The two architects involved in the building collapse which led to the tragic passing of Miriam Pace have had their warrants suspended by the Chamber of Architects, some five years after the incident took place.

In a statement, the Chamber of Architects said that it had concluded its investigations into the professional conduct of architects Roderick Camilleri and Anthony Mangion in relation to the incident which led to Miriam Pace’s death.

The incident happened on 2 March 2020 in Triq Joseph Abela Scolaro in Hamrun, when Pace’s home collapsed into an adjacent construction site while works were ongoing. Pace was found some hours later, dead in the rubble of her own home. Camilleri and Mangion were involved in the works in the site in question.

Camilleri was the architect who was responsible for overseeing the construction site, while Mangion was the site technical officer.

The two architects have already faced criminal prosecution in connection with the tragedy: they were found guilty of involuntary homicide and damage to third-party property but were spared of jail time – they instead received a suspended sentence and community service.

The Chamber of Architects only started its own proceedings when the criminal proceedings ended, and had requested a copy of the magisterial inquiry into the case – a request which was granted in September 2022.

Camilleri was found by the Chamber of Architects “to be in breach of Directive DIR 01/18, to be in breach of the Second Provision of the Code of Professional Conduct, and to have failed to uphold professional standards and practices.”

The investigation noted Camilleri’s “amateurish and hastily drawn-up” risk assessments and mitigation measures, and found that he had not been paid via a fee for services rendered but through a 10% shareholding agreement with the developer responsible for the site.

“The risk assessments and mitigation measures were amateurish and hastily drawn up. This nonchalant attitude to risk inevitably permeates to all participants in the construction project,” the council which handled the investigation found.

Camilleri was not, however, found guilty of gross negligence despite appointing “a non-qualified person to inspect the neighbouring properties and draw up the required documentation” and he was also found not guilty of “blackmailing or strong-arming neighbours into accepting” excavation so close to the adjacent wall.

Camilleri’s warrant was suspended for two years and four months.

Mangion meanwhile was found by the Chamber “found to have failed to comply with regulations with respect to professional standards and practices” as he failed in his “primary duty” to enforce the method statement.

The report stated that Mangion "adopted a very passive stance when occupying the position of STO" and "believed that his role was to take note of observations he casually makes on site while carrying out random site visits".

From his own testimony it emerged that he had “little to no communication with the contractor.” “It was apparent that he was appointed solely to satisfy a bureaucratic requirement, rather than because his services were truly needed on site,” the report said.

His warrant has been suspended for one year and two months, as it was noted that blame for not being present on site when decisions were taken was the fault of the developer and the architect as Mangion was not being kept informed.

“Both decisions are subject to appeal and can only be brought into effect if and when they become res judicata,” the Chamber said.