Court orders sale of Bugibba bar after UK divorce decree

A court has ordered the sale by judicial auction of a bar in Bugibba after a divorce decree was issued by an English court.

The decision followed court action by John Attard against his former wife Carol. The couple, who divorced in England in 2006, were the owners of Ankra Pub in Bugibba.

The English divorce decree had ordered that after the sale of the bar, Mrs Attard was to receive 60 per cent of the proceeds while Mr Attard would receive the remaining 40 per cent. However, Mrs Attard had refused to sell the bar even though some three persons had expressed an interest in purchasing it.

The court was therefore requested to order the judicial sale by auction of the property so that the proceeds could be divided between the parties in terms of the foreign decree.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said that a judicial sale by auction could be ordered when a property was held by more than one owner and there was no agreement between the parties. The property had also to be such that it could not be physically divided between the parties.

In this case the court upheld Mr Attard's request and ordered that the bar be sold by judicial auction.