Retired judge to head inquiry into Mater Dei’s structural problem

Judge emeritus Philip Sciberras will be heading an inquiry into the discovery that concrete used for the construction of columns at Mater Dei’s accident and emergency department is of far inferior quality than that stipulated in the contracts signed.

The board includes architect Joseph Scalpello and Karl Cini. The board will establish the facts and timeline of how things developed during the construction of the €600 million Mater Dei Hospital.

The board has been tasked with analysing the criminal and civil liabilities that have resulted from this case, the government said. The board has been granted the power to appoint technical experts to assist in the inquiry.

“This board is part of our commitment to establish the facts that have occurred in the past during the construction of Mater Dei’s emergency department,” the government said.

It reiterated that the government will be seeking political, technical and commercial responsibilities over the shortcomings that may emerge.