Court finds MLP statement libellous

Magistrate Dennis Montebello has ordered the Malta Labour Party to pay Lm250 libel damages to Jean Pierre Debono.

Debono had sued Jimmy Magro both in his personal capacity and also on behalf of the MLP.

Debono claimed he had been libelled by a statement issued by the MLP on February 7, 2002 and he asked the court to condemn Magro to pay him libel damages.

The court ruled that the case was to be heard only against the MLP as Magro had not signed the statement in his personal capacity but as general secretary of the MLP.

When examining the merits of the case the court heard that Debono had submitted he was an assistant to the Nationalist Party's director of information. He had been instructed to attend a conference organised by the Zebbug local council so as to assist any PN councillor who wished to make any comments. The conference had been well attended and officials of both political parties had attended. However, the conference was disrupted due to many interruptions and lack of order.

Debono denied he had interrupted any part of the conference and the court noted that his version had been corroborated by other witnesses.

The court heard that the statement issued by the MLP had referred to il-marmalja nazzjonalista at this conference which had included Debono.

According to the statement, Debono's principal aim at the meeting had been that of obstructing the exercise of the right of freedom of expression by the mayor and the local council's consultant.

Magistrate Mallia declared that the MLP's plea of fair comment could not be upheld for the statement had implied that Debono had organised, on behalf of the PN, a group of persons to disrupt the public conference.