The government’s head of communications, Kurt Farrugia and former Labour candidate Charlon Gouder were yesterday ordered to pay €2,000 to the former mayor of St Paul’s Bay in libel damages over a conflict of interest claim.

Graziella Galea won the damages after a court found that a claim that she had not declared her conflict of interest when the council awarded a waste collection tender to her uncle had been libellous.

The claim was made on Labour’s One Television on February 28 and 29, 2012, in the run-up to the 2013 general election.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale found that although the report was based on facts, the station had deliberately given the impression that this was a case of nepotism.

The court heard that contrary to the allegations, when the issue was tabled for discussion at a council meeting, Ms Galea immediately declared her possible conflict of interest, given that one of the bidders, VellaJo Company Limited, owned by Joseph Vella, was her uncle.

It emerged that councillors present for the meeting had agreed that Ms Galea’s declaration of conflict was not needed and proceeded to approve the bid submitted by Mr Vella’s company.

Magistrate Depasquale noted that although the comments were based on facts, these had not been reported correctly, giving an incomplete picture of the truth.

He also said that by doing so, the station had given their listeners a disservice.

Magistrate Depasquale added there was no legal obligation on Ms Galea’s part to declare her possible conflict of interest, especially since Mr Vella was her uncle through marriage.

He therefore ordered Mr Gouder and Mr Farrugia, at the time the registered editor, to pay Ms Galea damages.