Judge Philip Sciberras has been appointed to lead an independent inquiry into the case of the abducted German children.

The children were secretly flown out of Malta two weeks ago by German social workers who pretended to be taking them to be beach.

In a statement this evening, the Family Ministry said it followed the court’s declaration yesterday and immediately informed the head of the Foundation for Social Services that an independent inquiry was to be held apart from that underway by the police and the office of the Attorney General, among others.

The Opposition welcomed the news.

A court said yesterday that Appogg had shown it was “less able” to take care of the children than the mothers themselves.

The ministry said that contrary to what the Opposition was alleging, the minister replied to all questions asked about the case and never excluded an investigation.

It said Judge Sciberras will have unlimited access to the information and details he needed to get to his conclusions.

Earlier today, the Opposition called for an independent inquiry to determine the facts which led to the abduction of the children.

It said this was a very grievous case and full responsibility should be shouldered.