Former editor fined €5,000 for libel

Frans Ghirxi, former editor of GWU daily l-Orizzont, was ordered to pay €5,000 in damages to a father and daughter after a letter deemed libelous was published in the newspaper.

The court ruled that since the author’s name was omitted from the letter, the editor became personally responsible for the content of the letter.

The libel suit was filed by Frank and Maria Alexia Psaila for a letter entitled ‘Over-qualification should be punished’.

The letter claimed that individuals, especially in Gozo, were being punished and had their applications rejected because they were deemed over-qualified for the post.

“This is the worst form of corruption one can imagine and I call on the Prime Minister to issue regulations to stall such actions,” the letter read.

The author of the letter wrote that a job at clerk at ETC was given to Maria Alexia Psaila, daughter of Frank Psaila then permanent secretary at the Ministry for Gozo.

According to the author, another applicant, Edel Mary Camilleri, was “overqualified” for the post.

The author alleged that the board’s decision was aimed at eliminating competition allowing Psaila to secure her post. The case dates back to over 10 years ago.

The court said that editors are bound to allow the democratic expression of their reader’s opinions. However, once eliminating the author’s name, the editor became responsible of the contents of the letter.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale ruled that the letter printed in l-Orizzont was libellous and defamatory. The court ordered the former editor to pay €5,000 in damages to the father and daughter.