A full appeal hearing will take place in December to determine whether two men jailed for their part in the gang rape of a young woman in Douglas should have their convictions overturned for a second time.

James Marcus Doherty, 42, and Graham Peter Skillicorn, 66, received combined sentences of more than 27 years in August after being found guilty by a jury following a trial, alongside Steven John Cannon, who was jailed for 13 years.

This is the second time the two men have challenged their convictions, while Doherty has also appealed against his sentence.

The two men, along with Cannon, successfully appealed their convictions following the first trial in October 2024 over the Deemster’s directions to the jury.

However, all three men were convicted following a further 12-day trial in August.

A directions hearing took place on Wednesday to consider preliminary matters relating to the latest appeal applications.

Judge of Appeal Anthony Cross tried to clarify whether both men had received advice from their advocates on the merits of any appeal.

However, it remained unclear whether Doherty and Skillicorn had received such advice and a preliminary hearing is due to take place to clarify the matter with Judge Cross.

Under legal aid legislation, there is a duty for the defendants’ advocates to provide advice to them on the merits of any appeal and the likelihood of success.

Those who appeal risk having time added on to their sentence. The court can issue a ‘loss of time’ direction if it decides the appeal has no merit which can add the period between the appeal being lodged and the decision being made to the sentence.

The August trial heard how the three men took advantage of a vulnerable, heavily intoxicated young woman for their own sexual gratification, taking turns to rape her.

The offences took place at Skillicorn’s flat on Cushag Road, Anagh Coar, in the early hours of June 25, 2022. The victim did not know the three men before that evening, having met them through a mutual friend.

Doherty and Cannon, who previously lived at Murray’s Road, Douglas, but whose addresses were given in court as care of the prison, admitted having sex with the complainant but maintained it was consensual. Skillicorn denied having sex with her.

The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts against all three men on the rape charges.

All three received indefinite restraining orders preventing them from contacting the victim in any way and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

While Doherty and Skillicorn have lodged further appeals, no such application has so far been made by Cannon.

The grounds for the latest appeals have not yet been made public. Once the preliminary hearing has taken place, the full appeal hearing will take place on December 2 at Douglas Courthouse.

Judge Cross stressed the importance of dealing with the case promptly.

He said: ‘The victim in this case has had to give evidence twice and there will be no delay in the hearing of this appeal. I don’t want her worrying about this process but that is not to pre-judge the appeal.’