Church court approves coloured tombstone for child's grave

A church court says the family of an autistic child who drowned can put the colours of the Autism Society on his tombstone.

The ecclesiastical court case about the grave in St Paul's church in Foxdale was brought by the vicar and wardens of the parish.

They had to petition church authorities because the colours fell outside regulations governing tombstones.

In his findings, Vicar General Howard Connell said the case was a tragic one, adding there was a compelling reason to allow the petition.

The tombstone will feature the organisation's orange, red and green as well as an inscription reading "Ride your white horses, sweet boy, on Fenella's golden sands to the stars in the sky".