Manx Radio came under fire from Chief Minister Howard Quayle during an extraordinary attack this week in the House of Keys.

Mr Quayle’s outburst came after he was questioned about his decision to visit Hospice Isle of Man for the official reopening of its building - after attending a political summit in Northern Ireland a week earlier - as first reported by Manx Radio.

Current rules state that people who have been off-island are not allowed to visit medical settings for 10 days, as part of the Covid precautions.

Mr Quayle accused the station of ’sensational’ and ’unbalanced’ coverage, adding it was ’very disappointing when you are giving a radio station £1 million of taxpayers’ money’.

The Cabinet Office and Hospice both issued statements in the aftermath of the visit, making clear that Mr Quayle had not visited any medical areas of the hospice building and the charity had granted permission in advance.

At Tuesday’s House of Keys sitting, Julie Edge (Onchan) asked him about the ’concerns’ over his attendance.

Mr Quayle lashed out: ’There is always someone who listens to sensational headlines and sadly the honourable member, instead of asking me for the answer on my visit to Hospice, has just gone with the media.

’Before I went, I went to Hospice to see if they were they happy for me to come because I had travelled and they said, because I would not be going into a medical setting, it was more acceptable. They were happy for me to come.

’I did wear a mask throughout as a precaution, but I did take the trouble to ring them beforehand to make sure I was not breaking any rules.’

He added: ’Manx Radio, who were told this, chose not to run with the full story and just went and put a sensational headline, which is very disappointing, when you are giving a radio station £1 million of taxpayers’ money, that you are not getting balanced news where the full picture is given.’

After the Manx Radio report and complaints from the public, the police investigated.

A statement from the force reads: ’It is clear that the management team at the Hospice have given Mr Quayle permission to attend, this is one of the exceptions set out in regulations and specifically listed in Mr Quayle’s direction notice.

’The Hospice and the Cabinet office had planned the visit and made various provisions that would allow his attendance to take place.

’No restrictions were breached by the Chief Minster and following consultation with the Attorney General’s Chambers, the police will not be taking any further action.’

lTo read a report on the official opening of the Hospice, see page 8.

lManx Independent comment, page 18.