A horrid start

Last Sunday, the year began with truly horrific news. As people read about the tragedy that had occurred in Sliema, the festive spirit in many homes across the country was shattered. It was impossible not to feel anguished at the thought of the shock and the tragedy experienced by Claire Zammit Xuereb. As a mother, my heart totally went out to her and her children.

There is also no denying the fact that the whole episode was scary. The idea that a family is not safe when at home and that danger can come while we are tucked up in bed is one that undoubtedly strikes fear into the bravest of hearts. That night, after tucking my children into bed, I could not help but go round the house checking that all doors and windows were securely fastened.

All things considered, the tragedy was bound to spark a media frenzy. The unexplained nature of the attack and the fact that the widow is the daughter of a very well-known businessman caught the attention of the public, who constantly bayed for more and more information.

I can understand the fact that people are interested in the investigation and would like to know what happened. I believe that the thesis that the attack was unprovoked and totally random is such a scary one that people are scrambling for reasons to explain what happened. We would all sleep much better in our beds at night if it emerged that there was indeed a motive and that it was not a case of a stranger walking into a bedroom and wreaking havoc.

What is unconscionable, however, is the vicious online commentary that has been unleashed. As I read some of the comments posted under articles published by several online newspapers, I winced. I have no idea what these people are thinking! It is one thing to have a theory about what might have happened, but totally another one to write about it on a public forum accessed by thousands.

Just a few days ago, we were patting ourselves on the back for being one of the most charitable countries in the world - and yet here we are, just one week later, spitefully attacking the innocent victims of this tragedy. For let's face it, the dead can no longer be hurt by our words. It is the living, the ones left behind, the ones who definitely have no blame for what happened, who are reading these comments and whose hearts are being broken over and over again.

What has emerged over the last week is a horrible truth about the Maltese public. The green monster raised its ugly head and coloured people's perceptions about the tragedy that struck this family.

It seems that some people believe that since Anglu Xuereb is somewhat of a public figure, it means that his family do not have the right to privacy or decency befitting other human beings. The fact that we recognise both his face and his daughter's does not give us the right to an inside scoop or to trespass in their private lives. What on earth gives us the right to point fingers and pontificate?

Last week I wrote about Karin Grech and the suffering endured by her family for the past 34 years. I said that it is important that the facts come to light so that her family can put the matter to rest and find closure. However I was talking about the family, not the rest of us! We do not have any right whatsoever to know the details of anyone's lives, let alone those of victims and their survivors.

The main point I would like to make is that Duncan Zammit and Nicholas Gera were human beings just like the rest of us. They had foibles and flaws just like you and I. However at the end of the day, however human and flawed they were, neither of them deserved to die in that manner. So yes, the police must investigate and the families deserve answers - however they also deserve respect and the peace necessary to mourn their loss.

My heart reaches out to Tanja Gera, Nicholas' mother. Not only has she lost a son but she must be going through hell wondering what was going through his mind that morning. Similarly, Duncan's parents must be in agony and I cannot for the life of me imagine what they must be feeling at the moment.

However, there is no doubt that the person I feel for most is Claire Zammit Xuereb. She lost her husband in one of the most traumatic ways possible and she now faces the daunting task of raising her two babies alone. I hope she knows that apart from those few crazed souls who haunt the comment boards like ghouls, the rest of us are rooting for her. We hope she will have the strength to get back on her feet and to find solace in her children. We pray that she will rise from this tragedy a stronger woman and that she will be able to rebuild her life.

Frankly, that's all that matters.