Ex-ministers win €10,500 each in libel case

Two former government ministers were yesterday awarded a total of €21,000 in libel damages.

Louis Galea and Ninu Zammit filed their writs against Frans Ghirxi as editor of L-Orizzont claiming that they had been libelled by an advert published in the newspaper on April, 19, 2001 under the heading Il-Ħbieb tal-Ħbieb".

Mr Ghirxi pleaded that the notice was fair comment and political criticism and was not libellous.

Dr Galea and Mr Zammit claimed the notice was libellous for it depicted them as being connected with a person who had been convicted of drug trafficking. As a result, the notice maliciously gave the impression that the plaintiffs were connected with drug trafficking.

Mr Justice Gino Camilleri pointed out that the photo that had been published in conjunction with the notice showed Ciro Del Negro who had been convicted of drug trafficking.

The conviction had taken place shortly before the publication complained of and so it was fresh in the mind of the average reader. The photo, together with the caption, indicated that the former ministers were involved in drug trafficking. There was therefore no doubt that the notice was libellous.

In conclusion, Dr Galea and Mr Zammit were awarded €10,500 each in damages.