Former minister gets €5,000 in damages after defamatory press release

A press release issued by the GRTU against former Minister Michael Falzon regarding his testimony in criminal proceedings against Malta Developers Association president Sandro Chetcuti was confirmed as being defamatory by a court of appeal. Michael Falzon had filed libel proceedings against Vince Farrugia and Paul Abela as director general and president respectively of the GRTU following the issue of the press release on February 27, 2014. The press release entitled 'GRTU rebuts claims made by ex-GRTU officers Mark Saliba and Joe Tabone and ex-Minister Michael Falzon in court' was about the testimony given by Mr Falzon in criminal proceedings against Sandro Chetcuti regarding an incident between the latter and Mr Farrugia. During a meeting between the Finance Minister and the MDA, Mr Falzon had allegedly witnessed an incident between Mr Farrugia and Mr Chetcuti. After testifying about this in court, the GRTU had issued the said press release stating that "the director general will take all necessary action in relation to the erroneous and misleading assertions made, possibly constituting perjury, especially regarding the meetings referred to by Perit Michael Falzon that could...