Labour councillor resigns

Attard Labour councillor John Bonnici yesterday said he was resigning from the Labour Party following his conviction for damaging the village church parvis.

He will, however, stay on as a member of Attard council and said he would be resigning from the PL so as not to “taint” the party.

In a letter to the press last night, Mr Bonnici said he had not meant to harm anyone, and his actions were meant to facilitate access for people in wheelchairs and those pushing prams during the feast concert. Other allegations, he said, were false.

During the arraignment last week, Mr Bonnici, 62, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. The court was told he lost his temper and, using a piece of wood, smashed the stone balustrades on the church parvis.