Former Chief Justice Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici passes away at 88

Former Chief Justice Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici has passed away at the age of 88.

Commonly known as ‘Gogo,’ he was born in Cospicua and was the elder brother of President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. He was married to Maria née Cremona, and together they had three daughters; Josette, Maricarm, and Anna.

He was appointed judge in 1988 and later chief justice in 1990. Between 1992 and 1998, he served as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Mifsud Bonnici was president of the Chamber of Advocates from 1978 to 1983 and president of the Casino Maltese for almost 15 years.

He was also nominated chairman of the Law Commission in 1999 and chairman of the Commission for Press Ethics from 2001 to 2009.

Between 2004 to 2009, he was chosen to represent Malta in the European Study Group on Civil Law.

He was also Malta’s chess champion in 1955.

Mifsud Bonnici was also prominent in the world of sports. He was president of the Malta Football Association between 1968 and 1982.

He had originally, been a delegate for St George’s FC on the MFA council, along with being a member of the UEFA Disciplinary, Control Commission from 1970 to 1982 and served on the EUFA Appeals Board from 1982 to 1984, and as the World Cup Appeals Board in 1982

Reacting to the news, the Nationalist Party said Mifsud Bonnici had been of great service to the country through his work as part of the judiciary as well as the European Court of Human Rights. 

The PN noted that Mifsud Bonnici had also contributed to education in Malta, having taught philosophy of law at the University of Malta.

The party said he would be remembered as a person of integrity and a defender of human rights.

The Labour Party also paid tribute to Mifsud Bonnici describing him as a person that given a great contribution to a different sectors, including law and sport.