Damaged statue 'had to be replaced'

The father of a teenager who stands accused of damaging a stone statue of Our Lady, a cultural work that formed part of the Mgarr church, had offered to pay Lm525 for its restoration. However, the statue had to be replaced as well as restored because...

The father of a teenager who stands accused of damaging a stone statue of Our Lady, a cultural work that formed part of the Mgarr church, had offered to pay Lm525 for its restoration.

However, the statue had to be replaced as well as restored because it would not be able to stand exposure to the elements anymore, Mgarr parish priest Fr Joe Fsadni told a court yesterday.

Fr Fsadni was testifying in the case against an 18-year-old man who is pleading not guilty to causing over Lm1,000 damage to the statue during the night between February 9 and 10.

He also pleaded not guilty to damaging cultural property through negligence in breach of the Cultural Heritage Act.

His name is not being published by court order as he was a minor at the time of the commission of the alleged crime.

Police Inspectors Anthony Portelli and Therese Sciberras prosecuted.

Lawyers Emmanuel Mallia and Gianella Caruana Curran appeared for the defendant.

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