Circus files third libel suit

A company representing an Italian circus has filed a third libel suit, this time against a parliamentary secretary and the editor of the Nationalist Party daily newspaper. JS Productions Ltd, acting on behalf of Circo Fantasy, has already filed two...

A company representing an Italian circus has filed a third libel suit, this time against a parliamentary secretary and the editor of the Nationalist Party daily newspaper.

JS Productions Ltd, acting on behalf of Circo Fantasy, has already filed two separate libel suits against TV personality Moira Delia and the Director General of the Education Directorate, Micheline Sciberras.

The company claims that Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Mario Galea, writing in In-Nazzjon, alleged that animals in the circus were kept in hellish conditions, implying that they were cruelly treated.

The company said it represented the only circus in the country and these comments were intended to damage its reputation. Mr Galea writes a weekly column called Bħaċ-Ċirasa. The company also filed the suit against the editor of the paper, Alex Attard.

It is holding both responsible for damages.

This latest libel suit came after the circus's arrival in Malta spurred 20 animal rights organisations to hold a symbolic protest against cruelty to animals on Thursday.

Lawyers Sharon Mizzi and Gianfranco Gauci signed the suit.

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