Preferential treatment: he's wangled his way into Mount Carmel instead of Corradino
No, I didn't think it would fit, either.
On the TVM news this evening: Noel Arrigo was carted off to jail and shortly afterward carted straight back out again and to Mount Carmel Hospital for the mentally ill, on the advice of his doctor.
As you and I know, there is nothing remotely mentally ill about him.
He was all there when lying in court with that rosary-ring wrapped round his finger.
If he cracked up when he went through those horrible gates, well, now he knows what it’s all about.
I don’t think there’s anyone who feels any differently, but they’re not lucky enough to be able to wield influence – still, quite unbelievably – and get to ‘rest’ at Mount Carmel instead.
What is he planning to do – stay there for the next two years and go home for Sunday lunch?
TVM has reported, too, that his fellow felons were outraged, and have been protesting against this preferential treatment.
If he gets to go to Mount Carmel, why can’t they go too?
I imagine the prisoners had organised some sort of welcome party for the ex chief justice, and are now feeling very let down.
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He is actually meeting up with his school friend buddy, Grech Sant who is also at Mount Carmel Hospital – and by the way, ‘Mount Carmel hospital’ is quite misleading. It’s a halfway house in the grounds of Mount Carmel. It is indeed preferential treatment for white collar “prisoners” and I am informed they are allowed daily family visits.
Was it his doctor or a prison doctor who certified him? It was also reported that he has a cardiac condition and was kept at Mater Dei. In no time we will hear that he’s got Hepatitis B and will try to do another Queroz.
One thousand and three days to go if his behaviour is unbecoming.
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Animal Farm by George Orwell
Oh now, a special meeting of two Old Edwardians: Mr Grech Sant is already a resident of Mount Carmel.
Here we go! The ‘Chief Justice’ is served.
He is trying every trick to get away from prison.
He tried Lourdes, theology course, priests as witnesses, church – now Mount Carmel!
The 8pm news on TVM made it a point of stating that what would usually happen on entering prison is that the prisoner – apart from having his mugshot taken, etc – is stripped of belongings such as a wedding ring and a rosary ring …
[Daphne – Oh god, that’s hilarious. It’s good to see they have a sense of humour over at the TVM newsroom.]
TVM also reported that yes, there were protests in prison, with the prisoners asking whether or not they too can be taken to Mount Carmel.
My understanding is that at Mt Carmel there is a prison complex with very lax security. It is currently housing a klikka of Old Edwardians who are on a paid (albeit restricted) holiday at our expense – includes the infamous Grech Sant so quite cosy huh?
His worst punishment was the walk of shame and the misery he has caused his family and humiliation for centuries to come……..what ever possessed him.
I’m as saddened and revolted as anyone else by this case, but there is a humanitarian argument for not dumping prisoners such as Dr Arrigo in the general population, which should be obvious to anyone who is not blinded by emotion. Whether the only alternative is the so-called Prison Wing at Mount Carmel is another matter, of course – Dr Vella, as far as I know, was kept safe enough at Corradino, but I stand to be corrected.
Dr Borg Cardona, we know you represent the Chamber of Advocates, and that it is not honourable to have two prominent members of the chamber jailed.
From what I’m reading here, it seems that if one is an Old Edwardian criminal the chances are that he will end up in the halfway house of Mount Carmel Hospital. This is an insult to our institutions and an insult to the patients at this hospital.We will soon be confusing crime with mental illness.
Surely, Patrick Vella was not a student at St Edward’s.
Gahan, your comment is as inane as your pseudonym. Judges are not, in fact, members of the Chamber I have the honour to lead.
@Bocca: unlike the Old Edwardians you are disassociating yourself from your chamber’s prominent ex-members. Tsi, tsi!
Allura, ghax “pulit” u ghax (kellu) professjoni, qed tghid li mhux dehen li jintefa l-habs? X’ragunament bazwi! Hu x’inhu, kriminal hu, u ta’ min jigi ttrattat bhal kriminali kollha,
La giustizia NON e uguale per tutti! Punto e basta.
T-bag is waiting for you Noel
http://galerie.prison-break.cz/albums/wallpapery-1280/normal_Prison_Break1280_1024_Tbag.jpg
May he rot in Mount Carmel at least, and hopefully. Doesn`t he realise that by accepting those bribes from pushers , he was an accomplice to so many wasted lives on drugs? Can he live with that heavy conscience (assuming he has one)? So many parents whose lives have been destroyed whilst watching a sibling lose his/her fight against drugs – what is 2yrs 9mths? He will soon be out and about…….whereas those drug victims will never see the light of day ever ever again. So sad. Always admired you, Daphne, but now even more so and keep up the good work. You have loads of supporters I can guarantee you.
So will his visitors be treated the same as the visitors at the Prisons? What’s the name of his doctor – just in case we ever need some sort of ‘advice’?
…… at Mt Carmel there’s also Godfrey ’emeralds’ Ellul…..the chap Arrigo gave a character reference to in court….
If that’s the case then our legal system really stinks. Someone please say Julian’s mistaken.
This is sickening! No wonder we have no faith in our law courts. We are going to end up like the Wild West and everyone will take the law into his own hands!! They should be ashamed. I wonder if whilst he is in there he will be holding prayer meetings?
I cannot describe the way many people feel about you, after the way you chose to have a personal input (you will NO DOUBT disagree ) in Dr Arrigo’s case, and no, believe me, not in a positive way. I guarantee that the majority of people who normally enjoy your reading your articles, found that you have gone too far. You may not see or feel the effects of it now, you may even pretend to put up some defensive shield with a clever responsive article. You may also believe that your ‘commentary’ over the last 10 days was exactly ‘what journalists should be talking about’. I did not find one single journalist who wrote as classless as you did. You may have some bloggers who will disagree with me, but I challenge you to leave this article published, and let your ‘loyal’ bloggers decide whether your style and approach to this article was no short of loathsome. There are ways and means to reporting and commenting on an article Daphne, and unfortunately, you cannot can’t see the wood for the trees.
All bloggers who read this …
Put a 1 for liking Daphne’s ‘commentary’ over the last ten days
Put a 2 for suggesting Daphne has gone way too far.
It’s time for your trial Mrs C Galizia.
[Daphne I’m not in the mood for clever responses, but I can think of a good one that begins with F.]
Seems like you are in the mood ;) Stop replying to my comments and let people judge. You always have to put your NosE into it
[Daphne – People do judge, my dear. Most noticeably in court.]
Another reply … let the people judge ;)
Daphne –
You seem to have all the answers. Malta’s full of socially insecure people worrying about thier ‘class’. I seriously think you need to think long and hard about what you have done with regards to your style and ways, in putting a point forward.
[Daphne – Why would I bother, when I have you to do it for me?]
Totally agree Mr.Borg !
Too far? How can you say that? This whole saga has delivered a huge blow to the credibility of our justice system. A major crime punished by one day in prison and you think Daphne’s gone too far? Have you almost your senses completely?
Couldn’t agree more Mr. Borg!
@trevawaqeva
I think you misunderstood what I said. There are ways and means in commenting and reporting on an article. I was not arguing in favour of Dr Arrigo’s case. I was merely pointing out the very obvious fact that Daphne C G, was out of line in the way that she reported the events. I again reaffirm , that I AM NOT saying that Dr Arrigo is/was/should/shouldn’t have been proven guilty but Daphne lost a lot of class writing in the way that she did, and alot of people have noted it, believe you me. We will see who fawn’s over whom at parties in the coming months
[Daphne – ‘lost a lot of class’, eh? Oh dear, that’s going to keep me awake at night. Malta’s full of socially insecure people worrying about their ‘class’, but here’s some news for you: I’m not one of them.]
“lost a lot of class” – He probably tried to translate it literally from the Maltese “waqghet baxx”. Look on the bright side: at least he didn’t say you “fell low”!
“I guarantee that the majority of people who normally enjoy your reading your articles, found that you have gone too far.”
That guarantee has as much credibility as one from Lehman Brothers a little over a year ago.
Try and understand, Joe Borg: Daphne has not been the instigator; she has been (rightly) reacting to Arrigo’s continued brazenness. If you’re a law-abiding tax-paying Maltese citizen stop carping and send Daphne a nice Thank You card.
Leonard, I am sure you will understand, that there are ways and appropiate means in putting a point forward. I don’t think Daphne did this over the last 2 weeks. It was a very very cheap style of writing. Ask around ..
3?
@ Dr Borg Cardona
True, Dr Vella was kept in the section where paedophiles are kept and he was safe there. Same could be done with Dr Arrigo. What continues to baffle me is why there are others at Mount Carmel who are perfectly sane. For example many know that one businessman who shot a person is there and his family visit, just as if he were sick in hospital. We talk of modernisation but in effect our society is medieval and it is who you know which counts most.
The medical council is, in my opinion, duty bound to review the conduct of the consultant who referred Dr. Arrigo to Mt. Carmel Hospital. Why do seeming abuses of power always go unchecked? Where is the principle of accountability in this country?
Jonathan, don’t be naive – the medical council is just another ‘paraventu’ of another brotherhood.
Yes I agree, in fact my questions are rhetorical.
I was disgusted when I read about those priests giving a good character eulogy in court. I happen to be reading about the crusades just now and also about the history of the Jews. How many people were killed and tortured in the name of Jesus! Most of the pogroms of the Jews were done by Christians. This morning I heard and read the news about the paedophile priests in Ireland and how many lives were affected and how the church always hid the crimes or called the children liars.
I would like also to say how I admire your courage, Daphne, in calling a spade a spade.We have very few if at all like you in little Malta. I hope that you are getting protection as this is a corrupt country.
Laughably ignorant comment.
The minister concerned should publish a list of these so-called ‘criminals’ serving their term at the Mt Carmel half-way house, enjoying family visits just like ordinary patients. This is really shameful!
@eve
He was asked to do so some months ago, and he did. There were about 35. Incidentally they are all known (or perceived) to be rich.
@ Carm Cassar
Must have missed it. Any idea where we can see the list?
To placate a certain J Borg, Daphne you get a resounding ONE from me…..Keep it up.
I work in West Africa where this kind of thing goes on all the time…we laugh about it a lot but then I think “this happens at home too!”
ONE from me too, ONE PLUS PLUS actually
Nahseb kieku tohrog ghall-pulitka hafna nies jaghtuk il-1 u titla’ sparata.
Another One.
@ Vleggeg
It was parliamentary information reported in The Times, I think it was from question time. So you can either find it in The Times archive or else on the parliament website.
Daphne – I’m asking a personal favour.
I’m old enough to be your mother so have patience with me.
Why on earth are so many people in the infamous comments section of the Times writing as if Dr Arrigo is a victim and we should all pity him ?
The same phrases used when a teenager is killed or a youth arrested for some violence are being quoted eg
Stephen Florian (1 day ago)
Who are we to judge ? Hasn’t this man suffered enough throughout all these years in waiting? Yes he has committed a grave mistake, but then who is infallible ? It would be wise to lure him back into the correct path of justice and make of him a defender of truth and righteousness,after all what is justice all about ? It would be unwise to let him succumb under the weight of his own rank,it would be holy to let him stand on his own two feet again, and move on. To err is human, but to forgive is divine. A humane society stands to gain if it decides wisely.This man should be the subject of our prayers at this difficult time and not the main topic of our gossip.
anthony girard (5 hours, 28 minutes ago)
Our prayers and thoughts are with Dr. Arrigo and his family at this painful time.
It is all beyond me. No one is suggesting that Dr Arrigo should be put in the stocks for public humiliation or that he should spend his sentence in solitary confinement. I might even agree with ABC’s comments above. But to expect me to pray for him and to find all excuses possible for his actions makes me give up on humanity.
Were there all these do-gooders about when Patrick Vella was sentenced? I don’t remember them coming out in force when the employees in the VAT Dept. were in court either.
Either I’m missing something, or I’m going into early senility or there are some very mixed up people about. I hope it’s the third option.
[Daphne – It’s that weird paradox in the Maltese working-class: they feel chippy resentment against those who are perceived as their social superiors, but paradoxically (or not) at the same time they believe that those others are actually superior and somehow more deserving of better treatment and softer handling. Also, coming from a completely different social background, they will know nothing about him. I think you’ll find that’s why the harshest reactions against Noel Arrigo come from people who are of more or less his social background and who were in his social circle. They are not impressed, were not impressed. They don’t look up to him. Anthony Girard is an exception because he has a different perspective on things and on the ‘fallen’. If he is the one I know of, from my childhood neighbourhood of Stella Maris, then he is a recovered alcoholic who works/used to work with alcoholics and I think even helped set up AA in Malta.]
I think some of the comments were written by Mr Arrigo’s friends – a concerted effort.
@Vlegegg
Here it is:
http://www.pq.gov.mt/PQweb.nsf/5ab326fbcb184092c1256877002c4f19/c1256e7b003e1c2dc12575770052002c?OpenDocument
It’s 20 at Mount Carmel actually, the rest are in other institutuions. The names must have been in another report from court, which was done as a follow-up to the answer to the parliamentary question. Sorry but I could not find that one.
True. Contrast this reaction with that towards alleged drug couriers (especially if they are dark skinned) and “common” sex offenders, who still have to stand trial and be found guilty. Some even ask for the death penalty to be re-introduced.
Also, these “do-gooders”, like Arrigo, just cannot grasp the enormity of his crime – unlike Fenech Adami for example, who looked shell-shocked at the time. For them it’s “U iva, il-Prim Imhallef ghelbitu daqsxejn it-tentazzjoni; hekk allura, mhux bniedem bhal haddiehor?”
A massive ONE from me. I live in the UK and am quite used to this hard hitting journalism. This is no place for the squeamish.
everyone is bound to do mistakes. are we christians enough to accept this ?
[Daphne – ‘everyone is bound to do mistakes’: perhaps, but taking a bribe from a drug dealer when you are chief justice is not a mistake. It’s a crime. The majority do not commit crimes.A tiny minority do.]
What do you call it when a judge and a prosecutor do not honour a plea bargain agreement which was made with a defence counsel?
[Daphne – We don’t have that kind of plea bargaining system in Malta. It was all unofficial – typically Maltese. Kelma l-hawn u kelma l-hemm. It’s precisely the kind of behaviour that lands us with these sorry messes.]
hi daphne,,long time…….may i suggest,that you consider all your comments regarding noel arrigo,and,pause and analyse your constant bombardment……………. there is no justification regarding his actions,but enough is REALLY enough……consider his family .. i ,personally am very close with noel,,he made a mistake, he is paying for it… so,hope all’s well with you ….. enjoy and take care…. ed.
[Daphne – Good to hear from you, Edward – yes, it has been a long time. The years just roll by. I can understand where you’re coming from, but everyone has people who are close to them – it’s totally irrelevant, really. Also, we part company on the distinction between a crime and a mistake. Taking bribes from a drug-dealer when you’re chief justice is not a mistake. It’s an appalling crime. And God knows how long he’d been at it anyway, given that crooks and criminals found him so easily approachable with their offers. Haven’t you ever stopped to ask why nobody would even think of approaching Chief Justice Vincent de Gaetano or Judge Galea Debono with an ‘offer they couldn’t refuse’? There you have your answer. People knew the man was a hawwadi and a crook. Consider his family? Clearly, he was the last one to do so. I think if he had conducted himself differently during his trial, he wouldn’t have invited all those jokes. Lourdes and the rosary ring were a really bad idea. All in all, he was one big accident waiting to happen. He’s been pushing his luck for decades. Keep well.]
Chief Justice Vincent de Gaetano is an honest and decent man, and best of all a dog lover.