A court has ordered the Labour Party to pay €1,000 in damages to former health minister Joe Cassar after it ruled that he had been defamed by a statement issued by the party three years ago.

The case revolved around a decision by the Public Service Commission which had revoked the appointment of a number of medical consultants after it transpired that some of the candidates had not been eligible for the post. In its statement the PL had blamed Dr Cassar for this “mess” while saying that such incident fuelled suspicions of abuse.

In its decision the court presided by Magistrate Francesco Depas­quale said the former minister at no stage had been involved in the selection process and so could not have been held responsible.

Lawyer Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Joe Cordina appeared for the Labour Party in their capacity as former PL president and financial administrator.

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