Three men have been ordered to pay more than €21,000 in damages to another man they had attacked in Paceville five years ago after a court established that the man had suffered a permanent disability.

Adrian Agius filed his action for damages before Mr Justice Anthony Ellul against Steve Magro, Malcolm Buttigieg and Dylan Muscat.

Mr Agius told the court that in April 2010 he had been attacked by the three men while in a bar in Paceville. The men had been criminally arraigned before the Magistrates Court on charges of causing Mr Agius grievous bodily harm. All three accused admitted to the charges against them but contested Mr Agius' civil action for damages.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Ellul said that the court could not ignore the admission made by all three men before the Magistrates Court. It was therefore clear that the men were liable towards Mr Agius for the damages he had sustained.

The court appointed medical expert testified that Mr Agius has suffered serious injuries which had placed him in danger of dying, but he had luckily made a good recovery and was now suffering from a five per cent permanent disability.

After taking Mr Agius's income into consideration the court awarded him €21,168 in damages.