Patrick Dalli, a developer and husband of Equal Opportunities Minister Helena Dalli, yesterday filed two libel suits against Times of Malta over a series of articles related to works on a farmhouse in Żejtun that were carried out despite an enforcement notice from the planning authority.
The first article, published on November 13, quoted Mr Dalli saying that he had no knowledge of work being carried out on the farmhouse, which he said was in the process of being sold after a promise of sale agreement had been signed.
He also complained about a follow-up story, on November 16, which reported that the Żejtun property was not on the minister’s asset list as well as another article published on November 29 reporting a press conference by Nationalist MP Ryan Callus.
In a separate libel suit, Mr Dalli complained about a story published on November 28 titled ‘Minister shuns questions over husband’s property’. The article reported how the minister walked away from journalists who asked questions on works at the Żejtun property.