Manx probe into Jersey nursing home team "discontinued"

Tuesday 26 January 2021

A police investigation into four Jersey nursing home executives who allegedly broke lockdown rules while in the Isle of Man has been “discontinued”, Express has learned.

The group arrived on 17 June 2020 to discuss increasing the number of beds at their Isle of Man home in order to accommodate residents from Abbotswood Home, which is owned by a different care group, and was at the time linked to 20 deaths from covid-19 in the island.

They were granted an exemption from self-isolation to be able to carry out their work subject to strict protocols. This included a requirement to only travel between their Douglas hotel and place of work.

However, it was claimed that the group went on to break the rules by going out for a meal in a public place.

Pictured: The Jersey nursing home group were alleged to have broken Isle of Man lockdown rules by dining out together.

A Police investigation was opened in the week that followed.

Details then came to light following questions to Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK in the island's parliament, but soon hit a roadblock in the form of travel restrictions between the islands. 

The Isle of Man Constabulary yesterday confirmed that circumstances meant that the investigation couldn't be carried out.

Detective Inspector Gavin Callow told Express that it had been "discontinued pending a change in circumstances", adding: “It is not an ongoing matter i.e. no one is risk at this time.

"We will be unable to speak to the persons anytime in the immediate future.”