Labour party deputy leader and lawyer Toni Abela was fined €250 following his explosive outburst in which he “insulted” the magistrate during the libel proceedings.

The incident happened during the cross-examination of Edgar Galea Curmi.

At one point, Magistrate Francesco Depasquale asked Dr Abela what his line of questioning had to do with the case, before adding that his questioning had gone off at a tangent.

He added that he did not want any theatrics especially when the lawyer knew that reporters were in the room and at that point Dr Abela lost his temper and began shouting at the magistrate.

The irritated magistrate shouted back and immediately fined the lawyer €250, at which point he said that he did not expect such behaviour from an experienced lawyer and politician.

Dr Abela noted in the records of the proceedings that he was constantly being interrupted in his questioning and that the magistrate was stopping him from putting further questions because of the presence of reporters.

Following this, the magistrate adjourned the case and warned him that if he did not pay the fine by the next sitting in early February he would take the necessary steps against him.