The island’s director of prosecutions is stepping down for ’personal reasons’.

And in a separate blow for the island’s criminal justice system, Deemster Alastair Montgomerie has announced he is retiring at the end of the year.

Richard Butters took on the role of director of prosecutions in January 2016 and has since led the prosecutions team of lawyers in the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Attorney General John Quinn QC said: ’It is with regret that I announce that Mr Richard Butters, as director of prosecutions, is leaving Chambers to pursue his career elsewhere.

’Mr Butters leaves for personal reasons to return to his family home to be with his wife and children who were not able to settle on the island.’

Mr Quinn said a recruitment process will be undertaken in due course to fill the vacant director of prosecutions role.

’In the meantime, arrangements will be made to provide cover for the prosecution team in Chambers to support the continuing busy workload,’ he said.

Deemster Montgomerie will retire at the end of 2019 at the age of 66, after a distinguished career in the legal profession.

He has performed high-profile roles in the Isle of Man for 28 years, including more than 16 years as a judge.

Deemster Montgomerie initially worked for the Crown Prosecution Service in Cumbria. He joined the Attorney General’s Chambers in the Isle of Man in 1991, as a legal officer with responsibility for serious fraud prosecutions.

A promotion to chief prosecutor saw Deemster Montgomerie prosecute criminal cases before the Court of General Gaol Delivery, including murder and drug trafficking.

He was appointed as the Island’s Deputy High Bailiff in 2003, a demanding and varied position where he presided over summary criminal cases, inquests, licensing courts and criminal injuries compensation tribunals.

He also dealt with civil cases having been appointed as Small Claims Arbitrator in 2003 and with criminal cases in the Court of General Gaol delivery having been appointed a part time Panel Deemster in 2004.

A further promotion to Deemster followed in 2011, presiding mostly over the Court of General Gaol Delivery, a senior role he will continue to perform until his retirement.

Deemster Montgomerie said: ’It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the Isle of Man for the best part of the last 30 years. I have enjoyed the many challenges of working as a member of the judiciary, but feel that now is the right time to retire.’

Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney expressed ’warm and sincere thanks’ to Deemster Montgomerie for ’over 16 years of the strongest service in the judiciary’.