Deemster Doyle flies Manx flag in the Privy Council

News Publication Date: 14 February 2011

Deemster Doyle with Jenny Rowe
Deemster David Doyle, who was sworn in as Her Majesty’s First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls in December last year, has recently returned to the Island following a series of visits to the Royal Courts of Justice and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
Deemster Doyle met with the Justices and observed the hearing of an appeal on an abuse of process argument in a criminal context.
Deemster Doyle was entertained to a working lunch with the Justices, presided over by Lord Phillips the President of the Supreme Court who had the night before delivered his lecture on judicial independence at University College London, where Deemster Doyle’s eldest son is studying.
Whilst in London Deemster Doyle also took the opportunity to observe the workings of the Commercial Court presided over by Mr Justice Nigel Teare and also observed the fast pace of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division presided over by Lord Justice Richard Aitkens.
Deemster Doyle commented:
“It was useful to be able to meet with the Justices of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (our final appeal court) and to raise the profile of the Manx legal system and the Manx judiciary in such an important context. It is vital that the Justices who sit in our final appeal court are aware of our independent legal system and of the need to be mindful of the Island as a separate jurisdiction to England and Wales with its own laws and procedures. It was useful to discuss with the Justices areas of common interest and to witness them in action. The last time I was in the Privy Council was in the early 1980s on behalf of a client and Leonard Hoffmann (a former law lord) was our leading counsel. It was an opportune moment to renew my acquaintance with the Privy Council and to fly the Manx flag which appears in that court whenever they are hearing appeals from the Isle of Man.”
[Photo - Jenny Rowe Chief Executive of the Supreme Court with Deemster Doyle]
Page last updated on 01 January 0001