Former Labour deputy leader Toni Abela has been ordered to pay €2,000 in damages over the contents of an opinion piece published in the party’s Sunday paper Kullħadd in 2012.

The article, penned by Silvio Gonzi, had accused then PBS news editor Natalino Fenech of blatant political bias, describing him as the government’s “chief gatekeeper”.

The author had also referred to various persons who were either part of the PBS editorial board, including Joe Pirotta, and television presenters including Pierre Portelli, Joe Mifsud (now a magistrate), Claudette Buttigieg (now an MP) and Lou Bondi. The author had questioned whether the government would forge ahead with this “blatant daily propaganda”. 

Subsequently, the former PBS news editor had sued Mr Abela for libel, complaining that he had been unfairly portrayed by the party’s newspaper as an avid Nationalist Party supporter.

During proceedings, Dr Fenech produced a number of parliamentary questions filed by then Labour MP Gino Cauchi from which it transpired that over a 12-month period between October 2011 and September 2012, the leaders of both parties had each featured in 140 PBS news stories.

Moreover, the station had broadcast 275 features on government matters and 125 features involving Opposition spokesmen. The court also heard that in March 2012, PBS has only reported 35 out of 286 government statements and 29 Labour press releases. 

Dr Abela told the court that the PL had regularly complained to the Broadcasting Authority on the manner in which the station was covering current affairs.

In its decision, the court presided by Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, pointed out that Dr Abela had failed to produce enough evidence to substantiate his claims against Mr Fenech. On the contrary the parliamentary questions presented by the complainant were indicative that the station had a balanced editorial line.

Dr Abela was found guilty of defamation and ordered him to pay Mr Fenech damages.