Ariadne Massa
I did not ask for money - Richard Muscat
Former Ambassador to Ireland Richard Muscat has denied asking the government for financial compensation, insisting he was only expecting the Prime Minister to remedy matters.
Mr Muscat was reacting to an article in it-Torċa newspaper, which reported he was seeking close to €20,000 after he was forced to resign when the Foreign Affairs Ministry learnt that an Irish woman had filed sexual assault allegations against his son.
"I'm just waiting for the Prime Minister to find a satisfactory solution. If the government is looking at financial compensation, I'm not excluding that it's a satisfactory solution, but I didn't ask for it. I never requested a financial sum," Mr Muscat told The Times yesterday. When contacted, the Office of the Prime Minister confirmed that Mr Muscat had requested a remedy but a government spokesman said there had been no specific demand for financial compensation, even though it was not being excluded.
The story broke in The Sunday Times two weeks ago when Mr Muscat claimed he was forced to resign his diplomatic post in August 2007 because he was "in the way" of former Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo's bid to become Commonwealth secretary general, and risked losing Labour's backing.
Dr Frendo has since stressed that Mr Muscat's resignation had nothing to do with Malta's candidacy for the Commonwealth post, however much it may make Mr Muscat "feel better about his behaviour by believing he was 'sacrificed' because of it".
He said Mr Muscat had failed to inform him of the sexual assault allegations against his son for 10 whole months, and only broke his silence when the story hit the headlines in the Irish tabloids in August last year.
In October 2007, the Irish Director of Public Prosecutions eventually announced that no charges would be brought against Mr Muscat's son. After feeling he was made a scapegoat, Mr Muscat was waiting for the Prime Minister to heal the wound. He had said: "I leave it in his hands. I'm not asking for the moon. I'm asking for nothing, except that truth prevails and justice is done."
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had publicly tried to mend matters during a pre-electoral party activity at Birkirkara when he said: "Here in front of me is Richard Muscat, there is an open wound and we want it to heal."
Mr Muscat stressed in The Sunday Times interview that he was not expecting his job back, even though he had been happy in his position. He felt no position would heal the psychological trauma he and his family had endured.
Yesterday, Mr Muscat reiterated this and said he left it in the Prime Minister's hands to find a solution; it could be financial but it was anybody's guess.
"I always claimed I deserved a solution that closed this unfortunate chapter in a fair and dignified manner for me and my family. If the government sees this could be done by a motivated compensation, I feel I should give it my full consideration," he said.
"At this stage, I want to have peace of mind, and more than money I want my gesture - that I resigned with a sense of loyalty, when I felt it was unjust - to be appreciated. It can be appreciated with a letter.
"I'm not trying to capitalise on this situation. I'm looking for a decent political move that casts off any shadows."
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Petrol price up 6c
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
10 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Manuel Camilleri
Dec 10th 2008, 09:28
How easy it is for someone to judge a person when one does not know him or her personally. Richard Muscat is a man of integrity and an honest gentleman. He believes in the truth and is not afraid of it. And in the end, truth will prevail.
philip pace
Dec 10th 2008, 08:19
We all know what Richard did in the 'dark days' as he went to Sicily to transmit from a 'shack'.
That was in the 1970s and the 1980s.
Then he did enjoy the full benefits when the PN came into power.
Then we all know the mess that surrounded him in the controversial Radio Meditterenean which became unconclusive so that the dirty laundry would not hung up in public.
And then he became Malta's Ambassador in Ireland and had another controversial role in it.
Now what does he expect?
An apology, money or another dignified position? What?
Just as the normal Joe Citizen would get, thank you very much for services rendered, with no benefits.
End of story.
Joseph E Briffa
Dec 9th 2008, 22:43
@ Martin Ellul... 'for his party'...HIS party fought for democracy and freedom in the dark days of the 70s and 80s. Maybe you are young enough not to have been around in those days and therefore you take democracy and freedom of expression, of choice and of association forgranted; but unfortunately a generation ago they were characterised by their almost complete absence. Thanks to God and the PN, the Maltese regained complete freedom and full democracy after 1987 and have been enjoying them ever since.
Martin Ellul
Dec 9th 2008, 18:56
Excuse me, what did Mr Muscat do for the country? He did what he did for his Party, fullstop.
He was in the wrong. He should have come out clean with his Foreign Minister.
Do we have the necessary funds to pay all these former Ministers and Nationalist once-have-beens when the country's finances are in such a mess?
I am sorry, I disagree with Muscat and I agree that no compensation from the country should be made! He was wrong.
Joseph E briffa
Dec 9th 2008, 14:56
I wish Richard Muscat whatever his heart desires...let's not forget what this gentleman and his family went through in the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn't his choice, but he accepted the request of the party's leadership with a sense of duty and humility and went to Sicily to broadcast from a shack in an effort to keep the torch of freedom alight. They were difficult days for all the Maltese but for the likes of Richard they were far worse ....Richard sacrificed his life and the lives of his family to carry out the onerous assignment he was given. What he did for all of us Maltese can never be forgotten.
J Martinelli
Dec 9th 2008, 14:16
How quickly we tend to become judges, jury and executioners!
Mr. Muscat can perhaps be faulted by not notifying Minister Frendo of 'allegations' of a sexual assault against his son. For ten months these amounted to no more than allegations which Mr. Muscat must have probed and satisfied himself that they were no more than allegations. Should he have discussed the matter with the then Minister of Foreign Affairs? The answer is yes, but in the end he had suffered the loss of his dignity besides losing his position.
So, the question arises: Does the penalty fit the indiscretion?
Mr. Muscat confirms that he was not seeking specific financial compensation. So, perhaps some other form of compromise could be reached in order to restore this former diplomat's reputation in order to recognize his lifetime contributions to the country.
Philip Camilleri
Dec 9th 2008, 11:36
I am moved to comment on this article because of the sheer audacity of this man who requests an apology (or a gesture - whatever). Yes, Mr Crockford, I do remember well what Mr Muscat went through for party and country. I am forever indebted to his courage and sacrifice during the dark days of the 80's.
However that has absolutely nothing to do with his behaviour now. He is proving to be a shadow of his former self.
This is a complete non-issue as Mr Muscat has, in my opinion failed to behave honestly and honourably, therefore relinquishing his right to demand any conciliatory gesture, as none is required.
One sympathises with Mr Muscat's difficult family circumstances however he should take the consequences of what has happened like a man and melt away quietly into the shadows.
Lawrence Zammit
Dec 9th 2008, 10:49
It is unconceivable that public money should be spent in this manner as a payoff of to Mr. Muscat. As if he hasn’t already enjoyed several years as an Ambassador with all the perks that his job brought on!!!
This was a struggle between two dinosaurs within the PN with political debts going back decades to when Mr. Muscat had ‘sacrificed’ himself for the good of the PN.
Workers who are thrown out of their job for any reason of their own doing DO NOT receive compensation.
This is OUR money and we should not be made to pay for what is NOT due!!!
J Farrugia
Dec 9th 2008, 10:33
Mr Muscat, your office became untenable. You should have offered to resign before anyone asked you to. This is not the Richard we knew.
Dunstan Crockford
Dec 9th 2008, 10:12
Richard Muscat has always been a gentleman par excellance! Hopefully this trauma will be settled to his satisfaction! Sometimes I wonder whether we appreciate all he did and how much he suffered.