The owner of a Marsa bar and his son have been fined for firing two pistols several times into the air in self-defence after a group of Eritrean men started breaking up the establishment.

The son was charged with attempted serious injury, after one of the Eritreans was hit in the leg, but was acquitted.

Raymond Magri, 53, and his son Deniro, 23, were in New Tiger Bar, near the open centre, on February 9, 2007, at 4.30pm, the court heard. Eritrean men started to bother some women and were told to leave.

The men returned a short time later accompanied by a much larger group armed with pieces of wood, rocks and sticks and began smashing up the bar.

Mr Magri and his son reacted by fired their pistols. No fewer than 15 shots were fired, according to the ballistic analysis: five shots hit the ceiling, one hit the wall and the rest were possibly fired into the air.

One of the Eritreans, Aserom Belayterlit, was hit in the leg but was not seriously injured.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi said it was clear the firearms were used in self-defence. Also, there was no evidence to prove Deniro Magri had fired the shot that caused the injury.

The court found father and son guilty of the illegal possession of firearms and of firing a gun in a public space, fining the first €700 and the other €500.

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio represented the pair.