Law Society says Jurby Covid claims need action

Advocate's claims have been refuted by prison governor

The Law Society has thrown its weight behind a complaint from a local advocate about the treatment of inmates taken to the Isle of Man Prison during the Covid-19 crisis.

Ian Kermode's claims of cruel and degrading conditions had prompted a strong rebuttal from the Prison Governor, Bob McColm.

But the Society says it wants to talk to the Government about the claims.

The body refers to "a number of serious concerns", which it wants to raise with the Department of Home Affairs. It speaks of needing an urgent meeting to resolve them.

Mr McColm said the cruelty allegations were simply not true, and that the Covid crisis had created big logistic problems at Jurby.

But the Law Society says while it accepts that the current emergency warrants action to ensure the protection of the Manx people, this should not be at the expense of their fundamental human rights.