Woman escapes prison for civil debt

Deemster Doyle says he won’t send a woman to prison because of an outstanding debt of £4,500.

Wendy Elizabeth Megson owes the money to Robert and Hilary Beryl Kewley and in 2007 was ordered to pay back the cash at £50 per month by Deemster Williamson.

But after she missed a number of payments, the couple applied to the court to have her imprisoned.

Deemster Doyle said sending somebody to jail because of a civil debt was a serious matter which required careful consideration and might bring Manx law into conflict with the Human Rights Act.

He questioned whether it would be a proportionate response, and said the law would only allow jail in cases where a person had the means to pay.

During the hearing, he said no evidence to this effect had been submitted but understood that Mrs Megson should repay the money.

However, he dismissed the application and so Mrs Megson escaped a jail term.