Patrick Dalli sues Times journalist for libel

Patrick Dalli, husband of Minister for Social Dialogue Helena Dalli has filed two separate personal libel suits against a Times of Malta journalist over a series of articles.

The articles, written by journalist Caroline Muscat, dealt with the controversy surrounding Dalli’s omitting to include a Zejtun farmhouse which is owned by Pada Builders limited – a company owned by Dalli in her annual declaration of assets.

One article, titled “Minister shuns questions over husband’s property”, in which the journalist pointed out incorrect assertions made by the minister to journalists regarding the promise of sale of the property, the accessibility of information regarding properties belonging to her husband’s companies from the Public Registry and her claim to have tabled the promise of sale agreement before Parliament.

Other articles dealt with the Dallis’ claims to have not been aware of having workmen on site in violation of a MEPA enforcement notice, in spite of the Dalli residence being less than 100m away and vehicles belonging to Pada Builders being present while the illegal works were ongoing.
 
In the court applications, which are signed by lawyer Edward Gatt, Patrick Dalli claims that the articles contain “libellous and defamatory allegations that have harmed his reputation”.