Three men accused of engaging in brutal cockfighting story have each been fined €2,000.

The court presided by magistrate Gabriella Vella said the accused had cooperated fully with police, have a clean criminal record sheet and had filed an early guilty plea.

Construction worker Johann Saliba, 37, Adrian Pace, 22, and 21-year-old Wasteserv employee Matthew Micallef were charged with a series of animal welfare offences, including causing animals unnecessary suffering and mistreating animals in their care.

The police had been tipped off on Sunday that illegal cockfighting was being held at a farmhouse in Ħandaq, limits of Qormi.

The fines are to be paid in €100 monthly payments. Offences under the Animal Welfare Act are punishable with fines ranging between €1000 and €55,000 and up to three years in prison.

Inspectors Roderick Agius and Colin Sheldon prosecuted.

Lawyer Ludvic Caruana was counsel to Mr Saliba. Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia were counsel to Mr Pace. Lawyer Edward Gatt was counsel to Mr Micallef.

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