An adopted girl of 13 yesterday claimed she had been sexually abused by first one uncle and later by another, both incidents having allegedly taken place while living at their respective homes.

The girl had previously made a number of abuse allegations against her adoptive parents, which were eventually dropped, the men’s lawyers told a court.

The two uncles, a 59-year-old from Naxxar and a 51-year-old from Mġarr, were charged with defiling their adopted niece who claims she was groped by one and heavily petted by the other last year. In separate arraignments, they both denied the charge.

The 59-year-old also pleaded not guilty to violent indecent assault while the 51-year-old pleaded not guilty to sexual acts with the girl.

After her parents, she was taken in by her older uncle, whom she claims sexually abused her. She left and went to live with her other uncle but is making the same allegation against him.

They were granted bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000.