Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo was awarded €2,500 in damages after a court concluded he had been libelled by an e-mail sent by Lino Farrugia to the authorities in May 2005.

Mr Arrigo filed his action in his own name and on behalf of Robert Arrigo & Sons Ltd against Mr Farrugia in his personal capacity and on behalf of CLT Hotels Services Limited.

In his writ, Mr Arrigo claimed that an e-mail sent by Mr Farrugia to the Ministry of Tourism, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Federated Association of Travel & Tourism Agents, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Federation of Malta Hotels, Pensions and Catering Establishments was libellous.

Mr Farrugia insisted that the e-mail constituted fair comment based on true facts and it was a justified complaint about Robert Arrigo and Sons Ltd.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella found that the e-mail referred to Mr Arrigo’s position as president of Sliema Wanderers FC. It alleged that if a commercial entity did not contribute towards the football club then it would not benefit from any business from Mr Arrigo’s company. The e-mail also referred to “cowboy” tactics allegedly adopted by Mr Arrigo.

Apart from being sent to the tourism authorities, the e-mail was also printed in the Labour Party newspaper KullĦadd in May 2005 under the heading Serious Allegations Against Arrigo.

The court on Friday said it clearly resulted from the evidence produced that the e-mail was a form of retaliation or revenge on the part of Mr Farrugia and his company following commercial decisions that Mr Arrigo and his company had taken in connection with CLT Hotels Services Ltd a few days previously.

Robert Arrigo and Sons Ltd had moved some tourists from the Patricia Hotel (run by Mr Farrugia’s company) to another hotel because of complaints received from the guests.