A Magistrates’ Court has thrown out a claim for damages by Ġanni Attard, the farmer at the centre of the long-running Gozo sheep case, against the government veterinary surgeon in Gozo, concluding that any damages suffered had been as a result of his own shortcomings.

The Gozitan sheep farmer had filed a civil suit for damages against Frank Galea claiming that the latter had slipped up on his duties by failing to register the herd when he was aware of its existence.

This failure had resulted in the culling of the animals at the ‘Tal-Pirwilin’ farm at Għarb in November 2012, which prompted the dispossessed farmer to file an action for damages against the Gozitan vet.

Read: Gozo sheep saga continues - official describes 2012 slaughter

However, the court in Gozo presided over by magistrate Joanne Vella Cuschieri, echoing an earlier pronouncement by a constitutional court of appeal in separate proceedings filed by Mr Attard, observed that there had been ‘serious shortcomings’ on the shepherd’s part.

He had not registered the transfer of the animals which he had purchased from a licensed Nadur farmer. Nor had he obtained the necessary licence as sheep farmer and the necessary permits from the competent authorities.

Moreover, the court observed that the culling operation had been ordered by Anthony Gruppetta, head of the government veterinary services.

For these reasons, the court failed to understand how Mr Attard expected Dr Galea to shoulder responsibility for damages allegedly suffered as a result of the culling when there had been serious shortcomings on his own part which had prevented the due registration of the animals.

The court therefore rejected the applicant’s claims.