There are as yet no concrete plans in place to restore the Luqa sculpture that was vandalised over the weekend, although it would be removed once and for all if the local council had its way.

The vandals may not have needed a ladder

Ceramicist Paul Vella Critien said he had been contacted by the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs regarding repairs to his structure, which is controversially phallic in shape and has been the target of criticism over the years. “I have been asked to prepare a report on the damage sustained but nothing is definite yet,” he said, adding that he had not yet calculated how much the repairs would cost. Neither was he able to give an indication of when the report would be completed or when the restoration would take place, if at all. The topmost part of the Colonna Mediterranea was broken off by vandals, “probably using a long metal tube or something similar,” said Mr Vella Critien.

He believes the vandals may not even have needed a ladder to reach the top of the structure but declined to comment further on how the breakage occurred for fear of inspiring future attacks.

A government spokesman said that once the report has been written, it would decide “whether or not repair is feasible”. It was only then that steps could be taken to begin restoration of the sculpture, he said.

Meanwhile, Luqa mayor John Schembri, who has always strongly opposed the sculpture being placed on the Luqa roundabout, reiterated his disapproval of it.

He said it should be removed, in accordance with the wishes of the local council as well as of the majority of Luqa citizens.