A man has won €600 in compensation after a court found that there were excessive delays in a civil case before it was decided.

The court heard that the case against Francis Farrugia was over a traffic accident which had happened in St Paul’s Bay on February 25, 2006.

It was put off for judgment in June 2007 but the decision was only handed down on October 15, 2013, after no less than 15 deferred sittings.

Mr Farrugia was found responsible for the accident and was ordered to pay €12,700 in damages.

Mr Justice Anthony Ellul found as “out of place” the Attorney General’s argument that the court was not bound by any time limit to decide cases.

He ruled that Mr Farrugia’s right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time had been breached and awarded him €600 in compensation, after considering that at no stage did Mr Farrugia complain about the time it was taking to decide his case.

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