Four men were each fined €900, in connection with a fight which broke out during the 2005 Annunciation feast in Balzan.

Alston Abdilla, 26, from St Paul’s Bay, Roger Mahlangu, 28, from Balzan, Chris Sciberras, 37, from Birkirkara and Cliff Borg, 28, from Mosta were arrested after the fight which broke out on 10 July 2005.

Things came to a head when the statue of the Annunciation arrived in the village square, where a large crowd was gathered. Witnesses said the first arguments broke out at around 5.30pm, but lasted well into the night.

The court said a prison sentence was not the solution, even though three of them were relapsers.

Besides the fine, Abdilla’s licence was suspended for a year and he was ordered to stay away from Joseph Camilleri. Joe Giglio, Chris Cardona and Paul Farrugia appeared for the accused. The prosecution was led by Inspector Kevin Farrugia.