After the massive public outcry following the chopping down of 104 trees at the Foresta 2000 site, one cannot help but note the muted reaction to the fact that three men were brought to justice and pleaded guilty to a crime against the whole nation.

Maltese people screamed and cried bloody murder at the time, yet now we notice that the news was more or less greeted with a shrug of the shoulder. The trees have since been replaced, but this does not alter the fact that we, as a people, should have perhaps sat up and taken more notice of the fact that the police managed to solve this difficult crime.

Three men, hunters disaffected with the limited spring hunting season, pleaded guilty to chopping the trees down. The court fined them E1,000 each, made them pay e1,320 in expenses and ordered them to carry out 300 hours of community work. The fact that the three men had already been found guilty of poaching on other occasions added to the gravity of their offences.

This newspaper would have gone further, by ordering them to carry out 300 hours of voluntary work at the site (or another one similar to it). It is also good to hear that the FKNK has suspended their licences and will not renew them. We hope that this will be a lifetime ban, and not just for a year or two.

While some may argue that the punishment issued was not stiff enough, we believe that the financial damage, plus the fact that these men have been struck off the hunting register, will suffice. We hope that they have learned that this is no place for the law of the jungle.

Unfortunately, here in Malta, we have seen many ugly instances of vandalism. It is not the first time that base people have targeted our countryside or national monuments to get back at the government for decisions it has taken. Instances which spring to mind include the daubing of oil on Portes des Bombes, the attacks on the Neolithic temples and, of course, the forest attacks.

The court, on Tuesday, immediately and very flatly turned down a request made by a defence lawyer for the ban on publication of the names of officials from Valletta FC following a brawl during a match between them and Birkirkara. Two Birkirkara players were also charged.

Lawyer Michael Sciriha is the president of the Rabat football club and the brother of the Valletta FC president. He requested a ban on the publication of names, “in the interest of the sport”. Thankfully, presiding magistrate Anthony Vella did not allow any charm to influence his decision and promptly chastised the lawyer for the request, pointing out that as people involved in sport, they should have been the ones setting the example.

It was the correct decision. All too often, we see bans on publication of names upheld. Very often, the swaying factor can be a ‘character reference’ given by defence lawyers who swear to the veracity of their claims.

We understand that there are bans to protect victims, particularly those who have fallen foul of sexual predators. There are also other circumstances which warrant a ban, for example when an accused is helping police to widen an investigation.

But bans for mere bans’ sake, which have happened and continue to happen, are simply unfair. They are unfair on the victims and unfair on society at large. Well done, Magistrate Vella.