A protest against sentences handed down to paedophiles and sex offenders will be held outside Douglas Courthouse (tomorrow) Friday.

The protest has been organised by Christine Gibson Urquhart, Devon Watson and Jenni Smith.

Social media groups have been growing in number in recent weeks and months with several high profile cases of people being found guilty of sexually assaulting children or being in possession of indecent images.

Mr Watson told the Manx Independent: ’We are hosting a protest against the lack of state action in preventing and punishing paedophilia and sexual assault on the island.

’The protest will take place outside the Isle of Man courts in Douglas on August 28 from 12pm-2pm. We are expecting a few hundred people in attendance and would like some potential coverage of the event.

He said that the three core aims of the protest are: social and government intervention to prevent paedophilia and sexual assault; protection and support for victims; adequate punishment and mandatory minimums for those who offend.

On the event’s Facebook page, more than 160 people have said they will attending the protest, with a further 334 declaring an interest in the protest.

Ms Urquhart is a prominent campaigner for justice for victims of historical sexual abuse having been a resident at a former children’s home that has been at the centre of a police inquiry.

The campaign grew in prominence in recent months after Charles Cover was spared prison despite being found guilty of gross indecency and indecent assault of a minor.

Attorney General John Quinn has since launched an appeal into Cover’s sentence which will be heard on September 3.