Justice Minister Owen Bonnici and activist Manwel Mallia locked horns today over court action taken with regard to the Great Siege monument, which has been taken over by supporters of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and used a shrine dedicated to her.

While Minister Bonnici said in a first statement that Delia had withdrawn court action, the activist later said that this was not the case.

The minister was referring to a request for a prohibitory injunction, which Delia withdrew, while at the same time maintaining his constitutional case. Delia said the minister's intentions were to mislead the public.

In his statement, the minister said that the courts have not issued any order – temporary or otherwise – against him. He was referring to the request for a warrant of prohibitory injunction made by Delia, along with the constitutional case.

He said that he has always conformed with the law and followed orders issued by the courts.

The minister noted the counter court application filed by Delia “by which he withdrew the court action he had initiated,” the statement concluded. 

In a statement on his blog, Delia insisted that Bonnici had misled the public by suggesting he had withdrawn the court action, saying: “I have done no such thing.”

“The constitutional appeal has not been withdrawn and I am waiting for the Court to appoint the date for the first hearing of the case.

“Minister Bonnici did not refer to this action and his statement was manifestly intended to mislead the public into believing we have raised the white flag [of surrender]. The Constitutional court action has certainly not been withdrawn."

The fact that former minister Joe Brincat had entered the case, Delia explained, was further evidence that that the case had not been withdrawn.

Delia added that he had chosen to file a constitutional case while also noting that Bonnici and the government had “continued to censor the protest despite being ordered by the court to explain their actions”.

“Instead of replying to the court, minister Bonnici couldn't care less and maintained his order for the protest to be censored,” Delia said.

He insisted he will continue to seek the protection of the court against the “government’s abuse”.