Croatian hooligans get suspended sentence

Six Croatian men, who yesterday admitted to responsibility for a destructive brawl in Paceville early yesterday morning, have today been handed suspended sentences and released from custody - but only after they paid for the damage they caused.

The accused - Ivan Janjetic, Igor Valec and Dalen Cekada who are unemployed, factory worker Denis Danilovic, restaurant owner Marijo Hodak and co-owner Davor Andelkovic - all in their twenties and thirties, had been held in custody overnight after being arraigned before Magistrate Josette Demicoli yesterday afternoon.

The six pleaded guilty to four counts of wilful damage, incitement of an assembly of persons, breaching the peace, throwing hard objects and insulting a person and were sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for four years. The total cost of the damages caused by the men amounted to €5,870.

It is understood that the fight broke out at 1:20am yesterday morning, when the group of football fans attacked a man from Serbia on Santa Rita steps in Paceville, a day before Malta met Croatia in a European cup qualifier. The fight grew and soon some 30 Croatians were throwing tables, chairs, bottles and glasses at a small group of Serbian visitors. No injuries were reported.

Inspector Trevor Micallef told Magistrate Josette Demicoli that the payments, making good for the damages arising from the incident, had almost been collected in full. Family members for four of the men had transferred the full amount, whilst the transfers for the other two are currently being processed.

Lawyer Joseph Ellis appeared for the men.