A council member of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) was yesterday fined €100 for attempting to use force and swearing in public during an argument with a German bird watcher.

David Briffa, 48, of Siġġiewi was, however, cleared of hitting Alex Hirschfeld, media officer of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (Cabs) in the face in the incident, caught on video, at Miżieb, limits of Mellieħa, on September 20, at about 1 p.m.

The incident happened just before a joint press conference by Cabs and BirdLife Malta to protest the lack of police investigations into bird killings in Miżieb. Cabs and BirdLife said they had found over 80 protected birds in the woodland during a search for dead protected birds.

Mr Hirschfeld testified before Magistrate Anthony Vella that he had been hit on his left cheek by a “very angry” Mr Briffa, who also swore at him.

He said the incident occurred when team members gathered at the car park in Miżieb after their search and he saw Mr Briffa argue with a BirdLife member. Mr Briffa was angry because he claimed the search was not carried out in the presence of the police. However, the police were there as were foreign journalists, the witness said.

Defence lawyers Emmanuel Mallia and Arthur Azzopardi said they would be appealing the sentence.