In a sleepy cul-de-sac in Gżira yesterday, everyone was chattering about the incident that took place between a Scotsman and a government chauffeur the night before. Until the press showed up.

The quiet Turu Columbo Square was the scene of the first violent collision between expat Stephen Smith and Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia’s official car and many of the residents would have been able to hear the loud crash, which occurred at around 9pm.

Despite this, nearly a dozen residents approached by this newspaper were reluctant to comment.

A group of elderly men, gathered in a garage a few metres away from the chauffeur’s mother’s house, where the car was parked, all scoffed at the notion of speaking up about what they had seen and heard.

“Of course we know what happened, but please leave us out of this.

“That’s the last thing we need to be getting into,” one of the men said.

Another resident said they had been specifically told not to talk about the events, but were reluctant to say who had given the instructions.

Another neighbour first said he knew what happened but then insisted he could not speak Maltese and was Italian. His ‘identity crisis’ coincided with the emergence of a man who appeared on the balcony of the chauffeur’s mother. She was not willing to comment either.

One resident said he had heard a loud argument following the collision, which seemed to imply Mr Sheehan and Mr Smith shared a verbal exchange prior to him leaving the scene.

Good cop, bad cop?

This is not the first time Paul Sheehan’s temper has landed him in hot water.

Back in 2001, the police constable was found guilty of disturbing the peace and swearing in a public place. The incident happened during a local football match at Ta’ Qali stadium when Mr Sheehan obstructed his superior officer from carrying out his duties during the match.

He was fined Lm35 (€82) and the court noted that his conduct was not in line with that of a police officer. His appeal against the judgment was rejected by a separate court.

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