The ashes of former Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey were scattered on Tynwald Hill this week.

Pamela Malarkey scattered her husband’s ashes at the top of Tynwald Hill while MHKs watched on from the base.

Mr Malarkey died following a battle with cancer in February this year at the age of 68.

He is survived by his wife Pamela and three daughters.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said at a House of Keys sitting shortly after Mr Malarkey’s death that he is ’a better person for knowing Bill’.

’Right at the end he was working in the House of Keys. He fought his illness like you wouldn’t believe,’ he said.

The moment’s silence on the national day on Monday while the scattering took place was broken with an applause by the MHKs as Mrs Malarkey made her way down.

President Steve Rodan said: ’It was a lovely touch and it was a very brave thing for Mrs Malarkey to do. It meant a lot to her and it would have meant a lot to him too. He was present on Tynwald Day too.’

He added that Mrs Malarkey was given a plaque with the politician’s name on it, which had belonged to the back of his chair in The Royal Chapel of St John the Baptist opposite the landmark hill.