The former Nationalist mayor of St Paul's Bay, Graziella Galea, has won €2,000 in damages after a court found that a claim by the Labour television station that she had not declared her conflict of interest when the council awarded a waste collection tender to her uncle, was false.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale found that although the report was based on facts, the station had purposely given the impression that this was a case of nepotism.

He ordered author Charlon Gouder and the government spokesman, Kurt Farrugia, at the time editor of the Labour station, to pay Ms Galea damages.

The court heard that contrary to the allegations, when the issue was tabled for discussion at a council meeting, Ms Galea immediately declared her possible conflict of interest, given that one of the bidders, VellaJo Company Limited, owned by Joseph Vella, was her uncle.

It emerged that councillors present for the meeting had agreed that Ms Galea's declaration of conflict was not needed and proceeded to approve the bid submitted by Mr Vella's company.

Magistrate Depasquale noted that although the comments were based on facts, these had not been reported correctly, giving an incomplete picture of the truth.

He also said that by doing so, the station had given their listeners a disservice.

Magistrate Depasquale said there was no legal obligation on Ms Galea's part to declare her possible conflict of interest, especially since Mr Vella was her uncle by marriage.

 

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