Court turns down heirs' request

The Civil Court has dismissed a request by the heirs of the victims of the Um El Faroud tragedy for the incorporation of the evidence given in the magisterial inquiry in the records of the civil proceedings for damages.

Mr Justice Tonio Mallia ruled that not all the defendants had been parties to the magisterial inquiry when it was held and could be prejudiced by the incorporation of the inquiry evidence into the civil case.

He dismissed the request in a preliminary ruling in the suit filed by the heirs of the nine men who died and the two who were critically injured in the explosion on board the Um El Faroud on February 3, 1995, at around 10.30 p.m. The vessel was in dock three of the Malta Drydocks.

The heirs filed their claims against General National Maritime Transport Company of Libya and the Drydocks council and management.