Tynwald seneschal Paul Dougherty has officiated at a parliamentary sitting for the final time.

The seneschal manages the Tynwald messengers and security guards and has overall responsibility for the fabric of the Legislative Buildings.

Should a Tynwald member be disciplined by the President of Tynwald or the Speaker of the House of Keys, it would be the seneschal who would escort them from the chamber.

Mr Dougherty, who started in 2008, attended the House of Keys on Tuesday, when Speaker Juan Watterson paid tribute.

’Paul exemplifies the can-do attitude that we so appreciate in our staff here in Tynwald and his inimitable sense of humour will be missed,’ said Mr Watterson.

’He has been a faithful servant to this House.’

To a chorus of ’hear, hear’ from MHKs, Mr Watterson wished Mr Dougherty well for the future.

Earlier in the month, Mr Dougherty, a former police crime scene photographer, attended a Tynwald sitting for the final time.

President of Tynwald Steve Rodan paid this tribute: ’Paul, as our seneschal - calm, unflappable, with meticulous attention to detail - has ensured that this building and the people working in it have run as a well-maintained and well-oiled machine.

’Always professional and ever-diplomatic, I think I, and many of us, have been grateful for the occasions on which he has poured oil on troubled waters.’

He added: ’Paul has been good at his job and his love and respect for Tynwald as an institution has always shone through.’

Mr Rodan offered ’sincere thanks’ for they way Mr Dougherty had ’looked after us’.