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Man admits second breach of Covid regulations

26-year-old attended illegal gathering during lockdown

A Douglas man’s admitted his second breach of coronavirus regulations, and a third allegation has been dropped by the prosecution.

Twenty-six-year-old Liam Priestnal of Lheannag Park appeared before magistrates at Douglas courthouse.

He admitted one count of breaching the Island’s coronavirus regulations by being outside his home without good reason, and one of being at an illegal gathering was marked withdrawn.

Prosecution advocate Rebecca Cubbon told the hearing Priestnal had been jailed for four weeks last April after pleading guilty to a similar offence.

On 25 January, police were called by neighbours who said Priestnal was breaking lockdown rules and officers found him at a friend’s address in Anagh Coar Road in Douglas.

Both men said Priestnal was collecting a phone charger and told police they were both in a bubble together.

However, Priestnal later admitted he’d been in the house illegally and answered “no comment” to all questions in interview.

Magistrates asked for pre-sentencing reports to be prepared and Priestnal was bailed to appear in court again on 3 June.

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