The second largest shareholder of Allied Newspapers Limited, Robert Hornyold Strickland, said today that he has been “persistently and deliberately” excluded from any involvement in the running of the company and of the Strickland Foundation.

Mr Strickland issued a statement following the resignation of Adrian Hillman from the post of managing director of the Allied Group. It has been alleged that Mr Hillman took kickbacks from Keith Schembri through the latter’s company Kasco, allegations that both have denied. Mr Schembri is the chief of staff at the Office of the Prime Minister.

In his statement, Mr Strickland said he “read the news that has broken over the weekend regarding Allied Newspapers Ltd, where I am the second largest shareholder, as Mabel Strickland’s only heir. As such, I feel uniquely qualified to comment. I am disappointed to see the attacks on our once proud and independent group of companies (founded by my great-grandfather, Lord Strickland, and by my great-aunt, the Hon. Mabel Strickland), which came as a complete surprise to me.

“It is regrettable to state that as I have, in fact, been persistently and deliberately excluded from any involvement in the Allied Group and the Strickland Foundation, set up by my aunt 'for herself and her heirs in perpetuity' I have therefore not been able to contribute to the development of the newspaper business.”

While the allegations made against our Managing Director, Adrian Hillman, have not been proven, the reputation of our Group has been damaged, which is regrettable, Mr Strickland said. “I therefore look forward to a full and independent enquiry”.

Mr Strickland then goes on the speak about the pending court cases he has filed to sort out the situation, saying that he is “anxious to play my part to safeguard the future of Allied Newspapers Ltd so as to protect my Aunt’s legacy to Malta and the livelihoods of our employees, as my aunt would have wished me to do.”