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Original poster

Isle of Man

48 replies

jessstan1 · 06/10/2020 11:29

Five welders gaoled for two weeks in I-O-M for going into a supermarket to buy lunch. They were wearing masks for goodness sakes! There was a thread about it on here yesterday which seems to have sunk. People were saying they were buying alcohol and that the hotel they were staying in provided food. In the news reports I have read since there is nothing about them either buying booze or having lunch provided.

I realise the Isle of Man has its own laws and is Covid-19 free but this really takes the biscuit. I have no words to describe the shop keeper who reported them.

www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/five-men-who-travelled-ferry-19048009

OP posts:
AvoidingRealHumans · 06/10/2020 11:31

The point is that they knew the rules and decided to break them anyway.
Its neither here nor there what they were buying.

LindaEllen · 06/10/2020 11:35

The problem is, it's not covid free anymore.

There are a couple of cases, and you can reasonably assume that as long as there are tested cases, there are also untested cases.

They broke the rules, and it might seem like a mad punishment, but they knew what the rules were and chose to break them regardless.

bettybyebye · 06/10/2020 11:40

Absolutely unbelievable. And I cannot believe people are defending the fact that they should have been arrested. This country is getting more and more Orwellian by the minute, which is far more terrifying to me than Covid.

anuffername · 06/10/2020 15:53

There is already a very long thread running on this.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4041940-To-think-these-are-the-best-sad-faces-ever?pg=1

I realise the Isle of Man has its own laws and is Covid-19 free but this really takes the biscuit. I have no words to describe the shop keeper who reported them.

Maybe "law-abiding citizen"?

@AvoidingRealHumans has it spot on.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 06/10/2020 18:12

@AvoidingRealHumans

The point is that they knew the rules and decided to break them anyway. Its neither here nor there what they were buying.
Exactly. You break the law, you face the punishment.

I wish we had stronger rules like this. Maybe them our case number wouldn’t be where it is.

Original poster
jessstan1 · 06/10/2020 18:20

@AvoidingRealHumans

The point is that they knew the rules and decided to break them anyway. Its neither here nor there what they were buying.
Did they know the rules?

I agree it is neither here nor there what they were buying but yesterday there was a thread in which people said they were buying alcohol - which has not been reported in the media - even that one of them has tested positive for Covid-19! That happened quickly if true, which I doubt.

OP posts:
Janaih · 06/10/2020 18:22

The isle of man is a fascinating and unusual place. They have very strict immigration rules too.

user1493494961 · 06/10/2020 18:28

bettybyebye - This has nothing to do with our Government, the Isle of Man has its own laws.

Bourbonbiscuits20 · 06/10/2020 18:52

Wow this is absolutely ridiculous and as PP said I'm shocked at some responses here defending this?!

Someonetakemebackto91 · 06/10/2020 19:04

It’s their rules they came in a ferry from a different place very much like we have laws about self isolating coming from other countries.
The issue with the IOM is that they haves ridiculously small health facilities And Haley any specialist care a lot of would have to be transferred to mainland ( I couldn’t give birth to my child there who needed surgery at birth and so would of had to get to Liverpool )

croon979 · 06/10/2020 19:27

I am from the Isle of Man and I also happen to be a lawyer. I totally support the stance taken. Our laws and rules are very clear. These individuals knew the rules and broke them and one turned out to have COVID. We do not have the infrastructure on the IOM to cope with a big COVID outbreak. we have operated COVID free for over 100 days. No longer due to these idiots.

Follow the rules people. I get that the rules are confusing and conflicting in the U.K. but they aren’t here they are perfectly simple. Come to the IOM from the U.K. you must self isolate. You do not stop off at tescos on the way to self-isolation!

DdraigGoch · 06/10/2020 19:48

I wish our rules on quarantine were this strict. Then people wouldn't be off on pub crawls the second they return from Spain.

Original poster
jessstan1 · 06/10/2020 19:53

croon: These individuals knew the rules and broke them and one turned out to have COVID.
......
How do you know about either ?

Nobody doubts they broke the law but prison? That is excessive.

OP posts:
croon979 · 06/10/2020 20:26

All visitors to the island are required to sign and read paperwork explaining the rules before they travel. The laws are also perfectly clear. For that reason, they either knew the rules and broke them or were ignorant of them with no excuse.

I don’t think it was an excessive sentence at all. The potential punishment is set out within the legislation.

user13745865422563 · 06/10/2020 20:36

You break the law, you face the punishment.

Well, unless you rape someone. Then everyone whinges about how important it is not to ruin rapists' lives.

Anyway, are all those saying this in support of what China is doing in Hong Kong? Or Belarus kidnapping people off the street for protesting? After all they're just enforcing a law, so that must be ok?

nocoolnamesleft · 06/10/2020 20:39

It is impossible to enter the IoM at present without knowing the law. They had to sign up to obeying the law to cross the border. And it turns out one of the utterly selfish fucks was Covid positive. Good for the IoM for trying to protect its citizens.

Fyzz · 06/10/2020 21:47

IoM has remained almost covid free because it has the advantage of being an island. Oh wait....

AvoidingRealHumans · 06/10/2020 21:48

Jesstan why do you keep asking how people knew if the welders knew the rules and about one of them having covid?
A quick Google will lead you several news sites stating just that, you're also dismissing people who live there.

The rules there are to protect the island from covid, these men broke the rules whilst at least one of them actually had covid (could have spread it to his colleagues) in my opinion, 2 weeks wasn't enough of a sentence.

Tr1skel1on · 06/10/2020 21:55

Jesstan please direct your outrage at Boris, Dominic and the rest of the Tories and their shambolic handling of covid. Serco test and trace fiascos being the latest example.

Us local residents are quite happy with our rules and regulations. Anyone who doesn't like them or doesn't want to follow them, well don't come here then!

Original poster
jessstan1 · 06/10/2020 22:39

I am not given to outrage and I dislike our government as much as any; I just think giving a prison sentence for something like that is OTT, especially as the men were wearing masks.

Oh will it is what it is as the Donald says. Maybe they wiil be let out early if they behave themselves.

OP posts:
SionnachRua · 06/10/2020 22:42

Bloody good! They had one rule to follow, they didn't abide by it. And now one has actually tested positive I believe?

Either too lazy to read the disclosure they signed or too entitled to abide by it. Don't like it? No one is forcing them to the IoM. Two weeks in jail will do them good.

Poppingpenguins · 06/10/2020 22:48

Can you imagine living on the IOM-back in relative normality-no masks, no distancing, schools, parties, events?
Then knowing that all that could be put at risk because a few people broke a clearly defined law?
I am definitely not someone who would automatically report rule breaking/bending in our UK context but I think I’d del differently if I lived on a covid free island.

manicinsomniac · 06/10/2020 22:55

Unless 'masks' means their welders' helmets, I really don't think they will have done much to help the situation. When you buy the masks, they clearly state on the packaging that they do not prevent the transmission of Covid and supermarkets have big signs up telling people not to enter the store if they have Covid symptoms. It isn't 'come on in if you're wearing a mask.'

2 weeks in prison seems very harsh but I have a lot of sympathy with the IoM's decision. They are able to live normal lives now and these men jeopardised that. The rules there are very simple and easy to follow. They chose to break them.

And if it was a choice of 2 weeks in jail or a hefty fine, I think I would take the jail time. (That's assuming both would lead to a criminal record and need declaring. If the fine would avoid that, then I guess I'd choose a fine).

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 06/10/2020 23:03

A woman was recently jailed there after stopping for petrol on her way to her accommodation from the boat. Really silly.

My parents had to go recently for family reasons (it's hard to get there at all just now, they had to apply for an exemption) and it was made clear to them that if they even stepped outside the house onto the pavement during the 14 day isolation period they could be arrested. They had to explain how they were going to organise food supplies etc before they went. The border agency phoned them to check at random times and even turned up in a car once.

FOJN · 06/10/2020 23:05

They were apparently buying beer which they could have bought before they got on the ferry. They had a 2 day contract on the island, premium pay and accommodation paid for. Food and drink was available at the hotel. As part of the contract they were required to sign a declaration stating the understood the law and the consequences for breaking it.

They were expected to get off the ferry go to the hotel and not go anywhere apart from the place they were working. They got off the ferry and went to Tesco's before they even got to the hotel.

Island residents who broke lockdown have been given longer prison sentences so they got off lightly.

One has now tested positive and the prison is in lockdown which will impact staff and other inmates.

The IOM had returned to normal pre-covid life because they had effectively managed the spread of the virus, this has now been put in jeopardy because of these selfish idiots.

The post in AIBU was made by an IOM resident with contributions from several other residents.

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