Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey has died at the age of 68 after a long battle with cancer.

Mr Malarkey, who had been South Douglas MHK since 2015 and previously from 2006 to 2011, died last night in Hospice Isle of Man with his family at his bedsid.

Married to wife Pamela in September 2018, Mr Malarkey also leaves three grown up daughters.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ’Bill was a proud Manxman. I’m a better person for knowing Bill.

’He put his heart and soul into being MHK for Douglas South and he was passionate about being Minister for Home Affairs. Right at the end he was working in the House of Keys.

’He fought his illness like you wouldn’t believe. At one point he was given just a few months to live. We knew this was coming but it comes as a shock.

’He always told things as they were.

’Bill has been a supportive friend and colleague of mine. I wrote my manifesto for chief minister at his home.’

Mr Quayle said he signed a delegation making Mr Malarkey acting chief minister at one point when he was off-island last year.

Prior to his election to Tynwald, Mr Malarkey had served on Douglas Borough Council and returned to the town hall for three years from 2012 to 2015.

Growing up in Douglas, Mr Malarkey attended Ballakermeen High School and St Ninian’s High School, the Isle of Man College of Further Education and was a City and Guilds electrical engineer.

As Minister, Bill Malarkey oversaw the development of three significant pieces of legislation.

These include the Domestic Abuse Bill which seeks to make domestic abuse a crime in its own right for the first time in the Isle of Man.

He oversaw the introduction of the Sexual Offences and Obscene Publications Bill which aims to modernise existing law, and was responsible too for finalising the development of the Justice Reform Bill.

The Minister was a keen advocate for the rehabilitation of offenders and championed the opening of the new bail hostel in Tromode.

As well as being Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Malarkey had chaired the Communications Commission.

Prior to being a minister, he had been a political member of the former Health and Social Security department from 2009-10, Home Affairs 2008-11, Social Care 2010-11 and Education and Children 2015-16.

Mr Malarkey also worked on the select committee on the Steam Packet Company in 2007-08.

He was also a key figure in securing the future of the Pinewood Social Club after brewery Heron and Brearley had announced it was closing the pub in Pulrose. Having saved the pub, Mr Malarkey became the first chairman of the club.

Mr Malarkey’s family has asked that they be allowed privacy. Arrangements for the funeral will be notified in due course.