Birdlife’s libel suit against the president of Federation for Hunting and Conservation, Joe Perici Calascione, was dismissed today on the grounds that the FKNK had the right to make complaints about the booklet which Birdlife handed out in schools with an anti-hunting slant.

The President of Birdlife, Joseph Mangion and the Secretary, Desiree Falzon, requested damages from FKNK after the publication of a press release stating “Birdlife Malta infiltrate Education Department”.

The press release criticized Birdlife of brain-washing children with “misinterpreted and misrepresented” facts and removing the opportunity for children to have a “fair and unbiased platform” to discuss the environment and conservation.

Mr Mangion and Ms Falzon argued that Birdlife had not “infiltrated” the Education Department; they had serious reservations with the alleged “brainwashing”; and said they felt defamed after it was said that they were promoting a biased “anti-hunting” message. They also pointed out that they were speaking out against illegal hunting, not conservation.

Mr Perici Calascione, on the other hand, said that he was writing in FKNK’s name so he shouldn’t have been taken to court personally.

Magistrate Depasquale expressed his disappointment that two leading environmental organisations could not settle this issue out of court and the court agreed with Mr Perici Calascione that he was not, in fact, the correct defendant. He ruled that FKNK had the right to speak up about hunting in the way it did.