Watch: Woman says was assaulted after confronting restaurant over blocked path

A woman claimed she was assaulted by an unidentified man after objecting to outdoor furniture obstructing a public pathway outside a restaurant in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

“I was scared, but I know I have a right to pass from this place, and I will continue to do so,” Caroline Magro said.

The restaurant, Las Palmas Gourmet Beach Bar, insists it has no connection whatsoever to the aggressor.

Speaking to Times of Malta, Magro said that on July 16, she was carrying out her usual ritual of going to Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq with her two dogs for a swim.

To reach the beach, she walks through a passageway that runs along the side of the restaurant, to bypass the sandy beach, and get to the rocky part of the beach where her dogs can stay.

The passageway is split into two: half of it is tiled by the restaurant, while the other half is a pavement with two damaged concrete benches that have ‘Naxxar’ engraved on them.

The Naxxar council was unable to confirm whether this path is public or not.

The end of the pathway used to have steps leading to the beach, but this collapsed a few years ago and has not been repaired since, leaving a small drop down to the beach instead.

'Unable to pass as restaurant had placed tables, chairs'

When she approached the pathway this time, she claims she was unable to pass as the restaurant had placed tables, chairs and umbrellas in the way blocking the path.

“I know that I have a right to pass from this pathway. I have been doing so since I was a child,” she said.

She says she asked the restaurant manager to move the outdoor furniture blocking the pathway, and they got into an argument.

A male passerby – who the restaurant claims has no affiliation to it – interrupted and shouted at Magro: “What have I ever done to you?”

Magro and the man got into a shouting match, and things escalated.

“He grabbed me and slammed me to the ground. My back landed on the ledge, I ended up in the bushes, and my glasses and earrings flew off my face. He also began hitting me while I was down and I tried to kick him off,” she said.

He grabbed me and slammed me to the ground. My back landed on the ledge, I ended up in the bushes, and my glasses and earrings flew off my face. He also began hitting me while I was down and I tried to kick him off

Someone from the restaurant intervened, she said, but when she got up the aggressor threw her to the ground and began hitting her again.

“I left and called the police. I came back later with the police, but the man was nowhere to be seen,” she said.

Images and a health centre report show that she suffered a black eye, scratches on her face, and multiple bruises over her body.

Caroline Magro suffered a black eye, scratches on her face and multiple bruises all over her body.

“I was told by the police not to show up to this place anymore, as they do not know who they are dealing with. But I told them I was not willing to give up. As long as I have the right to pass from here, I will keep doing so,” Magro said.

The police confirmed that investigations to identify the alleged assailant are ongoing.