Charles Fenech testifies in court after missing first summons

Former Radju Marija director Fr Charles Fenech this morning testified in court after having failed to turn up when summoned last week to give evidence in a compensation case by victims of clerical sex abuse. 

Last week, the Domenican priest, who is himself facing separate charges of sexual abuse, failed to turn up when summoned last week for the compensation case in which Lawrence Grech and Philip Cauchi are calling on the Constitutional Court to stop Mr Justice Joseph Micallef from presiding over the civil case for compensation because he is involved in the institution that abused them.

The judge is the President of the Dominican Order-owned Radju Marija, which according to Grech and Cauchi, casts doubts on his impartiality.

Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti had fined Fenech, the founder of Radju Marija, €150 for contempt of court and ordered that he be escorted under arrest for the next sitting. 

But this morning, the court revoked the fine after Fenech explained that his failure to show up was down to a misunderstanding with his lawyer Dr Franco Galea.

In his testimony, Fenech said the aim of the radio station was to convey the message of the Catholic Church, and it did not have any political or financial agenda.

Explaining that the radio was managed by lay people, Fenech said that Mr Justice Joseph R Micallef, handled administrative work and had no say over content and who was invited for the programmes.

Fenech also said that Radju Marija was not linked to the Curia and Mr Justice R Micallef never received any remuneration for his work.