Times Talk tonight discussed sexual abuse as seen from the eyes of people who are cleared of such allegations after facing malicious claims.
The programme took the cue from the story reported in The Sunday Times of Malta, featuring a retired teacher who faced such allegations but was eventually acquitted following a court case that lasted seven years.
On June 20, 2006, which happened to be his 62nd birthday, the teacher was arrested after the mother of a 10-year-old pupil filed a police report claiming he abused her daughter.
He was charged shortly after without the police ever having carried out a site visit of the classroom where the girl alleged he used to abuse her. Had they seen the layout of the classroom, they would have realised instantly that it would have been impossible for him to do what the girl claimed.
A year ago, the teacher, now aged 70, was acquitted. But the case devastated him and his wife, and they are both suffering from depression.
The teacher said he dreaded going out in public because of the shame associated with these allegations. He even developed a phobia for children, fearing that he could be targeted again.
See a reconstruction of the interview with the teacher in two parts above.
The Times Talk guests were criminal lawyer Joe Giglio, victim support lawyer Roberta Lepre and the CEO of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, Alfred Grixti.