A student/journalist working for the University newspaper The Insiter has won a libel suit following the publication of an article that showed that the canteen tables had more bacterial elements than a toilet seat in the University.

A court presided over by Magistrate Michael Mallia ruled against the catering company RJC Caterers, which sued the University newspaper following the publication of an article about hygiene at the University’s canteen back in 2005.

The libel case was initiated after the article in The Insiter, written by Anthony David Gatt, reported that the University canteen was not up to standards hygienically.

The article reported that a year earlier, a work module carried out by Biology students at the University compared bacterial elements between a toilet seat and other places, including the tales in the canteen.

The managing director of the company operating the canteen, John Buttigieg, filed a libel suit against The Insiter newspaper editor Michaela Muscat and reporter Anthony David Gatt.

The court ruled that the article was a “fair comment” as it was backed by “true facts” and professional studies. The court added that even though one might not agree with a news report, one cannot censor a publication just because of that.

On the decision of the court to rule against the catering company, Anthony David Gatt said: “Journalism is about the truth. It is about exposing the truth that the establishment, a company or a public figure wants to hide. It is the process of outing common knowledge amongst a small group and affirming it in front of the whole community.

“Obviously, it is encouraging, in these days when journalism is sometimes threatened by gagging and control, to have a court judgment stating that you have reported the truth, especially when a third party wanted to stop you at all costs. This commitment to the truth is a benchmark that I will strive to keep throughout my career.”

Mr Gatt was defended by Dr Paul Lia.