A court has recommended tighter security around the Parliament building in the wake of a recent break-in over which two men were yesterday sentenced to five months in prison.

Eman Zammit, 36, and Clayton Fava, 28, both unemployed and from Żabbar, were on August 16 found in an underground area after gaining access from the tunnel leading to the former Yellow Garage at the City Gate ditch. Both men had claimed they were merely sheltering from the rain, but it later transpired they had entered a restricted zone by jumping over a gate.

In his judgment, Magistrate Joseph Mifsud added a bullet -point list of recommendations aimed at beefing up security.

He said the tunnel entrance should be sealed by a gate, partly covered in wire mesh to allow sufficient ventilation.

He called for the installation of another gate to control access from a separate narrow tunnel until the works on a public lift linking the ditch to the capital’s entrance were complete.

The magistrate also called for security cameras to be installed in the ditch and tunnel area and for police presence to be strengthened whenever Parliament was in session or hosting some activity.

Regular risk assessment reports should be drawn up and a guard tour system established to keep a record of police patrols, he recommended.

As for the case itself, the court noted there was no evidence the intruders were planning to cause any damages because they were only found in possession of a mobile phone and less than €10 in cash.

However, it noted that, due to the fact that both of them were well known to the police because of a long list of convictions fuelled by their drug addiction, the only possible punishment was jail.

“While their drug suppliers might be opening new bank accounts, if the accused do not reform themselves they will be staring at their own grave,” the magistrate said.

A supervision order of four years was issued.

The court also ordered that a copy of the judgment be sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.