Airport executive wins libel damages

Malta International Airport deputy chairman Joseph R. Darmanin was yesterday awarded Lm1,300 libel damages in two separate judgments delivered by Magistrate Silvio Meli.

Darmanin had filed a writ for libel against KullHadd editor Felix Agius and another against Super One Television head of news Gino Cauchi and journalist Maria Muscat.

In the writ against Agius, Darmanin claimed libel over two articles published on March 3 under the heading "Ta' Vienna favoriti li jiehdu l-ajruport" and "Konferma".

The articles alleged that Darmanin's appointment to the MIA board was political and that he had connections with Austria enabling him to manipulate the negotiations with MIA.

The court noted that the article was not objective and that Agius was not aware of the facts for he had attempted to find out information in the course of the court case itself.

Magistrate Meli concluded that the article could not be considered fair comment and that it was libellous.

Agius was ordered to pay Darmanin Lm600 libel damages.

In the suit against Cauchi and Muscat, Darmanin claimed libel over a news item on the same day. Muscat was sued as the newscaster on the day the news item was aired and her plea that she had not written the article but merely read it could not be upheld.

The court referred to the Press Act and declared that it was not permissible for Muscat to be exonerated from responsibility by hiding behind her editor, for her responsibility at law was personal.

The court referred to the judgment against Agius and declared that Cauchi and Muscat had libelled Darmanin in the news bulletin.

Cauchi was ordered to pay Darmanin Lm600 while Muscat was ordered to pay Lm100 libel damages.