The De La Salle Sixth Form was yesterday absolved of maliciously discriminating between students chosen to pursue their post secondary education at the college more than 15 years ago.

The case revolved around the college’s refusal to admit a student, Michael Azzopardi, for its two-year, post-secondary course between 1994 and 1996 when 70 students had been admitted in that intake.

Mr Azzopardi had attended Stella Maris College primary school and then continued his studies at De La Salle secondary school. After having been refused entry at De La Salle, he attended sixth form at another college but dropped out after the first year and continued his studies through private lessons.

In September 1997, his parents, Jean-Pierre and Iliana, had instituted a civil court case against the college claiming that their son had been “maliciously” refused entry to the sixth form because it favoured students with fewer qualifications.

They claimed that the college had given preference to other students over their son and called on the court to compensate them.

From the outset, the college denied the claims and insisted that it had rigorously observed the entry requirements.

The court, presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Azzopardi, ruled that the Azzopardis had not managed to prove that the college authorities had given preference to some students over their son, although they claimed that one specific student, George Dunbar-Cousin, had been admitted to the college despite not having a Maltese O-level.

Maltese, the court noted, was not a pre-requisite to be admitted to the college and Mr Dunbar-Cousin had nine O-levels when Mr Azzopardi had seven.

Mr Justice Azzopardi therefore dismissed the Azzopardis’ claims.

Lawyer Joseph Schembri represented the college.