Family Court mediator resigns after MP's remarks

A mediator in the Family Court has resigned after criticism by an opposition MP that he had been given a suspended sentence 10 years ago.

John O'Dea handed in his resignation a day after Labour MP Josè Herrera raised the case in parliament in an adjournment speech, Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said in parliament.

He described Dr Herrera's remarks as "extreme" and "without consideration of the consequences", saying he had tried to discredit the court and all mediators by using this case.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici observed that the case involving Mr O'Dea was not as serious as Dr Herrera had made it out to be and it had nothing to do with his new work as a mediator.

Mr O'Dea had been found guilty of not paying Lm7,534 in PAYE and social security contributions on time, 16 years ago, while his business was facing problems. The amount was paid while the court proceedings were still in progress and Mr O'Dea on appeal was given a suspended sentence. The court had said it "sympathised" with his position.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici recalled that the suspended sentence was introduced so that those who broke the law could be given another chance. The opposition would have been justified in its criticism had Mr O'Dea been found guilty of, say, wife battering or child abuse but the case he was convicted of had nothing to do with the Family Court. Dr Herrera's remarks were a far cry from what opposition speakers preached about tolerance, reform of those who committed a crime and freedom of speech.

For, it appeared, the opposition had picked on Mr O'Dea after he had written in The Times to defend the system of Family Court mediators from opposition criticism.

This was a shameful act against a person who had paid the price for breaking the law but had then reintegrated himself in society. Such actions were unacceptable, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said.