PN journalist, former editor found guilty of libelling Anglu Farrugia

Former Nazzjon editor Joe Zahra, and PN journalist Dione Borg have been found guilty of libel against Speaker Anglu Farrugia and ordered to pay him €600 in damages for an article published 14 years ago.

The article, which was based on anonymous letter which the PN newspaper In-Nazzjon had received, alleged that together with Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, Anglu Farrugia, formed part of an internal group which sought to remove Alfred Sant from the PL leadership prior to the 2003 election.

The article also alleged that if Anglu Farrugia and Marie Louise Coleiro were discovered as being part of the internal group in question, they would have had to "consider resigning from parliament."

Rebutting the allegations, Anglu Farrugia filed for libel against the PN journalist and the former editor, claiming that the article was libellous and that it had tarnished his reputation among the Labour Party officials and the general public.

In her decree, Judge Lorraine Schembri Orland ruled that when Dione Borg received the anonymous letter, he neither investigated the content nor did he carry out any investigations on the veracity of the facts alleged. In addition, the judge said, the defendant added his "injurious and libelous" comments.

Judge Schembri Orland found PN journalist Dione Borg and former Nazzjon editor Joe Zahra guilty of libel and ordered to pay Anglu Farrugia €600 in damages.