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Internal inquiry expected into cemetery security The Environmental Health Directorate is planning to perform an internal inquiry into the vandalism incident where the Prime Minister’s mother’s family grave was found vandalised on Sunday, 9 May (Mother’s Day), MaltaToday has learnt. A beefing-up of current security arrangements is not being excluded.A spokesperson explained that full security arrangements were in place at the Addolorata Cemetery during the night between the 7-8 May as well as the 8-9 May as in normal practice. “During the night between Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 there were four watchmen on duty. Between the night of Friday 7 and Saturday 8 there were two. These work from 5pm to 7am, if indeed the incident happened at night or during those days,” the spokesperson added. The vandalism on the Galea grave, which belongs to the prime minister’s maternal family, was discovered on Sunday morning when a family member visited the site on the occasion of Mother’s Day. The incident once again re-opened serious questions on security at the Addolorata Cemetery, although it appears that there were watchmen posted all throughout the night. The watchmen and other staff at Addolorata are employees engaged with the Environmental Health Directorate. “It should also be considered that the Cemetery is a vast area with easy accessibility from different points even when the main gates are closed. Any reports of damages or theft are reported to the Police,” the spokesperson said. Still, there is a clear disadvantage for four watchmen to secure a cemetery the size of the Addolorata, where perpetrators can easily enter and leave the area with relative ease. It is understood that the watchmen who were on duty both on Friday and Saturday will be questioned for the inquiry. This is not the first time that politician’s graves or their relatives’ were vandalised. Former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff’s family grave was found vandalised in 1998 after the Labour government toppled. Karin Grech, daughter of former Health Minister Edwin Grech, also had her grave burnt by vandals shortly after she was killed in 1979. The perpetrators were never caught on these or other occasions. Any comments? |
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Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email
Managing editor Saviour Balzan | Tel. ++356 21382741 | Fax: ++356 21385075 | Email