Father spared jail over maintenance

A 64 year-old father was this morning spared from spending one month in jail, after a Judge, presiding over the Criminal Court of appeal converted his judgement into a fine.

The father was convicted to a month in jail by a Magistrate in September 2011, after he was found guilty of defaulting in paying maintenance to his wife and children.

He appealed the judgement on the basis that since the judgement he had already paid up part of the money he owed, while a balance was still pending payments he had to receive from third parties.

Under the circumstances, and after having seen the man's good conduct, Mr. Justice Lawrence Quintano presiding over the Court of Criminal Appeal, reformed the judgment and imposed a €58 fine instead of sending the man to prison.