They host a popular morning show together and, save for the occasional jibe about football, they seem to get along like a house on fire. But the relationship between journalists Pierre Portelli and Joe Mifsud was not always as genial, as a libel judgment reminded everyone yesterday.
Mr Portelli was ordered to pay his co-host €500 in libel damages in a case which takes them back to their former incarnations as editor of the Nationalist Party’s radio station and prominent Labour leaning journalist respectively.
The duo, who now host the PBS breakfast show TVAM, together with Daphne Cassar, saw the irony of the judgment.
“This is over something that happened many years ago… We’ve been friends for many years, even before the programme… and this won’t change anything,” Mr Portelli said when contacted.
Similarly, Dr Mifsud said their friendship was based on professionalism – despite their political differences.
“We always say what we have on our mind and respect each other’s opinion… However, we argue the most about football since he sides with Inter and I support Juventus,” he said.
The case dates back to February 5, 2004, when Dr Mifsud felt libelled by comments made during the programme Ngħiduha Kif Inhi (Let’s say it as it is) broadcast on Radio 101.
He complained about comments made by a woman who phoned in and said that Dr Mifsud used to “hug (convicted drug trafficker) Meinrad Calleja” during his trial. This was said in the context of allegations that the Labour party accommodated drug traffickers.
Dr Mifsud filed the suit against David Casa (now a Nationalist MEP) as the programme host and Mr Portelli as station editor.
Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna, on Monday, found that the comments were libellous and noted that the radio station’s delay system could have been used to stop them. Mr Casa and Mr Portelli were ordered to pay Dr Mifsud €500 each.
When contacted, Dr Mifsud said he filed the suit against Mr Portelli, as editor, to be legally covered.
“I always had a good relationship with Pierre but had to take the editor to court,” he said.
“I didn’t file the suit for the money but out of principle… At the time I was on my path towards becoming a lawyer.”
Mr Portelli did not take it personally. He said the case happened many years ago. He had been friends with Dr Mifsud for many years and they became better friends since the programme, which is in its second year.
Asked if his friend had waived the payment, Mr Portelli replied that Dr Mifsud did not mention anything and he did not ask. However, it was usually the station that paid such fines.
“We will remain friends, and if he gets paid we’ll go out to eat together,” he joked.
However, Dr Mifsud seemed to have different plans for the €1,000. “First I’ll wait to see if there is an appeal… But, all I can say is that there are many charities that badly need money,” he said.