A judge has ordered developers of a boutique hotel in Valletta to halt all works which had caused damage to an adjacent house belonging to a 96-year-old woman.

Mr Justice Tonio Mallia, presiding over the First Hall of the Civil Court ruled that the work should not continue until an architect is appointed by the court to oversee the work.

He was ruling on an application filed by 96-year-old Mary Schembri whose house in Old Theatre Street in Valletta sustained damaged during the development of a boutique hotel in an adjacent site.

The court last Thursday temporarily upheld the injunction filed by the woman’s lawyers against the developers. In court today, Mr Justice Mallia heard the woman’s lawyers and those representing contractors Edward Calleja and Jesmond Falzon from Falzon & Cutajar Architects and Civil Engineers.

Lawyer Richard Galea Debono, appearing for the woman, told the court that the works were causing severe damage to the woman’s house and was being done in breach of construction industry regulations.

The court heard how several slabs had been dislodged from the wall dividing the two properties and some stones had fallen onto her bed, forcing her to sleep downstairs.

Dr Galea Debono said the woman and her relatives had drawn the contractors’ attention to the damage on several occasions but all efforts were in vain.

On the other hand, lawyer Leontine Calleja, appearing for the contractors, said that work had been going on since January and that there had been an incident some four months ago when some stones fell into Ms Schembri’s property.

These stones were cleared immediately.

The lawyer said two beams had been installed in the property next door and that a brick had been pushed out, causing paint to fall off the wall.

Dr Calleja also explained that a representative of the Occupational health and Safety Authority had visited the site and had given the go-ahead for works to continue as there were no dangers.

But Mr Justice Mallia would not take any risks and ordered that development work be stopped until the court appoints an architect to oversee the project.