Six men, including the secretary of one of the band clubs and a father and son, were conditionally discharged for two years after admitting causing trouble at the Marsa feast on 3 June.

Victor Cilia, 55, from Marsa, who is the secretary of the Holy Trinity Band Club, father and son Raymond Scicluna, 49 and Clint Scicluna, 21, both from Marsa, Joseph Zammit, 57, from Hamrun, Alexander Debono, 46, from Marsa and John Muscat, 37, from Paola were found guilty of threatening the police, disobeying police orders

and distracting them from carrying out

their duties, swearing in public, breaching the peace and provoking people to commit

a crime.

Handing down her judgement, magistrate Edwina Grima condemned the men for the trouble they had caused, although she took into account the fact that they regretted what had happened and had also apologised to the police officers involved.

Magistrate Grima said that feasts are there to be enjoyed by everyone and that the church should take measures to ensure that feast

celebrations do not get out of hand, placing in jeopardy the health and safety of the people who are there.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted while Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Deborah Delceppo appeared for the accused.