A man will face a trial after he denied breaching Covid-19 restrictions by organising an illegal gathering at Laxey beach.

Ian Christopher Kirk, aged 35, of Pinfold Hill, Lonan, appeared in court on Tuesday and told High Bailiff Jayne Hughes that he did not recognise the court’s jurisdiction and wished to apply ’common law’.

But Mrs Hughes told him: ’I apply the law as it applies in the Isle of Man.

’Taxpayers are funding it. Your common law principles don’t prevent you relying on legal aid.’

His advocate Ian Kermode said that documentation had been emailed to the court by Mr Kirk without his knowledge, despite them meeting before his court appearance and Mr Kirk not mentioning this to him.

Mr Kermode said Mr Kirk had been ’receiving advice’ and that he was now making an application to come off record and that Mr Kirk would represent himself.

The advocate said he had spent a lot of time on the case, contacting 23 witnesses and described it as a ’shocking waste of taxpayers’ money’, in reference to legal aid.

’All I can say is, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,’ said Mr Kermode.

Mr Kirk said: ’I am me, Ian. I stand as Ian today. I am not representing myself. I am myself.

’I am Ian Christopher Kirk of the House of Kirk. I am here by special appearance to challenge jurisdiction.’

Mr Kirk said that he wanted to apologise to Mr Kermode and that he had only just decided on this approach.

He then asked if he could request a jury but was told by Mrs Hughes that he could not in this jurisdiction.

A trial will take place over three days on August 9, 10, and 11. An interim pre-trial review will be held on July 21.

Bail continues.