The government has been ordered to pay over €56,000 in damages on behalf of the shipyards to an employee who had been permanently disabled in an accident at the yard in 1993.

Anthony Mangion, a former employee, filed a case against Malta Shipbuilding, which was then transferred to the government.

In January, 1993, he was loading furniture into a wooden box, which would then be unloaded onto a vessel.

The process was more or less run of the mill. Mr Mangion used to enter the box, which would be attached to a crane, and hand the furniture to the other employees who were on board the vessel.

At one stage, the box fell over and Mr Mangion was thrown from a height of four metres, injuring his left hand.

The court was told that Mr Mangion had sustained a permanent disability. He claimed that Malta Shipbuilding had not provided him with a safe system of work.

On its part the government denied responsibility for the accident and it also denied that Mr Mangion had suffered a permanent disability, pointing out that the man had already received around €7,500 from a personal accident policy. The legal expert nominated by the court had found in Mr Mangion's favour and had ruled that the shipyard was responsible for the accident as it had not provided proper preventative measures.

Similarly, the medical expert appointed by the court concluded that Mr Mangion had suffered a 30 per cent permanent disability.

Mr Justice Gino Camilleri ruled that Malta Shipbuilding had not provided a safe system of work and had failed to ensure that there was no danger to life or safety. The accident could have been avoided with proper precautions.

The court found the government responsible and ordered it to pay Mr Mangion damages.