The Prime Minister has denied ever meeting or promising anything to Gozitan sheep herder Gianni Attard, who is involved in a legal wrangle over a herd of unregistered sheep.

Joseph Muscat accused the Opposition leader of a wrong turn when he yesterday played an audio recording of Mr Attard claiming to have been promised before the election that his situation will be regularised.

A court has ordered the slaughter of Mr Attard's herd since he breached public health rules by failing to register the sheep. Last week Mr Attard called Radio 101, the PN station, to complain about his case and claimed to have been cheated by the government.

In his Sunday political meeting yesterday Simon Busuttil played the phone call and used it to illustrate what he claimed was government's deception, but desisted from speaking about the case.

Dr Muscat this morning denied ever promising anything to Mr Attard.

The sheep cull started taking place under the previous administration but was stopped after Mr Attard took the matter to court. He lost the case and is now claiming a breach of human rights.