An artist who had produced Paola's old titular statue of Christ The King has filed an injunction against the parish priest and the archbishop in a bid to prevent his work of art being transferred to the sacristy  to make way for a new titular statue donated to the parish a few months ago.

The injunction was filed just three weeks before the Paola feast which is celebrated on the last Sunday of July.

In his application, sculptor Ganni Bonnici asked the court to forbid any modifications to the niche or any works to the base of his statue so as to accommodate the new one.

The dispute revolves around an agreement reached earlier this year whereby the Church granted official recognition to Banda Kristu Sultan which had been formed in 1999. The deal was accepted on condition that a wooden statue of Christ the King made by renowned artist Alfred Camilleri Cauchi - which had been commissioned by the rival GM De Paule Band Club - would replace the titular one made by Mr Bonnici in 1999.

In his application Mr Bonnici noted that he had been commissioned to do this work of art following the approval of their Sacred Art Commission of the Church. He is also complaining that if his work of art is transferred to the sacristy, it would demean his reputation and breach a provision of the Copyright Act dealing with the mutilation, modification or distortion of any work of art.

He also points out that the ecclesiastical authorities had ignored his warnings against forging ahead with the plan to replace the statue.

Lawyer Benjamin Valenzia signed the application.