The Santa’s Little Helper campaign is appealing for donations of Christmas gifts to give to children.

The campaign aims to make sure that children in the island who are less fortunate than most will receive a present to make them smile.

The Children’s Centre co-ordinates the distribution of presents to youngsters who need them the most.

Susie Cox, the charity’s fundraising co-ordinator, said: ‘Everyone knows how expensive Christmas can be, and for some families in the island this time of year is a real struggle.

‘With the kind help of 3FM and Manx Telecom, and the very generous donations from the lovely people of this island, The Children’s Centre distributes gifts to children and young people across our community.

‘There are hundreds of children and young people who benefit from this initiative every year. We work with lots of charities to help distribute these gifts to as many families as we can. We help families currently being helped by The Children’s Centre and families being supported by charities such as Manx Mencap and Women’s Refuge – we endeavour to reach as many children and young people as possible.’

Organisers are appealing for donations of a wide range of gifts to suit children from very young babies to young adults.

Susie added this advice: ‘Vouchers for cosmetics, music, and clothing are perfect for teenagers as it allows them to choose something they love – and make-up and fragrances are always a hit with the girls.

‘Don’t rule anything out, just treat the gift item as if buying for a loved one. All we ask is that the presents are new and unused.’

Donation boxes are situated at Manx Telecom’s shop in Strand Street, Douglas, and 3FM’s offices in Victoria Street.

You can also drop your gifts into The Children’s Centre on Woodbourne Road in Douglas.

If you’d like to collect gifts in the area where you live or at your workplace – or you know a family that you think could benefit from Santa’s Little Helper, call Susie Cox to arrange collection of the donations on 676076.

The Isle of Man Creamery and Heron and Brearley are paying money towards the Manx team’s Commonwealth Games effort for next year.

The farmers’ cooperative and the brewery will have their names and logos associated with the team, which will compete in Glasgow, in return for undisclosed sums.

They are among the organisations now described as ‘Team Isle of Man Champions’.

Findlay Macleod, managing director of Isle of Man Creamery, said: ‘Team Isle of Man reflects the community spirit and community values which we as a local company have always shared.

‘The year 2014 will the Isle of Man Creamery’s 80th anniversary, so becoming a Team Isle of Man Champion as our athletes prepare for Glasgow 2014 is a perfect fit. In addition, there is now a growing amount of scientific research which shows that fresh milk is an ideal recovery drink for athletes needing to rehydrate and replenish energy stores after training or competition. All of these factors make us very proud to be a Team Isle of Man Champion and we wish the squad every success at Glasgow 2014 and beyond.’

Heron and Brearley group hairman Jonathan Clague said: ‘Heron & Brearley is proud to be a Team Isle of Man Champion and support our talented young sportsmen and sportswomen as they prepare for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Champions initiative reflects the feeling of national pride that we all have for our Team Isle of Man competitors whether they are winning medals or fulfilling a lifelong ambition to compete for their country. We wish the squad every success.’

There is one more connection between Isle of Man Creamery and the island’s Commonwealth Games team.

Milkman Steve Partington, who represented the Isle of Man in race walking events at five Commonwealth Games between 1986 and 2006, will be Team Isle of Man’s athletics manager at Glasgow 2014.

The Team Isle of Man Champions initiative is a vital part of preparations not just for Glasgow 2014, but also for the 2018 Games in Australia, and the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa in 2015, and St Lucia in 2017.

Juliet Holt, president of IOMCGA, said: ‘We’re delighted that Isle of Man Creamery is a Team Isle of Man Champion and thank them for their support which will help us to send the strongest possible team to Glasgow 2014.

‘The Champions initiative is also a cornerstone of IOMCGA’s fundraising plans for the Commonwealth Youth Games which are important stepping stones for competitors with ambitions to compete at senior elite level.”

The other ‘Champions’ are are Auxesia, Creechurch Capital, IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited, Karsons Pharmacy, Manx Telecom, MM&C, Skanco and SMP Partners.

As Team Isle of Man Champions businesses can, for example, use the official Champions logo on all marketing material, company vehicles and on their website. The Champions initiative will continue until next June.

The Isle of Man will be one of 71 nations competing in Glasgow between July 23 and August 3, 2014.

Potential Team Isle of Man competitors (who have achieved consideration standards) apply for selection in April next year with the team for Glasgow 2014 being announced on May 8.

The Queen’s Baton Relay, which will visit every nation and territory of the Commonwealth, arrives in the Isle of Man on May 16, 2014, from the Guernsey and Jersey legs of the relay.

It will leave the island on May 19 and continue on its journey with the next stop being Northern Ireland - then it’s on to Wales, England, and its final destination of Glasgow.

Details of the exact route it will take in the Isle of Man have yet to be finalised.

Isle of Man Sport, an organisation that promotes sport in the island and which is partly funded by the taxpayer, has donated £15,000 towards funds for the island’s Commonwealth Games.

In addition, Isle of Man Sport is also to provide £5,000 towards funds for the national team to compete at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, and the same amount for the 2017 Youth Games in St Lucia.

An Andreas man took his own life after becoming depressed, an inquest has ruled.

Coroner John Needham was told Robert Stannus Geohegan, who was 48, was not in regular employment and was desperate to find work because it gave him a sense of purpose.

His widow Charlotte Geohegan told the court: ‘He was always a very kind and honest person and came across as being a happy person, but he did drink a lot.

‘He found work quite stressful, often working through the night but that suited his personality.’

But she said problems had developed with work and he had been bought out of the company he had worked for in Wales.

In 2004 she said Mr Geohegan made a suicide attempt. Though he had been seen by the doctor after this, he was not admitted to hospital.

Mrs Geohegan said her husband was also troubled by the suicide of his own mother who took her own life while suffering post natal depression when he was eight months old.

In 2010 she said he suffered some kind of breakdown and was signed off work and put on medicaton but was not admitted to hospital.

In April this year, she said she had to go to the UK and when she returned Mr Geohegan’s condition seemed to have deteriorated, so she sent him to see the doctor.

‘When he came back, Rob told me the doctor had stopped his medication but a counselling session had been organised,’ she said.

On April 26, she attended a function at their children’s school and returned around 8.30pm to find her husband had taken his own life.

Mr Geohegan’s GP Alexander Allinson said he was not advised to stop taking medication.

He told the court it was easy for a patient to fall off the waiting list for counselling if they failed to fill in the forms – perhaps because they were too depressed – or failed to attend an appointment, as Mr Geohegan did while away looking for work in the UK.

Recording a suicide verdict, Mr Needham noted the waiting list of around six months for counselling was ‘a relatively long time’.

He also noted Mr Geohegan’s condtion was rated as ‘severe’ with a risk of self-harm in January, but this had improved slightly by April.

However, he said: ‘One of the symptoms of his depression was to act impulsively.

‘It seems he fell into a low state.

He had been drinking and was almost double the drink drive limit.’

He added a note left by Mr Geohegan indicated he was aware of what he was doing.

Contracts need to be more tightly negotiated in future to minimise disruption caused by major road works.

That was the message from Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK as he gave an update in Tynwald on the Peel Road and Douglas promenades reconstruction schemes.

Dealing with Peel Road first, he said the works are generally going well and the project is currently on track for completion ‘considerably in advance’ of its scheduled September 2014 completion date. Last month, he told a Tynwald scrutiny committee that weeks could be taken off the scheme if the private contractors worked at weekend.

In Tynwald this week, he thanked the contractor for heeding his words: ‘The contractor has applied additional weekend resources and I thank him for that as he was not required to do so in the contract but has done so in response to my comments.’

He added: ‘I accept that this work has taken some time and that it is disruptive. It has also become clear to me that the department needs to ensure in future that a more tightly negotiated contract is in place to further minimise such disruption and maximise the time spent on site.

‘I must make it clear, however, that Peel Road was in a very poor condition and as one of the most important stretches of road in the island, there was little choice but to undertake a full reconstruction.’

Kate Beecroft (Lib Van, Douglas South) asked: ‘What was the problem in this case? Never has so many people been messed around for so long by so few!’

The minister said the contract had been different from any previously issued as the majority of work had been done by the private sector. ‘There’s lessons to be learned from that,’ he admitted.

David Quirk (Onchan) asked if the road works would be ‘closed down for Christmas’, Mr Cretney replied that he would expect that those involved in the construction sector would have time off at Christmas.

Replying to a question from Howard Quayle (Middle) about the safety of cyclists using Peel Road, Mr Cretney said that this was the first scheme in the island to incorporate such provision.

Turning to the Douglas Promenade phase one works, the minister said the project was currently about one week behind schedule but he expected the time to be made up over the next few months so that the overall scheme will be completed by May 23 next year. He said in the New Year work will focus on the section outside Bordello and La Piazza.

As one door closes, another door opens.

So says Dr Helmut Kessler, managing director of Manx Precision Optics, which recently got off the ground in the island.

Dr Kessler, 47, was made redundant last year by award-winning CVI Technical Optics Ltd of Onchan. He had been with the company for more than 17 years.

Also last year Dr Kessler was runner-up in the business person of the year award at the island’s Awards for Excellence.

Dr Kessler, originally from Hanover, Germany, has now agreed to take on five or six people from CVI following the shock news that the SecondAvenue, Onchan firm is to

close its doors for the final time by the end of March next year.

Thirty five jobs are being lost at the factory.

Dr Kessler said he ‘felt sorry ‘ for those losing their jobs. He knows many of the team and worked closely with them at CVI.

He said they were skilled engineers and he hopes they all find new employment here.

He told Business News he was given the shock news he was losing his job shorlty before Christmas last year. ‘I can understand how my former colleagues are feeling now. It’s not a nice feeling and especially so close to the festive season.’

He had to keep to a three month non competitive clause before launching his new company last February. Manx Precision Optics has an office in Albert Street, Douglas, and a manufacturing facility in two units at the Freeport near Ronaldsway airport.

The business is involved in what Dr Kessler describes as ‘highly skilled niche products.’

On his website he describes the company like this: ‘The company is new, but when it comes to optics, we are ‘‘old hands’’, having been in the industry for decades – it was just that as independent thinkers with an appreciation for craftsmanship and ingenuity, we no longer fitted into the framework of large corporations.’

Dr Kessler said he is optiistic of success and says he recently shipped off his first order.

He quoted the famous island resident and watchmaker Dr George Daniels who once toldhim: ‘If you enjoy what you are doing and you are good at it then you will succeed.’

Dr Kessler said he was ‘really proud’ of the way the business was growing in a matter of months.

He owns the business with his wife Jeanette. The couple have one son.

Telephone: 620 800

email: sales@mpo.im

South Lancashire/ Cheshire Division One

Sefton 7-44 Douglas

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two

Southport 41-7 Ramsey

Vagabonds 0-15 Bowdon

Shimmin Wilson Manx Shield

Douglas B 7-10 Vagabonds B

Castletown 17-20 Ramsey B

Emerging Nomads 21-5 Western Vikings

A woman arrested in connection with a murder inquiry has been released without charge.

Neil Edward Roberts, aged 60, who lived in Ballabeg, was found dead at an address in Queen Street, Castletown, at 1am on Sunday, December 1.

Police have confirmed a woman in her 40s who was originally arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge.

Ian Anthony Anderson, 45, of Queen Street in Castletown, has appeared in court charged with Mr Roberts’s murder.

The island has lost its triple A rating status with Moody’s.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK says the downgrading to Aa1 is not unexpected.

We lost our AAA credit rating with a second ratings agency, Standard and Poor’s, in 2011.

Moody’s placed the Isle of Man’s AAA rating on review for a downgrade on July 26 this year, the move triggered by increasing international pressures on offshore financial centres and the view that our economic prospects and public finances are vulnerable to policy decisions made in other jurisdictions.

Mr Teare said: ‘The adjustment of the island’s government bond rating comes as no surprise given the changing global economic environment, and it is part of a reassessment process affecting many countries around the world.

‘As a result of that process double A plus is becoming, in effect, the highest rating available to small jurisdictions, and the outlook for the new rating is stable. It’s reassuring to note Moody’s have clearly recognised the strength and diversity of our economy compared to competitor jurisdictions, and the fact we do not borrow to fund revenue spending.’

The Manx government has ‘adequate preparation in place’ to protect the population against biological attack.

But Chief Minister Allan Bell refused to give details on what vaccines or other equipment it has ‘in view of the security implications’.

Mr Bell was answering a Tynwald question tabled for written answer by Onchan MHK Zac Hall.

He said the island had established planning mechanisms to deal with major emergencies including terrorist attacks.

The current approach to planning for emergencies is ‘all hazards approach’.

Government departments keep in close contact with counterparts in the UK to obtain intelligence with regard to biological attack.

And it ensures there are ‘adequate facilities’ to deal with attacks based on ‘current and dynamic threat and risk assessment’.

He said: ‘In view of the security implications it would not be appropriate to make public the full details of the vaccines or other equipment we hold or we can access at short notice.

‘We have adequate preparation in place and we continually monitor the situation across the globe and make appropriate changes to our plans to accommodate the changing situation.’

Keith Gerrard has been selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the BUPA Great Edinburgh XCountry at Holyrood Park on Saturday, January 11.

The 36-strong team will be eager to secure the title that they narrowly missed out on to Team Europe last year, while the USA will also pose a stern test for the British.

Gerrard will be joined in the senior men’s team by Andy Vernon, Adam Hickey, Charlie Hulson, Luke Caldwell, Jonathan Hay, Callum Hawkins, Dewi Griffiths and Jack Goodwin.

Manxman David Knight secured the overall win at round two of the FIM Maxxis SuperEnduro World Championship in Poland on Sunday.

The Sherco-mounted Balluagh ace edged out home favourite Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) to take the win in the Lodz-based event.

Knighter Tweeted after the event: ‘Made up and so happy to win overall here in Poland after a tough few years. Still lots to do but happy, having fun and winning again!’

Fellow Manxies Danny and Jamie McCanney were also in action. Danny impressed in the main Prestige class won by Knighter, while Jamie finished second in the Junior category to Italy’s Giacomo Redondi.

The next round of the championship is in Brazil next month. Full report in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

Today, Monday

FFOS LAS CHOICE: 12.25 Forced Family Fun 12.55 It’s A Doddle 1.30 Off The Wall 2.05 Gate Please 2.40 Titchwood 3.15 Chemistry Master 3.50 Imagine the Chat

PLUMPTON TIPS: 12.10 The Stig 12.40 Rock On Ruby 1.15 Call The Cops 1.45 Days Of Pleasure 2.20 Absolute Shambles 2.55 Bit Of a Clown 3.30 Celtic Charlie (NB)

WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.55 Honey Of A Kitten (NAP) 2.30 Epic Storm 3.05 Scribe 3.40 Jazzy Lady 4.10 Power Up 4.40 Aomen Rock 5.10 One Scoop Or Two

Metal cases containing a range of power tools were taken from a garden shed at a property in upper Malew Street, Castletown, between 1.30pm on Thursday, December 12, and 10am on Friday, December 13.

If you have witnessed anything suspicious in the area or have been offered cheap power tools, call police headquarters on 631212.

Alternatively, the Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The government has announced that the annual increase in public sector rents of 5 per cent.

According to the Department of Social Care, the average rent rise for general housing will be less than £4 per week, with a typical three-bed house paying £85 per week.

The average rise for sheltered housing will be just over £3 per week, and the average rent for a sheltered unit being £60 per week.

Households on income-related benefits (about a quarter of the total) will be largely unaffected.

The rises will take effect from April 1.

The increased rents will still be significantly less than the cost of the equivalent private sector housing in the island.

The Minister for Social Care Hon Chris Robertshaw MHK said: ‘The rent increase of 5 per cent this year is to appreciate the impact of significant increases over the last two years, whilst accepting there is a need to reduce the financial impact on the tax payer of public sector housing provision.

‘As previously announced, my department will be progressing with means-tested rents from 2015.

‘This will provide a mechanism for an equitable rent that reflects both the property and a tenant’s ability to pay.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/business/manx-inflation-rate-rises-1-6285655|The rise is above the rate of inflation. The most up to date RPI measure of inflation shows a rate of 2.5 per cent.}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/public-sector-rents-will-rise-again-in-2014-1-6163881|Click here to read another recent story about public sector rents.}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/11-8-rent-rise-for-public-sector-housing-1-5181617|Last year, average public sector rents went up by 11.8 per cent on average.}

What do you think of the rent rise?

Let us know by commenting here or emailing opinions@newsiom.co.im

Attorney General Stephen Harding is facing a retrial.

Mr Harding denied charges of perjury and committing acts against public justice in a trial which began on November 25.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/ag-trial-jury-discharged-after-failing-to-reach-verdict-1-6315588|However, after hearing the evidence, a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case last week and were discharged.}

A statement issued this afternoon (Monday) by Laurence Keenan Advocates, who were the advocates for the prosecution, reads: ‘The prosecution confirms that it has made an application to the Court of General Gaol Delivery for a hearing to be had and directions given in connection with setting of the date for the commencement of the retrial of Mr S. M. Harding.

‘It is expected that a date for such hearing will be notified in the near future.’

David Downie from The Hyperbaric Chamber is pictured above being presented with a cheque from friends Luke Phair, aged 13, and Joe Barker, aged 12. £325.

The boys, who both live in Onchan, organised a sponsored cycle from Onchan to Port Soderick and back to raise funds for The Hyperbaric Chamber.

The chamber treated Joe earlier in the year following an injury to his foot two weeks before he took part in an international taekwondo competition (Dutch Masters).

Regular visits to the chamber helped with his recovery and he came back with a silver medal.

The £1.8 million new Jurby healthcare centre is fulfilling its purpose, insisted Health Minister David Anderson - despite it only seeing 267 patients a month.

Mr Anderson faced a grilling in Tynwald from Michael MHK Alfred Cannan who suggested the facility was not value for money.

Mr Cannan asked him: ‘Is the Minister aware that a constituent of mine drove past the surgery at 11.30am very recently and decided to go in to see the doctor about her backache, only to find the door locked and the young lady behind the door telling her that there was no-one in and that she had been ordered to remain on site until 1pm?

‘I know it is Christmas, but the Minister did not have the foresight to build a stable next to the surgery!’

Mr Cannan asked if this was a proper use of funds and whether it would not have been more efficient and effective to have built a smaller facility at Jurby and a smaller facility at Kirk Michael or Ballaugh.

The Minister said he disagreed but would investigate the claim of the Michael MHK’s constituent.

Jurby Health Centre was opened to patients in January 2012 and was intended to consolidate health services in the area. Mr Anderson said the surgery in Jurby is open each morning five days a week and has, on average, 267 patient consultations per month.

He said a full business case put forward in 2008-09 had believed significant development would take place but that ‘not all of this development has materialised yet’.

Leonard Singer (Ramsey) suggested patients were travelling from Ramsey to Jurby.

Forms are being sent out to parents getting child benefit so they can make new claims from April 7 next year, when entitlement will begin to be income-tested.

Minister for Social Care Chris Robertshaw said: ‘All existing claims will be automatically brought to an end on April 6 and anyone who will still be entitled under the new income tested scheme will need to make a new claim.

‘New claim forms need to be completed as the department needs to know personal and income details of both customers and their partners. Until now child benefit has been paid on a universal basis.’

Claim forms will be sent out in four batches, starting with those whose surnames that begin with A, B or C. Forms will be sent to other customers in batches during January and February.

Plan how to get home safe and legally after a festive boozy night out.

The second phase of the Christmas anti-drink-driving campaign was launched last week highlighting the importance of returning home safe after a night out, rather than risking life, liberty and livelihood by drink-driving.

Beer mats and bar drip mats featuring the message ‘Designate a Driver’ have been distributed to pubs, and officers from the Department of Infrastructure’s Road Safety Team will be handing out Christmas cards that include phone numbers of several taxi firms and details of the late night bus services over the Christmas and New Year period.

The campaign, a joint initiative between the department and Isle of Man Constabulary, was launched two weeks ago with the simple message ‘Never Drink and Drive’. The second phase of the campaign is to reinforce that message.

Political member for highways, Leonard Singer MHK, said: ‘When we launched the campaign, we highlighted some of the consequences of drink-driving, including the risk of arrest and injury.

‘We want people to remember that, but we also want them to enjoy the festivities, which is why we are now focusing on the importance of planning your night out.’

Full details, including taxi phone numbers and bus schedules, can be downloaded now from the website www.gov.im/festiveantidrinkdrive

Sergeant Allan Thompson, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: ‘Our plan this year is to deter drink-drivers by being in the right place at the right time, main arterial routes, rural pubs and party venues. This approach includes not only proactively policing the roads for drink-drivers at night but also in the mornings.

‘The risks and consequences are exactly the same and offenders can expect the same penalties at court.’

The ICM Group has announced the appointment of Heather Gordon as legal counsel.

Heather joins ICM at an exciting time and will be involved in business development as well as dealing with legal matters.

With a background in international business law, aviation and space, Heather has worked with Isle of Man based law firm Cains since 2007.

During that time she completed an MBA in Space Business with the International Space University.

For Heather the move to the ICM Group was a logical one. She said: ‘I was looking for a new challenge to expand my legal knowledge and skill set.

‘I already knew several members of the senior management team at ICM through my background in aviation, space and shipping and liked the way they worked.

‘The ICM Group has a good reputation on the Isle of Man for being fully regulated and compliant yet at the same time innovative.

‘This is a combination I found very attractive.

‘I am looking forward to working with the wealth management team and also representing the company at trade shows and conferences.

‘ICM is a dynamic company to work for and I am joining just at the right time as it expands into new offices and new business sectors.’

Mark Byrne, ICM Group director with responsibility for aviation and wealth management sees Heather as a key member of the team. He said: ‘I would like to welcome Heather on board on behalf of all the directors.

‘The Group has grown quickly and it is now at that critical point whereby it is essential for us to have an in-house legal expert.

‘We will not only benefit from Heather’s legal counsel but also from her commercial expertise in specific sectors.

‘There was an obvious synergy that made it a very easy appointment.’