Jury verdicts have been announced in the trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting boys at a children’s home on the island in the 1970s and 1980s.

Joseph Marshall, 85, denied nine counts of abuse against three boys at Knottfield between 1974 and 1982.

Mr Marshall has been found guilty on five of those charges.

The jury’s decisions were unanimous.

For the first victim, he was found guilty of one count of indecent assault and two of gross indecency.

For the second victim, he was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault.

For the third accuser he was found not guilty on four counts (three of indecent assault and one of buggery).

Sentencing guidelines account to 10 years for an indecent assault, and two years for gross indecency.

After the jury’s verdict was announced in court, acting Deemster Bernard Richmond was then able to tell the jury that in 1992 Mr Marshall was found guilty of 13 offences of indecent assault for which he served a three-year custodial sentence.

These offences also took place at Knottfield on Woodbourne Road.

Mr Marshall is still to be sentenced.