The men – Daniel Agius, 30, Pierre Pisani, 35, Charlot Ebejer, 34, Miguel Azzopardi, 21, Jurgen Cassar, 21, Anthony Grima, 47, all from Zabbar and John Cassar, 49 from Marsascala were accused of being part of a group of more than 10 people with the intent of committing a crime late 10 September night. They were also charged with refusing to disperse after being warned by the authorities, inciting violence and possibly frightening the public.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and also denied threatening, assaulting and injuring police officers, including assistant commissioner Paul Sammut, superintendent Patrick Spiteri and inspector Anthony Cassar, violently resisting police and disobeying their orders, breaching the peace, being drunk in public and throwing hard objects.

Faced with these men, who are members of two different Zabbar band clubs – of San Mikiel and tal-Grazzja, presiding magistrate Antonio Mizzi said, “I know what your punishment should be – voluntary work in each other’s band club.”

The accused form part of a larger group of people involved in the fight, 11 of whom were arraigned last Sunday and put under house arrest. Magistrate Mizzi said that had it been up to him, he would have kept them all under arrest for the sheer irresponsibility of their actions. Instead he granted them bail against a Lm5,000 personal guarantee.

He then launched into a tirade against the feasts that he said have become pagan instead of religious celebrations. Magistrate Mizzi said that he once stopped a feast in Gozo in an attempt to prevent any riotous acts.

The magistrate said that their time under house arrest should serve these men as time to meditate on what they did and hope this will be the only time they get themselves into such trouble.

Superintendent Patrick Spiteri and senior inspector Anthony Cassar prosecuted while Dr Mario Caruana and Dr James Muscat Azzopardi appeared for the accused.