A man jailed over the death of a child in England has been living on the Isle of Man without the island’s authorities being told.

The Department of Home Affairs says steps have now been taken to assess and manage any potential risks after it became aware of the situation.

The Isle of Man Government says it is now trying to get an urgent explanation from HM Prison and Probation Service about why the appropriate authorities on the island were not told.

The government’s statement comes following claims contained in a social media post that stated that a man convicted of manslaughter following the death of four-year-old boy in the 1990s was living on the Isle of Man.

The post, shared by a Facebook page called UK Database, attracted thousands of shares and hundreds of reactions.

Court reports at the time described how the boy suffered severe internal injuries after being repeatedly assaulted.

The man was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 1990s, with the judge recommending a minimum term of five years.

A government spokesperson said: ‘The Department of Home Affairs can confirm that it is aware of an individual subject to a life licence who has been living in the Isle of Man.

‘The department and Isle of Man Constabulary would normally expect to be informed of such circumstances. However, in this case, no information was received from the relevant probation service in England.

‘Once the department became aware of the individual’s presence, relevant agencies took proactive steps to assess and manage any potential risks.

‘Public protection comes first, and safeguarding the community must remain the overriding priority.

‘The department will be writing to HM Prison and Probation Service seeking an urgent explanation as to why the individual moved to the Isle of Man without the appropriate agencies here being notified.’

Earlier this week, police confirmed they were aware of the posts but declined to comment on the individual's identity or whereabouts.

A police spokesperson said: ‘The Isle of Man Constabulary is aware of social media posts circulating online.

‘However, the Constabulary does not comment on the identity, whereabouts or personal circumstances of individuals.’