Court asked to authorise export of horse-drawn hearses

A man yesterday requested the court to authorise the export of a horse-drawn hearse and two children's horse-drawn hearses to Australia.

In an application against the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, the Culture Ministry and the Attorney General, Mary Mifsud, acting on behalf of her brother-in-law Gejtano Mifsud, stated that on September 22, 1992, Mr Mifsud had asked for permission to export to Australia six hearses, two white baby hearses and three coaches, all of which were built between 1947 and 1952, and which belonged to Mr Mifsud.

Mr Mifsud had had an agreement with the then Museums Department that he could pass on three antique hearses to the department instead of paying the relevant export duty.

Following several requests, the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage authorised the export of two hearses and two carriages and Mr Mifsud had accepted to carry out this export without prejudice to his rights to export the rest, which formed part of the same set.

Ms Mifsud said that in spite of several requests, the Superintendent had failed to give his authorisation and she thus resorted to the court to seek clearance for their export.

Dr Owen Bonnici signed the application.