Club official awarded damages over beating

The vice president of the Fgura United FC, who suffered a 10 per cent disability when he was beaten up after a match six years ago, has been awarded Lm13,592 in damages to be paid to him by the six young men who assaulted him.

Fgura vice president Lawrence Bugeja and his wife Josephine had filed a court application against Vittoriosa players and supporters Petrovich Coreschi, Johann Spiteri, Marlon Galea and Matthew Lagana and his brothers Larry and Christian.

Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo heard that the incident happened on March 18, 2000 after the match between Fgura United and Vittoriosa Stars.

During the match, Vittoriosa player Matthew Lagana was sent off after he committed a foul on Fgura player Renzo Kerr Cumbo.

That was when Mr Bugeja overheard the Lagana brothers say they would beat up Mr Kerr Cumbo after the match.

So after the match, Mr Bugeja intervened to help Mr Kerr Cumbo, and the six young men assaulted and beat him. This led to a disability to his arm as a result of which Mr Bugeja, a self-employed carpenter, lost work.

After evaluating the case, the judge ruled that all the six men were responsible for the financial loss and disability suffered by Mr Bugeja. He ordered them to pay him Lm13,592 in damages and, since Lm2,500 had already been paid, he ordered that they pay the remaining Lm11,092.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Kris Busietta appeared for Mr and Mrs Bugeja.