Court lifts ban on the publication of Gozitan priest’s name
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Gozo Court Magistrate Neville Camilleri, this afternoon upheld an appeal brought by Inspector Silvana Briffa on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, to lift the ban on naming the priest, who had been accused of child molestation.
The Court said that the priest, Fr Jesmond Gauci, was not related to the alleged victims and the law does not say that a ban should be made in such a case.
Fr Jesmond Gauci, from Xaghra, was arraigned in the Gozo Court on Tuesday and Magistrate Paul Coppini had granted a request made by Carmelo Galea, the priest’s lawyer, for the hearing to be held behind closed doors, as well as a ban on the publication of proceedings, the priest’s name, or the name of the victims.
A decision is yet to be reached on the appeal made over the release on Monday of Fr Gauci against bail.