The Transport Authority this afternoon issued new licences for five hearses, four in Malta and one in Gozo, after a court turned down a request for a warrant of prohibitory injunction requested by the Transport Federation.

The licences in Malta was issued to Karmenu Mifsud, who already has the hearses in Malta.

Mr Mifsud said he had requested police protection to start holding funerals, but, he said, even relatives of the deceased and the clergy did not wish to hold funerals in the current climate. He said it was to early to say when funerals would start.

There are currently 34 corpses awaiting burial at Mater Dei Hospital.

Transport Minister Austin Gatt said this evening that a hearse had started operating in Gozo. He also welcomed the granting of the new licences after the green light by the courts.