Outgoing Attorney General Peter Grech said in his resignation letter that he was often unjustly attacked and that his reluctance to react to criticism was often mistaken as an acceptance of claims levelled against him.

Grech handed in his resignation to President George Vella on Saturday. The resignation letter was published on Monday.

In the letter, Grech says he decided to resign after having reached retirement age in March and after serving in the “onerous and exigent” role for ten years.

The decision was not an easy one for him and his family after working with dedication and loyalty towards Malta and the Office of the Attorney General for over 37 years, he says. “That office became my life.”

“During that time, I worked with many people with different views and I was involved in a number of important legal reforms. Despite the difficult role and sometimes unprecedented circumstances, I have always performed my duties in line with the constitution and according to my conscience and the oath I took as a lawyer. I did this with humility and humanity, which are also the elements of justice.”

He said the way in which he was treated in the political debate was “often disappointing” and he feels it was sometimes “particularly unjust and intended to create false perceptions.”

“My role and sense of dignity often precluded me from descending to the same level to react. Unfortunately, the fact that I failed to react was often interpreted as an admission of what was being said. I reaffirm that this was not the case and the attacks against me and the twisted interpretation of some of the decisions I took did not stop me from carrying out my duties faithfully as the Attorney General.”

He noted that, two years ago he had faced serious health problems which were likely stress-related. “Today, despite being willing to work in a contentious environment and lack of serenity, I have to be careful not to let my health deteriorate.”

Grech said that, after considering the situation from all aspects, the years he has served in the role, his family’s views and his health, he has decided to leave this “difficult but satisfactory” chapter behind.

He thanked his family which, he said, had always supported him but had suffered unjustly.

Grech said he remains willing to serve the country if his services are required.