A court heard a police inspector yesterday describing a festa gone bad scene in Ghaxaq. Bottles were flying and he was threatened and almost assaulted following a breach of a permit which saw members of St Joseph Band club driving past the rival St Mary club for the third time in one evening.

Inspector Joseph Agius took the stand during a sitting in the case against six members of the St Mary club. Guido Scicluna, 50, Francois Pace, 23, Ivan Abdilla, 26, Guido Agius, 52, Ramon Caruana, 20 and John Barbara are pleading not guilty to rioting and being part of a crowd gathered to commit a crime in Ghaxaq at around 12.15am on 4 June 2005.

They were also accused of hurling objects, disobeying police orders, injuring a police constable and breaching the peace. Guido Agius alone was additionally charged with threatening a police inspector.

Inspector Agius described the incident and how it came to pass. He said that at 11.30pm, St Joseph Band Club members were in front of the St Mary Band Club premises, although their permit for any celebrations had expired at 11pm. He explained that after he approached St Joseph Band Club secretary Keith Fenech, the members moved to their own premises, around 20 metres away.

“The march was over by 12.05am but, strangely, people did not leave the town square. I felt something was going to happen so I ordered all the police constables stationed within the square not to move until I said so,” the inspector continued.

He explained that he suddenly heard hooters coming from the direction of Ghaxaq police station. “I was surprised and wondered what was going on, since I knew no permit had been issued for an activity at that time,” he said.

As he moved towards the racket, Insp. Agius explained that he met Mr Scicluna, one of the accused, and the St Mary Band Club secretary Guido Scicluna. He said that Mr Scicluna angrily thrust the agreement reached by the band clubs into his hand and said: “They will not pass by here for a third time,” referring to members of the St Joseph club.

“I came closer to the noise and saw a van, surrounded by members of the St Joseph Band club, carrying a statue of St Joseph and an angel around 30 metres away from the St Mary Band club. Mr Fenech, the club secretary, was at the front of the group, which was comprised of 15 to 25 people who were using hooters and shouting. “I held him responsible for all the club’s activities,” the inspector said.

After Mr Fenech quietened the crowd, he told the police officer that the statue was destined for the back of the church and explained they were going to pass through the town square. The inspector did not give permission for them to take this route, but Mr Fenech insisted and finally the driver of the van moved along towards St Mary Band club.

Supporters of the rival club gathered outside their premises and attempted to block the road, the inspector said. “I ordered the driver to reverse but then I heard someone shout: ‘It’s our feast and no one is going to get involved. Drive!’,” he recalled.

The van eventually drove into a crowd of people and the next thing the inspector remembered was a glass being thrown at the van from the direction of the St Mary club. “It smashed when it hit the van and then bottles were suddenly flying from all directions. I went to take cover behind a statue and called for back up,” he continued.

Insp. Agius explained that, together with police officers who had arrived at the scene, he rounded up the St Mary club members and ushered them inside. “The band club secretaries cooperated with the officers and the shower of bottles was reduced to just a solitary, occasional, bottle in a matter of minutes,” he said.

The inspector then had to face the irate St Mary Club members who began insulting him on the assumption that he had allowed the St Joseph members through the street. “You let this happen,” they started shouting, the inspector remembered, adding that several personal insults were also thrown in. He explained that the only face he remembered was that of Guido Agius.

The inspector said that the members of the St Mary club made attempts to assault him but failed because they were being kept back by police officers. He added that the incident had been a complete surprise to the police.

Superintendent Nicholas Ciappara and inspectors Agius and Chris Pullicino prosecuted, while Dr Jason Azzopardi and Dr Charmaine Cherrett appeared for the accused.