The families of girls who gave evidence in the Hal Volante trial issued a statement to the media, after he was found guilty on four out of eight counts of indecent assault.

They said: 'we are very proud of our daughters for their courage, and relieved that this ordeal is finally over. All the way through this long and stressful year we have always told them that justice will be served and it has.

'At long last our daughters can move on with their lives, knowing that what they have done was the right thing to do. They have stopped any other girls experiencing what they have had to go through.

'We would like to thank the legal team and the Isle of Man Police for their help and support and also the many other people who have offered their support throughout this past year.'

Volante, 62, will be sentenced on May 1, after social reports have been prepared.

He was granted bail, but elected to go into custody, after being toold by Acting Deemster Sullivan that a prison sentence was highly likely.

(Picture: Douglas Courthouse, where Hal Volante was sentenced).