Maltese leaders stay away from murdered writer’s funeral

HUNDREDS of ordinary Maltese attended the emotional funeral of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and thousands more lined nearby streets in a mark of respect.

But the island’s political establishment, including Marie-louise Coleiro Preca, Joseph Muscat, and Adrian Delia – the Maltese president, prime minister and opposition leader – heeded a call from the reporter’s family to stay away.

Police closed off roads leading to the service presided over by Archbishop Charles Scicluna at the Rotunda parish church of Musta, not far from where Ms Caruana Galizia was killed by a Semtex bomb in her car on Oct 16.

Archbishop Scicluna said Malta needed “unshackled” journalists who are “honest, serene, safe and protected.” He added: “Whoever took part, in one way or another, in Daphne’s murder, I have this to tell you: however hard you try to evade the justice of men, you will never escape from the justice of God.”

Mr Muscat and his wife were lambasted repeatedly by Ms Capuana Galizia in her blog for The Malta Independent newspaper. After her death, her family accused the prime minister of creating a culture of impunity that turned Malta into a “mafia island”.

The government nevertheless declared yesterday a day of national mourning and flags flew at half mast at public buildings such as the Valletta Tribunal, where the reporter fought 42 libel suits.

Police sources say the murder investigation has focused on criminals involved in the lucrative illegal petroleum smuggling racket between Malta and Libya, whose kingpins used car bombs to settle scores between rival clans, allegedly with the connivance of island authorities.