Lawyer Marse-Ann Farrugia turned up almost an hour late for her swearing in as magistrate after she was involved in an accident that blocked the Regional Road for a short time.

The Opel Zafira she was driving swung 90 degrees and stopped at the entrance of the Sta Venera tunnel (Marsa to St Julians direction) after a collision with a Ford Ka.

The magistrate was taken to hospital, along with a woman and her 10-year old boy in the Ford, but none was seriously injured. In fact, Dr Farrugia looked fine at the ceremony later.

The accident happened at 11.15 a.m., well before she was meant to have taken her oath at the President's Palace at 1.15 p.m., but that event had to be briefly postponed.

Eventually, she was sworn in at 2.15 to replace former Magistrate Lawrence Quintano, who was himself sworn in as judge at the same ceremony. Lawyer Mark Chetcuti also took his oath as judge.

The new judges will replace Judge Joseph Galea Debono, who has retired, and Chief Justice Vince De Gaetano, who has been elected to serve on the European Court of Human Rights.

President George Abela presided over the ceremony and afterwards congratulated the new members of the judiciary.

He said that while he had no doubt that the judiciary was already efficient, it was especially important to be speedy in administering justice. This, together with fairness, was what interested the people.

He added that their job was not an easy one, especially in this day and age.