operation. Unfortunately, having three way lights as opposed to two way lights does increase the waiting time slightly.

‘Waiting times during the rush hours are estimated to be around five to eight minutes. That said they do temporarily increase when the pedestrian crossing at the junction is used. The use of this crossing increases significantly between 8.30am and 9am as children make their way to school.’

Work on the road during this phase of the improvement project has gone well, said Mr Robinson, and the base asphalt was laid at the weekend to create a driving surface.

The manually-operated traffic lights are due to be removed, ahead of schedule, this week.

The one-way system on Peel Road – one of the capital’s major commuting routes – will remain in operation and Pulrose Bridge junction will become a stop sign.

Mr Robinson added: ‘Myself and the department’s contractor appreciate the disruption that projects like this cause to people’s daily routines and we make every effort to reduce overall disruption.’

No one has won in this case, both sides of the family have lost a mother.

That was the reaction by the family of island woman Tina Casey, after her mother-in-law Heath Emmonds was convicted of her murder after a trial.

On Friday, Newcastle Crown Court ruled that the 58-year-old must serve at least 20 years before she has any chance of release.

Emmonds, of Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, had admitted killing Ms Casey, 42, at her home in Holywell near Whitley Bell in February.

But she had denied murder on the grounds of loss of control and diminished responsibility.

After the case, the victim’s family said in a statement: ‘We’re really going to continue to miss Tina, especially her children and the rest of the family, both now and in the future.

‘No one has won in this case, both sides of the family have lost a mother, one has died and another is in jail, through tragic circumstances.

‘Both sides in this case have shown great dignity and have conducted themselves impeccably throughout this trial.

‘We’d like to thank the police for their support and Victim Support who have both helped the family through this very difficult time.

‘We hope everyone now can start to get on with their lives and put this behind us.’

Detective Superintendant Steve Wade, of Northumbria Police, said the crime had a ‘devastating effect’ on Ms Casey’s family.

‘I’d like to thank them for their support and courage throughout this investigation,’ he said.

‘This was a horrific attack, which resulted in the death of a mother.

‘We welcome the decision of the jury and hope that it brings some closure for the family to know Heather Emmonds will spend a substantial period behind bars.’

The court heard Ms Casey, nee Halsall, was planning to return to the island so Emmonds and would have lost touch with her grandson.

Emmonds was found collapsed in her car after crashing it at a roundabout in Shiremoor, North Tyneside, having taken an overdose of sleeping tablets.

Inside the car, police officers found handwritten notes about the crime.

Giving evidence in her defence she claimed Ms Casey called her a bad grandmother’ for not lending her money.

‘I just thought I have had enough of this, I had lent her money time after time,’ she recalled.

She said she didn’t remember picking up the knife, before going over to the settee and stabbing her in the neck and stomach.

Ms Casey’s mother married a Manxman and the family moved to the island when he came out of the Army.

She was the youngest of five children and was born in RAF Wegberg Military Hospital in Germany, and not as we reported in the Examiner last week.

The mum of five moved from the island to Tyneside 16 years ago.

Douglas Council leader David Christian is pictured above receiving his MBE from the Queen.

He said: ‘It was a fantastic day. All the palace staff went out of their way to make everyone feel at ease – and among the 90-odd people was author Jackie Collins receiving her OBE.

‘When Her Majesty learned I was from the Isle of Man she said “a nice place to live” and that I was “very young” to have been in local government for 26 years and council leader for 12.

‘I also took the opportunity to say that I had had the pleasure to meet the Prince of Wales when he visited Douglas in our centenary year, 1996, when I served as mayor and was among those invited to lunch with him on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

‘Being awarded the MBE is tribute to the tremendous support I’ve had from my family and friends, also from council colleagues and staff.

‘It was a very proud day for me, my family and friends, an occasion I’ll never forget and one where I was honoured to be representing the Isle of Man.’

November was sunnier and drier than usual.

There were 87.5 hours of bright sunshine last month, 35 per cent above normal, making it the fifth sunniest November since sunshine was first measured at Ronaldsway in 1948.

Clearer skies meant colder nights and with the airstream often from more northerly sources daytime temperatures were also suppressed.

The mean temperature for the month was 8°C compared to the long term mean of 8.6°C.

The warmest day was the 11th with a maximum temperature of 13.6°C.

The lowest air temperature of exactly 0°C was measured on the 23rd which also saw the coldest of 7 ground frosts, recording a minimum temperature of -5.2°C on the grass.

Total rainfall measured 61.3mm (2.4 inches) at Ronaldsway, 40 per cent below the November mean.

The wettest day was the 5th when 15.2mm fell.

Some of the showers around the middle of the month were wintry, containing hail or sleet and the 19th saw a temporary covering of snow on high ground.

The mean wind speed at the airport was 14.3mph, the lowest November mean since 1990 and 2mph below the long term mean.

There were a few windy days though, the highest gust of 59mph was recorded in the gale on the 2nd.

There was no thunder or fog observed during the month.

A long-running pay dispute involving staff working for the health service and the Department of Social Care has been resolved.

Following arbitration through the Manx Industrial Relations Service, a pay award for 2011/12 and 2012/13 has been determined for staff employed under the Manx Pay Terms and Conditions (MPTC) and under National Joint Council (NJC) terms and conditions which are analogous to it.

The pay award for 2011/12 is a consolidated increase of 20p per hour. For 2012/13 the pay award is an unconsolidated one off lump sum of £400.

The sum will be paid to all employees as at April 1, 2012, with those recruited after this date during 2012/13 receiving a sum pro rata to their months of service.

Minister for Health David Anderson MHK said: ‘This pay award, determined by an independent arbitrator, will allow both sides to move forward, however finding the money to fund this award will put a significant strain on the department’s budget.

‘As has been the case for several years now, there is no central fund from Treasury for pay awards, which means that the money has to be found within the department’s existing budget, potentially impacting on frontline services.

‘I appreciate that pay restraint is a difficult issue and want to ensure that staff are rewarded for the excellent work they do – especially those who protect the vulnerable in health and social care.

‘That said, the rebalancing exercise to address the dramatic reduction in revenue from the VAT agreement with the UK means that government must look to reduce its costs, the majority of which are accounted for by the wage bill.’

Staff employed under MPTC and NJC include professions such as nursing and midwifery, psychology and social care, but does not include civil servants or manual workers under the Whitley Council.

The pay award will affect about 1,500 staff across the two departments.

Minister for Social Care Chris Robertshaw MHK said: ‘I am glad this issue has now been resolved. However, reducing the wage bill remains a serious challenge for the Isle of Man Government; one which we must, and are, facing up to with measures such as pay restraint and reducing headcount.

‘The cost of this pay award will be funded from within our existing budgets.’

Arbitration became necessary after a failure to agree a pay settlement for 2011/12 and 2012/13 via conciliation.

The arbitration process is binding on both parties.