A family which owned properties on the site where the new Parliament building in Valletta stands and which were demolished in the 1950s to make way for Freedom Square have been awarded almost €47,000 in compensation.

The Land Arbitration Board, presided over by Magistrate Giovanni Grixti, ordered the Commissioner of Land to pay the compensation in a case that took several years to conclude, especially because of disagreement over the amount due.

The board noted that the Demarco family owned 16 rooms that had been taken over by the government that was paying the owners almost €200 a year in rent, based on the 1939 rental values.

In 1998, the Land Department started expropriation proceedings to acquire the property and offered the owners just over €3,600, basing its offer on the market value.

However, the owners took the matter to court, requesting a proper valuation.

The court appointed independent architects to value the property as at 1998 and they set the sum at €46,587.47. Magistrate Grixti ruled that this was the correct valuation and ordered the Commissioner of Land to pay the sum, together with interest.

Lawyer Peter Borg Costanzi appeared for the family.

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